A Glamorous Wedding with Puerto Rican Flair at The Ritz-Carlton
Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography
Taylor and Osvaldo met in medical school in 2009, but didn’t start dating until years later when they had a chance encounter at Barnes Hospital. Taylor was a Saint Louis native, while Osvaldo had moved to the United States from Puerto Rico for medical school. Like so many couples, their love story took a turn when the pandemic hit.
They had just gotten engaged when COVID hit the U.S. As medical professionals, Taylor and Osvaldo were on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19, so they knew they would have to put off the wedding of their dreams for a while… fast forward to 2022.
Stationary: On Three Designs
Osvaldo and Taylor wanted the whole day to feel luxurious and timeless while still showcasing hints of their uniqueness. Among those hints were elements of Osvaldo’s Puerto Rican heritage. They worked with their stationary designer, On Three Designs, to add a vellum overlay in Spanish to their wedding invitation. They also featured Puerto Rican dishes at the reception, and Osvaldo and his mom danced the merengue for their mother-son dance.
Taylor and Osvaldo chose to bathe the day in white, selecting Taylor’s favorite family of flowers-Orchids- as the show-stopping blooms of the occasion! Our team at Belli Fiori also incorporated white peonies, mini calla lilies, hydrangeas, and white and ivory roses to round-out the crisp and timeless florals of the couples’ big day.
Taylor’s bouquet was absolutely flawless with the cascading phaleonopsis orchids and mini calla lilies. She chose to preserve some of the elements of her bouquet with the help of our vendor friends, Gold and Blooms (featured photo at the end).
For her bridesmaids, our stunning bride chose a more traditional rounded style bouquet with white and ivory garden roses.
The couple said, “I do” at their home church of Saint Francis Xavier. Flanking her on each side of the aisle, were unique floral structures, and down the aisle were elegant pew decor complete with a crisp, white sash.
The reception was held at The Ritz-Carlton Saint Louis.
Taylor was not a fan of greenery, so the Belli Fiori Team, turned it into “goldery!”
Taylor and Osvaldo wanted guests to be awed from the moment they set foot into the the Church until final call at their Reception. She prioritized the guest experience including, “the decor, food and music.”
To help execute her goals, Taylor relied on a team of “trusted experts… to take [her] vision, read between the lines, and turn it into magic.”
Lisa Molitor (owner of Belli Fiori), Alissa Reimer (owner of Altar’d Events) and Erin Schulte (owner of Exclusive Events) worked closely to select florals, linens, draping and dance floor that would work seamlessly together to actualize Taylor’s dream wedding- the result, flawless!
Taylor and Osvaldo’s head table was absolutely stunning! A gorgeous statement design “WOWED” in photographs as the florals cascaded over the edge of the table puddling to the floor while the myriad of candles added to the stunning overall look. We kept the colors consistent with Taylor’s vision, utilizing “goldery”, white and ivory flowers, and ivory linens. This turned out to be one of Taylor’s favorite floral elements, upon reflection. She felt it was so unique.
To compensate for the grandness of the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, the Belli Fiori designers, prioritized adding height to the space. They wanted it to feel elegant and airy, utilizing glass and acrylic to keep the design weightless.
This 16-foot long table was complete with a variety of elements including a 6-foot long elevated hedge to add height.
Gold elements were incorporated to achieve the timeless feel that Taylor had envisioned, and submerged dendrobium orchids with floating candles added opulence and interest. — Can I request my seat be placed at one of these tables?!
The Ritz-Carlton crafted a gorgeous four-tier wedding cake for Taylor and Osvaldo, and The Belli Fiori team, designed an orchid cascade of cake flowers to dream about!
Osvaldo and his mom, danced the Merengue for their mother-son dance.
Remember, those hints that Taylor wanted! Taylor and Osvaldo surprised their guests with some late-night, quintessential, Saint Louis food- complete with the father-of-the-bride’s guilty pleasure, White Castle.
Doesn’t he look happy! According to Taylor, this was actually an ode to her parents’ wedding, and was a special surprise coordinated by Mrs. Geisman.
A big thank you to Taylor for sharing her love story with us! And thank you to Mike Cassimatis for all these amazing photos. As promised, earlier, Taylor sent me a really beautiful photo of the florals she had preserved through Gold & Blooms, and I want to share those with you!!
Photographer: Taylor G
Vendor Love- Without you, we’re lost!
Planning: Altar’d Events | Photography: Mike Cassimatis Photography | Ceremony Venue: Saint Francis Xavier | Reception Venue: Ritz-Carlton | Decor: Exclusive Events | Stationary: On Three Design | Bouquet Preservation: Gold & Blooms