Real Bride Carolina in Leah Da Gloria at her wedding in Puerto Rico

Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?

My husband and I met in college at FIU in Miami back in 2016. We were close friends for many years before we started dating. During COVID, we grew even closer, and at the end of 2020 he finally asked me to be his girlfriend. Over the next five years, we experienced so many of life’s biggest moments together, growing both individually and as a couple. On April 25, 2025, he proposed in Santorini, Greece. What made it even more special was that he secretly flew out my entire family and my two best friends behind my back to surprise me. It was truly everything I could have ever dreamed of and more.

When you started planning your wedding, what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?

I started planning almost immediately after getting engaged in May 2025. I always knew I wanted a destination wedding, and I always knew I wanted it to be in Puerto Rico. We ultimately got married in the same cathedral where my husband’s parents celebrated their 25th wedding vow renewal, and I absolutely love sentimental details that carry meaning. When designing the wedding, I wanted to embrace both sides of Puerto Rico. I wanted the tropical beauty of the island reflected throughout the décor and florals, while also honoring the timeless elegance and history of Old San Juan and the cathedral itself. Looking back, every vendor absolutely brought that vision to life. The final result exceeded anything I could have imagined.

What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?

One of the most important things for us was finding meaningful ways to honor the loved ones who could not be there with us. Both of us have grandparents who have passed away, and it was important that they still felt present on our wedding day.

Inside the cathedral, we included a memorial display dedicated to those who were no longer with us physically but remained with us in spirit. We also placed a few purple orchids alongside the memorial in honor of my husband's grandmother, as they were her favorite flower. It was a simple but meaningful way to remember her and carry her presence with us on such a special day.

Those small touches meant so much to us and allowed us to honor the people who helped shape our lives and relationship.

How did you decide on the location?

Puerto Rico felt like the perfect choice from the beginning. It is incredibly meaningful to my husband's family, and because his parents celebrated their 25th wedding vow renewal in the same cathedral, it felt like we were continuing a beautiful family story.

As soon as we visited Old San Juan, we knew it was exactly where we wanted to get married. The history, architecture, culture, and charm of the city created the perfect backdrop for the wedding we envisioned.

Let's talk dress! Give us all the details!

I always knew exactly what I wanted: a full lace gown. I wasn't interested in pearls, beading, or heavy embellishments, which actually made finding the dress a little more challenging. I loved the look of a corset bodice, an A-line silhouette, and a drop waist.

When I walked into Chic Parisien and explained my vision to Irina, she immediately pulled the perfect dress. It was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked. The process was surprisingly easy, and I knew almost instantly that it was the one.

How did your family and friends play into your wedding planning and wedding day?

Planning a wedding while completing my intern year of internal medicine medical residency was definitely not easy. There were so many moments when I felt like I didn't have enough time to dedicate to planning, but my family and friends stepped in every chance they could.

They constantly made me feel loved, supported, and celebrated throughout my entire bridal era. Whether it was helping with wedding tasks, checking in on me during stressful moments, or simply sharing in my excitement, they made the entire experience so much more special than I could have ever imagined.

What's one specific memory from your wedding day that you'll never forget?

Without question, seeing my dad cry during our first look.

My dad is not a particularly sentimental person, and I honestly don't think I had ever seen him cry before. The moment he saw me in my wedding dress, he immediately became emotional. It completely caught me off guard and is a memory I know I will carry with me forever.

How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?

For makeup, I always knew I wanted a soft matte finish. I originally planned on wearing my hair half-up and half-down, but as the wedding got closer, I started thinking more realistically about Puerto Rico's weather and wanted to be comfortable throughout the entire day.

I ultimately chose a sleek, slicked-back bun, which ended up being one of the best decisions I made. Because the hairstyle was so clean and timeless, I decided to make my eyes the focal point of my makeup and went with a more dramatic eye look. I felt like it perfectly balanced the simplicity and elegance of everything else.

Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?

One thing I didn't fully appreciate until the wedding day was how much time you spend with your photographer, videographer, and content creator. They are truly with you from the moment you start getting ready until the very end of the night.

My team made me feel comfortable, calm, and cared for throughout the entire day. Despite the Puerto Rico heat, they were constantly checking on me, bringing me snacks, making sure I stayed hydrated, and even stopping for piraguas so I could cool down between photos.

I also have to mention my bridal assistant, Bianca. She was an absolute lifesaver. She carried fans, lipstick, lip gloss, safety pins, and essentially every emergency item imaginable. Anytime I needed something, she somehow already had it ready. Having her there allowed me to fully enjoy the day without worrying about any of the little details.

Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?

Because of my medical residency schedule, we weren't able to take our big honeymoon immediately after the wedding. Instead, we spent a week enjoying a mini-moon in Puerto Rico, which ended up being exactly what we needed.

It gave us time to relax, soak everything in, and enjoy that newlywed bubble without rushing back to reality. We have since booked our honeymoon to Seychelles for August 2026, and we're incredibly excited. While it wasn't our original timeline, having that quiet week together in Puerto Rico immediately after the wedding was truly the perfect way to begin married life.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: @rosalina_torres
Venue: @oldsanjuanweddings @hotelelconvento
Photographer: @phosphilic
Videographer: @zurafilm
Content Creator: @socialweds
Decor: @eclectikevents @thelounge.rentals
DJ: @joelbigj
Band: @cuentaregresiva
Pleneros: @yuviplena
Ceremony Music: @apiaceremusic
Cocktail Music: @ricardo.andres.rodz
Saxophone: @nathasax_
H&M Bride & MOB: @makeupbyadrielortiz
H&M Bridesmaids: @chachaglampr
Invitations: @paperboutique
Stationary: @biancaliveslocal @theweddingcornerpr
Entertainment: @elite_luxury_entertainmentpr
Bride’s Dress: @chicparisien @leahdagloria
Groom’s Tux: @mdo_miami
Cake: @gabrieldiazcakedesigner
Bridesmaid Dresses: @azazieofficial
Groomsmen Tuxes: @leonardofifthavenue