Marry Me Tampa Bay
What factors go into the cost of professional wedding photography? “Photographers are business owners; we don’t just run around taking pretty photos and then throw up our feet on the couch all week. We have all the same costs as any other business, (marketing, equipment, insurance, second shooters, product cost, etc.), so there is a...
Setting a budget for your wedding day is one of the biggest decisions that you will make before your planning even begins. Your budget sets the tone for selecting your venue, the rest of your vendor team, and possibly the date. With budgets and finances being a delicate issue to discuss with your partner or...
You want to have your closest friends and family at your wedding, so you probably can’t imagine saying “I do” without your best friend. Even if your bestie has four legs and is covered in fur. Including your pet in your wedding can seem like a challenging, stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be!...
While you may have thought selecting a Tampa Bay wedding date was the simplest part of planning, there are many factors to consider for when choosing those special numbers: Weather. Hurricane season. Gasparilla. Spring break. Local events (think St. Pete Grand Prix or festivals at Curtis Hixon or Vinoy Park) So that you don’t choose...
While your wedding day is one of the most memorable days in your life, it can also be an expensive one. Every year, there tends to be a wedding venue that closes its doors, a vendor who goes out of business, or a weather issue that causes issues. Because you start paying for your wedding...
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in your life. Though, with the celebration comes big responsibility. Your wedding day is a milestone and one of the most memorable days of your life. The first set of decisions you make over the next few weeks will set the tone of your wedding: budget,...
Written by Brides N Blooms Designs owner Ellen Hack: I really sympathize with the couples who are in the middle of a panic on whether to cancel, reschedule, or revamp their wedding dates and dreams. It is emotional for many. The truth is there is no right path or best choice. There are only the...
How to Pop the Question “Proposals do take some planning, but try to make them as natural as possible! They will come across more authentic and meaningful if you are yourself. You’ll most likely be a little nervous, so it’s important to have details already in place: select a spot, (check the weather if it’ll...
One of the biggest challenges while hosting a wedding during COVID is guest count. Whether your friends and family are unable to travel or are being cautious of attending group gatherings, moving forward with your wedding day with everyone in attendance is still an option, with a virtual wedding. Our preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay...
How Has COVID-19 Affected the Availability of Wedding Flowers? “The impact of COVID-19 on the wedding floral industry has been broad. The wedding flower availability has been affected starting at the growers/farmers. When COVID began and the wedding industry came to a screeching halt, flower buying for weddings all but stopped. This meant the growers...
How Has COVID-19 Affected Menu Selection? “Prepare to be flexible with your caterer if food item substitutions become necessary as your event date gets closer. COVID has disrupted supply chains, caused many companies to consolidate their inventory of available products and has caused some purveyors to go out of business altogether. What you selected as...
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...
What makes each Tampa Bay wedding different from the next is the experience you create for your guests. Couples love seeing everyone on the dance floor, but with guest counts fluctuating due to COVID-19, what do weddings look like today? We asked Tampa Bay’s best wedding DJs to share their experiences since weddings have resumed....
Although Florida has lifted restrictions on capacities at gatherings, (though tables need to be six feet part) it’s important to remain socially responsible when hosting your wedding. While we always recommend hiring a wedding planner, now it’s even more crucial as your planner can help put a safety plan in place so that your guests...
One of the most important details to take care of before the wedding day is to procure the marriage license. Grace Felice, wedding officiant and owner of A Wedding with Grace, provides guidelines for couples getting married in Florida. Where Can I Get a Marriage License? The marriage license may be issued by a Clerk...
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 wedding...
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...
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...
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...
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).
