Wow, I’ve never heard of Orcas Island, but after seeing these pretty, pretty images by Chantal Andrea, I’m convinced that it is a magical place! This adorable, international couple met at a Salsa class and decided it was only natural to incorporate their love of dance into their big day. They chose a gorgeous color palette that represents their love of old Spanish architecture and romance and can I just say that it is beyond stunning? Click here for even more!
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From the Bride…Erick and I thought about having our wedding at El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was born, or Antigua, Guatemala, where Erick is from. When we decided on staying in the Pacific Northwest, which represents our present and future, we still loved the colors and romance of the old Spanish architecture from these cities. Heidi from Zenadia created a color palette for us which captured the colors and mood that we loved, and Leslie from Patina Floral helped bring it to life.
From Chantal Andrea… Marlaine and Erick met at salsa class, so they decided to center their wedding around their mutual love to get down on the dance floor and SALSA! Inspired by the book, “Dance me to the end of love” with illustrations by Henri Matisse, Marlaine and Erick stayed true to their theme by using framed quotes about dancing as centerpieces and of course shaking it on the dance floor like only two well-practiced and impressive salsa partners can. The wedding celebrated a fusion of cultures, and the ceremony reflected that perfectly. Marlaine and Erick chose to put their own twist on the traditional Latin American las arras coin ceremony by asking friends and family to place blessings on the coins before they were presented to the bride and groom (instead of the priest alone). Before the kiss the bridal party and wedding guests recited lyrics to the Leonard Cohen song, “Dance me to the end of love.” Everything about the ceremony was intimately unique to Marlaine and Erick– and deeply moving for guests. After many celebratory hugs and kisses the party moved to devour tapas and paella crafted by the talented Azafron. The night continued with celebration pies by Passionate Pies (pumpkin, blueberry crumble and more) and lavender ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery. As the sun went down Marlaine and Erick continued to dance the night away.
From the Groom… A group of friends and I decided to take a salsa class at the University of Maryland. We had decided that we would each invite one of the young ladies we met in the class to go dancing in a group. The first day of class, we all met up and went in. Right before the class started, a tall woman with dark brown hair walked in. She was wearing a green shirt, jeans, and green sneakers. At that moment, I knew I had to meet her. As the class progressed, we rotated partners and soon I found myself talking to this mysterious and beautiful person. Unfortunately, I did not remember her name, but I did remember she was new to the area and she was half German and half Puerto Rican. When the class concluded, my friends and I convened and when it was my turn to say who I would ask to go dancing…I said…”the tall lovely German-Puerto Rican…”
Wedding Photography: Chantal Andrea / Caterer: Azafron / Floral Design: Patina Floral / Event Design: Zenadia Design / Ceremony + Reception Location: Odd Fellows Hall / Invitations: Grafico de Sul, Inhambane Mozambique / Bride’s Shoes: Center Stage (salsa shoes) / Wedding Dress: Casablanca via Ido Bridal / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Ice Cream: Lopez Island Creamery / Rentals: Orcas Events / Marzipan Hearts: Wiesbaden, Germany / Wedding Rings: The Bride + Jose of Danaca Designs / Bridesmaid + Flower Girl’s Jewelry: The Bride / Wedding Pies: Passionate for Pies