Laura and Bryan’s downtown St. Pete wedding was an intimate evening featuring a rooftop ceremony overlooking the city followed by a romantic botanical-inspired reception.
“Getting married in January, I chose a palette of burgundy and gold with pops of red, deep plum, and lots of greenery. It wasn’t until our invitations arrived that I realized I had unintentionally chosen Florida State colors! My alma mater!” the bride shared. “Since our ballroom was so beautiful on its own, I knew I wanted to make the flowers the focal point. I’ve always been a fan of bold, dark colors and after meeting with my florist, we decided on blooms of burgundy, red, and plum.”
As the Clearwater bride began to research their ideal vendor team, she read Marry Me Tampa Bay’s real wedding features for inspiration and reviews.
“My mom was the one who first told me about Marry Me Tampa Bay, and they were an incredibly helpful resource during the planning process. I remember looking through a lot of the featured weddings for inspiration, and we are so honored to now be included in that category!” the bride beamed. “Marry Me Tampa Bay, along with the advice of a dear friend of mine who used to work in the wedding industry, led me to ultimately choose our planner and cake baker for our wedding day.”
Seeking an extraordinary experience for their 65 guests, the couple instantly knew that Red Mesa Event’s private rooftop and the exposed red brick ballroom would be the perfect balance between unique and elegant.
“I used to work in the hotel industry so we wanted something a little more unique than your average ballroom. Since we were also hoping to have our ceremony and reception in the same place, a venue with multiple options was also important. And, of course, a venue that was pet-friendly,” Laura revealed. “I looked at a number of venues but after visiting Red Mesa Events; nowhere else even compared. Leigh has a ton of experience and a great eye for detail, so when I walked into the ballroom for the first time, I was completely blown away. She took my vision and brought it to life tenfold. Everything from the food to the service was excellent, and our guests are still raving about how fantastic our wedding was!”
As the venue and date had been secured, Laura realized an experienced and reputable wedding planner would be key in executing a stress-free and memorable day.
“We looked for a wedding planner who was familiar with our venue and someone who would think of all the things I hadn’t thought of. Most importantly, I wanted someone who I could trust so that on the day of Bryan and I, as well as our friends and family, could just enjoy the day,” the bride reasoned. “I spoke with a number of planners, but after one conversation with Tammy, it was a no-brainer to choose Special Moments Event Planning. Honestly, I never thought I would need a planner, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I made. From the very beginning, Jennifer was professional and knowledgeable, and I had no doubt everything would be perfectly executed. Our wedding was perfect in every way, and we owe it all to her and her team.”
To personalize their wedding day, the couple included their beloved dog in their ceremony with the help of FairyTail Pet Care. The Artistic Whisk created a three-tiered wedding cake that featured two flavors, Cinnamon Roll and Almond Raspberry. Laura wore her mother’s vintage wedding veil which complemented her Essence of Australia gown.
“I wore my mother’s veil from her wedding in 1974 and neither of us could believe how perfectly it matched my dress. It looked just as beautiful as the day she wore it and all of our guests thought it was brand new,” Laura beamed. “Also, we could not forget about our sweet boy Alfie! We couldn’t imagine our wedding without him, and he was the most handsome ring bearer around, just look at that bow tie!”
As she started down the aisle, an unexpected wardrobe malfunction provided some comic relief the bride and groom.
“Our ceremony was also very special for both of us. We decided not to do a first look and were both so nervous to see each other for the first time. Funny enough, my shoe got stuck at the end of the aisle and it took three people to wedge it out. It was a great moment and instantly calmed our nerves.”
While the entire day brought back sweet smiles, it was the moments that Laura and Bryan shared in front of their guests that left lasting memories.
“Our favorite moment of the whole day would definitely be our first dance. Months before the wedding Bryan suggested we take dance lessons but I never thought in a million years he would actually go through with it. Less than a month before the wedding we finally scheduled our first lesson, and it was one of the best decisions we could’ve made. We chose “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” by Frank Sinatra and surprised everyone with a choreographed dance. It was an amazing moment for both of us and something we will look back on for years to come,” the bride reminisced.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
We went to Asheville, NC for my bachelorette party, and despite COVID changing nearly all of our plans, we had the best time! Living in Florida, I really wanted a change of scenery as well as a change of weather and was hoping to see some fall foliage. We rented a cabin in the mountains, and while it was uncharacteristically warm, we got to see plenty of fall colors and really enjoyed all the unique charm of downtown Asheville.
The Proposal:
Bryan planned a weekend trip to St. Augustine to celebrate my birthday. It was the end of January and the final weekend of the “Nights of Lights.” Our first night there, we checked into a fantastic bed and breakfast, At Journey’s End, and met up with a friend for a quick drink before exploring the city. The Lightner Museum looked especially beautiful lit up in all white lights, so Bryan suggested we take a picture in the courtyard. I thought something might be up since this was very uncharacteristic for him, and before I knew it, he got down on one knee and said he didn’t want to wake up another morning without me next to him.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Someone who was familiar with our venue and who would think of all the things I hadn’t thought of. Most importantly, I wanted someone who I could trust so that on the day of Bryan and I, as well as our friends and family, could just enjoy the day.
I spoke with a number of planners, but after one conversation with Tammy, it was a no-brainer to choose Special Moments Event Planning. Honestly, I never thought I would need a planner, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I made. From the very beginning, Jennifer Madison was professional and knowledgeable, and I had no doubt everything would be perfectly executed. Our wedding was perfect in every way, and we owe it all to her and her team.
Why did you choose to incorporate your pets into your wedding day?
At the time of our wedding, Bryan and I had been together almost three-and-a-half years, and Alfie has been there for three of them. He is such an important part of our relationship that from the moment we got engaged, we knew he had to be there on the day of. We even named one of our signature cocktails after him called “The Alfredo.”
Words cannot express how much we just love FairyTail Pet Care! They were so easy to work with, and Ilana Karcinski was incredible with Alfie. They bonded immediately, and he was the best ring bearer we could’ve asked for!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We have yet to take a honeymoon since our original plan was a European vacation in Italy and Greece. Due to COVID, we quickly realized that was no longer an option, and we are now hoping to visit Lake Tahoe in the spring.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I used to work in the hotel industry so we wanted something a little more unique than your average ballroom. Since we were also hoping to have our ceremony and reception in the same place, a venue with multiple options was also important. And, of course, a venue that was pet-friendly!
I looked at a number of venues but after visiting Red Mesa Events, nowhere else even compared. Leigh Wilson-Arwood was not the original Events Director I booked with, but I could not have been more grateful that she was the one there on our wedding day. Leigh has a ton of experience and a great eye for detail, so when I walked into the ballroom for the first time, I was completely blown away. She took my vision and brought it to life tenfold. Everything from the food to the service was excellent, and our guests are still raving about how fantastic our wedding was! We also knew that we wanted to continue celebrating even after the reception so the fact that Red Mesa is walking distance to some great nightlife was definitely a plus.
What were your colors?
Getting married in January, I chose a palette of burgundy and gold with pops of red, deep plum, and lots of greenery. It wasn’t until our invitations arrived that I realized I had unintentionally chosen Florida State colors! My alma mater!
Since our Ballroom was so beautiful on its own, I knew I wanted to make the flowers the focal point. I’ve always been a fan of bold, dark colors and after meeting with our florist, we decided on blooms of burgundy, red, and plum. Accenting these colors with the elegant gold décor of the venue created the botanical romance I envisioned.
What was your wedding cake inspiration?
Bryan and I both have a major sweet tooth, so we agreed on a more simple cake, but a decadent dessert bar was a must. My aunt retired in 2019 and turned her love of baking into a business. In addition to the confections provided by The Artistic Whisk and Red Mesa Events, we also had three different flavors of truffles provided by Susanna’s Sweet Treats. Needless to say, there was not much left by the end of the night.
Everyone from friends to other vendors all said the same thing “Jovana, the owner, is the best!” As soon as The Artistic Whisk confirmed they were available for our date, that was it. I never even considered another bakery. We chose two cake flavors, Cinnamon Roll and Almond Raspberry, and our dessert bar included Pistachio Macarons, Salted Caramel Macarons, Tiramisu Cups, and Fruit Tartlets.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
2020 was an extremely challenging year and threw us a lot of curveballs throughout the planning process. There were times when I really had my doubts, but I can confidently say that all the stress is 1000% worth it. We both agree, our wedding was absolutely perfect and there was not one thing we would have changed. Also, hire a planner. It was the best money we spent!
Ceremony, Reception Venue, and Caterer: Red Mesa Events *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Caroline Allen Photography
Videographer: Max Focus
Planner: Special Moments Event Planning *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Apple Blossoms Floral Designs
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
DJ: Fast Breaks Executive Entertainment
Officiant: Marc Versley (Bride’s Uncle)
Invitations: Truly Engaging by MagnetStreet
Transportation: Bayside Limo of Tampa
Dress: Essence of Australia
Shoe Designer: Betsy Johnson
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Azazie
Hair & Makeup: Lasting Luxe Artistry
Pet Care: FairyTail Pet Care *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rehearsal Dinner: Noble Crust St. Petersburg
Dessert Truffles: Susanna’s Sweet Treats (Bride’s Aunt)
Dance Lessons: Magic Dance Club
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
