On a beautiful Spring day, UCF Alums Amanda and Joshua celebrated their wedding with their family and friends at The Garden Villa in Winter Park, FL. The venue’s lush landscape provided the perfect backdrop for their modern, romantic-themed wedding. The couple opted for a timeless color palette of black and white and worked closely with their wedding florist, BAUGhaus, to create a truly chic vibe.
When it came to certain wedding details, Amanda and Joshua spent their Sunday afternoons during their engagement on DIY projects to bring their wedding vision to life. An upcycled room divider and salvaged marble slabs from local marble yards were just a few of the details they created for their wedding design.
There were many special parts of their wedding day. Bride, Amanda explains, “Doing a first look with my father was something extremely special to me. The morning of was so hectic that it actually gave me a moment to breathe away from the rest of the party/group prior to walking down the aisle.” She also said that while they both had wedding parties, deciding not to have their sides stand up with them during the ceremony made the special moments and looks just about them.
However, the part of their wedding that made the top of the list for Amanda was meeting Joshua at the end of the aisle for their wedding ceremony and their couple portraits. She explains, “The best part of our wedding was when I got to the end of the aisle. The second I got to hold Josh’s hands and take a deep breath, everything was perfect. He whispered to me “you look beautiful” with a tear in his eye. It was quiet, the weather was perfect and I was calm. I always look back to that moment. I also really enjoyed our couple photo session after our ceremony. Being with Gabriela is EXTREMELY FUN and easy. She was our biggest cheerleader during the wedding, hyping us up and making us feel like rockstars.
See more from this lovely wedding and the couple’s love story below.
From Bride, Amanda:
How did you meet?
“We met in 2011. It was the fall semester at UCF. We were introduced by a mutual neighbor in the dorm rooms on campus. It was a very brief introduction but a few months later Josh passed me sitting outside where I was visibly upset. He asked me “what is one thing that would make you feel better?”. 10 years later, he is still the kindest human being I could ever ask for in a partner and the biggest UCF Knights fan!”
What was your proposal story?
“We love to travel, so in December of 2020, we decided to forego the family holidays and the two of us went to Vail, Colorado for a ski trip. On one of the days, he took me to the Vail Nordic Center on a whim. The moment he suggested, “a hike” I knew that something was happening. We approached a little island that was frozen over and covered in snow where flowers, lights, and candles awaited our arrival. He asked me to marry him and then he had all of our closest friends and family on a Zoom call on stand-by to congratulate and celebrate with us.”
From Bride, Amanda:
Is there anything that you wish you would have done differently or had that you didn’t for your wedding?
“I look back and wish that we would have had more time. Our ceremony started at 4:00 pm and our send-off was at 10:00 pm. Looking back, everything was “go” from the moment I got to the venue I don’t think I ever really had a chance to stop and take everything in. We rushed through dinner to get up and do a table walk and give our thanks to friends and family. I think that would have been a good time for my husband and I to take a small walk or stay seated at our sweetheart table just a little bit longer.”
From Bride, Amanda:
What advice would you give other couples about the wedding planning process?
“I would recommend other couples to accept help. It was extremely hard for me to assign others “jobs” or “duties” because I’m extremely detail-oriented. There are so many friends and family members on the sidelines during the wedding planning process that would love to assist with planning, projects, or meetings. The more you add to your plate, the harder it is to enjoy every moment in the process.”
Is there any advice that you would give engaged couples about married life?
“Always remain a team. At the end of the wedding, that is your spouse. The person that you both are choosing to choose every day. Three months later, we both stop sometimes, look at each other and say “you’re my wife” or “you’re my husband”.”
Participating Vendors:
Venue: The Garden Villa
Planner: Bella Sposa Events
Photographer: Snapshots by Gabriela
Videographer: Golden View Video Co.
Florist: BAUGhaus Shop
DJ: Press Play Entertainment
Hair and Makeup: Kristy’s Artistry Design Team
Catering: John Michael Exquisite Weddings and Catering
Cake: Publix
Entertainment: UCF Knightro
Dress and Shoes: David’s Bridal
Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids Dresses: Birdy Grey
Classic Car: Coles Classic Cars