Alyssa and James
“We chose a simplified theme highlighting the venue architecture at Whitehurst Gallery. We focused on natural and earthy colors, choosing ivory to match the venue and accenting it with earth-tone greens and black to create an elegant feel while highlighting our affinity for plants and greenery.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Alyssa and James’ elegant Tarpon Springs wedding brought together 75 guests for a November celebration featuring an ivory, earthy green, and black color palette against the grand architecture of their Jefferson Memorial-inspired venue. Clear ghost chairs, greenery-filled floral arrangements, gold accents, and candlelight complemented the stately setting, while personal touches included their senior dog serving as ring bearer, a heart-shaped cheesecake, and a classic car getaway.
“We didn’t strive to be unique and stand out. We wanted it to be personal and specific to what we love and wanted. We stayed true to our love, story, and theme, and that in itself made our wedding unique,” the bride revealed. “The most important part of our day was having a close group of friends and family to spend our special day with. Keeping our invite list small allowed us to have enough time to create memories and have special moments with the people who were there to celebrate our love. We made sure our dogs were part of the day, with one being the ring bearer and the other being included as part of the décor.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“We used other wedding features on Marry Me Tampa as inspiration and ideas for our wedding.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“The bachelorette was in the Tampa area; lots of ladies came from out of town and wanted sun, fun, and a getaway that was easy on their wallets. We had boats, dancing, and fun all while keeping it an easy long weekend for all.
We chose a honeymoon that was a bucket list for us both, one that, when we start our family, may not be able to do for many years: New Zealand. We love nature and exploring, and our honeymoon had plenty of that. From helicopter rides on glaciers to road-tripping in the mountains and staying in private lakes and farms, we got to escape and have our adventure to ourselves.”
The Venue
Whitehurst Gallery
“We live in Palm Harbor. We selected Tarpon Springs because of its proximity to our local guests and ease of access in the Tampa Bay area for out-of-town friends and family.
Since we were engaged in Washington, DC, we chose the venue because it is modeled after the Jefferson Memorial, incorporating our love of history and architecture while tying it back to the engagement.
We wanted something unique and true to our vibe that would provide a memorable experience for ourselves and our guests. The architecture was the immediate draw and primary consideration when choosing the venue. We also loved that the ceremony included a couple of classic car options to bring the bride to the ceremony and take us away afterward.
Once we met with Griffeth Whitehurst and his team, we knew that the level of service and attention to detail would be the deciding factor. The Whitehurst Gallery team was communicative throughout the planning process, and the day-of service was phenomenal. The entire team was exceptionally accommodating, and we truly felt like part of the family with the amount of care and assistance they gave us.”
From The Pet Planner
“We absolutely loved being their dog’s plus-one. Alyssa and James actually have two dogs, but chose to only include Bruno in their wedding weekend because their other pup, Trudy, is super sweet but a little anxious. They felt the wedding wouldn’t be a good fit for her, a decision we completely understand and respect.
We were happy to handle all the logistics of including Bruno in both their wedding rehearsal the night prior and all of the fun on the wedding day. We then also provided pet care for Trudy once we returned Bruno home that night. We helped Bruno pose for wedding photos, and we even walked him down the aisle as the ‘ring bearer’ during their ceremony! He was such a good boy and got all the love and pets.”
— Ilana Karcinski, FairyTail Pet Care
From The Photographer
“Alyssa and James’ wedding at Whitehurst Gallery was an absolute dream to photograph. Their day was effortlessly elegant, filled with heartfelt moments and a love that truly shone in every detail. One of my favorite parts was seeing them incorporate their beloved dog—their fur baby—into the ceremony. I always love it when couples choose to celebrate the things and people that mean the most to them, making their wedding day a reflection of their unique story. Alyssa and James were a joy to work with from beginning to end, and their stunning celebration was the perfect blend of beauty, personality, and genuine love.”
— Amber Yonker, Amber Yonker Photography
The Photography
Amber Yonker Photography
“We were looking for a photographer who specialized in natural and candid photos. We wanted someone who could capture the essence of the day rather than focusing only on the traditional poses.
Amber Yonker Photography’s work truly speaks for itself, but it’s easy to call out a few specific traits that we like about working with her. First, she has a very bubbly personality that helps keep you smiling throughout the process. Second, she has a good flow to positioning you in a way that captures an emotion while retaining the natural quality we were looking for. She has a knack for integrating your surroundings into your photos, and she works very well with other vendors on the day.”
The Pet Planning
FairyTail Pet Care
“Bruno was our ring bearer, and he is 11 years old. He has been with us through it all and brings us so much joy and love; the day wouldn’t have felt complete or right without having him there.
FairyTail Pet Care was so kind and communicative. They answered all our questions with ease and thoroughness. We met beforehand and had no doubt they would take such good care of Bruno. They ran through a rehearsal with us and even let our other younger dog, Trudy, be part of the service. It was so helpful in comparison to having a friend or family member be in charge of your pet. This took the responsibility off of anyone else who is there to enjoy the day.”
The Details & Design
“We didn’t strive to be unique and stand out; we wanted it to be personal and specific to what we love and wanted. We stayed true to our love, story, and theme, and that in itself made our wedding unique. We chose a simplified theme highlighting the venue architecture at Whitehurst Gallery. We focused on natural and earthy colors, choosing ivory to match the venue and accenting it with earth-tone greens and black to create an elegant feel while highlighting our affinity for plants and greenery.
We made sure our dogs were part of the day, with one being the ring bearer and the other being included as part of the décor. For cake, we opted for a personal heart cheesecake, our favorite shared dessert, and a variety of cupcakes for the guests. We wanted the day to feel unique to our love, so we included friends and family as the officiant and speakers throughout the ceremony.”
The Catering
Amici’s Catered Cuisine
“We didn’t have an inspiration in mind when curating the menu. We looked at several different catering companies and selected one with a solid core meal option and lots of fun hors d’oeuvres for the reception.
The menu evolved as we tried different options during our meetings with Amici’s Catered Cuisine. We chose Amici’s because of the range of cuisine available. From the classic steak to Cuban Egg Rolls, we had a ton of options to choose from that made the process of selecting them fun. They also had an add-on bar package, which really simplified the catering portion of the night. Any time you can roll multiple vendor items into a single company is always a huge plus when planning a wedding.”
Most Memorable Moments
“Sharing our vows, riding away in our car together, and a sparkler exit finishing off the best night surrounded by our loved ones was a perfect way to finish the best day.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We truly don’t regret any of our vendors, so it’s hard to call out any of them specifically because we truly have no regrets about our decisions. From our photographer and videographer going above and beyond to capture all our special moments, to the exceptional planning and services received from Whitehurst Gallery and Envision the Moment, to our food and bakery making sure everyone is fed. All the way to our music, FairyTail Pet Care, our glam squad, and our florist, the day was perfect.
What advice would you give to other Tarpon Springs couples?
Stay true to yourselves. There are a lot of trends and opinions out there, but when the day comes, it is not about anyone but your love and your next chapter. Don’t get lost in the noise of social media and others’ ideas and thoughts. You want this to be personal and represent your style and story.
