Brigid and Ross’ downtown Tampa wedding combined a timeless monochromatic palette with neutral greenery arrangements accented with romantic candlelight. A former theater-turned-gallery hosted the intimate nuptials amidst the whitewashed brick and artwork for which the historic venue is known.
“We wanted something simple and classic. We both like the clean and modern look, so we went with neutral colors that would never go out of style,” the bride explained. “Our wedding colors were black and white with hints of gold. We wanted to keep it classic and timeless.”
The bride, a former wedding venue coordinator, found inspirational images from Marry Me Tampa Bay’s real wedding features to confirm her style and color choices. Viewing her style and color palette translated to real events helped solidify her selections and allowed her to move forward through the planning process with newly instilled confidence.
“When we were looking for a location to hold our wedding, we originally thought of holding it in Savannah, GA, because we loved the history of the city. However, when we sat down and thought about the logistics, we were reminded that Tampa is a beautiful historic city, and we have a lot of northerners who would love to escape the cold in December to celebrate with us!” the bride shared. “I used Marry Me to find inspiration from past couples that had a similar style and color palette as us,” the bride detailed. “It’s incredibly helpful to see real-life examples since I am a visual person, as well as how they styled those colors!”
The pair incorporated personal touches throughout their December wedding, from custom stationery pieces to music selections, ensuring the details were a reflection of their relationship.
“We both like to host or entertain, so you can see a lot of our personalities in the little touches we had throughout the night, from the personalized wine labels for the wine bottles that were placed on each table to the picture of our pup, Remy, on the cocktail napkins,” the bride beamed. “Ross played a large part in the musical selection for the evening. You can see his personality in the song that he selected for our entrance, Whatever You Like by T.I.”
Having executed weddings in the past, the Tampa bride knew she could rely on the extensive inventory at A Chair Affair to transform her event space for their 120 guests. She envisioned a combination of table sizes to add visual interest, along with decorative elements to add elegant style to the room and table settings.
“I ordered everything through A Chair Affair: tables, chairs, dinnerware, silverware, glassware/barware, a hedge/champagne wall, etc. I love their options when it comes to the different chair styles that they have to offer, as well as the different shapes and sizes of the tables that they have. We did larger rounds around the perimeter of the room and one long family-style table down the center for our bridal party and our family,” Brigid detailed. “Their hedge wall made an impact. We had that set up prior to the ceremony with pre-poured glasses of champagne so that our guests would have something to sip on before cocktail hour.”
Brigid turned to the experts at Grant Hemond & Associates to keep the party going throughout the evening. After witnessing their stellar service for countless events, she knew they would execute her event seamlessly from start to finish.
“I’ve used Grant Hemond & Associates before working with past brides; I knew they were professional, they showed up on time, and they knew how to keep the guests engaged throughout the night. They seemed like the obvious choice for our wedding day, and they did an amazing job!” the bride raved. “Craig took the time to chat with us prior to and run through the music that we liked and didn’t like, and he offered some suggestions.”
Brigid and Ross prioritized their guests’ experience above all else, focusing on quality time, rather than getting caught up in the minor details that others wouldn’t notice. Maintaining this outlook allowed them to truly enjoy their celebration and be present in the moment with their friends and family.
“We just wanted everyone to relax, have fun, and celebrate with us!” the bride revealed. “Since the majority of our friends and family members live out of state, we just wanted to have everyone in one location to celebrate all weekend long with us!”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
We went to the Don Cesar in St Pete Beach. I really just wanted to have a weekend with my girlfriends without asking them to spend an arm or a leg. We had a low-key weekend of drinking, eating, and bar hopping out on the water!
The Proposal:
We met in Tampa right before the pandemic and decided to take our chances and move in together after only knowing one another for two months. During the pandemic, we spent a lot of time going for walks throughout Hyde Park Village (there wasn’t much else to do haha!). These walks gave Ross the idea to propose by the fountain in the village on October 16th right by the pumpkin patch.
After he proposed, I realized maybe 45 minutes after he asked that I never officially said yes; I just put the ring on my finger. I told him 45 minutes later that it was definitely a yes in case he was wondering!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
The goal is Switzerland next year!
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I don’t like to wear a ton of makeup; I’m more of a less is more type of person. With that said, I wanted something that looked natural and not overdone. I also wanted my hair out of the way!
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio did an amazing job working through everything with me. I did an initial consultation and the look did not turn out how I had envisioned it would in my head, so they allowed me to come back and second time and try again. The girls who did my second trial matched my personality; they understood what I was looking for, and they offered suggestions based on the type of hair I have, as well as my complexion. I appreciated their honesty because they are professionals, and they know best.
The day of everything turned out perfectly! I felt beautiful without feeling overdone, which my husband also appreciated!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted something simple and classic, we both like the clean and modern look so we went with neutral colors that would never go out of style.
What were your colors?
Our wedding colors were black and white with hints of gold. We wanted to keep it classic and timeless.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding day?
I ordered everything through A Chair Affair: tables, chairs, dinnerware, silverware, glassware/barware, a hedge/champagne wall, etc. I love their options when it comes to the different chair styles that they have to offer, as well as the different shapes and sizes of the tables that they have. We did larger rounds around the perimeter of the room and one long family-style table down the center for our bridal party and our family. Their hedge wall made an impact. We had that set up prior to the ceremony with pre-poured glasses of champagne so that our guests would have something to sip on before cocktail hour.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
I’ve used Grant Hemond & Associates before working with past brides; I knew they were professional, they showed up on time, and they knew how to keep the guests engaged throughout the night. They seemed like the obvious choice for our wedding day, and they did an amazing job! Craig took the time to chat with us prior to and run through the music that we liked and didn’t like, and he offered some suggestions.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Melanie, my planner, went above and beyond with everything! She is thorough, her attention to detail is beyond words, and above everything else, you can tell she genuinely cares about you and the outcome of your big day. Without her, I don’t think our day would have gone as smoothly as it did!! We left not only feeling on top of the world but like we gained a new friend in the process :)
Our photographers, Jesse and Pavel, are simply the best photographer/videographer duo in the Tampa area. They not only exceeded our expectations with everything on the day of our wedding, but I can honestly say they have become close friends of ours. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and they helped a couple who hate having their pictures taken actually enjoy the experience and the day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
I know everyone says it, but try not to sweat the same stuff. Our main focus was to have all of our loved ones in town to celebrate and enjoy their time together.
I also highly recommend a welcome reception the day/night prior. We held one at Le Meridien, which allowed us to go around and say hi/thank you to all of our attendees. This way, on the day of our wedding, we could enjoy and dance the night away!
