A Black and White Wedding at Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Three years after Alyson Maiorana (27 and in human resources) and Joe Maiorana (28 and a teacher) met on a blind date, he popped the question with an oval diamond ring. Joe proposed in their apartment by placing the ring at the center of a heart-shaped rose petal display on the bed. They spent the next year planning a black and white wedding in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Wanting their 130 guests to enjoy Florida’s beaches, Alyson and Joe chose Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, and its ballroom’s 360-degree view, as their venue. "It is absolutely breathtaking. We had a lot of people coming in from out of town and wanted to have that Florida beach feel at the wedding," says Alyson. The couple accented the first floor's floor-to-ceiling windows with white ceremony decor. White flower petals led the way down a white runner to an elegant white-fabric-draped arch tied with hydrangeas at each post. After Alyson and Joe said “I do,” each guest moved to the hotel’s top floor and found his or her seat listed on a framed personal photo. Silver chiavari chairs surrounded each white-linen-covered table as tall arrangements of white hydrangeas and curly willow were used as centerpieces. The couple served a selection of steak, mahimahi and chicken before all were treated to a three-tier ivory confection with a small icing figure on the bottom layer. “I surprised my husband with a Batman character coming out of the back of the wedding cake. He loves Batman,” says Alyson. Alyson and Joe spent the rest of their night on the dance floor, surrounded by family and friends.