A Sleek and Tropical Wedding at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida

"We met at the University of Florida and our friendship started while being involved in student government,” Aviva Auslander shares. “But ultimately, Jonathan’s charm and good looks got him out of the friend zone! We had great banter and got along really well and somehow always found ways to make each other laugh.

After college, she and Jonathan Schonfeld moved to Greenwich Village in NYC. One late-December day, the couple was walking through Washington Square Park – one of their regular spots in the city – and Jonathan surprised Aviva with a proposal. 

The newly engaged pair then headed over to the Gramercy Park Hotel, where Aviva was surprised by family and friends who had flown in from Miami and other parts of the country. Everyone celebrated at the hotel before transitioning to a private room at one of the couple’s favorite NYC restaurants, where the party continued.

From the start, Aviva and Jonathan’s wedding planning process was smooth and stress-free, as they were both aligned in what they wanted and envisioned with a tropical wedding in Miami. Aviva’s parents were actually engaged at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach; so, when they bride and groom-to-be were visiting wedding venues, they knew The Betsy was the right fit. The couple also took a cue from Aviva’s sister, who had worked with Orange & Rose Events for her wedding, which Aviva says was the “best decision we ever made.”

When the wedding day arrived, the bride and groom were excited and thrilled to have their family and friends together in Miami to celebrate with them. Having complete trust in their group of planners and vendors, they were truly able to enjoy each other, their guests, and the party itself. The ceremony took place on the rooftop of The Betsy, offering a fantastic view of Miami Beach. Orange & Rose also created a lush, tropical setting with ghost chairs for a sleek look that felt true to the couple’s style.

A sunset cocktail hour was held by the rooftop pool, leading to a lively reception. “The centerpieces that they created with Veronica from Anthology Co. blew everyone away,” describes the bride. “We loved the opened coconuts and subtle pink color that the flowers added. The tent had a very warm glow and felt inviting and elegant – we received a lot of compliments that night.

People were dancing nonstop from the minute we walked into the tent, through the end of the afterparty. Jonathan’s family is from Venezuela and we both grew up in Miami, so there was a big focus on having a great party that just happened to be a wedding. David Bitton is a friend of my sister and he brought the energy to the dance floor all night – best horah ever!”