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A Chic Destination Wedding In Florida

Jul 07, 2016

| By Roseanne Dela Rosa

For some couples, finding the perfect venue can be the hardest part of wedding planning. Luckily for Torontonians Mira Metter and Michael Werry, the choice came naturally. “We had been going to Mountain Lake Country Club in Florida for several years, over the holidays, and found it to be such a special place,” Mira explains. “We got engaged just before heading there for Christmas and started imagining how incredible it would be to have our guests there for a wedding. When we got home, we looked at a few other venues but everything was booked for our date and nothing was equal to Mountain Lake Country Club's charm.”

Inspired by their location, Mike and Mira planned a spectacular wedding weekend getaway for 120 loved ones. “Our guests mean the world to us, and we were so excited and blown away by how many came out to celebrate,” Mira says. To keep their nearest and dearest occupied, Mira and Mike created a vacation itinerary, which included golf and tennis tournaments, tours of the park, croquet, massages and several hosted dinners and brunches. For those who wanted to explore the area on their own or lounge by the pool, there were plenty of opportunities to do that, too. “The welcome dinner the night before the main event was held at the country club’s pool house, and featured both a full dance party and an epic viewing of the Blue Jays’ final game in the post-season series,” Mira says. As for the main celebration, not a single detail was overlooked—airport transportation, babysitters, and on-site hairstylists were readily available to make it an amazing and relaxing weekend for all.

Pre-ceremony, Mira and Mike took advantage of the country club’s stunning grounds. It was amid the rolling hills, orange groves and lush greenery that the duo had their first look. “She was breathtaking and everything I had imagined,” says Mike. “It was wonderful to have that moment to ourselves to contemplate the adventure we were about to embark on.” The ceremony took place at El Caserio, a 100-year-old Spanish-style house, one of 125 private residences situated inside the Mountain Lake community. “The garden features a cascading waterfall, gardens, citrus trees, a bell tower and an incredible view of the entire park,” says Mira. “It is by far one of the most incredibly beautiful and romantic places I’ve ever seen. I was beyond excited when we were offered its use for our ceremony.”

After taking pictures, the newlyweds brought guests to the Colony House, the main clubhouse and inn, for their reception. The couple used white-and-gold decor to play up the chic ambiance of the space. “We wanted everything to have a feeling of timelessness and be entirely romantic,” Mira says. “Everything was intended to blend into and enhance the existing beauty of the country club.”

To that end, Mira asked Ferris Wheel Press to create stationery that matched the modern, elegant mood. Everything, from the wedding cake topper to the invitations to the place cards, helped set the tone for Mira and Mike’s classic event.

The party got into full swing as Rusty Riggs, an eight-piece band with a DJ, kept guests entertained all evening. “Everyone danced all night—even my 96-year-old grandmother got out of her wheelchair to hit the floor,” Mira notes with a laugh. “It was awesome! I think everyone could feel we were having fun and in turn echoed the vibe, which made it even more special. To this day, our friends tell us they want to go back to our wedding to do it again.”

Mira Metter and Michael Werry, October 24, 2015, Lake Wales, Florida.

Photography courtesy of Mango Studios.

Vendors Ceremony and reception venue: Mountain Lake Country Club
Wedding planner: Abbey Grey of Blush
Bridal gown: Pronovias
Bridesmaid dresses: Intermix
Groom's tux: Brooks Brothers
Cake: Anna Cakes
Music: Rusty Riggs Hair and makeup: Victoria Dixon
Flowers: Lee James Floral Designs
Stationery: Ferris Wheel Press