Inspiration for This Wedding at Bella Collina in Montverde, Florida, Was Purely Tuscan

For their “laid-back Jewish wedding,” Erika Cohen (27 and a pediatric resident) and Michael (Mike) Shuster (29 and a firefighter and medic) used a rich, wine-infused color palette that embraced the rustic, Tuscan feel of their venue. “We had a real vision for the décor, and Raining Roses really helped make that vision come to life,” Erika says. Floral arrangements with proteas, roses and greenery, plus a leaf-studded cake that could have been plucked straight from a home in the Italian countryside, rounded out the day. “We knew the wine color was a little dark for the spring season,” Erika says, “but it’s so romantic and fit the venue, so we stuck with our gut and incorporated the wine colors with blush and cream tones to brighten it up.” An olive branch motif on the escort cards helped tie in the Tuscan theme. After visiting 12 boutiques, Erika fell in love with her classic gown—the opposite of what she originally wanted. “It was so elegant and traditional,” she says. A custom veil with matching lace finished the look. At the reception, the couple’s chuppah was repurposed to frame the cake table. “It was so beautiful, we couldn’t just use it for the ceremony,” Erika says. As for entertainment, the couple flew in two electric violinists from Mexico to play alongside the DJ.