Meagan and Van
Sacred Heart Catholic Church & Armature Works
“We chose a combination rainbow-color-explosion-rave-car theme. I had always wanted a rainbow wedding, and I wanted to see the use of color everywhere. We wanted a color explosion that would leave our guests talking for weeks, with bold, unforgettable colors that broke away from tradition and made a statement about us as a couple.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Meagan and Van’s downtown Tampa wedding combined a rainbow of colors through vibrant flora and linens, accented with the glitz of neon lighting and disco balls, for a whimsical atmosphere. The bride and groom exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony in a historic cathedral, before hosting their closest friends and family in an energetic reception along the city’s riverwalk.
“We really wanted our wedding to be a true reflection of who we are, from start to finish. A wedding should be full of life, excitement, and joy, so we chose a theme that felt as fun and colorful as we are,” the bride beamed.
The Proposal
“Our proposal took place on Mount Rainier in Seattle, Washington, at an elevation of 5,400 feet. It was an incredible day, going from waterfall to waterfall as we ascended the mountain, and we were going to finish the day with a snowshoe hike on the volcano. Just as we started our trek, it started pouring rain, but that didn’t stop us! We made our way to Myrtle Falls, which was absolutely stunning. When we arrived, we stopped to take some pictures in front of the waterfall. Before I knew it, Van was down on one knee (which, if you’ve ever worn snowshoes, is a true accomplishment!) with a ring in his hand. It was an unforgettable moment in one of the most beautiful places.”
The Ceremony
“We have lived in Tampa for years and wanted to get married where we had basically built our relationship. Having our ceremony at Sacred Heart Catholic Church was incredibly important to us. We have been attending Sacred Heart since moving to Tampa, where we are involved in various ministries and have built many friendships through the church. Therefore, we wanted to make our commitment to each other and to God at Sacred Heart, surrounded by our family and friends.”
The Photography
Dewitt For Love Photography
“We wanted a photographer with whom we felt comfortable, since they would be with us every moment of the day. Neither of us enjoys being the center of attention or constantly being photographed. Our goal was for the pictures to feel natural, capturing genuine moments. We didn’t want them to look rehearsed, over-edited, or fail to capture the true essence of our day or ourselves.
During our initial meetings with Dewitt for Love, we really built a strong connection with them. They treated us like friends instead of clients and that made a huge difference. When it came to talking about the moments we wanted to capture, they guided us through everything and gave great advice. We didn’t want any formal or stiff pictures or really any in the more traditional sense. We wanted to capture moments that reflected our fun and quirky sides.
Dewitt for Love made sure we felt comfortable enough to show that personality in every shot. Brandon was even able to capture, from his car, the groom and groomsmen partying in the Range Rover at a traffic light just outside the church. It wasn’t planned at all, but it really shows how skilled they are at catching those candid moments. They were great at finding creative ways to capture the traditional wedding shots, but with a fun spin that felt like us.”
The Beauty
Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup
“My makeup was natural, but with a bold purple lip and a rainbow eyeshadow. Each bridesmaid wore a different colored dress, and their eyeshadow matched the dress color. I chose Adore Bridal because they provided the most information during our initial phone call. I had a list of questions ready to go, and I didn’t need to ask any of them because they had already answered everything. It felt like they wanted to work with me right from the beginning. They were confident in their ability to use colored eyeshadow and were excited that I wanted something unique.
My hair is naturally curly, so I wanted to curl my own hair. But then I wanted Adore to style it without messing up the curls. I felt incredibly comfortable with them, and during the trial, they really demonstrated they know how to work with curly hair and how to enhance it.”
The Design
“We chose a combination rainbow-color-explosion-rave-car theme. I had always wanted a rainbow wedding, and I wanted to see the use of color everywhere. Weddings are supposed to be vibrant and fun and exciting, and I wanted that for ours. We wanted a color explosion that would leave our guests talking for weeks, with bold, unforgettable colors that broke away from tradition and made a statement about us as a couple.
We wanted it to be a party from start to finish with lighted elements throughout. We used lighted features throughout the wedding to create an electrifying, party-like atmosphere. The lighting set the tone for the entire event, adding that high-energy vibe we wanted. The wedding reception started with a more traditional atmosphere, with candlelight and monogram spotlights. After dinner, the party started, and the room shifted to bold colored spotlights, vibrant LEDs, and neon elements. It completely changed the energy of the space, and you could feel the shift. It was a way to celebrate the last 10 years we’ve spent together, from all the concerts and raves to the unforgettable moments that really shaped our relationship.
Van has always had a love of both vintage and race cars and we wanted to showcase that throughout as well. We incorporated various car components, such as a F1 track table numbers, a motorcycle helmet ‘guest book’, license plate and key name cards, and a F1 neon sign saying ‘Lights Out and Away We Go.’ We also entered the wedding reception to the sound of F1 cars revving their engines!”
Most Memorable Moment
“Before the reception began, we were able to do a private walkthrough of the room and look at all the decor before it was touched. The moment we stepped into the space, it was absolutely breathtaking. The colorful centerpieces, the lighted rainbow sweetheart table backdrop, and the luxurious VIP tables stole the show and were completely jaw-dropping. It was hard to believe that something as simple as colored lampshades could be transformed into such a stunning and bold centerpiece. The different-colored sequin tablecloths worked perfectly with the mix of napkins and the unique centerpieces on each table. The couch area also looked amazing and was used all night. Every detail was carefully thought out and beautifully executed.”
The Planning
UNIQUE Weddings and Events
“We wanted to find a wedding planner who was as fun and upbeat as we are. They would be with us on and organizing one of the most important days of our lives, so we needed someone who we could truly be comfortable with. They also needed to know how to balance the high energy with a sense of calm to ensure our day stayed fun and stress-free. We were also looking for someone who could take our concept and bring it to life with a clear plan. There were so many ways our theme could go wrong, and we needed a planner who was confident in their abilities to pull it off successfully and beautifully. Strong organization, attention to detail, and a high level of dedication to our wedding were also critical.
We knew right away that Staci from UNIQUE Weddings and Events was the perfect person to bring our vision to life. She wasn’t intimidated by the bold use of color we wanted, and she even encouraged it. She did not try to talk us out of our dream of color and pushed us to add more and go even bolder. Every idea we had, no matter how big, she was ready to dive in and find a way to make it happen.
Making sure that our wedding was extremely vibrant and colorful in a tasteful way was a top priority for us. We knew that too much color could end up feeling overwhelming, tacky, or random. This was the toughest challenge during the wedding planning process, but Staci, played a key role in making our vision a reality. We had several meetings with her throughout the planning process, during which she would guide us through product testing and demos, and shared endless pictures and ideas to ensure she was on the right track and giving us everything we wanted. She took us through product testing, demos, and endless inspiration boards. Staci was always quick to share ideas and images to ensure she was on track, making sure we felt confident every step of the way and that the final concept was exactly what we imagined.
One of our absolute favorite moments of the day was the F1 car burnout of flowers in front of our sweetheart table. And that was entirely Staci’s idea! She combined my love of color and the groom’s love of cars and created an unforgettable, epic moment. Who knew that Legos and flowers were such a match made in heaven! Staci’s creativity and vision turned our wedding day into something even more amazing than we could have ever imagined. She truly went above and beyond to make sure every moment was beautiful, unique, and exactly what we envisioned.”
The Coffee Experience
Cafe ala Carte
“We’re both huge coffee lovers, but it’s especially a big deal for me and my side of the family. Growing up, there was always coffee brewing in our house, no matter the time of day. That love for coffee has stayed with me into adulthood, and I even brought my husband into the coffee-loving world. A wedding without a coffee station just wouldn’t feel right for us. We even received a specialty espresso maker from our wedding registry because we knew we’d be using it every day, which we do.
I met Café A la Carte at the Armature Works wedding expo. My mom had one sip and knew they had to be at the wedding! And of course, there were no objections from anyone. Café A la Carte was instrumental in keeping the guests’ energy levels high throughout the evening. We also had more than 20 kids at the wedding, and it was great to offer them drinks, like hot cocoa, so that the day would feel special for them as well. We received a lot of great feedback from the parents! They were quick and efficient, so we all were able to enjoy multiple cups without missing a single beat.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
UNIQUE Weddings and Events – Staci was the driving force behind making our wedding as unforgettable as it was. Her creativity, attention to detail, and ability to bring our vision to life truly made all the difference. She was just amazing and everything you could ask for and more!
Dewitt for Love – They captured the moments we knew we wanted and the ones we didn’t even realize were important. Their ability to make us feel comfortable led to stunning, candid shots we’ll treasure forever. Brandon and Shannon provided exceptional service, and we will look to use them again!
Bailey Art Studios – She gave us an incredible piece of art that perfectly captures a moment from our wedding. It’s so personal and beautiful and something we’ll have on our walls forever. The likeness is incredible and really shows how expertly painted it is!
Good Food Catering– How many weddings have you been to where the food was actually amazing? Good Food gave us delicious food and plenty of it. We’re still hearing compliments on how delicious the food was at our wedding.
#NoFilter – This is the best band you could ever have for your wedding or event. Our dance floor was full all night long, and our guests still rave about how amazing the experience was. I’ve also had multiple friends reach out asking who we used so they could check them out for their wedding. #No Filter knows how to keep up the energy all night, play the songs people want to hear, and MC a wedding in such a fun and casual way. Their saxophone player at our cocktail hour was also amazing, and many people thought it was music being projected over a speaker because of how good they were.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Have the wedding of your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that your ideas can’t be achieved or are unrealistic. Make sure to stay true to what feels right for you as a couple, and don’t be afraid to get creative. Also, it’s really important to incorporate the groom’s passions and ideas. A wedding is about celebrating both of you, so make sure his personality shines through as well.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Ireland for our honeymoon and embarked on an epic road trip around the country, traveling from Dublin to Belfast, then to Galway, and finally to Cork. We chose Ireland because it was somewhere we always wanted to go for an extended stay, and it was a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration.
