THE LOW-DOWN
Pearle and James celebrated their December wedding at the Portofino Bay Hotel with a breathtaking European wedding theme that perfectly reflected their style. Guests traveled from all over to join the couple in the Harbor Piazza, where every detail felt intentional, personal, and full of charm. We had the pleasure of being their day-of coordinators, in one of the most gorgeous ceremonies we’ve seen yet!
This sweet couple envisioned soft, romantic colors of light pink, blush, gold, and ivory to bring their vision to life. Pearle looked breathtaking in not one, but two gowns—a Justin Alexander ceremony dress and a Nicole and Felicia reception dress—while James looked dashing in his tailored suit. Their day carried a sense of sophistication and romance, while still including whimsical nods to their favorite things.
One of the most talked-about details was their love for Minions! Pearle sprinkled them throughout cocktail hour, thanks to the creative team at Dogwood Blossom. About 20 little Minions could be spotted, some even dressed as characters like the Grinch, Rudolph, Chris Pratt, and Harry Potter. There was even one cheeky Minion stationed by the Citrus Piazza fountain, ready to take a swim! To surprise the bride, we tucked a tiny sterling silver Minion charm into the base of her bridal bouquet, a sweet detail just for her that brought the biggest smile when she discovered it on wedding day!
Their reception carried even more personal touches. In a nod to their love of Harry Potter and chess, themed chess sets were displayed in the lounge areas, and guests danced the night away on a pink and white chessboard dance floor. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Pearle and James delighted their guests with a classic French profiterole tower, a perfect choice to fit their European wedding theme.
Dinner was another highlight of the evening. The couple wanted it to feel like a special event, so they treated their guests to a four-course meal lasting two hours. To set the tone, the Italian singers from Mama Della’s performed a lively one-hour set at the beginning of dinner, creating an atmosphere that felt truly transportive. Paired with gold acrylic menus and tall, elegant centerpieces, every detail reflected the couple’s vision of a grand, elegant evening.
Be sure to read on to learn more about Pearle and James’ European wedding theme at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel!
THE "I DO" CREW
Wedding Planner: Ellis McRee, Just Marry!
Ceremony Site at the Portofino Bay Hotel: Harbor Piazza
Cocktail Hour Site at the Portofino Bay Hotel: Citrus Piazza and Venetian Foyer
Reception Site at the Portofino Bay Hotel: Venetian Ballroom
Officiant: Father Noel
Photographer: 28 North Photography
Videographer: The Richards
Florist: Raining Roses
Cocktail Entertainment: Sunset Strings
Reception Entertainment: Soundwave Entertainment
Hair and Makeup: About Face
Rentals: Letz Dance On It
Wedding Cake: Portofino Bay Hotel
Caterer: Portofino Bay Hotel
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PICS
WHAT WE LOVED
The Just Marry! Team so enjoyed bringing Pearle and James’ European wedding theme to life! We asked their wedding planner, Ellis, a few questions about their big day and this is what she shared:
What modern or trendy elements did the couple include?
Perle and James did not cut a traditional wedding cake. They instead have a Profiterole Tower. In France, this is more common. Since they didn’t do cake cutting , the emcee announced “A Sweet Exchange to occur during this time” Wedding cake was still served to guests, but they were also served Profiterole as well!
What fun traditions did the couple celebrate?
Perle is French and born in Canne, France, but then she grew up in Morocco. Because of this, they had a “Moroccan Experience” during their reception! At 11PM, Perle, James, Jade (SOB), and Josianne (MOB) all re-entered the ballroom with two bell dancers! Moroccan themed music played as they entered as well. Perle, James, Jade (SOB), and Josianne (MOB) all had authentic hand-made outfits on from Morocco and the detail was stunning! During the “Moroccan Experience”, authentic Moroccan mint tea (actually from Morocco) and cookies (Mini Baklava, & Fekkas) were served to guests! I loved how this was such a special and creative way to immerse their guests into this culture.
What was something about this event that really stood out to you and made it different?
If I had to choose, the stationary items were my favorite! I’d never seen gold acrylic menus before, and that was a guest favorite! James and his family have fond memories of playing chess, so that’s where the chess elements in the seating display and table numbers came in. The custom, checkered dance floor was a nod to this as well.
Where the couple stayed for their Orlando wedding:
The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.
MORE OF OUR PORTOFINO WEDDINGS
The Portofino Bay Hotel is the perfect venue to show off your European wedding theme! Some of our favorite details about the Portofino are its lovely European elegance, the option to enjoy a glass of wine and gourmet food options at Harbor Nights on select nights, and Musica della Notte, a nightly live opera held in the Harbor Piazza. Check out some of our past Portofino weddings here, then hop over here to start planning your own!
JOIN THE JUST MARRY! FAMILY
If you’re looking for the help of an Orlando wedding planner to partner with you on your own European wedding theme, we’d love to help! Whether you’re seeking an all-inclusive wedding package or a Full Service wedding planner, we’ll help you to bring your wedding dreams to life. Simply Contact Us and a member of our planning team will reach out to you right away. We would love to welcome you to the Just Marry! family!
