Culture, family, and faith were at the center of Alondra and Ivan’s romantic boho Spanish-style wedding at BellaCosa Lakeside Lodge and Venue in Lake Wales, FL. The venue’s European vibe was the perfect backdrop for their theme. The couple selected a warm and moody color palette of burgundy, terracotta, cream, and gold accents to create a welcoming feel for their wedding guests.
When it came to special detail there were many! To honor loved ones that had passed, Alondra and Ivan created a memorial table with photos and Ivan carried his late grandfather’s money clip. Charcuterie cups for wedding guests with an “I love you 3000” sign gave a special nod to their engagement, which you can read below. Another detail of custom signs with phrases such as, “Mi Gente” and “Siempre y Para Siempre” was very special to the couple. Bride, Alondra explains, “Our wedding was different than what our families are used to, so being able to include our culture in the small details was crucial to us. It gave our guests a sense of familiarity even though we had a different wedding style.”
See more from this beautiful wedding and the couple’s love story below!
From Bride, Alondra:
How did you two meet?
“We don’t have a romantic story… more like a bad client experience gone right. 🙂
We met through my father, Juan, who was in a tax crisis and needed help. I reached out to Ivan to help out. Ivan took on the case but little did he know that Juan would show up unexpectedly at his house and call at odd hours (Dad, we love you lol).
While Ivan was on vacation, my’s dad could not reach Ivan. I, thinking Ivan was ignoring her dad’s calls, reached out to Ivan to scold him for ignoring her dad. With fear in his voice, Ivan clarified that he had no signal during his travel and it wasn’t intentional. Don’t worry, I apologized (profusely). This misunderstanding was the start of a beautiful friendship that would later become the foundation of their love story.”
From Bride, Alondra:
What is your proposal story?
“Not everything goes according to plan but through perseverance and patience, Ivan had done the impossible to surprise me with the perfect proposal. To begin, Ivan is a horrible liar. He is so downright honest. He literally cannot keep a secret. This was truly unbearable for him, however, he was able to plan everything in secret after months of delay.
Ivan had set to propose much earlier in 2021. However, difficult times came when both our grandfathers passed away within a month apart, and then shortly after, Ivan contracted COVID-19. It was a large overcoming for both of us but God’s will always come through.
With His blessing, Ivan was able to finally plan with the help of many vendors to make my dream proposal come true. It started with selecting the location, which is now our wedding venue. We had dreamt of getting married at BellaCosa. Ivan scheduled a meeting to tour the place, as we had been looking at venues for a while.
To my surprise, I was met with a beautiful set up under the oak tree with a boho-style picnic, custom charcuterie board, champagne with floral ice cubes, and a wooden backdrop of all of our photos under the phrase, “I love you 3,000.” To say the least, Ivan had taken my breath away.”
From Bride, Alondra:
What was the best part of your wedding?
“The most important part of our wedding was the ceremony. There wouldn’t be a wedding without the ceremony, lol. Being able to become with the one of your life is absolutely beautiful, especially when you do it before God and your family.”
From Bride, Alondra:
Is there anything that you wish you would have done differently or had that you didn’t for your wedding?
“I wish we would have had a better plan B for our wedding. Unfortunately, it rained on our wedding day and had to come up with a Plan B very last minute. If we would have planned it earlier, we could have been better prepared and less stressed.”
What advice would you give other couples about the wedding planning process?
“Our advice is to always have a backup plan for your wedding. Don’t wait until the last minute to have a backup plan, prepare for it in advance. It will give you time to become aware of the fact that the vision for your wedding may be completely different than expected. It won’t be a shock to your system and it will give you time to mentally prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Another important piece of advice that is easily ignored is - Do what makes you both happy! Don’t worry about outside opinions because nothing you do or change will completely satisfy everyone. Don’t forget that this big day is celebrating your love! It’s all about both of you. Don’t let anyone steal your joy!”
Is there any advice that you would give engaged couples about married life?
“We’ve only been married for three months, so we don’t have gold nuggets of advice haha. BUT we have been learning a lot in the past few weeks. One major lesson learned has been to not take each other for granted. When you’re married, it’s easy to get caught up in life and forget about your partner’s needs. Why? Well, you’re married now - living in one home. You get comfortable. Maybe it starts with bringing the laptop into the bedroom. Or maybe you’re busy cleaning the house. Or running errands. Whatever the case may be, don’t forget to pause and prioritize QUALITY one-on-one time with your partner. Just because you are both married doesn’t mean you get comfortable. You actually need to get uncomfortable to have a happy, lifelong commitment. It looks like sacrifice. It looks like selflessness and humility. And although it’s hard work, the result is amazing. It’s a love that continues to flourish in a healthy environment.”
Participating Vendors:
Venue: BellaCosa Lakeside and Lodge
Planner: Joyce Otero Weddings
Photographer: Janira Photography
Videographer: Torres Tribe Films
Florist: Events by InBloom
Cake: Bakers Cottage Cakes
Hair and Makeup: Beauty by Yara
Dress: Maria Del Pilar Bridal
Stationery: Carroll Design Co.
Rentals: Premier Event Services
Signage: Littera
Bowl and Pitcher: Clair Parrish Pottery