Allison and Johnny
“Our wedding theme/design inspiration was romantic with a mix of modern elegance. When we pictured our wedding, we wanted it to feel romantic with some modern touches while also ensuring an elegant and timeless feel so we could look back years later and still love everything about our special day. To achieve that, we went minimal with décor and really leaned on our florals, small touches of gold, and the beautiful backdrop of the venue,” -The Bride
FEATURING
Allison and Johnny’s romantic, modern downtown St. Petersburg wedding featured gorgeous jewel-toned florals, lush greenery, stunning architecture, and natural elements, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
“Our wedding theme/design inspiration was romantic with a mix of modern elegance. When we pictured our wedding, we wanted it to feel romantic with some modern touches while also ensuring an elegant and timeless feel so we could look back years later and still love everything about our special day. To achieve that, we went minimal with décor and really leaned on our florals, small touches of gold, and the beautiful backdrop of the venue,” the bride revealed. “Our wedding colors were primarily black and burgundy with pops of other deep jewel tones and gold accents. With a late October wedding, it was natural to embrace the romantic, rich, deep tones of fall, but we also wanted to avoid being too ‘trendy,’ so we grounded the fall colors with classic and timeless black and gold accents. I have always loved the look of a wedding party in all black and looking back at our wedding pictures, I couldn’t be happier that we went with that timeless look.”
The St. Petersburg bride and groom hosted their fall nuptials locally because Tampa Bay holds a special significance to them as the place where they first met.
” Johnny and I both grew up in the area, and we both have always loved the Pinellas County area. Most of our family also lives here, so we knew we wanted to have a local wedding. We explored several venues in various cities across the county but were consistently drawn back to downtown St. Pete because it offers the perfect mix of coastal and city,” the bride gushed. “The gorgeous water views mixed with the fun downtown landscape and atmosphere made it the perfect spot for us to get married. I’d also be remiss not to mention the fact that we met downtown, so it holds a special place in our hearts. After our reception ended, we actually ventured over to the place we met to close out the night. It was a sweet, full-circle moment.”
The couple turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration and guidance in planning their hometown wedding.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay was a great resource to find advice, inspiration, specific ideas, and general wedding planning knowledge. Because we were doing all the planning ourselves, we relied heavily on resources like this, specifically the blog articles, to help guide us through the planning process and to ensure we didn’t miss a single detail,” the bride shared. “I did a lot of research, leveraging sites such as The Knot and Marry Me Tampa Bay to explore options and ideas and compare reviews of vendors. We cross-referenced venues on The Knot and Marry Me Tampa Bay, which is how we landed on NOVA 535. We used the NOVA preferred vendors list and cross-checked on The Knot and Marry Me Tampa Bay to confirm good reviews. These sites were such a helpful resource because they helped narrow down the options and really gave us a good overview of which vendors might make sense based on our budget, priorities, and vision for the day.”
When it came to choosing a venue, Allison and Johnny sought a space that could accommodate 145 friends and family for every aspect of their wedding, from the ceremony to the reception.
“We wanted a venue that could accommodate both the ceremony and reception with the ability for a seamless flip of the space behind the scenes while guests enjoyed cocktail hour. Our goal was to create as little stress as possible for everyone involved. Having a ceremony and reception in the same place would allow everyone to arrive at one location and enjoy every moment of the wedding, from arrival through the conclusion of the reception, with no added logistics to worry or think about. Because so many of our family and friends are local, we wanted a venue that was located in the Tampa Bay area and also offered plenty of hotel options and fun things to do for our out-of-town guests,” the bride detailed. “NOVA 535‘s space was conducive to having both our ceremony and reception with the flexibility to use the inside and outside spaces in whatever way we wanted, which was ideal given the unpredictable Florida weather. NOVA exudes the perfect mix of historic charm with a modern industrial vibe. The exposed brick, wood floors, and iron staircase handrails inside, combined with the bamboo and string lights in the courtyard, provided the perfect backdrop for our romantic, with a mix of modern elegance and theme. Because NOVA is a beautiful space by itself, there wasn’t a need for a lot of décor, which allowed the stunning florals to have the big impact we envisioned with a few other small details to tie it all together.”
“NOVA 535‘s service was outstanding,” Allison added. “All staff members, from the doorman to the bartenders to the other support staff, were friendly and well-trained. Our coordinator, April, was invaluable in making sure the day moved smoothly according to our timeline. She met with us weeks before to answer all our questions, and from that point forward, she made us feel comfortable and confident that she had things handled, which allowed us to not worry about the little details and truly enjoy each moment of the day.”
Despite having more reserved personalities when it comes to being in the spot, the couple shocked their guests with a special performance on the dance floor.
“Johnny and I don’t love to be the center of attention, but we decided we wanted to do some choreography for our first dance and surprise everyone! We worked on the choreography for a couple of months leading up to the wedding but didn’t tell a single person, not even our parents. To say everyone was shocked was an understatement, especially because we incorporated a lift in the dance,” the bride beamed. “It was fun to push ourselves a little bit outside of our normal comfort zone. People are still talking about the unexpected dance to this day, and if you zoom in on pictures and video, you can see the many dropped jaws and shocked reactions – it’s so funny!”
With guest experience top of mind for the couple, they added an engaging experience that doubled as their guestbook and guest favors.
“Photobooths are a fun activity that can offer a nice break from the dance floor, and they provide personal keepsakes for guests. Beyond the guest experience, we used The Gala Photobooth to fill our guestbook. Each person, couple, or group who took a photo could stick it on a page in our guestbook and write a little message next to it. It was so fun to flip through the book and see all the pictures of our guests dressed up and enjoying themselves. Plus, the notes left behind were a combination of sweet and hilarious. We cherish it and know it will be an amazing keepsake to flip through, especially on our anniversary over the coming years,” the bride gushed. “The Gala Photobooth not only had wonderful reviews, but they also offered a wide variety of background options and photo print formats, so we could customize things exactly the way we wanted. Their service was top-notch. During the planning process, they were incredibly responsive, easy to work with, and willing to cater their services to meet whatever needs we had. On the wedding day, they arrived and set up quietly and without being noticed during cocktail hour so that the booth was open and ready for guests when they came back inside for the reception. The photobooth attendant was friendly, great at ensuring guests received enough copies of their photo prints and encouraging them to add one to the guest book with a little message.”
When asked about their most memorable moments, Allison and Johnny each shared what stood out the most.
“One of my favorite memories was the first look and private vows because it was an incredibly special and emotional moment that set the tone for the rest of the day. Getting to see Johnny immediately calmed any nerves I had. Since neither of us like being the center of attention, the idea of sharing those vows in front of nearly 150 guests didn’t feel like the right approach for us. Instead, because we were doing a first look, we decided to incorporate our personal vows into that private moment. It turned out to be one of our favorite moments of the whole day. Seeing each other for the first time was emotional in the best way, and getting to share our feelings about the day, our future together, and what our love means was such a precious time and the perfect way to transition from the getting ready portion of the day to the main wedding events,” the bride reminisced. “My second most memorable moment was when I walked out to the top of the stairs with my dad before processing. It was the first time I saw all our family and friends sitting together under one roof, and it took my breath away. I felt so lucky to be loved and surrounded by so many.”
“The groom’s most memorable moment was the first look because he finally got to see me in my dress,” Allison revealed. “Johnny said I looked so beautiful, and having that moment together immediately calmed him and took away all his nerves.”
The Proposal:
Johnny told me he was planning a small get-together with our friends to celebrate my birthday. He masked it as a small gathering at our friend’s house in Dunedin. When we talked about a proposal, I told him I just wanted something simple and to be surrounded by our family and friends. Because it was a smaller group of our friends gathering for my birthday without any family, I didn’t think anything of it.
Little did I know, everyone was in on it. The friends at the birthday gathering convinced me that we should go outside to take a group picture with the beautiful water and sunset in the background. I agreed because we don’t usually get many pictures together. Right after we took the group picture, Johnny pulled me off to the side at the water’s edge and started telling me all the reasons he loves me, and before I even realized what was happening, he was on one knee asking me to marry him! I immediately started crying tears of joy! We celebrated with the friends who were there, and the next thing I knew, all our family and other friends came to celebrate with us. It was the most amazing proposal and everything I could have hoped for.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We traveled to St. Lucia for a week to stay at an all-inclusive resort. After a busy year of planning on top of our normally busy lives, we knew we wanted a laid-back honeymoon where we could spend the first days of married life relaxing and recharging together. St. Lucia offered a romantic, tropical paradise in a country we’d never been to. It was an incredible week and the best way to start life as Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Savannah, Georgia. Most of my bridesmaids and close friends lived within a six-hour drive to Savannah, so it was a central location that offered charm, great food, tons of activities, and fun nightlife. Savannah absolutely did not disappoint! My Matron of Honor went absolutely above and beyond to plan the most perfect weekend with nine of my closest friends!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted a venue that could accommodate both the ceremony and reception with the ability for a seamless flip of the space behind the scenes while guests enjoyed cocktail hour. Our goal was to create as little stress as possible for everyone involved. Having a ceremony and reception in the same place would allow everyone to arrive at one location and enjoy every moment of the wedding, from arrival through the conclusion of the reception, with no added logistics to worry or think about. Because so many of our family and friends are local, we wanted a venue that was located in the Tampa Bay area and also offered plenty of hotel options and fun things to do for our out-of-town guests.
NOVA 535‘s space was conducive to having both our ceremony and reception with the flexibility to use the inside and outside spaces in whatever way we wanted, which was ideal given the unpredictable Florida weather. Additionally, NOVA exudes the perfect mix of historic charm with a modern industrial vibe. The exposed brick, wood floors, and iron staircase handrails inside, combined with the bamboo and string lights in the courtyard, provided the perfect backdrop for our romantic, with a mix of modern elegance and theme. Because NOVA is a beautiful space by itself, there wasn’t a need for a lot of décor, which allowed the stunning florals to have the big impact we envisioned, with a few other small details to tie it all together.
NOVA 535‘s service was outstanding. All staff members, from the doorman to the bartenders to the other support staff, were friendly and well-trained. Our coordinator, April, was invaluable in making sure the day moved smoothly according to our timeline. She met with us weeks before to answer all our questions, and from that point forward, she made us feel comfortable and confident that she had things handled, which allowed us to not worry about the little details and truly enjoy each moment of the day.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme/design inspiration was romantic, with a mix of modern elegance. When we pictured our wedding, we wanted it to feel romantic with some modern touches while also ensuring an elegant and timeless feel, so we could look back years later and still love everything about our special day. To achieve that, we went minimal with décor and really leaned on our florals, small touches of gold, and the beautiful backdrop of the venue.
What were your colors?
Our wedding colors were primarily black and burgundy, with pops of other deep jewel tones and gold accents. With a late October wedding, it was natural to embrace the romantic, rich, deep tones of fall, but we also wanted to avoid being too ‘trendy,’ so we grounded the fall colors with classic and timeless black and gold accents. I have always loved the look of a wedding party in all black and looking back at our wedding pictures, I couldn’t be happier that we went with that timeless look.
Why did you choose to have a photo booth at your wedding?
Photobooths are a fun activity that can offer a nice break from the dance floor, and they provide personal keepsakes for guests. Beyond the guest experience, we used The Gala Photobooth to fill our guestbook. Each person, couple, or group who took a photo could stick it on a page in our guestbook and write a little message next to it. It was so fun to flip through the book and see all the pictures of our guests dressed up and enjoying themselves. Plus, the notes left behind were a combination of sweet and hilarious. We cherish it and know it will be an amazing keepsake to flip through, especially on our anniversary over the coming years.
The Gala Photobooth not only had wonderful reviews, but they also offered a wide variety of background options and photo print formats, so we could customize things exactly the way we wanted. Their service was top-notch. During the planning process, they were incredibly responsive, easy to work with, and willing to cater their services to meet whatever needs we had. On the wedding day, they arrived and set up quietly and without being noticed during cocktail hour so that the booth was open and ready for guests when they came back inside for the reception. The photobooth attendant was friendly, great at ensuring guests received enough copies of their photo prints and encouraging them to add one to the guest book with a little message.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our photographer was my first call after getting engaged. They have photographed my family and me since I was in high school. They took my senior photos in high school and family portraits and have photographed so many of my friends’ weddings. They are the sweetest husband and wife duo who make you feel comfortable in every setting, coach you through the best ways to pose, are incredibly detail-oriented, and have a way of capturing photos that clearly illustrate your personality and love for each other. They’re also such seasoned professionals that we didn’t have to worry about anything picture-related on the day of the wedding. I knew they had to photograph our wedding, and I’m so glad they did.
Our videographer was amazing to work with. They are so organized, have their process down to a T, and are great at capturing amazing moments of the day while also being very discreet around guests. We can’t thank them enough for their dedication to our big day and the thought and time that went into editing our film. We will cherish the videos forever.
The violinist is one of the most talked-about vendors from our wedding! He is an absolute talent. He played gorgeous music as our guests arrived and during the ceremony that set a romantic, elegant, and intimate tone. He then transitioned to playing popular, fun, and upbeat songs during cocktail hour that everyone loved! He was also incredibly accommodating, even learning a song he’d never played before to perform during the ceremony.
We cannot say enough good things about our florist. They are the best of the best in terms of the art they create but also in their customer service. Because we wanted our florals to have a massive impact as the main aspect of our décor, it was a large line item in our budget. That said, we also were aiming to stay under a certain amount given other expenses. They were so willing to work with us until we found the right solutions to meet our desires and our budget. We were admittedly a bit nervous about the florals coming to life in the way we envisioned but after we did our final consultation meeting, we left feeling like a weight was lifted. They brought our vision to life in a way that exceeded our expectations. When I saw my bouquet for the first time, I was truly in awe. It was beyond anything I ever could have imagined.
Our hair and makeup artist team was absolutely incredible to work with. Leading up to the wedding, they were very responsive and willing to work with me on the timeline and location. The day of, the team was punctual, thorough, and fun, and it made us all feel our absolute best. Their ability to listen to what each woman wanted for their hair and/or makeup and bring that to life was amazing. All my bridesmaids shared that it was the best hair and makeup they’ve ever had for a wedding!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do your best to enjoy the planning process and remember the real reason you’re planning a wedding in the first place – your love for each other and the start of this new chapter in your lives together!
When you look back, you won’t remember all the small details, but you will remember the amazing feeling of having your family and friends from all different areas of your life come together to celebrate your love. It is truly so special, so don’t let the superficial things taint that!
