Meg and Steve
Harborside Chapel & The Fenway
“We envisioned a wedding that felt simple, elegant, and timeless. We also wanted to incorporate soft lighting and an intimate layout that made each of our guests feel included.
Our colors were black and white with a hint of blush. These colors felt timeless and classic, especially for a winter wedding. We used hints of blush to add a little bit of color and soften the black and white contrast.”
-The Bride
FEATURING
Meg and Steve’s Clearwater wedding was an elegant evening filled with classic flora and monochromatic decor accented with chic gold details. The Tampa, Florida couple exchanged vows in a traditional church ceremony surrounded by their 125 guests before hosting a tented reception at a historic venue for their romantic January celebration.
“After attending more weddings than we can count, Steve and I had a pretty clear vision of what mattered most to us. We knew where we wanted to invest our budget and where we were comfortable saving, and we focused on creating a celebration that felt authentic to us. Our wedding felt incredibly special because it was exactly what we had envisioned,” the bride revealed. “We prioritized having an amazing band, keeping the dance floor full, and celebrating with the people we love most. Watching our family and friends of all ages dance together all night long was everything we had hoped for. At the end of the day, it wasn’t about doing something different. It was about creating an unforgettable experience with our favorite people, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“I loved reading the Marry Me Tampa Bay blog posts during the wedding planning process. I constantly went to them for inspiration, especially design inspiration from real, local weddings. I also loved seeing personal details different couples included to make their wedding feel unique to them. They also helped me weigh the pros and cons of things I was on the fence about, such as whether or not to include a content creator.”
The Hair and Makeup
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio
“I wanted a simple, understated, effortless look that made me feel like me. I don’t wear a lot of makeup at baseline or do much to my hair, so I wanted a look that enhanced me rather than transformed me. I hired Femme Aoki at the recommendation of Marry Me Tampa Bay, the Fenway, and a friend whose wedding look I also really liked. I loved that they could accommodate all of my bridesmaids and the MOB and MOG as well. They took my inspiration pictures from Pinterest and made them a reality.”
The Proposal
“Steve completely surprised me with his proposal. I had been at work all day on a Saturday, and we had plans of ordering Indian food and watching a movie that night. When I got home, he had pictures of us posted all over the house and flowers everywhere. He got down on one knee and proposed! Afterward, he surprised me again when I found out he planned a small engagement party later that evening, and my parents and best friends had come from out of town to be part of it. I’m not an easy person to surprise, so this was truly impressive.”
The Ceremony Venue
Harborside Chapel
“Getting married in a church was very important to us. Steve’s family attends Harborside Church, and they have a beautiful chapel designed as a wedding venue. Its simple white design was timeless and elegant—the perfect backdrop.
Beyond the venue itself, Harborside Chapel offered an incredible marriage-mentoring program and supported us every step of the way. Max led an incredible service that felt true to us as a couple.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“I hosted my bachelorette in November in Asheville, NC. I wanted to do something a little more low-key and a location that would be easy for everyone to get to. We had a cozy cabin weekend.
We honeymooned in St. Lucia. We wanted to go somewhere warm in January and somewhere we’d be able to relax and soak up the time as newlyweds. We were exhausted after the wedding and it was the perfect place to relax.”
From The Photographer
“Meg and Steve were a dream to work with! From their engagement session to choosing their favorite moments for their album, I really enjoyed getting to know them as a couple. They are adored by their friends and family and had so many thoughtful and personal details. My personal favorite was that Meg’s mom had her dress made into the cute PJs that Meg wore to get ready. Their reception was not only gorgeous but so much fun; the dance floor was packed, and the celebration did not stop! From Harborside Chapel to the tented lawn at Fenway, it was wedding perfection!”
—Carrie Wildes, Carrie Wildes Photography
From The Planner
“Meg and Steve were truly the sweetest couple to work with! From the beginning, they were so kind, thoughtful, and intentional about every decision they made for their wedding. They really cared about creating a day that felt like them, and I loved being part of that process! I also absolutely loved working with Meg’s mom. She was so involved throughout the planning, and getting to know both of them was honestly one of my favorite parts of the experience. They were both so easy to work with, had a great vision of the details, and were always so appreciative, which makes such a difference as a planner.
They also had the best vendor team. Everyone was so talented, collaborative, and genuinely excited to be there, which made the entire weekend that much more enjoyable. And their wedding day was so much fun. They had an amazing band come in from out of state, and the reception genuinely felt like a concert. Between the black-and-white dance floor, so many delicious desserts, the light-up cowboy hats, and ending the night with a sparkler send-off in their Bronco, it was such a fun and personal celebration. I loved working with them and was definitely sad to see their wedding weekend come to an end!”
—Katie Conner, Seashine Weddings & Events
The Planning
Seashine Weddings & Events
“Our photographer recommended our wedding planner, Seashine Weddings & Events, so I knew Katie Conner would be amazing and that they would work well together. I had a vision for our wedding, and I wanted someone who could help execute that vision and keep the day as stress-free as possible. Overwhelmed by the number of vendors we hired, Katie helped keep everything organized and didn’t miss a single thing!”
The Photography
Carrie Wildes Photography
“We wanted an experienced photographer who was able to capture genuine, candid moments as well as the classic portraits. Steve and I are both very camera-shy, so I wanted someone who was able to make us feel comfortable in front of the camera. Carrie Wildes is the most incredible photographer, and we loved every single one of our photos.
It’s hard to choose just one memorable moment because I genuinely loved every second of our wedding day. If I had to pick, though, it would be our first look. I’m definitely someone who cries happy tears, so I always wanted to do a first look. It was such a special, intimate moment that allowed us to slow down and share our excitement with just each other before the day really began. Carrie captured it perfectly, and those photos are some of my absolute favorites from the entire wedding.”
The Inspiration
“We envisioned a wedding that felt simple, elegant, and timeless. Because our reception was held under a tent, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere was important. We loved that we could essentially build the venue from the ground up with the exact arrangement and design we wanted. We also wanted to incorporate soft lighting and an intimate layout that made each of our guests feel included.
Our colors were black and white with a hint of blush. These colors felt timeless and classic, especially for a winter wedding. We used hints of blush to add a little bit of color and soften the black and white contrast.”
The Rentals
Gabro Event Services
“Gabro Event Services provided our tent, lighting, tent draping, cocktail table linens, stage, dance floor, and chargers, and they were truly the backbone of our wedding. We appreciated being able to get all of our major rentals from the same place. Their rentals literally created our space from the ground up, and we can’t imagine our wedding without them. The party tent style made our space feel intimate and cozy.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Truly, every one of our vendors exceeded our expectations, but I have to give special recognition to Katie Conner from Seashine Weddings and A-Town A-List from Sam Hill Entertainment. As a Type-A person who had a very clear vision for our wedding, I genuinely thought I could manage the planning process and timeline on my own. Thankfully, my mom convinced me to hire Katie, and it was one of the best decisions we made. Katie was incredibly accommodating, organized, and easy to work with. She understood my vision from the start, offered thoughtful guidance when needed, and ensured everything came together seamlessly. Our wedding simply wouldn’t have been the same without her. A-Town A-List was equally unforgettable—they were truly the life of the party. From the first song to the last, they kept guests of all ages on the dance floor and created an incredible energy throughout the entire evening. Every member of the band was exceptionally talented, and they made our reception one that our guests are still talking about.
What advice would you give to other Clearwater couples?
Pick what’s important and not to compromise on it! It was stressful planning at times, but I do not regret a single thing. It’s truly the one time you’ll have all your favorite people in the same place, and it’s such a special moment to share with them.
