A Lavish Lotus-Inspired Wedding at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida

In the opulent Mediterranean Ballroom at the Breakers, law school sweethearts Amanda Parra (26 and a lawyer) and John Criste (25 and a lawyer) celebrated their union surrounded by 300 friends and relatives. The couple planned a Palm Beach, Florida, destination wedding over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend so guests could thoroughly enjoy the location. “The Breakers provided the perfect venue to have a weekend of activities, including pool parties, golf, yoga and brunch,” Amanda says. Amanda and John personalized their ceremony by writing the script with the help of Amanda’s brother, who officiated the ceremony. “It incorporated various traditional and spiritual elements,” she says. A gospel choir and string quartet played instrumental versions of modern songs for the ceremony, such as Beyonce’s "Halo" and "Ave Maria." The ceremony and reception spaces were embellished with glitzy gold accents and modern black touches to create a refined color scheme. “Metallics with lotus-inspired detail set the tone for all the elements in the wedding,” Amanda says. The lotus (Amanda’s favorite flower) was a unifying design from the custom damask laser-cut invitation suite to the towering eight-tier cake. “We had traveled to Southeast Asia and India, where the flower not only grows natively but is a symbol of beauty, enlightenment and new beginnings," Amanda says. “When John and I met, I felt like we both truly blossomed into the adults we were meant to be. So it seemed fitting to use the flower as the inspiration for our new beginning.” Amanda and John had their first dance under the same grand floral halo where they exchanged vows. “The ceremony space was emptied out,” Amanda says. “The emptiness made the room feel like a true ballroom meant only for dancing—‘Beauty and the Beast’ style.” After taking dance lessons for several months, the couple’s efforts culminated in a 10-minute first dance that was a mix of four dance styles—rumba, tango, salsa and cha-cha. Guests danced to top 40 hits and traditional Latin songs like “La Hora Loca,” a nod to Amanda's Cuban heritage. Bollywood dancers were brought in as entertainment, and guests dolled themselves up with henna, bangles and dancing shoes. Says Amanda, “Our music was off the chain, and guests danced all night!” —Marissa Hermanson