Jarell and Ana's Wedding in Lake Como, Florida

The story of our wedding

Two summers ago, Jarell took me on a boat ride across the shimmering waters of Lake Como for a special dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant, I noticed something unusual—there wasn’t a single soul in sight. The entire place seemed to belong to us. We were escorted to a secluded lakeside cave, where they planned to serve us their exquisite tasting menu. As we walked in, I saw our table surrounded by rose petals, carefully arranged into the shape of a heart. Tears welled up in my eyes as Jarell gently guided me to the table. Then, he knelt down on one knee and asked me the most important question of my life.

Two years and countless phone calls to our wedding planner later, we returned to Lake Como, this time to unite our Albanian and Filipino cultures in a celebration of love.

Our day began with an intimate moment—our "first touch"—as we exchanged vows without yet seeing each other. It made the experience even more personal and magical. Then, we made our way to a breathtaking historical church, where we said "I do" surrounded by loved ones. A charming boat carried us across the lake to our reception, where the festivities came alive. We indulged in a feast that beautifully blended our two cultures, and danced the night away to a mix of traditional Albanian music and modern hits. It was a day that felt like a perfect fusion of our love story—creative, meaningful, and uniquely ours.