Jake and Mike’s downtown St. Pete wedding combined elegant accents and greenery with striking black details and sparkling pops of gold elements to create the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration. Following an intimate ceremony under a canopy of string lights, family and friends dined, danced, and counted down to the New Year in an industrial venue surrounded by soft, romantic lighting.

“Since we decided on New Year’s Eve, we were shooting for an elegant Gatsby look, but we aren’t huge fans of themes, so our version of Gatsby was black tie, black and gold colors, and simple matching font. We think we nailed it,” the groom beamed. “ We decided on black and gold colors because they were elegant and appropriate for a New Year’s wedding.”

The couple knew a downtown St. Pete wedding venue was the perfect representation of their love for Tampa Bay. The Wesley Chapel pair made sure their 142 loved ones experienced the best of their lives in Florida.

“We wanted to be near downtown Tampa or downtown St. Pete since so many guests were traveling into town,” Mike explained. “St. Pete was the perfect mix of beach, downtown, artsy, busy, but also quiet. The vibe there is what you make it and so there was so much to do in walking distance for our friends and family.”

Lush greenery arrangements with white florals complemented by pops of gold and string lights put the couple on center stage. The couple exchanged vows in front of a gold, geometrical altar adorned with elegant florals as NOVA 535‘s 30-foot bamboo trees created an enchanting atmosphere.

“There were a few must-haves with the venue. We wanted to be the only event happening in the space and have a mix of indoor and outdoor. We also wanted things not to be too feminine and loved NOVA 535’s rod iron and exposed brick as it felt more masculine for two guys getting married. Most importantly, no carpet, and NOVA hit all the marks. We loved the outdoor space lined in bamboo,” Mike raved. “Both the inside and outside had red brick with rod iron, which gave it a historic and masculine vibe while also feeling elegant. The lighting at night is gorgeous, and they have a “Big Ass Fan” above their dance floor.”

The pair utilized the vast resources from Marry Me Tampa Bay to research their wedding vendors to ensure they hired professionals who could deliver on their wedding day vision.

“We used the search functionality within the Marry Me Tampa Bay Facebook group to find recommendations on specific vendors. Any post referencing a vendor would show up so we could see all the feedback people had about them. We did this for almost all of our vendors, even before making initial contact/inquiry,” Mike shared.  

When searching for a wedding photographer, the couple prioritized experience with their venue as well as a photo style that aligned with their vision. With a talent for bringing out the best in the couple, Iyrus Weddings exceeded their expectations.

“We wanted someone who had worked a night-time wedding at NOVA, as we thought their bistro and wall lights could be weird depending on the photographers’ expertise and experience. We also looked for someone who we got along with because it is much easier to take engagement and wedding photos with someone who feels like a friend rather than a hired service,” Mike noted. “Will DeCosta, the owner of Iyrus Weddings, was 10/10 from our very first phone call. If his work wasn’t impressive enough, that first conversation sold us!”

Every detail made it a night to remember, from getting ready with their wedding party in gold monogrammed black slippers to their softly lit aisle and reception decor featuring black linens and chairs with gold plates and elegant centerpieces.

“The only thing we stressed about was making sure people had fun because, for most of our guests, it was their first time attending a gay wedding and/or a New Year’s Eve wedding. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make sure it was a night both us and our guests would remember forever,” Mike revealed. “For the ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience, but at the same time, they were laughing and clapping too. Music was most important since that is the one thing that happens constantly from start to finish. Jake had a playlist for every second. Once at the reception, we had all the formal moments you would expect at a wedding, but also a magician doing close-up magic and a surprise drag performance to ring in the New Year. The drag queen performance at midnight really made the entire night! Nobody was expecting it, and with NOVA having the double staircase to the dance floor, it really made for an epic entrance!”

To Jake and Mike, being able to genuinely share their love story in an open and safe environment left a lasting impression on the newlyweds.

“As a gay couple, we are very conscious of PDA and speaking openly about our feelings for one another with others. We know we love each other, and our family/friends do, too, but they’ve probably never heard us say why or how. Our vows were extremely memorable because it was one of the first and only times we’ve been that open and vulnerable about our relationship with the friends and family that we love most. It was overwhelming to feel so much love from your new spouse and all of your ‘tribe.’ 

The Proposal: 
I had always expected Jake would propose at a big event (birthday, holiday, major trip, etc.). We were camping in Jacksonville Beach and woke up early one morning to watch the sunrise. As the sun came up, Jake asked me to put a new bandana on the dog. The timing was tragic, as the sun was literally at the edge of the horizon, but when I looked down at the bandana, it read, “Will you marry my dad?”

At that point, I literally couldn’t care less about the sun and was blown away that he caught me so off guard. It was so romantic. I was then even more surprised that he had arranged for a friend to be hiding in the sand dunes, taking pictures of the moment.  

What did you look for in a wedding venue? 
There were a few must-haves with the venue. We wanted to be the only event happening in the space and have a mix of indoor and outdoor. We also wanted things not to be too feminine and loved NOVA 535’s rod iron and exposed brick as it felt more masculine for two guys getting married. Most importantly, no carpet, and NOVA hit all the marks. We loved the outdoor space lined in bamboo. Both the inside and outside had red brick with rod iron, which gave it a historic and masculine vibe while also feeling elegant. The lighting at night is gorgeous, and they have a “Big Ass Fan” above their dance floor.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer? 
We wanted someone who had worked a night-time wedding at NOVA, as we thought their bistro and wall lights could be weird depending on the photographers’ expertise and experience. We also looked for someone who we got along with because it is much easier to take engagement and wedding photos with someone who feels like a friend rather than a hired service. Will DeCosta, the owner of Iyrus Weddings, was 10/10 from our very first phone call. If his work wasn’t impressive enough, that first conversation sold us!