Camille and David
“We would describe our wedding theme as rustic glam; imagine boho meets The Great Gatsby. We’re big fans of autumn color schemes with touches of gold and the Art Deco era of the early 1900s. Our colors were rust, gold, ruby, emerald, and burnt orange. We wanted to offer variety and highlight the unique personalities of our bridal party. Instead of sticking with just a few colors, we aimed to use a vibrant palette that matched the energy we felt that day!” -The Bride
FEATURING
Camille and David’s boho glam downtown St. Petersburg wedding perfectly combined rustic charm with glamorous flair, featuring bold fall colors, a nod to the early 1900s, and a vintage car to complete the look.
“We would describe our wedding theme as rustic glam; imagine boho meets The Great Gatsby. We’re big fans of autumn color schemes with touches of gold and the Art Deco era of the early 1900s,” the bride detailed. “Our colors were rust, gold, ruby, emerald, and burnt orange. We wanted to offer variety and highlight the unique personalities of our bridal party. Instead of sticking with just a few colors, we aimed to use a vibrant palette that matched the energy we felt that day!”
The Albany, CA bride and groom chose to host their destination fall wedding in St. Pete because it is near and dear to Camille’s heart.
“We chose St. Petersburg, Florida, because it is my favorite city in the state. St. Pete is home to the Dali Museum, showcasing my favorite artist. Growing up in Orlando and with much of my family still in Florida, it was important to me to keep our wedding in-state,” the bride beamed. “We wanted our guests traveling from afar to experience a different side of Florida beyond Orlando. With some of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., St. Pete was the perfect choice for a destination wedding that everyone could enjoy!”
The couple used the Marry Me Tampa Bay website to help them navigate through the wedding planning process and find their perfect venue.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay was a great resource for finding our venue and understanding the wedding planning process,” the bride revealed. “We used Marry Me Tampa Bay to search for the majority of our venues. After deciding on one, we used it to review past weddings and events, seeing how others used the space, popular color schemes, and gathering ideas to make our wedding unique.”
To host their 140 guests, the pair searched for a venue with a proven record of stress-free weddings. With over 1,000 five-star reviews, NOVA 535 topped their list.
“We wanted a place with three distinct areas: an outdoor space for the ceremony, an indoor space for the reception, and a third area for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. It was also important to us to have a venue that was easy to communicate with and offered planning assistance, especially since we were organizing the wedding from across the country. Additionally, we wanted it close to plenty of attractions so our guests could make the most of their trip,” the bride explained. “We discovered NOVA 535 early on through the Marry Me Tampa Bay website, and it immediately stood out. Every time we compared it to other venues, it checked all our boxes. It offered a city vibe with plenty of greenery and was so beautiful inside that minimal decorating was needed. The management was easy to communicate with and made the process straightforward. We ultimately chose it for its courtyard and the distinct spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.”
To preserve every meaningful moment and relive the memories for years to come, the couple entrusted Sabrina Autumn Photography for their wedding photography and videography.
“We were especially drawn to photographers with a creative approach to wedding photography. We searched for unique photographers near St. Pete and found Sabrina Autumn Photography’s page. We immediately loved their style, vibrancy, and creativity,” Camille gushed. “After browsing Sabrina Autumn Photography‘s portfolio, we knew she was the one. What sealed the deal was learning they were based in both San Francisco and St. Pete. Sabrina captured our save-the-date photos in San Francisco, where we got engaged and found the perfect spot at Filoli Gardens based on our vision. She and her partner were incredibly accommodating, even planning multiple locations so we could include our dog in the photos. They truly exceeded our expectations, and we are so grateful for the memories they captured.”
Camille and David incorporated several unique elements into their celebration, making their wedding a true reflection of their personalities.
“We wanted to really showcase who we are, make our guests feel loved, and bring together all of our favorite people into one space to get to know each other. We designed an enamel pin as a gift for our guests, had cakes overnighted from our favorite bakery in New York City (Milkbar), and arranged for the DJ and a string quartet to play a selection of our favorite music,” the bride recalled. “We wrapped up the night with a rooftop celebration at a karaoke bar, a nod to our weekly pastime during the first six months after we met. We wanted to be playful with our color palette to truly showcase our personalities. With guests flying in from three different continents and a sun shower that started and ended just in time for us to say ‘I do’ under a double rainbow, these moments made our wedding truly unique!”
The couple each had their own standout moments from the wedding day that they’ll always remember.
“David’s most memorable moments were the first look and hearing my vows during the ceremony, both still vivid in his mind. For myself, taking bridal party and family photos right after the first look at the Dali Museum, my favorite spot, stood out, along with our last dance alone in the room before joining the guests outside for the sparkler send-off,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
Camille’s mom was in San Fransico visiting for Thanksgiving, and we took a trip to the Conservatory of Flowers before taking a short hike down to Baker Beach. I let Camille’s mom know outside the Conservatory that I was going to pop the big question. Once we were on one of the hills with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, I turned on our song, Better Together by Jack Johnson, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me. We all celebrated with a delicious brunch the following day.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We traveled to Bali, Indonesia, shortly after the wedding. We really wanted to go somewhere that we could scuba dive, get immersed in the culture, and spend a lot of time on the beach. The U.S. dollar goes a long way in Bali, the food was incredible, and everyone was so friendly.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Brooklyn, NY. We got an Airbnb right next to where I used to live. It was important for me to share my favorite things about my favorite city with my favorite people. From the Brooklyn Museum to my favorite brunch spot and dance club, it was really a trip to remember.
What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
We were especially drawn to photographers with a creative approach to wedding photography. We searched for unique photographers near St. Pete and found Sabrina Autumn Photography’s page. We immediately loved their style, vibrancy, and creativity. After browsing Sabrina Autumn Photography‘s portfolio, we knew she was the one.
What sealed the deal was learning they were based in both San Francisco and St. Pete. Sabrina captured our save-the-date photos in San Francisco, where we got engaged and found the perfect spot at Filoli Gardens based on our vision. She and her partner were incredibly accommodating, even planning multiple locations so we could include our dog in the photos. They truly exceeded our expectations, and we are so grateful for the memories they captured.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted a place with three distinct areas: an outdoor space for the ceremony, an indoor space for the reception, and a third area for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. It was also important to us to have a venue that was easy to communicate with and offered planning assistance, especially since we were organizing the wedding from across the country. Additionally, we wanted it close to plenty of attractions so our guests could make the most of their trip.
We discovered NOVA 535 early on through the Marry Me Tampa Bay website, and it immediately stood out. Every time we compared it to other venues, it checked all our boxes. It offered a city vibe with plenty of greenery and was so beautiful inside that minimal decorating was needed. The management was easy to communicate with and made the process straightforward. We ultimately chose it for its courtyard and the distinct spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We would describe our wedding theme as rustic glam; imagine boho meets The Great Gatsby. We’re big fans of autumn color schemes with touches of gold and the Art Deco era of the early 1900s,
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
The first vendor that really exceeded our expectations was our bakery. MilkBar was able to overnight two new cakes from NYC to Orlando the week of our wedding due to the original two being damaged during shipping. Because of this, we were able to have a cake for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding, and they both looked beautiful.
Sabrina Autumn Photography, not only did the photos come out gorgeous, but they were so creative, and she really captured the spirit of our wedding right down to the double rainbow that was flying over us during the ceremony. We are so appreciative of Sabrina and Ryan and the vision they had for our photos. They are incredibly pleasant to work with and really pulled the best out of us every minute of our big day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Save money on the flowers by buying fake florals in the style you like. It gives you so much more freedom to curate the vibe and was really helpful planning from out of state. You can also use Etsy for gorgeous dried flower bouquets that you can keep forever (or sell)! Use the money you saved on flowers to get a good photographer that matches your vibe. Remember, you can’t please everyone, and all the tiny details you spend so much time worrying about aren’t even a factor in the big day. It goes by so fast, so just make sure you really cherish every second.
