1. Real Weddings

A Glamorous Wedding at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida

Some couples were meant to be, just as some weddings were destined for certain venues. "The Waldorf Astoria is a hotel I have been in love with since

Some couples were meant to be, just as some weddings were destined for certain venues. "The Waldorf Astoria is a hotel I have been in love with since it opened in Orlando," says Sarah Florio (29 and a partnership development manager at AFR Event Furnishings). She and Jarrett Desmond (28 and a franchise owner at uBreakiFix) fell in love with the spot long before they got engaged. "The tradition and history of the hotel made you know you were somewhere special," Sarah says. "Jarrett and I would always stay here for special occasions, like birthdays, anniversaries or just because. As soon as we got engaged, we knew we had to see if there was available space at 'our' hotel, and we were lucky enough that there was." 

The couple opted to let the beauty of the Waldorf Astoria shine through. "There was no particular theme in place at our wedding. We just wanted a look of sophisticated and traditional with the perfect amount of sparkle. Nudes, beige, cream, blush, gold and silver were the hues throughout each element of our design with the exception of our getaway car—a red Ferrari," Sarah says. "I had always imagined my wedding as something that would look timeless and effortless, and this palette helped us accomplish that." While the decor led to an overall sophisticated event, whimsical touches gave the day a true taste of the couple's personalities. Combining Jarrett's love of cars and racing with Sarah's love of sheer elegance, the couple created what she calls, "the perfect representation of Jarrett and me as a couple." —Ginger Harris

"The most important element and requirement for my dress was that the fit and shape was comfortable and complementary of my body type," Sarah says. A fit-and-flare ivory satin gown filled the bill. "I added a sequin beaded belt to finish the look." She also borrowed a veil, as well as a vintage silver headband and matching earrings to finish the look. "Those accessories completed the look in a way that nothing else could. For me, it was about a simple dress, dressed up."
Sticking to a neutral palette, Sarah dressed her bridesmaids in beaded, floor-length Adrianna Papel gowns in blush or slate gray.
Jarrett wore a traditional, slim-fit tuxedo with a bow tie, while his groomsmen wore slim-fit, black suits with skinny ties.
"Our reception was in the Grand Ballroom, where everything from the carpet print to the chandeliers matched the palette and vibe we wanted," Sarah says. She outfitted the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida with florals of different heights in mercury-glass vessels, along with and crystal candelabras with candlesticks that "matched perfectly with our neutral palette."
"As part of the branding of our wedding, we had a custom monogram made for us, an 'S & J.' This could be found on our invitations, menus, signs and more. It was also part of the focal point of the reception room: the dance floor," Sarah says. "Our dance floor had a white vinyl wrap, and in the center was our monogram in metallic silver."
Bringing further elegance, luxury linens appeared on all the tables at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida. There were four to five linen variations, all with an element of sparkle. Charger plates also caught the light with their glistening design.
"Perhaps the most fun element of our wedding decor was our escort cards. Each guest found their name and table assignment card affixed to a Hot Wheels sports car painted in gold," Sarah says. "Jarrett collects Hot Wheels and loves cars, so we thought this would be a fun way to share that with our guests. He even hand-picked certain cars for certain people."
A towering cake, lined in gold and adorned with a laser-cut "Mr. & Mrs." topper rested atop a glistening, sequin tablecloth, bringing further elegance to the enchanted evening.
"When the reception was over, the guests headed outside, where they received sparklers," Sarah says. "Jarrett and I walked down steps to a landing, where we proceeded to walk through the arbor of sparklers."
Before bidding their good-byes, the couple climbed inside a Ferrari 458 Speciale in red. "Another nod to Jarrett's love of speed," Sarah says. And off they drove into their new life together.