A Rustic Italian-Inspired Wedding at Bella Collina in Montverde, Florida

Dawn Evans (44 and an architect) and Walter Hall (49 and a shop supervisor) met by chance and became engaged three months later. Walter dropped to one knee and popped the question at midnight on New Year's Eve. Inspired by their venue, Bella Collina, the couple and Blush by Brandee Gaar spent their two year-long engagement planning a "rustic farmhouse wedding" accented in orange and peach. "The motif was very Italian with olive branches, etc..The predominant colors were orange and peach based on the time of day for the ceremony, sunset, and the venue," says Dawn. The ceremony was held in the covered atrium as orange flower petals and floating candles lined the aisle. After Dawn and Walter exchanged vows, the couple and their 90 guests moved to the venue's reflection pool for the outdoor cocktail hour and indoor reception complete with lemonade, sweet tea, italian beer, and antipasto stations. Decadent displays of meats, cheeses, vegetables, olives, dried and fresh fruit, honey and breads were set around the reception area - most of which were purchased from a local farm. A variety of options were also available for dessert as the couple treated their guests to mini pies, cookies, cupcakes and even a s'mores bar. Dawn and Walter spent the night making s'mores over a fire pit, talking with family and friends as well as dancing to their guests favorite love songs. "We wanted everyone to enjoy a night celebrating love," says Dawn.