Just Married: Rita Claudino Duclos and Matthew Eric Dudonis

Just Married: Rita Claudino Duclos and Matthew Eric Dudonis

Bride’s parents: Luiz Carlos and Nana Duclos

Groom’s parents: The late Robert and Lavelle Dudonis

How they met: 
Rita Claudino Duclos and Matthew Eric Dudonis met in January 2009, in Venessa Hernandez’s class, at Rosemary Court Yoga. Rita actually didn’t practice yoga, but happened to have a yoga mat and some free time so she ventured to a class. Following that, Matt attended a Sarasota Ballet performance to see Rita dance.

The Proposal:
Dec. 19, 2011, during sunset at Muir Beach Cliff, in California

The Wedding and Reception:
Together with the couple’s friend, David Rubin, and incorporating some aspects of the bride’s Soka Gakkai Buddhist practice, the couple created and wrote their own July 13 ceremony, which took place at Bird Key Yacht Club. The couple’s main objective was to have a “warm” celebration and to have fun, loving people surrounding them.

The Honeymoon:
The couple toasted their nuptials on their first cruise sailing the Adriatic Sea. “The best part of our honeymoon for both of us was to truly relax for 10 days,” says Duclos. “We realized we had never been on a real vacation before.”

THE DETAILS 

First dance: “On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Louis Armstrong
Photography: My Union House Photography
Floral design: Elegant Design Flowers
Invitations: The Paper Tree
Cake: Cakes by Ron
Video: Bill Wagy
DJ: Jonathan A. Cortez
Hair: Hrvoje Horvat
Makeup: Eri Vincent