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Maria Camila Olaya and Jason Daniel Cristini were engaged in Colombia on Oct. 30, 2019. While planning their wedding, the couple realized that all their family members could not attend if they planned one wedding in one country, so they decided to have two weddings in two countries.
Maria and Jason decided to hold their first wedding in the U.S. They were united in marriage in a private family wedding on Oct. 9, 2021, at their New Kent home in Virginia. It was a beautiful day to bless their union of marriage. The ceremony was held outside in the couple's backyard with Connie Compton officiating. The maid of honor was Zo, the couple's Vizsla and the best man was Arnie, the couple's rescued beagle. An intimate backyard reception was catered by Martha's Kitchen of New Kent.
Maria and Jason were united in marriage a second time on Aug. 20, 2022, in Cartagena, Colombia. The ceremony was held in the breathtaking outside courtyard of Santuario de San Pedro Claver church with Anyela Becerra presiding over the ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of John Olaya and Tatiana Tovar of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Donald and Sandra Kiefer of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The groom is the son of Dan and Laurie Cristini of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.
The groom was escorted down the aisle by his mother and father. The mother of the bride, Sandra Kiefer, was escorted by the bride's brother, D.J. Kiefer. The bride was escorted and presented in marriage by her father, John Olaya, and step father, Donald Kiefer. Best friend of the bride, Olivia Dean, stood as maid of honor. Cousins of the bride, Isabela Rodriguez and Valentina Cely, along with friend of the bride, Ashley Rogal, stood as bridesmaids. Cousin of the bride, Luciana Vargas, was the flower girl.
The groom chose his best friend, Brock Larson, to be his best man. Friends of the groom, William Ervin and John Korth, along with brother of the groom, Dalton Cristini, served as groomsmen.
As the newlyweds left the church they were greeted by "Mulatas y Tamboreros," which are drummers that play music and gorgeous dancers flipping their white dresses all around. The couple, family and friends were lead through the cobblestone streets of Cartagena by music and dancing until they reached the reception at Casa Fernandez de Madrid. Many tourists stopped in the streets to take pictures of the event and joined along with the excitement.
A cocktail hour was held in the enchanting outside courtyard adorned with beautiful greenery and white flowers. A formal dinner was held in the dining room and afterwards a deejay played music with dancing in the outside courtyard.
"La Hora Loca" started after midnight, this known as "the crazy hour" and is considered a Colombian wedding tradition of an additional special party within the reception party celebration. Guests donned masks and hats while a group of drummers, a singer and dancers, that were all dressed in exotic costumes, kicked off the after-midnight party.
The final celebration of the evening was a dance ritual between the wedding party and the bride and groom to wish the couple good luck and blessings throughout their marriage.
The bride and groom cherish the family and friends that supported their planning of a destination wedding in Cartagena, Colombia.
They appreciate all the blessing that they have received throughout their two weddings and wish to thank everyone for helping make both wedding days special.
The bride graduated from T.C. Williams High School in 2012. She is employed as a director of energy conservation client service at project: HOMES in Richmond, Virginia.
The groom graduated from Montoursville Area High School in 2009 and received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Marietta University in 2013. He is a marketing analyst with Atlantic Union Bank in Glen Allen, Virginia.