60 EnchantEd BridEs ~ Fall 2009/WintEr 2010

A French Royal Affair

EnchantEd BridEs ~ Fall 2009/WintEr 2010 61

Erica was going for a Marie Antoinette inspired wedding, it was tru-

ly to be a royal affair. With the guidance of event planner, Jackie

Ohh, Erica’s dream for her wedding became a reality.

On Erica and Matt’s wedding day their guests walked down

the drive to Vizcaya and were greeted by French horn players

dressed in white curly powdery wigs and clothing representing

the Enlightenment Era. On their way out to the garden guests stopped by the

card table. The table had an antique chandelier placed on it. The décor around

the chandelier was a satin champagne linen decorated with hydrangea and lit

by candlelight. As guests slipped out into the garden they sipped their Bellini’s

while they listened to an 8-piece string ensemble and viewed a court of beauti-

ful ladies floating in the garden fanning themselves. It looked like a scene out

of the Marie Antoinette movie.

After the cocktail hour guests were escorted into the lavish tent that over

looked all of Key Biscayne. The couple’s 6 foot cake took center attention in the

lower terrace, which would function later in the evening as the lounge; where

there would be a cigar roller, cordial bar and a barista that would make you

whatever espresso or coffee drink your heart desired.

The dinner tables were draped with champagne and ivory linens and

adorned with gold stemware and silverware. The tables were decorated with

one of two different centerpieces. One centerpiece was an antique crystal can-

delabra anointed with an extravagant bouquet of cream garden roses, ranun-

culus and hydrangea and a gorgeous display of ostrich plumes.

There was a 6 foot crystal chandelier over the white dance floor where Matt

and Erica enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife to their favorite song

“Green Eyes”.

Erica and Matt’s guests dinned on watermelon, tomato and feta salad with

fresh mint and basil and sea bass and pork tenderloin for an entrée. While

the guests dined they enjoyed a jazz duet that sang some Erica’s favorite Billy

Holiday songs. This was followed by a toast and then the band went straight

into “Let’s Dance” by Lady Gaga. From that point on there wasn’t an inch to

spare on the dance floor. Guests danced all night, there wasn’t a dry shirt on

the dance floor. Erica didn’t even make it to the lower terrace! She was too busy

having the time of her life on the dance floor with all her friends and family and

of course her hubby, Matt

PhotograPher: rodrigo Varela PhotograPhy

Ceremony Site: Coral Gables Congregational Church

Reception Site: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Event & Wedding Planner: Jackie Fernandez of Jackie Ohh Events

Linens: AB Cover Designers and Wildflower Linens; China Rentals: Panache;

Floral and Lighting Decor: Always Flowers; Catering: Touch Catering; Cake Designer: Montilio’s

Bakery; Entertainment: The Zoo Band and DJ; Ubi Merrero Coffee Cart: Aroma Espresso;

Furniture Rental: Bubble Miami; Videographer: Artex Productions;

Transportation: Avenutura Limo: Hotel Accommodations: Biltmore Hotel

Erica Cashman and Matthew ShevlinApril 19, 2009