This stunning Florida wedding celebrated love, laughter, and the perfect blend of personal touches. Set against the backdrop of breathtaking views and filled with meaningful moments, every detail was thoughtfully curated to reflect the couple’s unique journey. Surrounded by family and friends, Lori and Vero’s wedding was an unforgettable experience filled with love, beauty, and joy.
Location: Key Biscayne, Florida, US
Style: Modern with classic touches
Time of planning: 1 year 3 months
Number of guests: 170
Setting: Ballroom
Season: Spring
Lori and Vero’s love story is one of fate, timing, and a little bit of surprise. Though they went to the same small high school in Miami, they didn’t cross paths until they met through mutual friends at the University of Florida.
After four years of dating, including long-distance and a pandemic, Lori proposed to Vero at their favorite spot, Alice Wainwright Park, with a Radiant Cut diamond. Just a week later, Vero turned the tables and surprised Lori with her own proposal during a seemingly ordinary birthday dinner. Caught off guard, Lori happily said yes again. Their relationship is filled with thoughtful gestures, surprises, and a bond that has only grown stronger.
Vision & Photography
Vero and Lori wanted to make their wedding feel “welcoming, bright, and fun,” a reflection of their love and personalities. Vero took charge of most of the wedding planning, while Lori, with her project management mindset, focused on the financials.
As Lori kept the couple grounded, Vero’s focus was always on the bigger picture, reminding them that “this is a once in a lifetime event” and they had to plan it to the best of their ability. They balanced each other perfectly, ensuring every detail came together for their special day.
This day, full of love and unforgettable moments, was beautifully captured by the incredibly talented Ozzy and Matilda at Arèvalo & Co. With their exceptional vision for detail and a genuine passion for storytelling, they captured the big moments and the quiet, intimate ones, allowing every emotion and gesture to shine through. Their ability to make the couple feel at ease and their skill in creating natural, timeless images made them the perfect choice for this couple’s wedding.
Couple's Morning & Fashion
Vero pictured herself as a modern bride with classic touches. She wore an elegant Ines di Santo gown, paired with a Carolina Herrera veil, Jimmy Choo Saeda heels, and Jo Malone’s English Pear & Sweet Pea perfume. For her hair and makeup, she trusted TheClyque, and carried a stunning large Calla Lily bouquet that perfectly complemented her look.
Adding sentimental value to her wedding look, Vero was lucky enough to have two “something borrowed” from her best friends. Her best friend Lauren, who married just a month before Vero, lent her a beautiful headpiece from Miami’s classic designer, Eva Hidalgo. Additionally, Vero wore a stunning embroidered Carolina Herrera veil, graciously given to her by another close friend, Meghan. The veil added the perfect classic touch to her modern gown.
Lori’s wedding look was all about personal touches and timeless elegance. She wore an Ines di Santo gown, paired with Badgley Mischka heels and a scent that would forever remind her of the day—Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724 perfume. “To this day, I wear that perfume on date nights with Vero to bring back the memories of the best day of my life,” Lori shares.
Her makeup and hair were done by You by Hazel, and she accessorized with classic diamond jewelry that once belonged to her late aunt, Maria Matheu. “I wanted to incorporate her into the wedding somehow, as she was always a big fan of Vero and a huge part of our close-knit family.”
Staying true to herself, Lori chose a sleek back ponytail—her signature look—and added playful touches to her earrings with miniature pearls for her upper ear piercings. She was determined to look and feel like herself, creating a look that was beautiful, meaningful, and deeply personal.
First Look
They shared a special first look before the ceremony, a quiet moment just for the two of them, where they could take in the sight of each other before stepping into the next chapter of their lives. It was a moment of calm before the celebration, a chance to exchange smiles, hold hands, and connect before saying their vows in front of their closest friends and family.
Instead of choosing the traditional bridal car, Vero and Lori decided to make their journey even more memorable by traveling with their bridal party and family in a trolley from the East Hotel to the Rusty Pelican. This choice allowed them to share special moments with their closest loved ones before the ceremony and enjoy being together for most of the day. “We loved being able to stay together for most of the day!”
Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the stunning terrace of the Rusty Pelican, offering breathtaking views of the ocean and the iconic Miami skyline. The space was beautifully framed by an arrangement of orchids and calla lilies, creating a light and elegant atmosphere. Tall vases filled with calla lilies lined the aisle, perfectly bookending each row of seats for the guests.
Lori and Vero wanted a short, sweet, and meaningful ceremony. Lori’s brother, Kevin, officiated the ceremony, bringing humor and personal touches that made it truly special for both brides.
One of the key moments was when Kevin highlighted how different Lori and Vero are and how those differences make them such a great couple. Their contrasting qualities complement each other perfectly, balancing out their strengths and weaknesses in the most harmonious way.
Reception Decor
The reception took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Rusty Pelican, a bright and airy space beautifully adorned with flower arrangements featuring calla lilies, orchids, and white hydrangeas. The couple was drawn to the venue for its breathtaking ocean views, and they knew they wanted to bring in blue tones to complement the scenery.
“We incorporated blue in our invitations, Lori’s bouquet, her bridesmaids’ bouquets, our napkins, bridesmaids’ dresses, and cake table cover,” says Vero. The rest of the decor was sleek and simple, with classic white linens and flowers that allowed the elegance of the space to shine.
One of the most personal touches came from Vero, who decided to hand-embroider cocktail napkins for each guest a month before the wedding. “I quickly gathered the supplies, watched a couple of YouTube videos, and Lori and I got to work hand-embroidering the initials of each guest on a linen napkin that served as their seating guide.” Despite the challenge, it took them about a month to complete all 170 napkins, and the guests absolutely loved them. “They took them home, and now we have our napkins on our bar as a beautiful memento of our day,” Vero says.
Celebration
Instead of following the traditional father-of-the-bride speech, Lori and Vero decided to give their moms the spotlight. “They highlighted how each of them now has a new daughter in the family and expressed their love for what the other does for their respective daughters.” It was a touching moment that brought tears to everyone’s eyes, adding a deeply personal and meaningful element to the celebration.
The couple’s dance choices were equally sentimental. Vero shared a special moment with her father, dancing to My Girl by The Temptations, while Lori danced with hers to Butterfly Kisses. For their first dance, Lori and Vero chose Coming Home by Leon Bridges, a song that resonated with their relationship. “We always said that we found home in each other. During our long-distance year, each time we saw each other, no matter which city, it felt like we were home,” Lori explains.
The cake-cutting moment was simple yet elegant, just like the couple’s style. The minimalistic four-layer cake, adorned with delicate white accents, perfectly matched the clean and sophisticated decor of the evening. As Vero and Lori shared the first slice, it was another sweet symbol of their new life together.
The DJ kept the energy high all night, but the real highlight came during the hora loca when surprise confetti exploded into the air, adding an extra burst of excitement to the celebration!
Advice from the couple:
• Vero recommends doing a first look! It is a perfect way to calm the nerves and to spend more time together throughout the wedding day. It also allows you to relax during the cocktail hour.
• Lori recommends enjoying every second of the day – even though the day is long it’s going to feel like the blink of an eye. Soak up every second and spend every moment you can with your new spouse!
PHOTOGRAPHY Arèvalo & Co. (Ozzy & Matilda) | VIDEO Joseph Mikos | PLANNER Events by Christy | FLORALS Nevot Flower Designs | MUAH (Veronica) The Clyque | MUAH (Lori) You by Hazel | DRESS DESIGNER Ines Di Santo | DRESS (Veronica) Chic Parisien | DRESS (Lori) The Find Bridal | BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES (Veronica) V. Chapman | BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES (Lori) Bellas Bridesmaids Miami | VENUE Rusty Pelican Miami | CAKE Edda’s Cake Designs | RENTALS Contempo Linen and Event Rentals | SEATING CHART MIRROR Miami Writes Co. | GETTING READY LOCATION East Miami | SAVE THE DATES Minted | INVITATIONS Shine Wedding Invitations | DJ & PRODUCTION Music Revolution
