Details, Details, Details!

When the Brits invaded this 4th of July holiday, a new type of bold wedding emerged that Americans had never seen before. The wedding of native New Yorker, Erika Quinones, to British raised soccer phenom, Liam Rosenior, took Central Florida by storm. During the summer of 2007, Your Fantasy Affair began working with Erika on a wedding design that would knock her guests’ socks off. We dared her to be BOLD. We dared her to show her guests an event that had never been done before, and one they would not be likely to see again. How did we pull it off?? Attention to DETAIL and thinking out of the box.

How many ballroom weddings have you been to that consist of a room filled with square and/or round tables with some ivory linens and a simple arrangement of roses? We encouraged Erika to get creative, so instead of circles and squares we went to the next dimension – OCTAGONS! Tables, crystal risers, and the dance floor were all shaped as octagons, with crystals dripping from everything we could keep held down. Seen columns before in a ballroom? Sure you have… Now how about this: Ever seen a column of open air Plexiglas risers, dripping crystals, and exotic lush florals? Ah hah! We got you! Your Fantasy Affair and the team from Raining Roses worked hard to implement designs that would leave guests talking for decades (not years) to come.

Yearning for more details? How about the new ice chiavari chairs… some covered in white shimmer sheer and white payettes, and the others with custom tied turquoise ribbon and crystals? Half our tables had silver iced branches with dripping candles; the other half had a bold modern arrangement of solid gerbera daisies and hydrangea.

How did the Ritz-Carlton play to Erika’s need to be different? They implemented two completely separate menus of course. One menu of decadent poached lobster tail and filet mignon for our guests from the UK, and another Latin fare of plantain encrusted Chilean seabass and jerk chicken for Erika’s family of Puerto Rican descendants. “Let them eat cake?” Nah… the Ritz added zest to their service by a full fondue station with homemade marshmallows, fruits, and Erika’s favorite macaroons.

Of course we didn’t skip the tradition of a wedding cake. We do have SOME wedding standards… but did Erika and Liam have your everyday white cake with accenting florals? I think you know the answer. Bake Me a Cake created a masterpiece confection of layer upon layer of uniquely custom designs that towered over the couple. Raining Roses finished this off with a custom cake canopy of Asian rice paper and suspended crystals from the canopy center.

How did we spice up the ceremony? Raining roses created custom Plexiglas risers with engraved monograms and led lit candles.

Bands of hydrangea and gerbera daisies were hung from the beautiful Ritz-Carlton wedding gazebo, along with tied back sheets of shimmer sheer fabric. Forget “Here Comes the Bride,” Erika entered her ceremony to a quartet playing the famed Italian ballad, “Con Te Partiro.”

How do you change entertainment from your regular DJ or band? How about an illusionist that performed mind boggling tricks and fantasies while guests enjoyed cocktails, fireworks, and an outdoor swanky lounge?

Erika and Liam also loved the Asian themed clubs from the U.K. so an after-party was created in this image with separate grooves and beats to keep guests guessing what was to come next. Famed disc jockey extraordinaire, DJ Infrared, turned the Ritz-Carlton Tuscany ballroom into a swanky lounge straight from the London underground.

All of these details and more created the “It Factor” that makes Your Fantasy Affair one of the top design and coordination companies in the country. However, what wowed guests most were the dazzling bride and her doting new husband. The love of Erika and Liam filled not only the enormous Ritz-Carlton property, but spilt all over Central Florida. When all is said in done, Erika & Liam’s guests will never forget the way Liam’s eyes filled with tears as he snuck peaks at Erika as she entered the ceremony; how her eyes filled with emotion as they said, “I do;” and the pure moment of joy when the couple enjoyed that first kiss in front of God as man and wife.

Your Fantasy Affair has to thank the amazing vendors we worked with that made this event possible:
-The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
-Raining Roses
-Damon Tucci Photography
-Bake Me A Cake
-Kids Nite Out
-Room Service Rentals
-Quest Drape
-American Audiovisual
-Dragonfly Custom Design
-CVP Videography
-BBJ Linen
-Uniquely United’s Reverend Randall Miller
-Famed illusionist, Guy Bavli
-Panache Rentals
-Dale Dees Hair & Make-Up Design
-DJ Carl
-DJ Infrared
-Absolutely Fitting of Winter Park

-The Collection
-Beautiful Music

**Keep an eye out for a feature on Erika & Liam’s wedding in the upcoming issue of top magazine “Desination I Do” **