A Tropical, Elegant Wedding at the Vizcaya Museum in Miami, Florida

Unfolding the Paper Suite

wedding invitation suite with monogrammed and hand-painted details — Jose Villa

The pair's die-cut, letterpress invitation suite by Studio Luzance featured a myriad of nods to their venue, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Hand-painted banana leaves infused the main card with tropical flair; a vellum enclosure, complete with a coral design, held the entire set together. Envelopes were personalized via the duo's stamp selects, which depicted botanical and coastal motifs (yet another reference to the waterfront garden setting).

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On Location

Katia fell in love with Vizcaya's Italian Baroque and Renaissance-inspired gardens and architecture—and the oceanfront view, of course. "Every inch of Vizcaya is elegant and beautiful," she explains.

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Her First Look

bride wearing trumpet style gown with beading on the sheer sleeves — Jose Villa

The bride donned two wedding dresses on the big day. Her first—a fitted number from Maison Signore with illusion sleeves—was also her last; she wore it for her and Francisco's first look, changed for the ceremony, and put it back on for the reception.

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Bount of Blooms

bride bouquet with pinks and warm colors — Jose Villa

Katia's lush, layered bouquet, composed by Sarah Winward, was filled with soft blooms and trailing vines. Peach-and-honey-hued ranunculus and sweet pea created a voluminous base; greens added movement to the edges.

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Shades of Pink

bride with four bridesmaids in pink dresses — Jose Villa

Bridesmaids donned a mix of Jenny Yoo ensembles in two colorways: Sedona Sunset and Petal. Both shades spoke to the event's coral-centric palette.

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Touch of Metallic

groom in cream floral printed suit with black vest underneath — Jose Villa

"For the ceremony, we went formal but with that Lindor flair!" says Katia of Francisco's big-day attire from Tom James. "We used a classic tuxedo pattern, but tapered the legs on the pants and used a gorgeous ivory jacquard fabric instead of the traditional black." There were some traditional touches, too; a solid black vest, bow tie, and a crisp white shirt grounded the look. "And with everything made custom, it fit him like a glove," says Katia.

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Shimmering Loafers

grooms black loafers with sparkles — Jose Villa

Christian Louboutin loafers, with a glitter exterior, and a rare Audemars Piguet watch completed Francisco's ensemble.

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With the Guys

groom with groomsmen wearing back tuxes — Jose Villa

Francisco's groomsmen donned custom Tom James tuxedos with classic bow ties and matching Christian Louboutin shoes. "We kept their attire traditional and elegant to let the groom stand out in his unique tux," explains the bride.

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Little VIP

flower girl in beaded white dress with hair bow — Jose Villa

"Our daughter, Kalina, didn't have the job of flower girl or ring bearer, but she walked down the aisle with her father, the groom, wearing a custom Lé Lauriér by Lauren Holovka miniature white princess ball gown," notes Katia.

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Their First Look

bride and groom going for a hug after first look — Jose Villa

Katia felt a mix of emotions ahead of the pair's first look on the grounds of Vizcaya—she was excited, but nervous, too. "I wanted everything to go perfectly and for Francisco to be pleasantly surprised by my dress, which I picked out for this occasion with him in mind," explains the bride, noting that his look was a surprise to her, as well. "We also said our vows, so this was a very special moment we shared, just the two of us. After, I felt utterly elated and couldn't wait for the ceremony to start!"

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With Mom

mother of the groom in sequined dress kissing groom's hand — Jose Villa

Francisco posed for a few emotional photos with his mother ahead of the service.

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Candlelit Aisle

outdoor ceremony setup on stone steps with candles — Jose Villa

Petite floral arrangements and candles trailed down the steps and around a fountain, paving the way to the waterfront altar.

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Garden Chairs

outdoor wedding ceremony set up with metal chairs and candles — Jose Villa

Ornate iron chairs were placed along the terraced stairs at the entrance of the museum gardens.

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Here Comes the Bride

bride walking down the aisle with father — Jose Villa

Live musicians switched from Pachelbel's "Canon in D" to the traditional bride chorus as Katia—accompanied by her father and resplendent in an Oscar de la Renta ball gown—made her ceremony debut.

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Sealed with a Kiss

bride and groom kiss at the altar — Jose Villa

The pair exchanged traditional vows in front of a custom arch structure, designed by Brooke Keegan Special Events and produced by 2R Creative, built to mirror the doors and windows of a nearby building. Tropical plants and white blooms grew up the arches; they appeared to be part of the existing garden. After the newlyweds were pronounced husband and wife, they sealed their union with a kiss—and recessed down the aisle to the classic wedding march.

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Signature Sips

specialty wedding cocktails in martini glasses — Jose Villa

During the cocktail hour in a close-by courtyard, attendees sipped on the duo's three signature cocktails: an Aperol spritz, elderflower cosmopolitan, and paloma.

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Find Your Seat

wedding escort card display with rose gold holders and flowers — Jose Villa

The escort card display table was placed against wallpapered backdrop that mimicked the delicate texture of the coral and seashells that cover the walls of the museum. Marble and copper trays were filled with seashells and other sea treasures; metallic holders pinched each guest's seating assignment, printed on coral-hued cards.

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Inside the Tent

circular reception table with rustic wooden chairs paired with metallic linens and candles — Jose Villa

Katia and Francisco's reception, which took place under a tent, was designed to feel like an extension of Vizcaya and took cues from its gardens. A mix of long and round tables were placed inside the expansive space, which encapsulated a full bar and dance floor.

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Metallic Linens

table setting with metallic table cloth and napkins with gold utensils — Jose Villa

Each table's textural linens from La Tavola gave off a slight sheen as a nod to the sea just beyond the venue.

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Tonal Blooms

table centerpiece with pink and yellow roses with candles — Jose Villa

Overflowing floral arrangements were placed in cast iron vessels; sandstone-hued candles trailed down the tabletops.

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Thematic Chandeliers

The chandeliers, composed of tiny wooden beads with an oceanic feel, looked like coral and referenced the pattern on Katia's Oscar de la Renta ceremony dress.

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Raising the Bar

reception bar with vines and greenery — Jose Villa

A custom bar and backdrop was covered with stucco; it blended in perfectly with the museum's historic stone walls and coral flooring. Vine-centric floral arrangements and sconces that matched the tent's chandeliers added extra ambience to the drink station.

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A First Spin

bride and groom first dance — Jose Villa

The bride changed back into her Maison Signore gown for the pair's first dance, which they took to Andrea Bocelli's version of "Can't Help Falling in Love." "I grew up listening to Andrea Bocelli and always loved this song," explains Katia. "I shared it with Francisco some time after we started dating, and it was the first song that came to mind when it came time to choose something for our first dance."

The music component of the evening was next level: "We had a live band led by Latin Jazz bassist Ramon Vazquez Martirena, who was accompanied by a group of incredible musicians, most of whom traveled from Puerto Rico," says Katia. "We had a few special guests, too, including Salsa icon Andy Montañez and reggaetón artist, Sech."

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Dainty Cake

The pair's vegan three-tier confection from Earth and Sugar was hand-painted with botanicals and composed of layers in different widths for visual intrigue. Its chocolate cake was filled with vegan cocoa frosting.

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Mini Desserts

reception deserts in cones in holder — Jose Villa

Sweets including these miniature cones, which were filled with tiramisu, and chocolate graham s'mores also made the rounds during the dessert hour.

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Firework Surprise

bride and groom with guests watching firework display — Jose Villa

At the end of the evening, Katia surprised her husband with a fireworks show, courtesy of Light FX Pros. "It was incredible, as were the musicians and being able to dance the night away together with our closest friends and family members," she reflects. "Hands down, this night was the most fun we have ever had."