When Abigail Palmer was 10 years old, she spent her days hoping Roger Engle III, the cute boy next door with the Justin Bieber-style haircut, would come play basketball in her backyard court or show up at the neighborhood pool. He eventually moved out of the neighborhood right before high school and they went their separate ways. “But I never stopped thinking about my first-ever crush,” confesses Abigail. Over a decade later and in the middle of the pandemic, the two found themselves hanging out because Abigail’s best friend and Roger’s brother were good friends. “Needless to say, it was love at first sight – or second sight for me,” shares Abigail.

The surprise proposal was just as memorable, as the whole town had a hand in the special day. Under the impression that she was taking part in a photo shoot with her best friend that the two had won, she arrived at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo completely unsuspecting. She discovered a petal-strewn path and a slideshow of their memories together playing in the background. Once the shock wore off and she screamed “YES!” she turned to find both of their families cheering for them. The joyous moment was followed by an engagement party with all of their closest loved ones.

Abigail admits that although she’s in the wedding industry, working as an assistant event planner for A Charming Fête, you can never be too prepared. “There will always be obstacles, but as long as you have a supportive fiancé and family members, it makes the challenge a lot easier!” she says. The first hurdle was location, as Abigail had always dreamt of marrying in Spain, a destination she fell in love with while studying abroad, but due to pandemic travel bans, she was hesitant. Luckily, on a visit to Miami with her mother, they discovered a dazzling venue that featured Spanish-style elements. 

Initially considering a garden ceremony, the bride decided she wanted to highlight the architecture of the Spanish villa. “I was immediately inspired by the fuchsia bougainvillea tree that grows over the black arch doorway in the garden and loved the idea of getting married under its breathtaking blooms,” she describes. “I thought it would be perfect to do a gradient palette of pinks starting with the bright bougainvillea hue and incorporating blush and peach tones. These colors, paired with the stark black arches, paired perfectly with the black cane ceremony chairs.” 

The morning of the ceremony, her beloved had a gift delivered. “It was a beautiful bracelet with a cardinal on it with a handwritten note expressing how excited he was for the day and that he would explain the meaning later,” reveals Abigail. Preparing for her walk down the aisle with her dad, they took a minute for an emotional father-daughter first look that she will always treasure. 

“Every time I look at our pictures, I am still in shock to see the gorgeous details.”

Abigail stunned guests when she appeared. She wore a halter-neck gown featuring a high slit and lace details. “Seeing the look in her eyes and how big of a smile she had on her face and how absolutely beautiful she looked brought me an indescribable amount of love and happiness,” confides Roger. “I couldn’t hold it together.” 

During the heartfelt service – officiated by the groom’s grandfather – where late loved ones were honored, Roger finally took a moment to explain his gift. “He explained when you see two cardinals together, it is a sign of true love and connection between two souls. I am a University of Louisville Cardinal and he is a Concordia University Ann Arbor Cardinal,” the bride tells of the significance. “There wasn’t a dry eye after that!” 

The flowers were some of the most important elements for the bride and since the venue already offered so much natural, lush greenery, she only selected details that would be the perfect complement. “For example, the florals placed around the fountain looked as if they were naturally growing out of the landscape, and it was such a showstopping element during our cocktail hour,” she illustrates. Reception tables offered a mix of blooms in soft white and blush tones, plus a pop of color similar to the bougainvilleas. 

One custom touch Abigail really loved was the dance floor. “I worked closely with our stationer and the team at W Event Design to curate a custom flooring pattern that was also found in our invitation suite and personalized tile place cards,” she clarifies. “Every time I look at our pictures, I am still in shock to see the gorgeous details.” 

Through it all, Abigail never lost sight of what was most important. “Being able to marry the man of my dreams, surrounded by my closest family and friends, in a stunning Spanish villa in Miami is just how it sounds, an absolute dream come true!” she confirms. “I will never forget how much love and happiness were present that day.”

This real wedding was originally published in the Summer 2024 expanded-digital issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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