Katrina and Ernest's classic South Tampa wedding took place on the iconic Bayshore Boulevard with water views of the Bay and downtown Tampa. The classic yet modern aesthetic was designed with a timeless color story of black, white, and champagne, giving the day a fresh twist on tradition.
“The theme and wedding design inspiration was timeless and classic,” the bride beamed. “Our colors were black, white, and champagne. I have always loved the look of a classic wedding with a hint of modern elements, so we incorporated black bridesmaid dresses, black suits for the groomsmen, and touches of black throughout the decor. We chose white flowers for the bouquets and decor to top off the classic look. Champagne was an added bonus to blend with the black and white accents.”
While planning their 120-guest destination wedding on the festive date of Cinco de Mayo, the bride tapped into her creative side and found inspiration for her venue from Marry Me Tampa Bay's Instagram account.
“We used Marry Me Tampa Bay during the wedding planning process when it came to ideas. Their team was so helpful, especially on Instagram, with their several wedding idea polls. We were able to find our theme and decor ideas from the posts that were sent to me via Instagram. It was extremely helpful in the planning process!” Katrina explained. “Marry Me Tampa Bay helped with the photo/video team and DJ, as well as ideas overall.”
The Atlanta couple, who are both from Tampa Bay, was drawn to Tampa's vibrant city life and picturesque beaches. Upon discovering the Tampa Garden Club's elegant waterfront setting and versatile venue space, they knew it was the perfect backdrop for their May nuptials.
“We looked for a wedding venue that not only had great reviews but somewhere that had an open floor plan, a clean slate, indoor and outdoor ceremony potential, and was somewhere near the water,” the bride explained. “We chose Tampa Garden Club because of the possibility of having an outdoor ceremony in their garden space and an indoor reception, which included views of the bay through their tall glass windows. Their service was great and very helpful, even when we had a million questions.”
Capturing the essence of their love story through photography and videography was a priority for the couple. They discovered the exceptional talent of Will DeCosta, the owner of Iyrus Weddings, whose impeccable skills and approachability resonated with the couple from the very first conversation.
“Since we werenโt in the same state, we wanted someone who we meshed well with on the initial phone call; first impressions always count. We wanted a wedding photo and video team that would paint a picture of our love through photos but also a team that knew their stuff. Iyrus Weddings expressed just that in the initial phone call,” the bride revealed. “We chose Iyrus Weddings because we felt comfortable and heard, and they were very personable. The wedding planning process is no easy feat, and we wanted to be surrounded by experts who knew their stuff, helped answer questions, and made you feel cared for. I trusted their judgment and expertise through conversations and their quality of work from photos and videos I viewed on Marry Me Tampa Bayโs blog posts.”
To ensure their wedding was a true reflection of their personalities and faith, Katrina and Ernest wanted every detail, especially the music, to be on point. They turned to the DJs of Breezin' Entertainment, with over 30 years of experience, to keep their dance floor packed and their guests grooving all night long.
“Finding a great DJ was one of the most important elements of the wedding. We knew we had to have the best of the best! We both love to dance and so do our friends and family,” the bride shared. “After reviewing the videos of their DJ options, we felt comfortable moving forward with Breezin' Entertainment. The communication was always professional and also personable. We felt heard through every song suggestion and question we had. We incorporated music choices that represented our culture. During the reception, we had fun, upbeat music playing that kept everyone, including the aunts, uncles, and grandparents, on the dance floor.”
For the couple, their wedding wasn't just an event but a heartfelt celebration of love and unity. Every detail, from their personalized vows to the infectious energy on the dance floor, were memories they'll cherish forever.
“The most memorable moments were walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time, sharing our vows and realizing how similar they were in context, and sharing the dance floor with every one of our friends and family,” Katrina beamed. “Our wedding was truly the best. We wouldnโt trade anything for the world!”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Asheville, NC. I chose this location because it was a location that I had never visited but was still a fairly close drive. I didnโt want to spend too much time driving or flying somewhere, so Asheville allowed for more time to explore and adventure through a new city.
The Proposal:
Ernest proposed the day after our one-year anniversary. He had an epic proposal planned at the place we had our first outing together, the infamous skating rink. Although he initially had made a plan for me to go to lunch and a โteam bonding activityโ with my work team that day, at the last minute, I changed plans and went to lunch with some friends and later met up with my team at the skating rink. Which almost put a damper on his plans.
I believe God ordained every detail on that day because, looking back now, I was completely oblivious to the little signs that were leading me to one of the best days of my life, and Iโm a pretty attentive person (surprises donโt get by me too easily). When I finally arrived at the skating rink, I remember walking inside where I could hear our song (one I dedicated to him) playing through the speakers and, at the same time, being led towards the center of the rink.
Those who know me know that I do NOT like being the center of attention, so I was very confused at that moment. As I walked out into the center of the rink, I looked across the rink and saw three of Ernestโs coworkers walking toward me with a sign that read โWill You Marry Me?โ while Ernest skated his way in my direction. Though he managed to slip, fall on his behind, and then shimmy the rest of the way to me, in true Ernest fashion, I wouldnโt have had it any other way. It was my easiest yes yet! He also had some of our best friends fly into town for the proposal, which was unexpected. The amount of friends and family that chose to show up for the proposal was unreal.
What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
Since we werenโt in the same state, we wanted someone who we meshed well with on the initial phone call; first impressions always count. We wanted a wedding photo and video team that would paint a picture of our love through photos but also a team that knew their stuff. Iyrus Weddings expressed just that in the initial phone call.
We chose Iyrus Weddings because we felt comfortable and heard, and they were very personable. The wedding planning process is no easy feat, and we wanted to be surrounded by experts who knew their stuff, helped answer questions, and made you feel cared for. I trusted their judgment and expertise through conversations and their quality of work from photos and videos I viewed on Marry Me Tampa Bayโs blog posts.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We decided at the last minute to stay in Clearwater for our honeymoon. We really wanted to travel to Jamaica, but unfortunately, our passports didnโt make it in time before we traveled down to Tampa. Thankfully, we hadnโt booked anything elsewhere. Our stay in Clearwater was beautiful, relaxing, and just what we needed after the wedding!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We looked for a wedding venue that not only had great reviews but somewhere that had an open floor plan, a clean slate, indoor and outdoor ceremony potential, and was somewhere near the water.
We chose Tampa Garden Club because of the possibility of having an outdoor ceremony in their garden space and an indoor reception, which included views of the bay through their tall glass windows. Their service was great and very helpful, even when we had a million questions.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The theme and wedding design inspiration was timeless and classic. The choice came from Pinterest and blog post inspiration that painted a beautiful picture of timeless and classic weddings.
What were your colors and why did you choose them?
Our colors were black, white, and champagne. I have always loved the look of a classic wedding with a hint of modern elements, so we incorporated black bridesmaid dresses, black suits for the groomsmen, and touches of black throughout the decor. We chose white flowers for the bouquets and decor to top off the classic look. Champagne was an added bonus to blend with the black and white accents.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Finding a great DJ was one of the most important elements of the wedding. We knew we had to have the best of the best! We both love to dance and so do our friends and family.
After reviewing the videos of their DJ options, we felt comfortable moving forward with Breezin' Entertainment. The communication was always professional and also personable. We felt heard through every song suggestion and question we had. We incorporated music choices that represented our culture. During the reception, we had fun, upbeat music playing that kept everyone, including the aunts, uncles, and grandparents, on the dance floor.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Every vendor really exceeded our expectations! They came, they saw, and they conquered! We truly could not have asked for anything more from our vendors. We hadnโt met any of our vendors in person until the wedding day and had only visited the venue once (after we had booked), so the day of expectations was exceeded simply by the attentiveness, the care, and the execution.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do your research! Compare vendors and narrow it down to who ultimately makes you feel heard and valued. I cannot stress enough that your feelings are valid; you want someone to hear you but also follow through with great suggestions that complement you! Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and you want to entrust the right teams to execute well.
