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Cassie and Ben
Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast
“Our vision was timeless, elevated, and romantic with subtle Old Florida influences. We wanted a classic black-and-white wedding, but we also wanted it to feel warm and inviting rather than overly formal.
We used lots of white florals and greenery, black accents, candlelight, clear glass, and touches of brass and gold throughout the design.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Cassie and Ben’s timeless Palmetto wedding was a classic black-and-white celebration with Old Florida charm, layered with white florals, lush greenery, candlelight, and touches of brass and gold. The North Carolina bride and groom gathered 82 guests at a historic waterfront bed and breakfast in January, where a last-minute sideways rainstorm moved the ceremony under a clear-top tent in front of the fireplace—and turned an unplanned pivot into one of their favorite memories of the day.
“If our wedding taught us anything, it is that you can plan every detail, but you cannot plan everything that will happen on the wedding day,” the bride revealed. “We put so much thought into creating the wedding we envisioned, and then the weather forced us to change some pretty major parts of that vision in real time. What surprised us was that some of our favorite memories ended up coming from those unexpected moments. We watched our vendors rally around us, our friends and family completely embrace the changes, and we learned very quickly to trust each other and let go of the things we could not control. At the end of the night, we were not thinking about whether everything happened exactly the way it was written on the timeline. We were married, surrounded by the people we love, and had just had one of the best nights of our lives. Sideways rain and all.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“I had my bachelorette party in Miami! I have always loved Miami and wanted somewhere that gave us the best of both worlds: a relaxing beach trip during the day and plenty of options to go out and have fun at night. It was the perfect mix of relaxing and partying, which was exactly what I wanted for my bachelorette weekend.
We did a mini honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico. After months of wedding planning, and especially after our very eventful wedding weekend, we were ready to do absolutely nothing! We wanted somewhere beautiful and warm where we could completely relax, spend time together, and decompress. Riviera Maya was exactly what we needed and felt like the perfect way to come down from all of the excitement of the wedding.”
The Proposal
“Ben proposed during a trip to Italy on the Isle of Capri. I had wanted to visit Capri, so he surprised me with a day trip there, and we took the chairlift up to the top of Mount Solaro. Ben had been insisting that he was not going to propose in Italy, so I was not expecting it. Although on the way up, I did start to get a little suspicious because he had brought a camera bag that he had not been using the entire trip!
Once we reached the top, surrounded by the most incredible views, I noticed him fumbling around with the bag. He looked at me and said, ‘Can I embarrass you for a minute?’ and then got down on one knee. I was completely shocked. I said yes and immediately pulled him up into a huge hug. Getting engaged overlooking Capri was such an incredible moment, and now Italy will always be an extra-special place for us.”
The Most Memorable Moments
“I technically left Ben at the altar! As our bridal party was walking down the aisle, it suddenly started raining, and because of the wind, the rain was basically coming in sideways. Ben was already at the altar, but there was no way I could walk out there, and I did not want our guests sitting in the rain. We had to make a very quick decision and move the ceremony under the tent. It definitely was not the ceremony I had envisioned after all those months of planning, but it ended up being so intimate and beautiful. We were married in front of the fireplace, which made the most gorgeous backdrop, and now I love that it happened the way it did. Plus, I get to say I left Ben at the altar for a few minutes!
Some of the moments that stand out most to both of us were the quiet ones in the middle of all the chaos. There were several times throughout the day when plans were changing around us, and we had to come together, trust each other, and make a quick decision. Those private moments reminded us what the entire day was actually about. Our private last dance was probably the most emotional moment of the day. After so much excitement, so many people, so many unexpected pivots, and every emotion imaginable, suddenly it was just the two of us. That was when everything finally hit us. We got to take in the room, the day we had just experienced, and the fact that we were actually married.
Then there was the party! Dancing and having an absolute blast with our friends and family all night is something we will never forget. After everything the weather threw at us earlier in the day, being on the dance floor surrounded by all of our favorite people was the perfect ending.”
The Officiant
Laurie Chandler Celebrant
“We wanted someone who could make our ceremony feel personal and meaningful, but still lighthearted and true to us. Neither of us wanted a ceremony that felt generic or like it could have been written for any couple. We wanted someone who would take the time to get to know us and our relationship and then bring our story to life. Personality was also important. Your officiant is standing up there with you during such an intimate and emotional part of the day, so we wanted someone who made us feel comfortable and at ease. We were looking for someone warm and genuine who could balance the sentimental moments with a little bit of fun.
We actually spoke with several officiants, but from our very first phone call with Laurie Chandler, we knew she was the one. She was so calm and warm, and we immediately felt comfortable with her. There was just something about her that felt like the right fit for us. That feeling carried through the entire process. Laurie took the time to get to know us and understand our relationship, and she brought our story to life so beautifully during the ceremony. It felt incredibly personal and completely like us.
She was also amazing when our ceremony plans changed at literally the last minute because of the weather. We went from the outdoor ceremony we had planned to suddenly getting married under the tent, and Laurie just rolled with it. Her calm presence was probably even more appreciated in that moment! We received so many compliments from our guests about what a wonderful job she did. People talked about how personal and beautiful the ceremony was and how well she told our story. When your guests are coming up to you afterward specifically to compliment your officiant, that says everything. We could not have been happier with our decision to choose Laurie.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“We found the majority of our vendors through our wedding planner, Vanessa with Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events. She would send me recommendations based on what we were looking for, and then I would do my own research from there. I spent a lot of time looking through vendors’ previous work, social media, reviews, and websites before deciding who felt like the right fit for us. This was especially helpful because we were planning a Florida wedding from North Carolina. Vanessa gave us a trusted starting point and knew the local vendor community, while I could still do my own research and feel confident in who we chose.
I also used Marry Me Tampa Bay throughout the planning process as a source of inspiration and research. Since we were planning from out of state, it was helpful to have a resource specifically focused on Tampa Bay weddings. I loved looking through real weddings for inspiration and seeing how other couples used different venues and vendors. I also used the site to read about other couples’ experiences with vendors we were considering. It was nice to see more than just a vendor’s own portfolio and get another perspective while making decisions.
Getting to have our own wedding featured now feels like such a fun full-circle moment after using Marry Me Tampa Bay while we were planning!”
The Experience
“We wanted the overall design to feel timeless, but the experience to feel very personal. The guest experience was incredibly important to us. We wanted everything to be beautiful, but more than anything, we wanted everyone we loved to have an amazing time. We put a lot of thought into creating different experiences throughout the wedding, including the merch stand, cigar roller and cigar lounge, photo booth, signature cocktails, and, of course, a great dance floor. We wanted there to be little moments for our guests to discover throughout the night.
One of our favorite details was our wedding merch stand. We love to travel, and one of our favorite things to do when we visit somewhere new is collect merch. We have a fridge in our garage that is covered in stickers from our travels, and we have accumulated more koozies than we could ever possibly need! So instead of doing traditional wedding favors, we created our own merch. We created ‘The Austin Social Club’ and had custom T-shirts, hats, koozies, cups, and stickers made for our guests. We essentially treated our wedding like another place we had traveled to and wanted a souvenir from. It was definitely an investment, but it was one of the most meaningful things we did. Seeing everyone wearing the merch was so much fun, and we still have friends and family sending us pictures wearing or using it months later.
We also had a cigar roller and created a dedicated cigar lounge specifically for Ben because he loves cigars. We wanted there to be pieces of both of us throughout the day. Not necessarily things that were traditionally wedding things, but things that were our things. We did not want to include things simply because they were expected at a wedding. If we were going to invest in something, we wanted it to either add to our guests’ experience or have a connection to us. Between the cigar lounge, the merch, our signature drinks, and all of the other personal details, we tried to make the wedding feel less like a collection of wedding traditions and more like a great party that could only have belonged to us.”
The Inspiration
“Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast was a huge source of inspiration itself. Between the historic home, mature trees, palms, waterfront views, and all of the character throughout the property, we wanted to lean into what was already there rather than transform it into something completely different. We used lots of white florals and greenery, black accents, candlelight, clear glass, and touches of brass and gold throughout the design. We also incorporated subtle tropical elements into our stationery and other details as a nod to the setting.
Our main colors were black and white with greenery and touches of gold and brass. I have always loved how timeless black and white feels, and it worked beautifully with the character and natural surroundings of our venue. Our wedding party was in black, our florals were primarily white with greenery, and we carried the palette throughout our stationery and reception details. The greenery and subtle tropical elements kept everything from feeling too formal and connected the design back to the Florida setting.
More than anything, I wanted to create something that would not immediately feel tied to a specific wedding trend or year. I wanted to look at our photos 20 years from now and still love the design. The overall look was very classic, but we balanced that with fun, personal details throughout the day so the wedding still felt completely like us.”
The Rentals
Kate Ryan Event Rentals and Fiesta Solutions Event Rentals
“From the moment we chose Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast, I had a vision of creating a lounge area in front of the fireplace. I looked at so many different event rental companies, and no one had the selection that Kate Ryan Event Rentals did. They had the exact lounge furniture I had envisioned, plus almost every other rental we needed.
From Kate Ryan Event Rentals, we rented our chairs, chargers, flatware, glassware, aisle runner, ceremony platform, draping, tables, dance floor, and all of the furniture for our lounge area, including the couch, chairs, coffee table, and side tables. Their pieces helped bring my vision to life throughout the entire wedding, from the ceremony and reception to the lounge area and cigar bar. They were also incredibly easy to work with and so helpful throughout the planning process.
Fiesta Solutions Event Rentals provided our clear-top tent, which was a very last-minute addition as the weather forecast continued to get worse. With so many other weddings in the area needing tents that weekend, we were incredibly thankful they had one available. There were some challenges with the installation on the wedding day, but the owner was very responsive to our concerns afterward and took steps to make things right. Ultimately, we were extremely grateful to have the tent because when the sideways rain arrived, it quite literally saved our ceremony!”
The DJ
Graingertainment
“The DJ was important to us because we wanted our reception to feel like a party. I love to dance, and one of my biggest priorities was having a packed dance floor all night. Music was definitely not an area where I wanted to just hand someone a playlist and hope for the best. I wanted a DJ who could understand our taste, read the room, and keep the energy going. We are 80s babies who grew up on 90s and early 2000s music, so we wanted someone who could mix all of that with music that would keep everyone dancing. We wanted the music to feel nostalgic and fun, but still like an amazing wedding party.
Graingertainment came recommended by our wedding planner, but I had actually already come across them on my own while researching vendors. Then I saw an Instagram clip of the owner, Chris Grainger, mixing Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen with Ms. New Booty by Bubba Sparxxx, and I immediately thought, this is the DJ we need. From our first phone call, he completely understood the vibe I was going for.
On the wedding night, Chris absolutely nailed it. He read the room, kept the energy up, and kept everyone dancing all night. Having a fun reception with a packed dance floor was one of our biggest priorities, and Graingertainment delivered exactly that. Looking around and seeing our friends and family having an absolute blast on the dance floor was one of my favorite parts of the night.”
The Photobooth
The Gala Photobooth
“The guest experience was one of our biggest priorities, and we wanted there to be different things for people to enjoy throughout the night. Between the dance floor, cigar lounge, merch stand, and photo booth, there was always something going on. I also loved that the photo booth gave us a completely different collection of memories from the night. There is something so fun about seeing what your friends and family were up to when you weren’t around. Looking through everyone’s photos afterward was one of my favorite parts!
I found The Gala Photobooth when I decided pretty last minute that I wanted to add a photo booth. I specifically wanted a black-and-white photo booth, and I loved what I saw from Gala on their website and social media. Their style fit perfectly with the look and feel of our wedding, so it was an easy decision. We were so happy we added it! Our attendant was super nice and fun and interacted with our guests, which made the experience even better.
Our guests absolutely loved the photo booth, and seeing everyone having so much fun with it throughout the night made me happy that we decided to add it. One of the best parts was getting to look through all of the photos afterward. There are so many things happening at your wedding that you don’t get to see in the moment, so it was hilarious and so much fun to see what everyone was doing in the photo booth all night. It ended up being one of those last-minute decisions that we were glad we made.”
The Content Creation
Behind the Vows
“I wanted someone who could capture all of the candid, behind-the-scenes moments of the day that we might otherwise miss. We already had professional photography, so I was not looking for someone to recreate that. I wanted the more immediate, in-the-moment perspective, including the little interactions, reactions, and fun moments happening around us throughout the day. It was also important that the content felt natural rather than overly staged or like we were spending our wedding day creating content for social media. I wanted to actually enjoy our wedding!
I had spent a lot of time looking through Behind the Vows’ work on Instagram and loved their vibe and style. Their content felt natural, fun, and elevated, which was exactly what I was looking for. Gabi Mondejar was amazing and so much fun to work with! She captured so many great moments throughout the day and also helped us create some fun content without it ever feeling like it was taking us away from enjoying our wedding.
There is so much happening around you on a wedding day that you do not get to see, and I loved having someone there specifically to capture those candid, in-the-moment pieces. Having all of that content afterward was so special, and I would absolutely choose Behind the Vows again.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
“I would shout out every single vendor if I could. We truly hit the jackpot with our vendor team, and I genuinely do not have a single complaint about anyone we worked with. They were all exceptional. Our wedding day definitely tested everyone’s ability to be flexible! Between the cold, wind, and sideways rain, there were a lot of changes happening in real time. Every vendor rolled with it, worked together, and somehow kept all of that stress away from us.
Our planner, Vanessa with Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events, was incredible. I truly do not know what we would have done without her. She was amazing throughout the planning process, but seeing her handle everything thrown at us on the wedding day made us appreciate her even more. She was calm, flexible, and always seemed to be ten steps ahead. Wim and Mieke, the owners of Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast, were also incredible. They were so accommodating with all of the changes and genuinely the best hosts. Wim even jumped in to help with the tent and make sure everything got done.
Kathy with Oneco Florist absolutely brought our vision to life. She listened to what I wanted, looked at my inspiration, and offered suggestions along the way that made everything even better. The florals were absolutely stunning and somehow turned out even better than I had imagined. She also went above and beyond during the planning process, including ordering additional pillars we needed to make the design work. Our photographer, Deanna with Deanna Grace Photography, was also amazing. She was so easy to work with and brought such a positive, calming energy to the day. She made taking photos feel relaxed and fun and knew how to give us direction without anything ever feeling stiff or awkward. When we received our photos, I was blown away by how many genuine moments she captured. Looking through our gallery felt like getting to experience the wedding all over again.
Our officiant, Laurie Chandler, was another standout. We received so many compliments about what a wonderful job she did with our ceremony. She brought our story to life, and it felt completely personal to us rather than like a generic wedding ceremony. Our DJ, Chris Grainger with Graingertainment, completely understood the assignment. From our first phone call, he immediately got the vibe I wanted. He read the room, kept the energy up, and kept everyone dancing all night. I truly mean it when I say our entire vendor team exceeded our expectations. Everyone played a part in making our wedding what it was, and we could not have asked for a better group of people to bring the day to life.”
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
“Hire a wedding planner. Truly, I do not know what we would have done without Vanessa from Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events. There are so many decisions that go into planning a wedding, but I do not think you fully understand the value of having a great planner until the wedding day itself. When our weather took a turn, and we suddenly had to move our ceremony, relocate cocktail hour, deal with the tent, and make decisions we never expected to make, we were not the ones trying to coordinate all of it. Vanessa was. Because we trusted her completely, we were able to focus on each other and actually enjoy our wedding instead of trying to manage it. That was worth everything to us.
Surround yourselves with vendors you trust and then let them do what they are good at. We were incredibly lucky with our entire vendor team. Everyone worked together, stayed flexible, and rolled with every change the weather threw at us.
Finally, have a backup plan and be willing to embrace it. I spent months envisioning our ceremony in one specific spot, and minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle, that plan completely changed. We ended up getting married under the tent in front of the fireplace, and it was intimate and beautiful. You cannot control everything that happens on your wedding day, but if you have the right people around you, you can still have the most incredible day, even when Florida weather decides to act up!”
