CECILIE WEDEL & MAURICIO PEREZ
November 5, 2016 Palm Beach, Florida Photographed by Nancy Cohn Photography
After nearly two years of dating, Cecilie (Cece) Wedel brought her Venezuelan beau, Mauricio Perez, to her native country of Denmark. Her parents were celebrating an anniversary and it was a great opportunity for Cece to introduce her love to her Danish friends and family. Given the occasion and length of their relationship, the couple heard many people hinting that the two of them may be getting engaged soon, but Mauricio insisted that was not yet on the horizon. The next day, the sweethearts whisked away to Paris. On a bridge overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Maruricio got on one knee and proposed to Cece.
CECILIE WEDEL & MAURICIO PEREZ
RESOURCES
Aisle Runner
The Original Runner Company Beauty
Shirley Baptista for Lotus Hair Studio Bridal Gown
Reem Acra
Bridal Salon
Kleinfeld Bridal
Bridesmaid Gowns
Watters
Calligraphy
Stacey Podell Calligraphy Consulting
Heather Lowenthal for Posh Parties Entertainment
AAMusicians; Libido Band for Tropics Entertainment
Favors
Cool Glow
Promovizion
Floral Design
Jose Graterol Designs
Formalwear
Ermenegildo Zegna
Men’s Wearhouse Headpiece/Hair Accessories Kleinfeld Bridal
Invitations
C’est Papier
Jewelry
Mouradian Jewelry
Lighting Design
FROST Florida
Mothers’ Gowns
Jesper Høvring
Tadashi Shoji for BHLDN Photography
Nancy Cohn Photography Registries
Bloomingdale’s; Crate and Barrel Williams-Sonoma
Rentals/Linens
Jose Graterol Designs
Veil
Justine M Couture
Venue
Mar-a-Lago
Videography
Senderey Video
Though the bride and groom reside in Boston, they elected to host a destination wedding in Palm Beach, Florida, where both of their immediate families live. After looking at several venues, they landed on a beautiful country club that would allow them to have the late-night reception their respective cultures would require. As a bonus, the ballroom is decorated in cream and white – the same color scheme Cece already had in mind. “The wedding was really a team effort and we pulled inspiration and ideas from our respective cultures. While I worked closely with my wedding planner, Heather Lowenthal of Posh Parties, on all of the details, my family and Mauricio were involved in the major decisions,” she notes. In fact, the groom was able to use his experience as an art director to design a feature used throughout the celebration. “Our monogram tells our love story through symbols,” Mauricio explains. The custom artwork showcased the Danish crown, stars from the Venezuelan flag, the bridge where they had their first kiss, and the Eiffel Tower to represent their engagement. “I was also involved in the layout of the menus, invitations, and signage,” he adds.
The original plan was to wed in an alfresco ceremony, but unpredictable November weather caused the bride and groom to move the vow exchange indoors. Luckily, the flowers perfectly complemented the space, and everything turned out beautifully. Even Cece’s gown, which featured an elegant gold-beaded bodice, matched the palette of the ballroom. The walk down the aisle was emotional as the couple decided not to do a “first look.” “As soon as I turned the corner and saw Mauricio, I started crying, which then caused my dad to cry. I thought I had my emotions together, but nothing can prepare you for the feeling you get when you actually start walking down the aisle!” exclaims the bride. Seeing his beloved make her way towards him on that special day stood out to the groom as well. “That moment assured me I am literally the luckiest man on earth. She was stunning and flawless,” he gushes. During the recessional, attendees tossed flower petals, a twist on the traditional rice used in Denmark.
“You want the day to be the first page of the best book ever written.”
Cocktail hour was held by the pool while the ballroom was transformed for the reception. Arrangements of vanillahued roses, hydrangeas, lisianthus blossoms, and dendrobium orchids formed both high and low centerpieces, adding depth and dimension to the space. “My favorite element of décor was four big, white floral trees flanking the two bars, with beautiful flowers cascading down,” Cecilie describes. The sophisticated setting did not mean there was no fun to be had. As per Venezuelan tradition, the reception featured an hora loca, or crazy hour, giving everyone an extra burst of energy. The hour commenced with a confetti cannon and attendees were given glow tubes and bracelets, along with personalized sunglasses. The revelers joined together in a train around the room, delighting the newlyweds. “Having all of our loved ones from all over the world in one room was really special and the blending of different cultures made for a fun party!” shares the bride.
The real highlight, however, was when Mauricio took the stage. He surprised his bride with a song he wrote just for her, titled “Cecilie,” of course. “When he started singing to me, I was sobbing,” she confirms. It was one moment of many that they will treasure forever. Both bride and groom encourage other couples to utilize the whole weekend by mingling at events such as the rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and brunch, so there is more opportunity to soak everything in. “Dance until you can’t dance anymore, enjoy every minute, try to slow down time, and don’t get caught up with the small things,” Mauricio advises, adding: “You want the day to be the first page of the best book ever written.”