Tori and Shawn
Magnolias on the Bay
“My inspiration was clean and classic. I chose this design because I’ve always loved clean aesthetics and timeless designs. We chose white, black, and green for our colors. We wanted a classic look, and since the venue was outside and on the water, those colors felt right.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Tori and Shawn’s classic waterfront Englewood wedding was a vision of elegance, featuring a monochrome color palette, lush white florals with greenery, and a romantic atmosphere enhanced by candlelight and scenic views.
“My inspiration was clean and classic. I chose this design because I’ve always loved clean aesthetics and timeless designs,” the bride shared. “We chose white, black, and green for our colors. We wanted a classic look, and since the venue was outside and on the water, those colors felt right.”
The Tampa bride and groom exchanged vows before 145 friends and family gathered on the lawn overlooking the tranquil waters of Lemon Bay. The gentle waves and warm Florida breeze added to the serene ambiance, with a stunning arch of white florals, lovingly crafted by the bride, taking center stage.
“We incorporated our personalities by keeping the wedding fun and light. We chose Manasota Key because my parents have a house on the island, and we love how the area isn’t built up and is very relaxed. We wanted a venue where we felt comfortable and somewhere where it was special to us. Magnolias on the Bay were so easy to work with, and our wedding planner had previously done a few events at the location. The catering and food was also amazing and exceeded expectations by their appearance and taste!” the bride beamed. “I wanted white florals with a greenery arch therefore I made our arch myself. It was so fun to see the arch in our pictures and showed the work that we put into the wedding ourselves which made it even more special.”
To capture all the beauty and special moments of the day, the bride selected Arianna J Photography for her talent in capturing intimate moments with a romantic touch.
“We were looking for a wedding photographer who captures the little moments with different angles which Arianna J Photography did!” the bride gushed. “We loved her aesthetics in photography which seemed romantic. She made us feel so comfortable and felt like I had known her my whole life!”
“Tori and Shawn are truly wonderful together and their love was a pleasure to capture. They really have so much fun together and that echoed through their portraits. The day was filled with endless emotion from tears shed by the groom as Tori made her walk down the aisle to the huge smile and laughter that Tori had during their portraits on the beach,” Arianna Potts, owner of Arianna J Photography beamed. “Her Rime Arodaky after-party dress, which is one of my favorite bridal designers, was the icing on the cake and their reception images of guests dancing are some of my favorites.”
Following the waterfront Sarasota ceremony, the festivities moved to a breezy patio complete with an elegant white tent and checkered dance floor. As the sun dipped below the horizon, soft lighting, glowing candles, and firepit tables created an enchanting, romantic setting.
“I really loved the way the venue did the reception space. The combination of the earthy tones with the fire pits and neutral florals really set an intimate vibe for the guests,” the photographer raved.
In search of a wedding DJ who could effortlessly blend every moment with the perfect soundtrack, the couple discovered Grant Hemond & Associates was the perfect match.
“We were looking for a DJ who was easy to work with and played a mix of music from songs to play going down the aisle to dance party songs,” the bride explained. “We really enjoyed our DJ from Grant Hemond & Associates. He was super friendly, great on the mic, and was able to keep the party going all night.”
The bride wowed in a lace off-the-shoulder gown with a sweetheart neckline, accented by delicate buttons trailing down the back, creating an effortlessly romantic look as she walked down the aisle. For the after-party, she switched into a chic Rime Arodaky Oshym dress with embellished tulle and crepe, perfect for dancing the night away. Her look was completed with soft, flowing half-up hair styled in loose curls and a bouquet of lush white florals and greenery, complementing the elegant, classic theme of the wedding.
Looking back on the winter wedding, Tori most cherished the joy of being surrounded by her closest friends and family.
“The most memorable moment was just having our loved ones all together celebrating our love,” the bride reminisced.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Italy for our honeymoon. We went to Lake Como, Florence, and Rome. We picked Italy because we’ve never been before, and we love the weather in Italy that time of year! It was an amazing time of year to go when it’s off-season and perfect temperature to walk around.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
For my bachelorette party, we went to Siesta Key and celebrated in November. I chose Siesta Key because I love that time of the year at the beach and on the boat. Siesta Key has amazing Airbnbs that held 14 girls. It was easy to get around with the bus service Siesta Key offers.
The Proposal:
We were in Miami for my field hockey tournament, and Shawn proposed after the game.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We were looking for a wedding photographer who captures the little moments with different angles which Arianna J Photography did! We loved her aesthetics in photography which seemed romantic. She made us feel so comfortable and felt like I had known her my whole life!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
My inspiration was clean and classic. I chose this design because I’ve always loved clean aesthetics and timeless designs.
What were your colors?
We chose white, black, and green for our colors. We wanted a classic look, and since the venue was outside and on the water, those colors felt right.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We were looking for a DJ who was easy to work with and played a mix of music from songs to play going down the aisle to dance party songs.
We really enjoyed our DJ from Grant Hemond & Associates. He was super friendly, great on the mic, and was able to keep the party going all night.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
The catering and food at our venue were amazing and exceeded expectations by the appearance and the taste.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Just be your authentic self as a couple.
