Bella & Juan's Bella Cosa Wedding | A Whole Lot of Love, Family, and a Few Swans
They did it! After a rainy Florida morning, seeing these two this happy beneath that oak tree was worth every minute of watching the radar.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
Some weddings just stay with you, and Bella and Juan's Bella Cosa Wedding is absolutely one of them. On October 17, 2026, these two said "I do" surrounded by the people they love most, and I couldn't have asked for a sweeter couple or more wonderful families to spend the day with.
Bella and Juan met during COVID, have been inseparable ever since, and balance each other so beautifully. They're fun, loving, and the kind of people who make you feel like you've known them forever. After nearly a year of planning together, I wasn't just excited to see their wedding come to life. I was genuinely excited for them.
A Wedding That Was So Perfectly Bella and Juan
From the beginning, Bella and Juan knew they wanted their wedding to feel natural, intentional, and centered around family.
They fell in love with the beauty of Bella Cosa in Lake Wales, Florida, but rather than getting married on the terrace, they wanted to exchange vows beneath the gorgeous oak tree overlooking the lake.
Their entire design grew from that vision.
We incorporated organic garden tones of white, soft buttercream, chartreuse, and fresh greens. Jennie's Flowers did an incredible job bringing everything together, and the florals looked like they belonged right there among the beautiful surroundings.
The gentlemen wore classic black tuxedos, while the bridesmaids each chose their own dresses in different shades of green and yellow. No two dresses were alike, and I loved how beautifully they all complemented one another.
And then there were the swans!
Bella loves swans, so naturally, we had to find ways to incorporate them. From reserved seating cards and coffee cups to the sweetheart table and cake topper, we tucked them into the design in little ways. Nothing over the top, just those small details that make a wedding personal.
The little details that made their day so personal. Swans, Polaroids, florals, and a nod to Juan's Cuban heritage.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
The Sweetest Family Moments
Family means everything to these two, and that was evident throughout the entire wedding weekend.
Bella wore her mom's wedding dress to the rehearsal, which I thought was such a beautiful way to honor her. During alterations, the sleeves were removed, and one was saved to wrap around Bella's bridal bouquet.
I absolutely loved that detail.
On the wedding day, Bella shared a first look with her dad, Craig, and Juan had his own first look with his mom, Mercedes.
Let me tell you, both moments were emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, and I'm fairly certain I contributed to that!
These are the moments I love most about weddings. The little things that mean so much more than anyone else might realize.
Family was at the heart of this entire celebration, and moments like these are exactly why I love weddings.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
Florida Weather, You Really Know How to Keep a Planner on Her Toes
If you've ever planned an outdoor wedding in Florida, especially in October, you know Mother Nature likes to keep us guessing.
We started the morning with rain, humidity, and a radar that I watched like it was my full-time job. I knew how important that lakeside ceremony was to Bella and Juan, so I held off making the final weather call as long as possible.
At 3:00 p.m., I made the decision. We were going outside.
And I cannot tell you how happy that made me.
When we started putting linens on the cocktail tables and moving the ceremony florals outside, I actually teared up a little. After all those months of conversations, meetings, decisions, and planning, they were going to get married exactly where they had envisioned. The wind gave us a little challenge with the florals, but we made some adjustments, and everything came together beautifully.
Not another drop of rain, and by the evening, we had the most wonderful breezy, cool fall weather.
Thank you, Florida. We appreciate you cooperating, even if you waited until the last possible minute!
Cuban Coffee, Hand-Rolled Cigars, and One Incredible Celebration
After their beautiful lakeside ceremony, it was time to celebrate!
Bella and Juan love good food, and incorporating Juan's Cuban heritage was important to them. Olympia Catering provided a wonderful dinner, and afterward, guests enjoyed freshly prepared Cuban coffee from Cafecito Mio Orlando and hand-rolled cigars from Don Esteban Cigars.
The coffee was used by the bartenders to make espresso martinis, which was such a fun addition. Between the music from DJ Coro, the delicious food, and the love surrounding these two, it was a wonderful evening.
And seeing their families and friends enjoying everything we had spent months putting together made all the work worth it.
Cuban coffee and hand-rolled cigars were such a wonderful way to incorporate Juan's heritage into the celebration.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
One Last Dance, Just for the Two of Them
One of my absolute favorite moments of the entire wedding happened after the celebration was technically over.
Bella and Juan wanted to spend every possible minute with their family and friends. They didn't want to leave the reception early for a private last dance, and honestly, I couldn't blame them.
But they still wanted that quiet moment together.
So, I made them a promise. We would do both.
They celebrated with their guests right up until 10:00 p.m., when the music stopped and it was time for everyone to head home.
Once they'd said their goodbyes, I grabbed my little speaker, and we headed back outside beneath the chandeliers before Under One Tent began breaking everything down.
I played their song, stepped back, and let them have their moment.
Just Bella and Juan, dancing together beneath the lights. No guests watching, no interruptions, and nothing else demanding their attention.
I quietly took a few photos and recorded a video, but I made sure to keep my distance so they could be in their own little world.
And for those few minutes, they were.
It was such a simple moment, but one of the most beautiful parts of their entire wedding.
After a day filled with family, friends, laughter, and celebrating, they had a few minutes that belonged entirely to them.
I'm so glad we made that happen.
After saying goodbye to their guests, Bella and Juan shared one last private dance beneath the chandeliers. Just the two of them, and one of my favorite moments of the entire day.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
The Little Things Are Always My Favorite
Something I always tell my couples is that I want their wedding to feel like them, not like a wedding we copied from Pinterest.
Of course, I help with timelines, design meetings, floral meetings, signage, and the hundreds of little decisions that come with planning a wedding. But what I really love is getting to know my couples.
I learn what makes them laugh, what stresses them out, what matters most to their families, and which details have a special meaning.
Bella and Juan's first dance song was especially meaningful to their relationship, so I had the lyrics printed on linen with their wedding date and framed it as a gift. It wasn't anything extravagant. It was simply something I knew would mean a lot to them.
And that's exactly why I love doing what I do.
A Little Something Bella Told Me That I'll Never Forget
On their wedding night, Bella told me something that genuinely touched my heart.
She said that within the first five minutes of our initial connection call, she knew they were going to hire me.
She told me I was asking questions no one else had asked and making them feel comfortable before we'd even started working together.
I don't think she realizes how much that meant to me. I spend so much time getting to know my couples because I want them to know they have someone in their corner who truly cares about their wedding, their experience, and the people they love.
Bella and Juan, I am so grateful you found me. Getting to know you both and your families has been such a joy, and I will always have a special place in my heart for all of you.
Thank you for letting me be a small part of your story.
Almost a year of planning, countless conversations, and one beautiful wedding day! Getting to know Bella and Juan and their wonderful families has been such a joy. These two will always have a special place in my heart.
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
The Amazing Vendor Team
It takes a wonderful team to bring a wedding like this together, and I'm so thankful for the talented professionals who helped make Bella and Juan's Bella Cosa Wedding so special.
Venue: Bella Cosa Weddings | @bellacosaweddings
Planning and Coordination: Something Blue Events | @_somethingblueevents
Cake: Hands on Sweets | @handsonsweets
Catering: Olympia Catering | @olympiacatering
Cigar Roller: Don Esteban Cigars | @donestebancigars
Coffee Cart: Cafecito Mio Orlando | @cafecitomioorlando
DJ: DJ Coro | @corolized
Florist: Jennie's Flowers | @jenniesflorist
Hair and Makeup: Bridal Beauty Collective | @bridal.beauty.collective
Makeup: Makeup by Angeles | @makeupby.angeles
Photography: Carolyn Rowe Photography | @carolynrowephotography
Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals | @kateryaneventrentals
Rentals: Marilyn's Linen & Weddings | Facebook
Rentals: Under One Tent Events | @underonetentevents
Videography: EStory Visuals | @estoryvisuals
Violinist: Lemay Olano James | @olanojames
Your Story Deserves to Be Told, Too
Every couple has their own story, and getting to know the people behind the wedding is one of my favorite parts of what I do.
If you're planning your own wedding in Central Florida, I'd love to hear your story, learn what matters most to you, and see how Something Blue Events can be part of your celebration.
