Categorías de Ideas

Real Wedding: Christina & Carlos in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

by: Valerie Coleman

We are very excited to show you Carlos and Cristina’s wedding. From the colors to the beautiful location in downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico, we fell in love with this wedding for its mix of retro glam and vintage touches.

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Now here in the bride’s own words:

What were the main colors & theme of your wedding?

My vision was simply to have a Spanish themed wedding in the place where we met on vacation over two years ago. We met on a cruise ship that started in Puerto Rico. We wanted to bring our families to the place were it all started. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is like walking back in time. It’s a kinda modern day movie set for lovers of all things Spanish. We really wanted to stick to our Latin roots by embracing what our families would be familiar with.

As for colors Teal, Hot Pink, Pink, and Rasberry were my colors. It started out as Teal being the Main color but as the items came to together Hot Pink kinda took over the wedding. I love the passion of Hot Pink. It’s a color to be noticed, not to mention it’s a very fun color! There are so many ways a person can go wrong with Pinks….Your kinda walking a fine line when using Hot Pink. I made careful choices where to place it.

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How did you choose your wedding venue?

I told Lisa Rodriguez I wanted a very Spanish place. Lisa contacted the El Convento and had them send me pictures. I trusted Lisa completely when she said that it was a wonderful spanish hotel and we would be very happy. It’s an historical Hotel with lot’s of old world charm, spanish large doors, dark wood all over the hotel. It’s charming! I told the hotel and I wanted a completely Puerto Rican menu. I wanted the guests to have a feel for what Puerto Rico food was all about.

Between the setting of one long table, a old world hotel, and the food there was really no going wrong.

Did you incorporate anything unique into your wedding?

There are a few things after reading endless blogs….I had to have! I knew I wanted Paper Flowers. I love having unique items. What say’s Latin more than hundreds of beauitful paper flowers. I also stressed the use of having Carnations on the table verses roses. I think when you bunch up Carnations by the hundereds they can have a very soft romantic feel to them. I also had to have one long table. Any chance you can have an extra wide, very long table, with a 5 course meal….I’m there! Most people never have the chance to sit at such a table. I wanted everyone to be close and just have a good time.

Incorporating Cultural Traditions and Latina Background

So many details, spanish tiles, spanish fans, spanish looking flowers in our hair (along with one for each female guest), spanish invitations, spanish signs, converse shoes for the groomsmen (custom made), converse for the flower girls with an oversize hot pink flower in there hair, spanish guitarist playing at dinner….the list goes on and on.

Each detail carefully thought over by me. The last most important detail was I had to have the guitarist play a Bruce Springsteen song called, If I should fall behind. He played it with a spanish flare. The song starts slow…..giving Shawna the chance to get that pic of me standing in the cathedral door way for a long time. I waited a longtime to hear that song played just for me on my wedding day.

Having the Right Team

I couldn’t have done this wedding without Lisa Rodriguez by my side. She completely helped by bouncing idea’s off her all day long. She was kinda like a big sister I could share idea’s with. I would come to her with idea’s and she would listen…sometimes that’s all that’s needed. She really is wonderful and I am happy to call her a friend.

The Vendors behind Christina’s beautiful wedding:

Wedding Coordinator: Lisa Rodriguez, Chrstina Barrearaz