Jewish Wedding at Bella Collina in Montverde Orlando, FL

This Jewish wedding at Bella Collina was an absolute blast to film. The day was full of Jewish wedding rituals and traditions. One of these included the breaking of the glass under the chuppah at the end of the ceremony. The night traditions included the chair dance, known as the hora, during the reception. You’ll notice many of these rituals in a modern Jewish wedding context when watching the wedding video below. The couple drove up from Miami, and the Jewish community in Orlando fully represented in the congregation.

Jewish Wedding at Bella Collina in Montverde, FL

TELL US THE BACKSTORY OF YOUR JEWISH WEDDING AT BELLA COLLINA

In the bustling city of New York, two souls found themselves irresistibly drawn to the dance floor of a vibrant club. As the pulsating music filled the air, their eyes met, and a connection sparked between them. This spark was impossible to ignore. With each dance move, their chemistry grew stronger. Before they knew it, they were dancing together as if they had known each other for years.

Their names were Tomer and Sara. Tomer was a charming, adventurous young man with a passion for life (and soccer). Sara was a free-spirited, artistic woman who craved new experiences. They spent the entire night talking and laughing, feeling as if they had found something special in each other. After that fateful night, they decided to go on a series of dates. They explored the enchanting streets of New York and discovered hidden gems together.

As time passed, their lives took them in different directions, and they decided to go their separate ways. However, fate seemed to have other plans for them. They kept bumping into each other in the most unexpected places in the city. It’s as if the universe was constantly bringing them back together.

PART 2

One day, Tomer approached Sara with a gleam in his eyes and an invitation to an unforgettable event in Tulum called Day Zero. According to Tomer, it was a sign that they were meant to take this journey together. Intrigued and although Sara just came back from Tulum, Sara agreed, and their adventure began. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the festival, they danced beneath the stars, feeling a renewed sense of connection and purpose.

After the festival, they decided to take their relationship seriously. They officially became a couple, and unknowingly, embarked on an adventure that neither of them anticipated.

As the world changed and fear ruled the streets due to the COVID pandemic, our heroes, Tomer and Sara, decided that they wouldn’t be confined by fear. Instead, they saw this challenging time as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An opportunity to break free from the constraints of everyday life and embark on a unique journey across the country. With their loyal and adventurous dog, Lou, by their side, they embraced the uncertainty. They then set out to explore the hidden gems of the US. They knew that in the face of fear, their love and determination would guide them through the darkest of times.

PART 3

As their love blossomed, Tomer became increasingly certain that he had found his soulmate in Sara. They took a leap of faith together and decided to start a new chapter of their lives by moving to Miami. In this city they found a breathtaking home on the 76th floor, high above the city. It felt like they were living at the top of the world. The stunning views from their new home mirrored the heights of their love for each other.

One day, as the sun was setting over the horizon, Tomer surprised Sara with a romantic dinner on their private terrace. They savored the moment and admired the city lights below. It was then that Tomer got down on one knee and pulled out a dazzling ring. Sara was rendered speechless with joy and emotion as Tomer asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. Overwhelmed with happiness, she managed to find her voice and said a resounding yes. She knew this proposal marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of love and adventure together.

Their friends and family wondered if it was fate or mere coincidence that kept bringing them together. Was it destiny that led them back to each other’s arms time and again, or was it merely a wild stalker story? Only the universe knew the answer, but one thing was for certain – they were madly in love and couldn’t imagine life without each other (and Lou).

Bride and groom touching noses during portraits at their Jewish wedding.

CONCLUSION

Now, as they stand on the precipice of matrimony, Tomer and Sara are filled with excitement, love, and a sense of wonder for the journey they are about to embark upon. It was either fate or a series of extraordinary coincidences. Regardless, they know that their love story is uniquely theirs, and they are ready to create a future together. One filled with joy, laughter, and the adventures of a lifetime.

TELL US HOW YOU PLANNED YOUR JEWISH WEDDING AT BELLA COLLINA

Prior to planning, we envisioned our wedding to be a beautiful meeting of our families – surrounded by warmth and love, excitement and bliss, and really just focused on the feeling of becoming newlyweds. We planned our wedding within 6 months so there wasn’t a lot of time to think about the overall picture — as we had many individual tasks to complete, including selecting the venue, the vendors, the food, etc.

Our wedding was a rollercoaster of a day, complete with its own symphony of chaos, tears of joy, bursts of ecstasy, and the occasional rain shower that decided to drop in and delay the ceremony by what felt like a cosmic two hours. Time zoomed by quicker than a squirrel hopped up on caffeine. Suddenly, the wedding was a wrap, leaving us wondering if we accidentally stumbled into a time-warping dance party.

A massive shout-out to our families and friends who crossed oceans and continents to join the celebration, to our incredible vendors who swooped in and conquered like wedding superheroes, and to the memories that now spark joy faster than Marie Kondo on a decluttering spree. Here’s to a day that felt like a whirlwind romance with a happily-ever-after twist!

Bride reading her vows during the couple's first look at Bella Collina by the reflection pond

TELL US ABOUT THE DESIGN OF YOUR JEWISH WEDDING AT BELLA COLLINA

Our color palette and style vision for our wedding were inspired by a desire for simplicity, elegance, and timelessness. We envisioned a classic and sophisticated celebration, which led us to choose a color palette dominated by white and green. The combination of these colors created an elevated garden party aesthetic, with the lush greenery complementing the purity of white.

The decision to keep our wedding black tie and opt for black dresses further emphasized the timeless and formal nature of our celebration. By incorporating these elements, we aimed to achieve a sense of refined simplicity. This ensured that every detail contributed to the overall elegance of our special day.

In summary, our color palette revolved around the crispness of white and the freshness of green. Our style vision focused on creating a black tie affair that exuded sophistication and stood the test of time.

For the wedding, every element was carefully chosen to reflect a vision of a simple yet elegant celebration. Starting with the floral arrangements and installations, the bride took on the ambitious project of creating them herself using high-quality artificial flowers. The color theme of white and green was meticulously incorporated into each arrangement, adding a personalized touch to the overall decor. This DIY approach was not only a creative endeavor but also a strategic decision to manage costs.

Chernaya Bridal House in Miami supplied the gown. It belonged to the Jimmy Choo runway collection and was discovered just two months prior to the wedding. Thanks to the initiative of the bride’s Miami girlfriends, who helped her find a dress quickly, they fell in love with the delicate crystal beading and silhouette of the gown. It was a beautiful and meaningful addition to their special day.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORS AND CAKE

As their Jewish wedding at Bella Collina was a destination event for all, the couple wanted their favors to be both stylish and practical. They opted for black faux-leather luggage tags, a thoughtful gift that resonated with the travel theme of their wedding. These tags served as a token of appreciation for their guests, commemorating the unique experience of their destination celebration.

The cake was an ube-flavored masterpiece created by Bella Collina’s pastry chef, Kris. She’s a Filipino woman that the couple had a chance to meet a few months prior at the Bella Bliss event. Inspired by the bride’s Filipino background, where ube is a beloved flavor for sweets, they wanted to incorporate this cultural touch into their celebration. The cake was frosted in pristine white buttercream and adorned with white flowers. It seamlessly blended with their wedding aesthetics, creating a visually stunning and delicious centerpiece.

All the details of our wedding decor, from the table centerpieces to the chuppah floral decor, aisle markers, and table signs, were DIY projects inspired by Pinterest and YouTube. Sara devoted the last two months to bringing everything together. This resulted in enough crafted beauty to fill a 16-foot Uhaul truck. Coincidentally, that’s what they drove to Orlando before the big day.

Rabbi holding glass to be broken at the end of the Jewish ceremony while looking at the groom

ANY PARTING WORDS?

One piece of advice for couples — When it comes to vendors, prioritize working with those you genuinely connect with. Opting for someone solely to save money might not be worthwhile. You may not receive the services you initially hired them for. Unfortunately, in our experience, choosing an event production company/individual to handle tasks like installing the chuppah and assisting with unloading/loading our Uhaul of floral decor turned out to be our biggest wedding mistake. In hindsight, we would have happily paid the price for a true professional who values people with respect and dignity.

I hope you enjoyed reading about this Jewish wedding at Bella Collina. It’s the perfect venue to host your own Jewish wedding!