Stacy and Kevin's elegant Clearwater Beach wedding combined a neutral palette of creamy flora and natural greenery with a pop of dusty blue, set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of one of America's most famous beaches.
“We knew we had one of the most amazing backdrops getting married overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, so we kept everything very simple, classic, and timeless with a lot of greenery, white, cream, and blue accents to really blend with the beauty of the scenery while still having that classic wedding feel,” the bride shared. “Besides the natural sage and beauty of the greenery, most of the florals were cream or white. Our accent color was a slate blue, and I had known for a while I wanted my bridesmaids to be in that shade and ‘my something blue.' The slate or dusty blue felt unique and not something that you see very often, so we were excited to have that as our accent color.”
A majority of the Tampa Bay couple's guest list was located out-of-state, so they embraced the idea of a fall destination wedding where their loved ones could enjoy all that Tampa Bay has to offer, including waterfront views of the beautiful beaches.
“We knew we wanted to be on the water, without having to be in the sand directly or fully outdoors. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach gave us a beautiful view of the Gulf from the Sky Terrace and Bellair Ballroom while offering a very practical space for our guests at every step of the evening. We could not have asked for a better venue, views, and staff to work with at the Hyatt. We had several guests come up to us after the wedding to mention how wonderful and professional all the staff was, and we couldn’t agree more,” Stacy raved. “Our wedding went so smoothly, even despite some changes with COVID. The Hyatt was there to help and were so accommodating through it all. I really feel like they wanted us to have the most amazing and memorable day, and we really did thanks to them all.”
Stacy and Kevin sought a wedding photography team with amazing client reviews and a beautiful photography style that could artfully capture all the details of the day. Upon seeing Dewitt for Love Photography ‘s work, the bride knew she had to have them.
“First and foremost, Dewitt's photographs are beautiful. They had a touch of fun with the classic beauty and editorial style that we were looking for in our photographers,” the bride beamed. “We could not be happier with our choice to use Shannon and Brandon; they were both so amazing to work with and made our day very special. They really understand their couples and their personal styles and bring that to the forefront when capturing those special moments. We really lucked out that not only do they do great work, but they are great people with such great personalities who made us feel very comfortable and natural and helped things run smoothly. I could not recommend them more!”
Hosting their nuptials at a beautiful property where their 75 guests could stay on-site and enjoy the celebration without having to commute to different locations was one of the unique aspects of the couple's big day, along with “cold sparkler fountains” that provided a surprise wow factor during the reception.
“Having everything all in the same location, including ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception was something I personally had never experienced before. It was unique in that we got to really be with our guests the whole time and have a continuum of entertainment the whole evening. I know we enjoyed being able to attend cocktail hour and have more time with everyone who made the trip to see us and celebrate,” Stacy recalled. “We also decided to go with a faux indoor ‘sparkler' fountains which we utilized during our first dance as husband and wife. Everyone was super surprised. We thought it was a special and fun moment.”
Planning a wedding during a pandemic is bound to make for a memorable experience, but Stacy maintains that the result was truly unforgettable, along with getting to walk down the aisle arm-in-arm with her father.
“It was so special finally seeing our family and friends after months of being isolated from everyone because of COVID, and it was truly better than we could have ever imagined. Of course, we missed those that could not make the trip despite originally wanting to, but the love and happiness we all felt that day is truly something we will never forget,” the bride reminisced. “Another special moment I had always been looking forward to as a bride was having my dad walk me down the aisle. It was very sweet and special and is something I will always remember.”
The Proposal:
Kevin and I had recently moved to Florida from the Midwest and were sharing our first apartment together. He had the ring for a few weeks already and every time he would suggest we do something I would become more and more suspicious. Ultimately, he couldn’t keep the secret any longer and was having a hard time planning something without spoiling the surprise, so he ended up proposing during the week one night in our new place which I was completely not expecting. It was a very private and special moment we got to share together, and it ended up being simple and perfect for us as a couple.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We both love the ocean and tropical scenery, which is why we also moved here from the Midwest. So we wanted to find a venue on the water, and it was really important to give our guests a feel of relaxation and time to really let loose and have fun at our wedding. We knew we wanted to be on the water, without having to be in the sand directly or fully outdoors.
The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach gave us a beautiful view of the Gulf from the Sky Terrace and Bellaire Ballroom while offering a very practical space for our guests at every step of the evening. We could not have asked for a better venue, views, and staff to work with at the Hyatt. We had several guests come up to us after the wedding to mention how wonderful & professional all the staff was, and we couldn’t agree more. Our wedding went so smoothly, even despite some changes with COVID, and they were there to help and were so accommodating through it all. I really feel like they wanted us to have the most amazing and memorable day, and we really did thanks to them all.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We had one of the most amazing backdrops getting married at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, so we kept everything very simple, classic, and timeless with a lot of greenery, white, cream, and blue accents to really blend with the beauty of the scenery while still having that classic wedding feel. We kept it a good mix of classic and fun to really showcase both of our personalities.
What were your colors?
Besides the natural sage and beauty of the greenery, most of the florals were cream or white. Our accent color was a slate blue, and I had known for a while I wanted my bridesmaids to be in that shade and my something blue. The slate or dusty blue felt unique and not something that you see very often, so we were excited to have that as our accent color. I think it looked so beautiful with the greens, cream, and gold accents we incorporated.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to the Cap Maison Resort & Spa in Saint Lucia. We love the Caribbean islands and fell in love with photos of the resort. Once we were there, we were even more blown away by its beauty. It was very secluded and stunning, with amazing food and picturesque private beaches. It was everything we could have imagined and more for our trip.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We knew we wanted to go with a photographer that could really capture our special day and our beautiful venue space along with using them for our engagement photos. I really looked into other couples' reviews and of course, the photography style and I felt like when I saw Dewitt For Love's work, I knew we had to have them.
First and foremost, their photographs are beautiful. They seem to really understand their couples and their personal styles, and really bring that to the forefront when capturing those special moments. They had a touch of fun with the classic beauty and editorial style that we were looking for in our photographers. We could not be happier with our choice to use Shannon and Brandon, they were both so amazing to work with and made our day very special. We really lucked out that not only do they do great work, but they are great people with such great personalities who made us feel very comfortable and natural and helped things run smoothly that day for us as well. I could not recommend them more!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I was lucky enough to go on a Royal Caribbean Cruise with my girlfriends right before everything shut down. Looking back now, it was even more special given all that has been going on lately. It was just a time to get away and relax while having fun and the convenience of being on a cruise ship.
What did you look for in a wedding bakery?
We wanted something classic with a touch of modern elegance, and of course something delicious!
When we saw The Artistic Whisk‘s work and then did our tasting, there was no doubt in our minds. Everything was so fresh and delicious, truly unlike any other cake, we had ever tried before. They were also great to work with and really understood our vision for our wedding cake. We went with a pineapple rum-soaked cake along with a chocolate raspberry for some variety but equally delicious options for our guests. Everyone was blown away by its beauty and taste!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We were very lucky and worked with what I think are some of the hardest working, kindest, and best people in the business. They made our day that much more special and easygoing, for which I am very thankful. They all really blew us away and made our day come together just like we had envisioned. Everyone exceeded our expectations.
Special shoutout to our photographers, Shannan and Brandon Dewitt, who also made the day run smoothly and were amazing at getting us and everyone where they needed to be at the right times.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Tampa Bay has a lot to offer when it comes to a wedding venue, so be sure to really see a variety of locations before making your final decision. There truly is something special for every type of vision you may have. And of course, have fun during the whole process! Planning is also a time to make memories and it does not always have to be so stressful!
Ceremony and Reception Venue, Caterer, and Rehearsal Dinner: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Dewitt for Love Photography *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Videographer: Unscripted Video
Florist: 2Birds Events
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
DJ: Michael Anthony Productions
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Minted
Dress: Wtoo by Watters
Hair & Makeup: Studio Bride
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
