Classic Chinese wedding at Bella Collina

Last December we headed down to Florida for a beautiful holiday wedding at Bella Collina! This venue has quickly become a favorite of ours, the Tuscany views all around the venue speak for themselves! A few weeks before the wedding Sarah texted us worried that the weather was forecasting rain on their wedding day, which worried us because the plan was for a completely outdoor wedding. One of the biggest things Sarah & Jim were excited about was hiring Kaleidoscope Lighting to install a net of lights over their entire reception, but with the forecast of rain it seemed like all their plans were not going to be possible. They would be stuck in a ballroom instead of outdoors like they had always dreamt. With some research we were able to find a tent rental large enough to accommodate a large reception . This tent idea would give them the feeling of being outside while also utilizing the string lights! We were so excited when Sarah & Jim were onboard with this idea, It turned out even more magical then we imagined. With the top of the tent exposed you could see the sky above and string lights that were attached to the tent made it feel like hundreds of little stars were sparkling above us! Even when there were hiccups with the stormy weather, Sarah & Jim’s made the most of their wedding day. They didn't allow the rain to stop them from celebrating their love & dancing the night away!

One of our favorite moments from Sarah & Jim’s wedding day, was how they still wove their Chinese culture into their wedding day. The morning of the wedding they both got dressed in the most beautiful & vibrate Chinese bridal attire and played a traditional Chinese game called gate crashes! This tradition starts with the bride hiding away and the bridesmaids setting up a number of challenges for the groom and groomsmen to complete. These tasks are a way for the groom to demonstrate his love for the bride. These games involved consuming a concoction of sauces, answering questions about the bride and grooms relationship and dancing to the baby shark song. The best part is that these moments involve the entire bridal party, which makes it all the more fun! We loved being able to capture these moments and get to share in the laughter and fun of it all!

Kind words from the bride & groom

In working with Karina and Maks, we’ve discovered that they have something that others seldom tend to have with their clients: genuine care.
They’ve shown us that way before we even signed a work contract and have been consistent in providing not just excellent photography, but also spot-on advice, trust-inspiring diligence, and the kind of encouragement you would hear from a close friend.
Their experience shines in their work. Right from the start, Karina and Maks emailed us to find the timing of our wedding schedule in order to plan how to efficiently order the myriad of photo shoots. When the situation got stressful, they kept cool and helped us focus on the moment. Even when it was forecasted to rain on our wedding day, they advised us to bring a few clear umbrellas to ensure we could take outdoor photos with enough lighting (and brought a few, too!). They gave great directions to help bring out the best posture and facial expressions in our photos.
It’s one thing to be talented at what you do and to provide excellent service; it’s quite another to provide those services with kindness and grace. We loved that they anticipated many of the potential issues. They went above and beyond their scope of work even in helping us research alternatives for tent vendors. Karina and Maks have exceptional interpersonal skills. Communicating with them has always been easy and they really listen to the concerns we have. We noticed this was not just with us -- they worked well with the other professionals, too. As an example, my bridesmaids noted to me that during the wedding Karina and Maks would hold umbrellas for the videographers and would share prime shooting spots with them as well.
Above all, it was the fact that Karina and Maks cared for everyone they encountered that made us feel like we made the right choice with our photographers. If you are considering them for an event, we would whole-heartedly recommend them to you.

Vendors:
Wedding dress designer: Galina Signature
Bridal Shoe: Jimmy Choo
Venue: Bella Collina
Videographer: Josh & Rachel
Coordinator: Anna Christine Events
DJ: Our DJ Rocks
Cake: Sugar Sugar Cake Boutique
Lighting: Kaleidoscope Lighting
Tent: Orlando Wedding & Party Rental