Marry Me Tampa Bay
Hurricane season has been active this year, with nine named storms in just two months. With flooding, damage, and cancellations from Hurricane Dorian still fresh in our minds, we wanted to learn more about how couples can protect their wedding investment, so we reached out the wedding insurance experts at Wedding Protector Plan. Hurricane...
Updated July 28, 2020 (Originally published March 26, 2020): Although we’re almost five months in with COVID-19 it’s still a seesaw of emotions as to keep your current wedding date or postpone to 2021. Here’s the latest advice from local wedding pros about postponing your 2020 Tampa Bay wedding. When it comes to planning a...
The number one piece of wedding advice we tell every couple (and that most recently married couples share with us) is that “hiring a wedding planner is the best decision you can make.” Yes, you may be organized. Yes, your friend who planned her wedding may have offered to help. Yes, you may have a...
Typically Tampa Bay wedding venues and vendors are booked solid for weekend dates in October, November, and Spring 2021, which are also known as “Florida’s wedding season.” However, with couples rescheduling and moving dates around due to COVID-19, prime wedding dates that are normally reserved months in advance have opened up! Discover which popular...
Any couple getting married is probably tracking coronavirus daily to try to predict the likelihood of their upcoming wedding. While you can ask the advice of your venue coordinator and wedding planner as to if you should host your wedding and how many guests can attend, who do you rely on for information on moving...
With COVID affecting wedding guest size, some couples are opting to host a smaller ceremony and event now and planning a larger event next year, while others are eloping. When hosting an intimate wedding, you still want to put the same amount of thought into hiring professional wedding pros, and lucky for you, vendors who...
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need some guidance on what to do for your 2020 wedding, our favorite Tampa Bay wedding planners are offering special assistance to couples affected by the Coronavirus. Coastal Coordinating Coastal Coordinating is offering free help/tips for couples who have had to postpone and who do not have a wedding...
Master Wedding Planner and Tampa Bay Association of Bridal Consultants local co-Director Tammy Waterman, owner of Special Moments Event Planning, answers questions about postponing your wedding because of the Coronavirus in during “Wed Talks.” When Can Couples Start Having Weddings Again? 2:18 What Wedding Date Should Start the Rescheduling Process? 3:00 How does the Stay...
Choosing a wedding date is such a sentimental part of planning, but with the world in a health crisis and the CDC saying not to host events larger than 10 people, should you cancel or postpone your big day? Postpone. Yes. Cancel. No. “It’s safe to say if you have a large gathering planned for...
Most American weddings have a similar flow: ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, with traditional elements such as the first dance and cake cutting. Though, many Tampa Bay couples want to create unique experiences to make their weddings “different” from that of other friends and family. The best way to make your wedding stand out is...
With women becoming more comfortable with their bodies and redefining what “beauty” is more are turning to boudoir-style photo shoots. If you’ve ever snubbed the idea of boudoir shoot and thought that it’s just “taking sexy photos,” you’d be surprised to learn that these photo sessions are actual confidence boosters and celebrations of women...
While you may have thought selecting a Tampa Bay wedding date was the simplest part of planning, choosing those numbers has many factors to consider: Weather. Hurricane season. Gasparilla. Spring break. Superbowl 2021. (Which is happening in Tampa Bay.) So that you don’t choose a date that costs you more money or that will lower...
1. How Do I Know if I should DIY my Wedding Florals? Of course, it’s best if every one hires a wedding florist, but if you are a perfectionist, or if you have literally no idea or get frustrated easily, DIYing your flowers is not for you. If you are laid back, doing super simple...
The Experts: How is wedding videography different from photography? Kemari Ihlenfeldt, owner of Kemari Lyn Films explains: When it comes to your wedding, there are no redos, so you’ll want the day to be filmed nicely! Whether or not you’ll think you want the day captured on video when you’re in the heat of wedding...
Setting a budget for your Tampa Bay wedding day might be one of the biggest decisions that you will have to make before your planning even begins. Your budget sets the tone and pace for how you will take action on selecting not only your venue but the rest of your vendor team. With budgets...
OMG. You’re engaged! This is honestly one of the most joyous and exciting times of your lives, so soak in that engagement bliss. Enjoy every moment of being engaged! There’s something so special about this transitional period in your relationship. Even if you don’t realize it at the moment, years from now you’ll look back...
In a recent ABC Action News tv report, a newlywed Tampa Bay couple was the victim of a robbery as they celebrated their nuptials with family and friends. As the gifts were loaded into the car, a thief stole the bag containing all of the cards the couple had received. The estimated amount of money...
When it comes to planning a destination wedding or honeymoon, you’ll need more than a ticket to leave the United States. You need a passport too. A passport is an official document issued by a country’s government to an individual certifying that person’s identity and citizenship to said country. If you are a U.S....
Wedding flowers are one of the prettiest parts of planning a Tampa Bay wedding, but with so many options and price points, it can also be one of the most confusing. How do you know how much to spend? How do you know how to achieve your vision, while also staying on budget? When...
Tampa Bay is one of the top cities for destination weddings in the U.S. and especially attractive for international couples looking to wed in Florida. Getting married in the States can have its challenges if you’re not familiar with the laws, customs, and expectations of an American wedding. With Florida located in the southern...
Amidst all of the excitement of planning your Tampa Bay wedding, it’s difficult to imagine that something could go wrong in the weeks leading up to or even on the day of the wedding. In reality, hiccups are possible, no matter how meticulously detailed you were in the planning process. Unplanned life events including...
Selecting your destination wedding or honeymoon hotel can be a daunting task because when you enter “all-inclusive resort” into Google, you’ll easily get thousands of matches. And, of course, they all look fantastic with white sand, blue water, and pristine beaches. But don’t be easily fooled. Be savvy enough to know that what is...
Customization is key to making your Tampa Bay wedding stand out, and your first dance song can truly reflect you and your soon-be-spouses’ personalities. Whether you choose a classic Ed Sheeran ballad or a timeless Ray LaMontagne tune, your dancing shoes better be ready! We asked the top Tampa Bay DJs and live musicians...
Choosing your Tampa Bay wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your wedding day as it sets the tone for the atmosphere, can dictate which vendors you hire, and takes up half your budget, so it’s important to select one that is the perfect match. Price can often be a sensitive...
You think planning a wedding is stressful? Try organizing a destination bachelor or bachelorette party with flights, travel deposits, and trip itineraries. It can be like herding cats! I’ve had maid of honors give me less than a month to book an international flight and heard horror stories about groomsmen booking dangerous excursions that...
Marry Me Tampa Bay editor, Anna Coats, created Marry Me Tampa Bay in 2012 to showcase the area's best local weddings and vendors. She has been featured as a wedding expert on the national talkshow Daytime, Fox13, ABC Action News, Great Day Tampa Bay, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum).
