May 24, 2024 at the Terrace Hotel

As Brian Ray embraced his bride, Rowena Barnett Ray, in the middle of Massachusetts Ave., they were in the midst of a magical moment that almost didn’t happen.

The couple, who were both married once previously, had strongly considered eloping, but a conversation Rowena had with her sister made her think again about a more formal celebration.

“She said to me, ‘This is very special. You’ve waited a very long time for this…you want to make it special and memorable,’” Rowena recalled. “And I was like, Yes, you’re right, I really do.’”

Their intimate gathering of 29 people in all, was special and memorable indeed, with the sophisticated and historic Terrace Hotel serving as an ideal venue for the Lakeland native.

The small room at the Terrace, bathed in light and offering views of Lake Mirror, felt both beautiful and deeply personal. Rowena said “God shined on that day” as she recalled the joyful atmosphere that filled the space as families came together.

Their ceremony held several unexpected, special moments.

“One thing I did was I kissed her before (wedding officiant) Stan gave me permission to kiss her,” Brian said with a laugh. “He’s like, ‘Wait a minute, you’re jumping the gun a little bit there!’”

Stan had a surprise of his own to reveal shortly after. He invited everyone at the wedding to come forward to pray for and bless the couple.

The meaningful moments weren’t confined to just that room, though. Outside, bubbles filled the air, creating a whimsical scene for photographs.

The wedding photographer, Nacho, had a flair for the dramatic. He led them across the street for the daring dip amidst traffic on Massachusetts Ave., capturing a moment that felt straight out of a movie. Later, an elevator kiss, perfectly framed, added another layer of cinematic charm.

It was everything Rowena and Brian hoped for, and more, especially with the whirlwind of planning a wedding in just over a month.

“Savannah Stutzman pulled it all together in less than six weeks,” Rowena said of her wedding planner, the owner of J & S Weddings. “She has the energy for this and helped me pull everything together…everything down to even the makeup artist.”