Downtown Tampa Wedding | Rialto Theatre Wedding
Lindsey and Spencer’s downtown Tampa wedding showcased the couple’s personalties from their food and music choices down to the smallest details.
“I think all of our personal touches infused in every detail made our wedding unique. We didn’t do all of the traditional things you’d normally do at a wedding, or if we did we put our own spin on them,” the bride explained. “Instead of a traditional guest book, we had a large map where people could pin places we should travel, since we are avid travelers. We are big into serving our community, so instead of sending home wedding favors, we asked people to pick one of the three organizations that meant the most to us to donate $5 to.”
The Tampa couple’s hometown wedding focused on creating a celebration that everyone would enjoy.
“It was most important to make sure the guests would have a good time, feel honored to be there and be well taken care of,” Lindsey shared. “After all, this is the biggest, most important party Spencer and I would ever host, and we wanted everyone to feel the love and happiness wed feel for each other.”
Since the groom is a musician, finding the best Tampa wedding DJ was a top priority.
“We all know the music played can make or break receptions, having a good quality DJ was a must for us. We also wanted one who could read the vibe of the room and still find a way to sneak in our requested songs,” the bride explained. “Grant Hemond & Associates was recommended to us by several of our vendors, so we felt confident that they supplied phenomenal DJs. James did not disappoint! He kept the crowd moving and even polished the soundtrack of me singing Butterfly Kisses when I was seven years old for my father daughter dance.”
MORE: GRANT HEMOND & ASSOCIATES WEDDINGS
With Lindsey and Spencer being foodies, they had very high expectations for their wedding cuisine.
“We wanted a caterer who had a unique enough menu to cater (pun intended) to our style, offer good service and be able to make one of my favorite foods from Wisconsin, cheese curds!” the bride said. “We had a few tasting with different companies, but nothing compared to Good Food Catering‘s menu and service. As a couple who loves to host people, we didn’t mind paying a little extra to know our guests were provided with a good quality meal. Good Food’s service at the reception was excellent!”
MORE: GOOD FOOD CATERING WEDDINGS
To keep the bride at ease and make her wedding day pure bliss, Lindsey hired Tampa wedding planner Blush by Brandee Gaar.
“I needed to find someone who I could rely on to execute my vision and be as detailed oriented as I am. I needed to get a sense that even though they are planning several other weddings that mine mattered,” the bride explained. “Maria [of Blush by Brandee Gaar] met all of my expectations. She handled each detail flawlessly, and I was so appreciative that she executed all the things I couldn’t be there to do. I never worried, something that is nearly impossible for me to do.
“To showcase her natural beauty, the bride trusted her Tampa makeup artist’s expertise.
“I wanted the artist to surprise me by giving me her best glowing bridal look given my features, Lindsey said. “I booked a consultation with Lindsay [of Lindsay Does Makeup] and loved my look so much that I immediately booked her for myself and bridesmaids. She did an amazing job the day of and was so kind to stay with me until after the ceremony for touch-ups because I cried four times (hard ugly cry), yes four times!”
MORE: LINDSAY DOES MAKEUP WEDDINGS
Looking back, one of the bride’s most memorable moments came during the wedding reception.
“I think between having Spencer’s father marry us in the church he preached at for 30 years and the amount of love Spencer and I felt as we moved throughout the day are our favorite highlights. This was one of the best days of our lives,” Lindsey reminisced.
What was your wedding makeup inspiration and what did you look for in an artist?
As much as I love makeup, I actually didn’t go into my consulting appointment with much inspiration. I wanted the artist to surprise me by giving me her best glowing bridal look given my features.
Lindsay [of Lindsay Does Makeup] was recommended to me by another makeup artist my mom used. I booked a consultation with Lindsay and loved my look so much that I immediately booked her for myself and bridesmaids. She did an amazing job the day of and was so kind to stay with me until after the ceremony for touch-ups because I cried four times (hard ugly cry), yes four times!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Being the ultimate planner in Spencer and I’s relationship and in my profession, I needed to find someone who I could rely on to execute my vision and be as detailed oriented as I am. I needed to get a sense that even though they are planning several other weddings that mine mattered. I met Brandee [of Blush by Brandee Gaar] at a wedding expo. She had the best branded booth (I’m in marketing), wasn’t too sales-y and seemed genuine. I gave her a call that next week and was connected with Maria, who right away met all of my expectations. Maria was excellent from the first phone call, in-person meeting and most importantly on the day of the wedding. She handled each detail flawlessly, and I was so appreciative that she executed all the things I couldn’t be there to do. I never worried, something that is nearly impossible for me to do.
The Proposal:
Spencer and I were hiking up a mountain trail in Rockport, Massachusetts, when we came to this beautiful clearing that overlooked the gorgeous mountain valley. He dropped to one knee and ask me to marry him. He got lucky that there was a beautiful overlook! It was such an emotional, private moment, minus the mysterious hiker who popped out of nowhere right before the proposal!
How would you describe your theme?
We didn’t have a theme until we found the beautiful Rialto Theatre. From there, it was simple. We were going keep some of the modern, cool vibe the venue naturally provided, but soften it up with florals, greenery, wood and soft lighting. It morphed into a beautiful, modern, garden party setting.
What were your colors?
To capture the winter season, our favorite season, but to keep things lively, we went with a plum purple, sage green, pale pink/peach, tans and gold metallic accents.
What was the inspiration for your menu and what did you look for in a wedding caterer?
Spencer and I love our food, and our friends and family know that we don’t take our guests out to just any old restaurant. In fact, our first date was over enjoying some bone marrow! This was one area we felt important to do well; everyone complains about eating wedding food right? We wanted a caterer who had a unique enough menu to cater (pun intended) to our style, offer good service and be able to make one of my favorite foods from Wisconsin, cheese curds!
We had a few tasting with different companies, but nothing compared to Good Food Catering’s menu and service. The chef’s great customer service, personality, menu and quality of food won us over. As a couple who loves to host people, we didn’t mind paying a little extra to know our guests were provided with a good quality meal. Good Food’s service at the reception was excellent!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Since Spencer leads the band at our church, and we all know the music played can make or break receptions, having a good quality DJ was a must for us. We also wanted one who could read the vibe of the room and still find a way to sneak in our requested songs.
Grant Hemond & Associates was recommended to us by several of our vendors, so we felt confident that they supplied phenomenal DJs. James did not disappoint! He kept the crowd moving and even polished the soundtrack of me singing “Butterfly Kisses” when I was seven years old for my father daughter dance.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
I’m going to spotlight all the detail, anal, retentive brides out there. Remember the purpose of getting married: to celebrate and commit yourself to your husband. The details can and will overwhelm you, keep you up at night and make you incredibly cranky. Just remember if you hire trusting vendors, have supportive family, crafty friends, future husband and for me trust in God, it will all be worth it and will all come together more perfect than you can ever imagine!
Ceremony Venue: Hyde Park Presbyterian Church
Reception Venue: Rialto Theatre
Photographer: Elicia Bryan Photography (Atlanta)
Videographer: George Street Photo & Video
Planner: Blush by Brandee Gaar
Florist: Buds, Blooms, and Beyond
Caterer: Good Food Catering *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rentals: FH Weddings and Events
Cake: Carin and Sandy Butler
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates – James King *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Dr. Reverand Kenneth Shick
Invitations: Paper Seahorse
Transportation: Blue One Transportation
Dress Shop and Designer: The White Magnolia Bridal Collection, JLM Couture
Hair: Uliana Pakskina
Makeup: Lindsay Does Makeup *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
