Jamie and Blake's downtown St. Pete wedding combined boho and industrial elements to create a unique and modern celebration featuring a rooftop ceremony, greenery and gold-filled reception, and custom neon sign.
“We wanted to keep the details minimal, simple, and elegant since the venue is so full of beautiful details. It has so many rich colors and textures, that we didn't want to clutter the already beautiful space,” the bride beamed. “Overall we kept things very neutral. We chose mostly greenery and white for florals, black suits for the groomsmen, and taupe dresses for the bridesmaids. Blake's only request was to wear a burgundy suit, so we didn't want anything to clash with that.”
MORE: GREENERY INSPIRED WEDDINGS
The St. Pete couple wanted to showcase the city that they loved and where they would be building a life together, so they selected a downtown wedding venue with uniqueness and character.
“Both Blake and I are always interested in doing something a little different than the norm, and our wedding was no different. We weren't interested in a hotel or ballroom. We wanted something with a lot of personality that had a different vibe than other weddings we've attended,” Jamie explained. “Station House totally fits the bill! It had everything we wanted: outdoor space (equally beautiful indoor accommodations in case of rain), historic, fantastic location, and beautiful decor. It was a huge plus that it overlooked our beautiful downtown.”
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To fully savor every moment of their wedding day with their 105 guests, the bride and groom turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay to research local wedding planners.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay when searching for wedding planners. It was nice to find all local vendors in one place! I was looking for someone who was attentive, knowledgeable, and able to handle everything the day of because I wanted to completely enjoy it without interruption. I knew the day would go fast and I wanted to be able to soak up every moment with my new hubs and all of our guests,” Jamie shared. “Blue Skies Wedding and Events was very responsive from the beginning. When Heather jumped on the first call with me, I immediately felt at ease about planning. Heather took care of everything. After every call, I felt comfortable that the plans were in good hands. If anything went wrong the day-of, I never even knew. Blue Skies made sure that we had drinks in our hands and were having a great time throughout the day.”
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Looking back, one of the couple's most memorable moments included their officiant selection.
“We had our mutual friend officiate the wedding. He first introduced Blake and I in college at Florida State, so we have to give him full credit for the wedding day. We couldn't decide whose side he would stand on, so we asked him to officiate. He made our time at the altar so special and memorable,” the bride reminisced.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Both Blake and I are always interested in doing something a little different than the norm and our wedding was no different. We weren't interested in a hotel or ballroom. We wanted something with a lot of personality and that had a different vibe than other weddings we've attended.
Station House totally fits the bill! It had everything we wanted: outdoor space (equally beautiful indoor accommodations in case of rain), historic, fantastic location, and beautiful decor. It was important to find a place that didn't need much in terms of decor. With the way Station House is set up, we had the opportunity to order the events a little differently. After the ceremony and cocktail hour, we went upstairs to dinner. After dinner, we did introductions of the wedding party and speeches. We didn't do boutique or garter toss; we really wanted a relaxed and less formal vibe. Emily at Station House was fantastic in answering every question quickly and meeting us to view the space on more than one occasion. We appreciated her so much! It was important to us that it be in St. Pete, so it was a huge plus that it was in a fantastic location and overlooked our beautiful downtown.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Someone who was attentive, knowledgeable, and able to handle everything the day of because I wanted to completely enjoy it without interruption. I knew the day would go fast and I wanted to be able to soak up every moment with my new hubs and all of our guests. I also looked for a responsive team and good communication.
Blue Skies Events was very responsive from the beginning. When Heather jumped on the first call with me, I immediately felt at ease about planning. Heather took care of everything. After every call, I felt comfortable and knew the plans were in good hands. If anything went wrong the day-of, I never even knew. Heather and her team made sure that we had drinks in our hands and were having a great time throughout the day.
The Proposal:
We were in the process of renovating our home and Blake was so graciously building a huge deck for me. I was sitting on the almost completed deck while he finished the last area. He drilled in the very last board and turned around and proposed. I was in total shock. Our security camera caught the whole moment, so we were able to show our families.
Where did you spend your honeymoon and why did you choose that location?
Our original honeymoon was planned to Reykjavik, Iceland this past April, due to COVID, that trip has been postponed. We chose Iceland because we love adventure and visiting new places, especially those that have a different landscape than Florida. However, at our reception, we found out that one of the groomsmen and his wife had booked us an all-expense trip to Jamaica that was leaving the following Monday. It was a whirlwind trip, but definitely much-needed relaxation.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We chose a very neutral, simple theme. After choosing Station House as our venue, we knew we wanted to keep the details minimal, simple, and elegant since the venue is so full of beautiful details. It didn't need much!
What were your colors?
Overall we kept things very neutral. We chose black suits for the groomsmen and taupe dresses for the bridesmaids. Blake's only request was to wear a burgundy suit, so we didn't want anything to clash with that. We really wanted simple and elegant. Station House has so many rich colors and textures, that we didn't want to clutter the already beautiful space. We chose mostly greenery and white for florals. We had greenery for tablescapes to compliment the floating wood tables on the fifth floor for dinner set with a few gold candles.
How did your rentals add to the ambiance of the decor?
We used folding dining chairs from Gabro Event Services to add to the mismatched chairs from Station House's collection. It was an integral part of the eclectic style of furniture we wanted for dinner while also helping us stay on budget.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Shop around with vendors. We usually chose the first one and while we weren't in any way disappointed in our choices, we felt we should've compared pricing a little more! You will go over your budget if you're not careful.
The best advice is to enjoy the day and the reason you're all gathered together. Little details won't matter. It goes so fast; enjoy every single moment!
Venue: Station House *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: MAD Images
Videographer: Jonathan Hickson
Planner: Blue Skies Wedding and Events *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Florist: Iza's Flowers
Caterer: Puff N Stuff
Rentals: Gabro Event Services *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Cake: Chantilly Cakes
DJ: Crown Entertainment
Officiant: Blake Wladyka
Invitations: designed by the bride
Dress Shop and Designer: White Closet Bridal, Enzoani
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Hair & Makeup: The Hive Salon
