Rachel & Alec
The Vinoy
“I would describe the theme of our wedding as classic/bohemian. Our venue is such a beautiful and historic hotel, so I wanted our wedding to be as classic as it was. The columns and arches in the Sunset Ballroom made me think of Morocco, so I wanted to lean into that theme with small bohemian touches such as rattan chargers and glass chalices for the tables. Since we were having a winter wedding, I chose rich, deep colors like burgundy, copper, green, and gold,” -The Bride
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Rachel and Alec’s destination downtown St. Petersburg wedding was an elegant fête filled with autumnal shades of warm red, copper, and gold, set in a beautiful historic hotel. Following an outdoor courtyard ceremony in the tea garden, 70 guests dined and danced beneath blown glass Chihuly chandeliers in a stunning ballroom reception.
“I would describe the theme of our wedding as classic/bohemian. Our venue is such a beautiful and historic hotel, so I wanted our wedding to be as classic as it was. The columns and arches in the Sunset Ballroom made me think of Morocco, so I wanted to lean into that theme with small bohemian touches such as rattan chargers and glass chalices for the tables. Since we were having a winter wedding, I chose rich, deep colors like burgundy, copper, green, and gold,” the bride shared. “Our wedding was held on Friday, December 30th. We chose this day because we love the special time of year around the holidays and because Alec’s grandparents were married on the same day back in 1956.”
The then-Virginia-based bride, who now resides in Hawaii, turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for the wealth of knowledge the publication provided, researching vendor lists and reading advice specific to the local area.
“I used the Marry Me Tampa Bay website to browse vendors and get more information about the wedding planning process,” the bride revealed. “I liked using it to get more inside information that was more specific to the vendors in my immediate area. I found Dewitt For Love, Adore Bridal, Graingertainment, and Marigold Flower Co. all through the Marry Me Tampa Bay website! I really liked getting to read the vendor bios and advice that was specific to the area where we were having our wedding. Where you have your wedding can greatly affect the wedding planning process, so I found it very beneficial to read information that was relevant to the Tampa Bay area.”
Rachel felt an instant connection with Shannon Dewitt, owner of Dewitt for Love Photography, and knew their creative eye for detail, along with their friendly and lively personalities, would result in the perfect wedding day experience.
“When looking for wedding photographers, I looked at their online portfolios and scheduled time to speak with them before booking. After my first phone call with Shannon, I knew immediately that I wanted to hire Dewitt for Love. She was so easy to talk to and even offered numerous other vendor recommendations. I could truly feel how much she really cared about our wedding being a successful event, and that was something important to me,” the bride beamed. “I specifically chose to hire Dewitt for Love not just because of their large online portfolio filled with stunning photography but also because of their fun personalities and willingness to help in all areas. Shannon and Brandon work hard, not just at taking pictures but also at setting the tone for a fun and carefree day. Weddings can be stressful, and having photographers around who lighten the mood definitely helps to keep the event focused on having fun and results in an album full of big smiles and laughter.”
“Rachel and Alec had a warm, fall wedding in the heart of tropical St. Pete! We loved the contrast of autumnal colors against the cool tones of the venue and tropical greens that surrounded them! Rachel and Alec had the perfect mix of laid-back coastal swag and vintage elegance (the bride’s hair and makeup especially) against the timeless classic backdrop of the Vinoy. We loved how they mixed multiple styles into their day! There was also an air of Italian influence through the gorgeous lace detailing on Rachel’s dress and the golden tones used throughout their reception details,” photographer Shannon Dewitt added. “There were multiple echoes of artistic vibes with the hand-painted seating chart, place cards, and even on their gorgeous cake mimicking the look of paint with icing. Rachel and Alec are a sweet, funny, gorgeous couple and wanted to have a laid-back good time on their wedding day, and we feel their images show those goals perfectly!”
Planning in advance limited stress for Rachael leading up to the big day. She began by focusing on the most important aspects of the celebration, selecting vendors of top priority first before tackling the next set of tasks.
“The two most important elements of our wedding were securing the right venue and finding the right photographers to capture the day. I ended up booking my photographers immediately after securing my venue, which was almost two years away. A lot of people tried to tell me that I didn’t need to book things so far in advance, but I found that it was beneficial in the planning process to secure as many vendors as far in advance as possible,” the bride advised.
The creative design team at Marigold Flower Co. brought the bride’s vision to life, handcrafting a plethora of floral arrangements to reflect the bride’s love of blooms. Rattan charger plates and amber glassware from Kate Ryan Event Rentals added the finishing touch to the place settings, completing the bohemian look of the space.
“I love flowers, so having as many as possible that could fit within our budget was very important to me. I imagined having long-flowing flower garlands and tall gold stands on the tables topped with large flower arrangements. I chose to hire Marigold Flower Co. because I was very impressed with my initial call with them. I loved that they offered numerous options in order to stay within my budget, and they suggested numerous money-saving tips, such as reusing some of the flowers from the ceremony at the reception,” the bride raved. “They were able to capture my floral vision exactly as I imagined. They were very communicative throughout the whole planning process and they were also able to accommodate adding extra floral arrangements and flower garlands.”
“Rachel wanted whites with cinnamon and gold tones, so our goal was to blend all those tones together without there being a stark white contrast against the warm fall tones, so we incorporated lots of soft golden tones along with rust and cinnamon,” Jaclyn Montesano, of Marigold Flower Co. revealed. “We did a variety of heights of containers as well as styles, which made it fun and reflected the changing shades and feel of fall.”
While it was important that the setting be a picturesque depiction of the couple’s customized wedding vision, it was equally crucial that their ceremony was a personalized depiction of their personalities and relationship. The bride and groom were touched by the sentimental nature of the unique ceremony speech created by their officiant, Bonnie Sanchez at Weddings by Bonnie.
“When looking for a wedding officiant, it was important to find someone who was able to create a ceremony that was specific and relevant to our relationship. We chose Weddings by Bonnie because she takes the time to create a ceremony that is tailored to each couple,” Rachel detailed. “She gave us so many options of things that we could include or exclude from the ceremony, and she had us fill out a very detailed questionnaire where she really got to know us and our relationship. Her ceremony speech made it evident how much time she put into reading our questionnaire responses because she told our love story beautifully and accurately.”
In addition to documenting the day through artistic photographs, the pair also hired a live painter to capture the celebration on canvas. The experience of watching the artwork come to life created an unforgettable memory for all those in attendance.
“Our wedding painter made our wedding truly unique. Most of our guests had never even heard of a live event painter, but by the end of the night, that’s all anyone could talk about. It was mesmerizing to see how the painting came together throughout the evening,” Rachel gushed. “She balanced working on the painting with interacting with all of our guests who wanted to compliment her talents.”
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What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
When looking for wedding photographers, I looked at their online portfolios and scheduled time to speak with them before booking. After my first phone call with Shannon, I knew immediately that I wanted to hire Dewitt for Love. She was so easy to talk to and even offered numerous other vendor recommendations. I could truly feel how much she really cared about our wedding being a successful event, and that was something important to me.
I specifically chose to hire Dewitt for Love not just because of their large online portfolio filled with stunning photography but also because of their fun personalities and willingness to help in all areas. Shannon and Brandon work hard, not just at taking pictures but also at setting the tone for a fun and carefree day. Weddings can be stressful, and having photographers around who lighten the mood definitely helps to keep the event focused on having fun and results in an album full of big smiles and laughter.
What was your wedding day hair and makeup inspiration?
My wedding day hair and makeup inspiration was classic/old Hollywood. I wanted a timeless look that still fit with my personal style.
I chose Adore Bridal because I was very happy with my initial hair and makeup consultation. I liked that they really listened to what I wanted and didn’t just do a generic look. On the day of my wedding, I decided to do a last-minute hair change. I was worried that it might be an annoying or impossible request, but they happily made it happen. The Adore Bridal team was very personable and professional!
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The Proposal:
We got engaged in December during COVID, so the proposal was very intimate. We have two dogs, Mango and Moose, and Alec dressed them both up in tuxedos and sat them in front of our Christmas tree. He played our favorite song, gave the sweetest proposal speech, and had champagne ready to celebrate!
What did you look for in a wedding officiant?
When looking for a wedding officiant, it was important to find someone who was able to create a ceremony that was specific and relevant to our relationship.
We chose Weddings by Bonnie because she takes the time to create a ceremony that is tailored to each couple. She gave us so many options of things that we could include or exclude from the ceremony, and she had us fill out a very detailed questionnaire where she really got to know us and our relationship. Her ceremony speech made it evident how much time she put into reading our questionnaire responses because she told our love story beautifully and accurately.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Switzerland. We chose this location because we wanted a honeymoon where we could be actively exploring while still having time to relax just the two of us. We split up the trip between two cities, Verbier and Geneva. We started in Verbier where we got to ski, hike, and paraglide in the Swiss Alps. We finished the trip in Geneva where we went shopping and sightseeing.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Austin, Texas. We stayed at The LINE Austin, a boutique hotel downtown that overlooks the Colorado River and the South Congress Bridge. I chose this hotel because it is located in a fun area that is close to all our planned activities. Also, we enjoyed hanging out at the hotel pool and getting to dine at the many restaurant and bar choices on the property. The highlight of the trip was getting to kayak on the Colorado River during sunset where we got to see the 1.5 million bats that fly out from under the South Congress Bridge.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I would describe the theme of our wedding as classic/bohemian. Our venue is such a beautiful and historic hotel, so I wanted our wedding to be as classic as it was. The columns and arches in the Sunset Ballroom made me think of Morocco, so I wanted to lean into that theme with small bohemian touches such as rattan chargers and glass chalices for the tables.
What were your colors?
Since we were having a winter wedding, I chose rich, deep colors like burgundy, copper, green, and gold.
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
I love flowers, so having as many as possible that could fit within our budget was very important to me. I imagined having long-flowing flower garlands and tall gold stands on the tables topped with large flower arrangements.
I chose to hire Marigold Flower Co. because I was very impressed with my initial call with them. I loved that they offered numerous options in order to stay within my budget, and they suggested numerous money-saving tips, such as reusing some of the flowers from the ceremony at the reception. They were able to capture my floral vision exactly as I imagined. They were very communicative throughout the whole planning process and they were also able to accommodate adding extra floral arrangements and flower garlands.
How did the event rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
We used the amber debutante glassware and rattan chargers from Kate Ryan Event Rentals. They enhanced the ambiance of our wedding day by adding to the classic/bohemian theme of the event.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our guests raved about how fun and personable our photographers were! Dewitt for Love did an amazing job interacting with our guests, and they made sure to capture every moment. They really helped to establish a fun environment because it felt like they were part of the party instead of just someone behind the scenes.
Also, our wedding officiant, Bonnie, did such a beautiful job of retelling our love story that multiple guests asked how we knew her, thinking that one of us was somehow related to her!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
There are so many amazing wedding vendors, so definitely take the time to explore all your options so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for, whether that is someone who can work within your budget or someone who can find the rentals that you are looking for.
It’s easy to get stressed or discouraged when wedding planning, so one thing that helped me was having plenty of time to plan (we had a two-year engagement) and make sure that you have backup options in case anything falls through.
Also, I recommend starting the planning process by securing one vendor that you’re just dying to work with and then branching out from there. Most vendors are happy to recommend other great vendors, which will make your planning process way easier.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Selecting the right DJ for our wedding was very important to Alec. I put together a list of various DJs that had good reviews, and my husband took the lead on selecting Graingertainment as our vendor.
Alec liked that they provided information about each DJ and ended up selecting Chris, the owner, as our DJ. Alec worked closely with him to describe his music taste and Chris was able to put together a great playlist for our wedding that my husband was very happy with. We found Graingertainment to be very responsive and accommodating. At the last minute, I decided to change one of our songs and add on music service for cocktail hour as well. Chris did a great job of reading our body language during our first dance and knew when to cut the song exactly on cue.
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