Rocio and Carlos' downtown St. Pete wedding was a vision of old Spanish charm with a sweet outdoor ceremony surrounded by an open bamboo garden. Choosing a color palette of royal blue and white, the bride and groom perfectly captured the serene waters of the Caribbean Sea.
“The inspiration for our wedding was Old San Juan, Puerto Rico,” the bride explained. “I grew up in Puerto Rico and was always inspired by old Spanish architecture and brick, cobblestone accents.”
The Clearwater couple searched for a downtown St. Pete wedding venue that offered a variety of additional services and embodied the old Spanish feel they were looking for.
“From the moment they opened the gate to the bamboo garden, I knew NOVA 535 was the venue. With its amazing brick accents and black iron staircase, it perfectly captured my vision!” the bride gushed. “NOVA 535 went above and beyond for us. When they told us everything the venue included for the price they quoted us, we almost fell over! It was amazing. They provided world-class lighting which included excellent accent lighting, an amazing event coordinator and a great DJ! Words cannot describe how grateful I was for the event coordinator, Ruby throughout the process, and everyone else who made our day extra special.”
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Looking back, Rocio shared when everything changed for her on her wedding day.
“The most memorable moment for both of us was when I started walking down the aisle, and I saw Carlos, and he saw me,” the bride gleamed. “We hadn’t seen each other all day. To see him standing there, made it all become real.”
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I wanted a venue that wasn’t too big. I also needed a venue that was going to capture the old Spanish feel I was going for. There are not a lot of venues in this area that capture that feel, as most are found at the beach, and we knew we didn't want that. We wanted our venue to accommodate the drinks and provide most of the vendors needed. That was my biggest stress during the planning.
I want to learn more about weddings and events at NOVA 535.
From the moment they opened the gate to the bamboo garden, I knew NOVA 535 was the venue. With its amazing brick accents and black iron staircase, NOVA perfectly captured my vision. NOVA 535 went above and beyond for us. When they told us everything the venue included for the price they quoted us, we almost fell over! It was amazing. They provided world-class lighting which included excellent accent lighting, an amazing event coordinator and a great DJ! Words cannot describe how grateful I was for the event coordinator, Ruby throughout the process, and everyone else that made our day extra special.
The Proposal:
Carlos proposed in the gorgeous St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City in February. We were there to celebrate my birthday. I had never been to New York, so this was, by far the best birthday ever. As we walked through the city, we decided to go into the church. The church is beautiful. As I walked through the back of the altar, admiring such beautiful structure, I found myself admiring the shrines. At that moment, Carlos walked up to me with a huge box, took a knee and said, “Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?” Teary-eyed I replied, “Yes!” It was so magical and unexpected.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The inspiration for our wedding was Old San Juan Puerto Rico. I grew up in Puerto Rico and was always inspired by Old Spanish architecture and brick, cobblestone accents. Our wedding venue captured a lot of that Old Spanish feel.
What were your colors?
Royal blue and white. I chose them very early on the planning process. Royal blue is Carlos' favorite color, but I also wanted to incorporate and capture the royal blue color of the Caribbean water. The royal blue was meant as an accent color, and the white just helped complement that.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Let go of the things you have no control over. Have fun! Take a step back at some point of the wedding, just you and your husband, and really take in all that is happening. Get the chance to really admire what you worked so hard to put together because it goes by really fast. Before you know it, its over!
Ceremony and Reception Venue: NOVA 535 *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Photographer: Kismis Ink Photography
Planner and Invitations: Rubies and Pearls
Florist: 2Birds Events
Caterer: Affordable Catering
Cake: Publix
DJ: DJ Jaey (NOVA 535)
Officiant: Deidra Badaro
Dress and Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Collective Creations
