Great Gatsby Inspired Black and Gold Modern New Years Eve Evening Bamboo Garden Wedding Ceremony Fairy Light Aisle Decor Ideas | St Pete Event Venue Nova 535 | Photographer Iyrus Weddings
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Black and Gold Gatsby Inspired Downtown St. Pete Wedding | NOVA 535

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Great Gatsby Inspired Black and Gold Modern New Years Eve Bamboo Garden Wedding Ceremony Decor Ideas | Rustic Wooden Heptagon Arch Inspiration | St Pete Event Venue Nova 535
Modern Industrial Black and Gold Gatsby Inspired Wedding Reception Ideas | Tampa Bay Event Venue Nova 535

Jake and Mike

NOVA 535

“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. We decided on black and gold colors because they were elegant and appropriate for a New Year’s wedding.” -The Groom

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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.’ 


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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.  

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Where did you spend your honeymoon?
 We took a mini-moon immediately after to Asheville. We love the mountains and wanted to go somewhere within driving distance that we could bring our dog, Maverick. The mix of hiking, history, breweries, and good food was exactly what we were looking for. The cooler weather was also a nice change. In October, we will be going to Europe: Three days in Athens, a ten-day Virgin cruise (Greece, Italy, France, Spanish), and two days in Barcelona. 

Where did you host your bach party?
 A Mexican cruise. It was a budget-friendly vacation, so all of our wedding party and close friends were able to attend! Since most people attending were local to Tampa, there were no flight costs involved as we left from the port in Channelside. 

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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.

Great Gatsby Inspired Black and Gold Modern New Years Eve Bamboo Garden Wedding Ceremony Decor Ideas | Rustic Wooden Heptagon Arch Inspiration | St Pete Event Venue Nova 535
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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!

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How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration? 
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.

What were your colors? 
We decided on black and gold colors because they were elegant and appropriate for a New Year’s wedding.

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Which vendors really exceeded your expectations? 
Our wedding planner made us aware of so many tiny details and tasks that we would have never thought of. Will with Iyrus Weddings’ professional and soft skills go above and beyond any expectation I would have for a photographer. Our florist because working with her in the planning period was super easy and fun, and the day off looked absolutely gorgeous!

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples? 
Have fun with the planning. If possible, give yourself a long enough engagement to plan without stress or rushing. It’s much easier to make decisions, end up with your top choices, and change your mind when you aren’t rushing.

This also kept us from being crazy in the weeks leading up to the wedding, and we were able to thoroughly enjoy our wedding day because we knew there was a plan for everything. I also kept telling myself that even if things didn’t go perfectly, most likely, no one would notice but us. 

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Ceremony and ReceptionNOVA 535 Unique Event Space
Rehearsal Dinner VenueHollander Hotel
PhotographyIyrus Weddings
Hair & MakeupEyes on You Salon
Dress and Bridesmaid AttireThe Black Tux
Limo and TransportationOlympus Limo
Invitations & StationeryMinted
Florists/DecorBoho Floral
Cakes & DessertWrights Gourmet House
DJ/Band & Live EntertainmentDJ Jaey

About the Author

Anna Coats

Marry Me Tampa Bay editor Anna Coats created Marry Me Tampa Bay in 2012 to showcase the area’s best local weddings and vendors. She has been featured as a wedding expert on the national talk show Daytime, Fox13, ABC Action News, Great Day Tampa Bay, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum).

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