The glamour of a bygone era was beautifully brought to life at the wedding celebration of Daniella Jassir and Hernando Fadul. “I have never been to Cuba,” admits the graceful bride, “but I imagined walking into a Havana nightclub in the 1950s – that was the atmosphere I envisioned.”

Urbane and evocative of heady Havana nights, the couple’s reception was strictly a black-tie affair and played host to a who’s who of Colombian society and international guests. However, the pair’s historic theme actually began with their nuptial mass, which was held at a landmark famous throughout the Latin community.

“The ceremony took place at Catedral Basílica de Santa Marta, the first cathedral in Latin America,” shares Daniella, who fell in love with the Spanish Colonial church when her cousin married there in 2003. The imposing sanctuary featured vaulted ceilings, marble columns, round archways, and a richly detailed dome indicative of Colonial architecture, all of which lent an aura of wonder and reverence to the proceedings. “It was majestic,” Hernando recalls.

For the couple’s comfort, a plush chaise bench was set behind the traditional prayer version so they could alternate kneeling and sitting throughout the lengthy service. The altar was lavished with fragrant white flowers, as was the red-carpeted aisle where strolling musicians played.

“I chose all of the music for the ceremony,” shares Daniella, who selected special arrangements of traditional songs plus two nontraditional picks: “’O Sole Mio” for when the groom entered the church, and “All You Need is Love” for the recessional.

The bride was resplendent in a custom couture gown conceived by her mother, successful designer Francesca Miranda. Strapless and appliquéd with thousands of florals, the dress featured an asymmetrical high-low skirt and a Watteau-style train of exquisite tulle. A total of 16 flower girls and ring bearers preceded Daniella down the aisle. “They were all my little cousins and children of my friends,” she notes. “My sister was my maid of honor.”

The reception that followed completely fulfilled Daniella’s desire to recreate a glamorous nightclub scene. Masses of white flowers accented with vibrant greenery and the occasional purple bloom lent a clean, polished look to the two-story event space. Crystal candelabra and clear chiavari chairs gleamed beneath the light of sparkling chandeliers, and additional crystals were suspended overhead by a forest of satin ribbons. “The whole atmosphere was one of elegance,” Hernando recalls. “I felt transported to another era.”

A black-and-white checkered dance floor offered plenty of space for guests to move to live music after the bridal couple took a turn. “Our first dance was the waltz, but we added a little twist and danced to a Cuban rhythm instead of a traditional one,” says Daniella.

“We had a Cuban band, a crossover band, a DJ, and a champeta band,” Hernando shares (the latter being a genre of Colombian music). “The music was the one part [of the reception] I wanted to be involved in, and I think we made great choices.”

In addition to wedding cake – 12 bare, golden layers separated with creamy frosting – a full buffet of desserts concluded the celebration on a very sweet note. “It was the most amazing night of my life,” Daniella reflects. “I was so happy, and enjoyed it until the very last minute.”