Ashleigh and Jimmy's waterfront Clearwater Beach wedding came together perfectly to showcase the couple's colorful heritage and love for family. With a palette of navy, white, and rose gold, the celebration featured sweet moments and beautiful traditions.
“Our theme was a mix of boho chic meets world traveler. Our families are from all over the world, and we wanted to incorporate our heritage with our own unique styles,” the bride explained. “Everything we chose represented something specific to each of us.”
MORE: CLEARWATER BEACH WEDDING INSPIRATION
Searching for a waterfront Clearwater wedding venue that could provide one space for both a gorgeous ceremony and reception, and also had a bit of flair, the Atlanta couple chose the Yacht Starship.
“Jimmy and I drove down to Florida to see the Yacht Starship for the first time, and as soon as we drove up, we knew we had found our venue! Chris, the venue coordinator, and the entire staff absolutely blew us away! I can’t sing their praises enough,” the bride gleamed. “We had less than six months to plan our wedding while my father was going through IV chemotherapy. Because of his illness, he was in and out of the hospital the entire time we were trying to plan everything and Chris went out of her way to work with us in whatever we needed. It didn’t matter the time or day, she was there every step of the way and it made everything flow so much easier.”
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With a specific style in mind, the bride searched for a wedding hair artist who could create an effortlessly romantic bohemian look that could withstand the Florida humidity.
“My sister and I researched a lot of salons in the area. When we came across Femme Akoi's Instagram page, I knew they were who I wanted,” the bride gushed. “The photos on their Instagram and website showed creative styles that looked effortless despite the Florida humidity. I was so excited when my sister reached out to them and learned an opening had just become available due to a cancellation a few minutes beforehand.”
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Looking back, Ashleigh and Jimmy reminisced about the moment they first saw each other and how happy they were to be surrounded by loved ones.
“One of my favorite memories was during the first look when Jimmy turned to see me for the first time,” the bride blushed. “Another big moment for me way when my father gathered enough strength to walk up the stairs to the top deck to walk me down the aisle. For Jimmy, having his 93-year-old grandma fly for the first time to live out her dream of one day coming to the United States and seeing her grandson get married was a cherished memory.”
What was your wedding hair inspiration?
I wanted the romantic bohemian look with some type of hair accessory. I wanted it to look effortless, but still fit with my dress which was the main focal point.
I want to learn more about hair & makeup from Femme Akoi.
My sister and I researched a lot of salons in the area and needed someone without a lot of notice. When we came across Femme Akoi's Instagram page, I knew they were who I wanted. The photos on their Instagram and website showed creative styles that looked effortless despite the Florida humidity. I was so excited when my sister reached out to them and learned an opening had just become available due to a cancellation a few minutes beforehand.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
A place that was unique and different that would represent us as a couple. We wanted a venue where we could have both the ceremony and the reception in the same place.
I want to learn more about weddings on the Yacht StarShip.
Jimmy and I drove down to Florida to see the Yacht Starship for the first time, and as soon as we drove up and met with Chris Dorroh we knew we had found our venue and wedding coordinator! Chris and the entire staff at the Yacht Starship blew us away! I can’t sing their praises enough.
We had less than six months to plan our wedding while my father was going through IV chemotherapy. Because of his illness, he was in and out of the hospital the entire time we were trying to plan everything, and Chris went out of her way to work with us in whatever we needed. It didn’t matter what time of day or day of the week, she was there every step of the way. I was only able to go back down one more time before the wedding and Chris made me feel so confident, comfortable and at ease with everything. We didn’t know if my father would be able to make it to the wedding, let alone be strong enough to walk me down the aisle until the day before. Chris made sure that everyone on board was up to speed and had a plan either way. Plus, you can’t beat having your photos taken while sailing on a yacht.
The Proposal:
Jimmy had just gotten back from spending Christmas back home in the Dominican Republic, and we had just found out my father was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. I was an emotional wreck because I wasn’t sure what would happen. It was hard thinking about going through everything again and being strong for my myself and my mom. Suddenly, the song Marry Me by Jason Derulo started playing, and I opened my eyes to see Jimmy on his knee. He sweetly said, “Love, will you marry me?” I was so happy and my heart was so full.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme was a mix of boho chic meets world traveler. Our families are from all over the world, and we wanted to incorporate our heritage with our own unique styles. Everything we chose represented something specific to each of us. We had family members from four different countries that spoke four different languages. In the Italian culture, it's tradition to have five Jordan Almonds for each guest to represent five wishes for the newlywed couple. We had the sayings written in other languages so everyone could feel they were a part of the celebration.
What were your colors?
Navy, white, and rose gold. Navy and white are not only the colors of the Yacht Starship, but also two of the colors in the Dominican Republic flag. I chose rose gold accents to represent the glitzy fashion side of me.
How did you incorporate you and your spouse's personalities into the wedding?
I work in the fashion industry and Jimmy plays baseball and is an engineer. I had custom cufflinks made out of currency from the Dominican Republic as a surprise for Jimmy and the groomsmen. To represent my personality, I gifted the groomsman with tie bars that say, “distinguished AF” because they always dress up when they go out anywhere.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Go with your gut and find vendors who you feel can truly capture what it is you are looking for. So many people told us what we wanted couldn’t be done in such a short time and within our budget. But, when you find the right people who see your vision and truly want to be a part of making your dream a reality, nothing's impossible.
Ceremony and Reception Venue/DJ/Officiant/Caterer: Yacht Starship IV *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Limelight Photography
Florist: Brides n’ Blooms
Cake: Corey’s Bakery
Invitations: Papercakedesigns (Etsy)
Dress Shop: Made by Carmen Marc Valvo Infusion
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: The Dessy Group
Hair: Femme Akoi – Grissel *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Makeup: Sesentiraimee Artistry
Welcome Bags: Becollective (Etsy)
Welcome itinerary: TweetPartyPrintables (Etsy)
Cake Topper: PersonalizationLab (Etsy)
Bridal Hair Accessories: BellaViaDesigns (Etsy)
Love Catcher Earring: Stacy Sterling Jewelry
