Eileen Cabrera and Michael Borci

By Shelley Green | Photography by Dave Alderman | adjuvantinc.com


New England native meets Florida beauty, and the rest is history. Bride and groom add personal flair as the theme goes from formal to flamboyant while guests are treated to two weddings in one, when they travel from church to disco.

Some people take their whole lives to find that special someone, but Michael Borci found the love of his life, Eileen Cabrera in less than a month. Michael had just moved to Ft. Myers from Massachusetts and while at Busch Gardens to see his best friend's brother play guitar in Moroccan Roll, Eileen, a freelance singer and dancer for Event Shows Productions, was also performing in the show.

Michael and his friend came back stage afterwards, beamed Eileen. There was definitely an immediate attraction, I thought he was so cute. The couple started dating long distance without delay, until Michael moved to Tampa to be closer to Eileen.

We had been talking about getting married for almost two years before Michael proposed, said Eileen. So I knew it was going to happen anytime, but I was very surprised when it did.

Surprise her he did, when Michael suggested they take a detour on the way to meet friends for dinner at Bahama Breeze. The couple pulled off the causeway for a picturesque Florida setting, and while talking and gazing out at the water, Michael popped the question.

I was shocked, exclaimed Eileen. And from what I'm told he'd bought the ring that day, but the setting was perfect. If he had made a big to do I would have known he was up to something, but since it was entirely random it was just perfect.

Both the bride and the groom knew they wanted a big, traditional church wedding with the reception at the beach. Michael was really into the whole thing, I didn't have to coax him into helping out at all, boasts Eileen. We decided on the Don CeSar for the reception, since Michael's family was coming down from Massachusetts he really had his heart set on giving them a Florida vacation.

After nearly a two-year engagement, the couple exchanged vows during a full mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa. The bride wore an elegant, ivory strapless dress and her sister's diamond heart pendant adorned her neck for something borrowed.

My Mom gave me a lace handkerchief at my engagement party for my something old that was originally given to her by my Dad's mom for their wedding, said Eileen.

Now husband and wife, Michael and Eileen along with their 225 guests hopped across the bay to the Don CeSar for a rather non-traditional reception. For their entrance Michael danced in with the bridesmaids, each waving pom-poms, to the eighties pop classic Hey Mickey. Eileen followed to her own pop sensation, 'Come on Eileen' while the groomsmen carried her over to Michael.

To further their guests entertainment, Eileen, Michael and some of her co-workers did a routine from Disco Weddings. It was so much fun, exclaimed Eileen. We talked Michael into doing it and he learned the choreography and everything. The D.J. played the preacher and put on a church robe and an afro-wig, it really started the whole night.

The evening came to a close with everyone still on the dance floor. It was crazy, I never cried once at our reception, said Eileen. We were all too busy having fun.