Chloe and Wes' downtown St. Pete wedding combined exotic florals and decor with Florida's tropical atmosphere. Natural wood elements complemented the lush greenery sourced from the bride's grandmother's garden, while traditions from her Filipino heritage were intertwined into their garden ceremony.
“I really wanted the feel of a destination wedding without making all of our older relatives have to travel. The lush vibes of Sunken Gardens in St. Pete made us feel like we were in Hawaii or Bali or some other stunning tropical location, without having to sacrifice the attendance of some of our most important wedding guests,” the bride beamed. “I opted for lots of wood, white, brass, dark emerald, and wine. I thought these colors went well with each other as well as with both of our venues and the winter season.”
The couple sought a local wedding planner and designer to help them organize their 180-guest wedding (pre-COVID) and selected John Campbell Weddings for his modern design style.
“I looked for someone who was very organized, experienced, and easy to talk to,” Chloe revealed. “I hired John Campbell because I felt he not only met but exceeded the qualities I specified above. I can never say enough about John. I’m convinced that his attention to detail, focus on what we wanted as a couple, and expertise cannot be matched. He made sure that everything ran smoothly, and I was able to float through my wedding day genuinely stress-free because of his efforts! On top of that his kindness and general approachability make him someone that you instantly feel connected to and comfortable around. I will forever recommend him to any future friends getting married!”
While the couple planned their special day from Gainesville, they used Marry Me Tampa Bay for real wedding inspiration and research.
“I read the Marry Me Tampa Bay blog. It was a great source of inspiration and a great way to look at different styles of weddings to see which different aspects of weddings I really liked and wanted to incorporate into our wedding,” the bride shared.
Chloe entrusted Posies Flower Truck to curate the perfect blend of florals for her tropical-inspired arrangements. For a dramatic statement, a stunning pink King Protea was highlighted in the bride's exotic-inspired bouquet.
“I was looking for someone who understood my vision and could provide all of the different, exotic-looking flowers that I am always drawn to,” the bride explained. “Stephanie Newton, the owner of Posies Flower Truck, is not only a close family friend and a wonderful person, but she is also the absolute best florist I’ve ever experienced. She knows how to get the most stunning flowers and how to arrange them so that each bouquet is its own work of art. I know many of my bridesmaids couldn’t bear to part with their bouquets and have dried them instead of discarding them, and I have done the same. She was 100% the best choice for us, so communicative, timely, and talented in what she does.
For an evening of festivity and celebration, Chloe and Wes created a diverse menu that would appeal to both of their tastes and elevate the reception experience.
“Wes and I have very different palates, so I was looking for a caterer who could accommodate us both,” the bride shared. “Olympia Catering met all of our wants and needs in a caterer! We actually got to eat on our
wedding day, which was exciting, and it was absolutely delicious! Everyone was very happy with the food.
Although the couple didn't indulge in too many drinks, they made sure to keep their guests' glasses full.
“Wes and I aren’t huge drinkers, so bartending wasn’t a major priority for us personally, but we wanted to cater to all of our guests and make the bar an option if it was something people really wanted,” Chloe confessed. “We looked for a bartender who was willing to do wine and beer only. Spunky Spirits was great! They worked really well with us and kept all of our guests happy. If I did it all over, I would use them again!”
As she looked back on their whimsical wedding day, Chloe smiled brightly at the moments shared with her closest friends and family.
“People have repeatedly brought up to me how they loved the cord and veil ceremony. I am half-Filipino, and in Filipino culture, it is traditional to have several couples who have been married for a long time place a veil and a cord around the couple getting married. We then took a few minutes to have them pray over us, along with our families, blessing our lives to come while some of our talented friends sang a beautiful worship song. It was a very special moment for all of us,” the bride reminisced. “The reception was also very memorable. At one point, we looked around the room, and everyone, from our oldest relatives to youngest attendees, was up and dancing, and that really warmed my heart.”
The Proposal:
Wes and I were walking on a quiet beach by my house, a place that is very special to both of us and the site of some of our deepest talks, and he got down on one knee with the most beautiful ring! Afterward, we went back to his house, and he had coordinated a surprise engagement party with all of our closest family and friends! It was so sweet to have the proposal itself be so intimate, and then to get to celebrate with all of the people I loved most right after.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I really wanted the feel of a destination wedding without making all of our older relatives have to travel. The lush vibes of Sunken Gardens in St. Pete made us feel like we were in Hawaii or Bali or some other stunning tropical location, without having to sacrifice the attendance of some of our most important wedding guests.
What were your colors?
I opted for lots of wood, white, brass, dark emerald, and wine. I thought these colors went well with each other as well as with both of our venues and the winter season.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
I was looking for someone who understood my vision and could provide all of the different, exotic-looking flowers that I am always drawn to.
Stephanie Newton, the owner of Posies Flower Truck, is not only a close family friend and a wonderful person, but she is also the absolute best florist I’ve ever experienced. She knows how to get the most stunning flowers and how to arrange them so that each bouquet is its own work of art. I know many of my bridesmaids couldn’t bear to part with their bouquets and have dried them instead of discarding them, and I have done the same. She was 100% the best choice for us, so communicative, timely, and talented in what she does.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Maui and Oahu! One of the most special experiences when we were dating was going with Wes’ family to Kauai and The Big Island in Hawaii. From that we knew we really loved Hawaii, and we wanted to see what the other islands were like!
What did you look for in a wedding catering company?
Wes and I have very different palates, so I was looking for a caterer that could accommodate us both.
Olympia Catering met all of our wants and needs in a caterer! We didn’t have a specific inspiration, and we just thought their food tasted great! We actually got to eat on our wedding day, which was exciting, as I was fully prepared not to, and it was absolutely delicious! Everyone was very happy with the food.
What did you look for in a bartender?
We looked for a bartender who was willing to do wine and beer only. Wes and I aren’t huge drinkers, so this service wasn’t a major priority for us personally, but we wanted to cater to all of our guests and make the bar an option if it was something people really wanted!
Spunky Spirits was great! They worked really well with us and kept all of our guests happy. If I did it all over, I would use them again!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Someone who was very organized, experienced, and easy to talk to.
I hired John Campbell Weddings because I felt he not only met but exceeded the qualities I specified above. I can never say enough about John. I’m convinced that his attention to detail, focus on what we wanted as a couple, and expertise cannot be matched. He made sure that everything ran smoothly, and I was able to float through my wedding day genuinely stress-free because of his efforts! On top of that, his kindness and general approachability make him someone that you instantly feel connected to and comfortable around. I will forever recommend him to any future friends getting married!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
At times I felt like I couldn’t find a particular person that matched my style within the Tampa Bay area, whether it be for food, venues, video, etc. Several times, I considered spending the extra money to have a vendor travel in from a different state just because I had a vision and felt that I couldn’t find the specific vendor to match my vision within the area. In the end, though, I was able to find all of the best vendors locally, and I truly would not have changed a thing! So, my advice would be, even if you feel like you’ve seen all that this area has to offer when it comes to a certain aspect of a wedding, look again! Word-of-mouth recommendations, Instagram accounts, and blogs such as this one can always bring something or someone to light that you haven’t yet seen and who matches your taste exactly.
Ceremony Venue: Sunken Gardens
Reception Venue: Morean Center for Clay
Photographer: Grant Stemler
Videographer: Namesake Creative
Planner: John Campbell Weddings *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Posies Flower Truck *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Caterer: Olympia Catering *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bar Service: Spunky Spirits *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rentals: Fiesta Solutions
Cake: Sweetwood Bakery
DJ: Avery Bilodeau
Sound Equipment: Beamworks Inc
Officiant: Herzen and Jenny Andone (Bride's family)
Invitations: Minted
Transportation: Luxor of Tampa
Dress: BHLDN
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: BHLDN
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.
