Meet Heloisa and Juan our September 2013 Chiavari Chair winners. 

How they met:

Juan and Heloisa met on Monday September 5, 2011 at the house of their mutual friend Wilfredo. Wilfredo was hosting a Labor Day party and they both attended. From the moment Juan laid eyes on this beautiful Brazilian girl, he knew she was special and he had to get to know her. Over the next few weeks they saw each other occasionally during Gator football parties: once at Juan’s house (Gators vs. Tennessee) and once again at Wilfredo’s house (Gators vs. Alabama). Soon after, Juan and Heloisa started to go out as friends: Edgewater Music Festival, Universal City Walk, and eventually a few Christmas parties in 2011. They started to officially date on January 18, 2012 and have been best friends and soul-mates ever since.

The proposal:

Juan knows very well he can keep nothing secret from Heloisa. In order to have a magical and romantic proposal that was a complete surprise, he had to create some misdirection just like any good magician. Over a period of about three weeks Juan made Heloisa believe he would propose to her at Sea World Orlando (perhaps during the Clyde and Seymour Show), but in reality he wanted to propose to her privately at their home. He waited until Heloisa took a bath on Thursday June 6, 2013 and set up flowers, champagne, and 2 glasses in their bedroom, along with an engagement gift for her. It was a complete surprise. Everything came together in one magical moment when Heloisa least expected it. Using the diamond his grandfather had once cut, set, and given to his grandmother back in 1949, and together with a brand-new setting, Juan asked the love of his life in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to marry him and be his forever. And the rest as they say, is history……

The Bride: Heloisa Soares

Heloisa was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and was raised there until she was 19 years old. At that age she moved with her family to Joao Pessoa in northern Brazil, then moved to the United States in 2001. Heloisa became a United States citizen in May of 2010. She has lived and worked in Orlando ever since.

Heloisa currently works at Santos Law Firm in Orlando as a paralegal. She is also finishing up her paralegal certificartion at Valencia College. Heloisa is a State of Florida public notary. She is fluent in three languages and one of her life-long dreams is to learn Italian and travel through Italy. Heloisa also works as a translator.

Heloisa is an only child. Her hobbies include photography, cooking, yoga and zumba classes, dancing, and of course spending time with her fiancee Juan and their 3 pets.

The Groom: Juan Colom

Juan was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and lived there until the age of 15. At that time his family moved to Gainesville, FL where he finished his last three years of high school. Juan attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate degree in Animal Biology from 1998 to 2002. He then moved on to pursue his life-long calling as a veterinarian at Kansas State University. He graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2006 and immediately moved to Orlando to begin his career.

Juan has been working at Tuscawilla Animal Hospital since 2006. Juan obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Florida in 2011, while working full-time as a veterinarian. He is fluent in two languages, and Heloisa is helping him learn Portuguese at a rapid pace.

Juan’s hobbies include watching his beloved Florida Gators play football, watching and playing baseball, cooking, the art of bonsai trees, traveling, drinking and pretending to know a thing or two about wine, spending time with family and friends, and of course being with his soul-mate Heloisa and their 3 pets.