Brooke and Tyler’s Clearwater wedding combined classic white flora and greenery with elegant formal attire for a timeless affair. After exchanging vows on the staircase of a historic southern-style inn, the bride and groom celebrated in a tented al fresco reception.
“Our wedding theme was classic, elegant, and timeless. We knew this was the vibe we were going for, and the classic elegance of the venue helped bring our vision for the overall wedding to life. Our colors were champagne and navy, with accents of white and green florals. To stay true to the timeless theme, an overall neutral color scheme fit the vibe perfectly,” the bride shared. “The reception dinner was elegant, but the dance floor was poppin’, and the party was a blast, which describes our personalities perfectly. We love to be fancy and have a great time! Formal but fun, if you will.”
The Tampa couple relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay for providing resources and for recommending reputable vendors while planning their 125-guest February celebration. Upon seeing the work of Evoke Photo + Film through various real wedding features, Brooke was instantly attracted to their style, and the instant connection she felt with Stacy during the first phone call sealed the deal.
“We found our photographer through Marry Me Tampa Bay! Photographers each have a certain vibe to their portfolio, and I loved Evoke Photo + Film‘s imagery and editing,” the bride raved. “One of my friends mentioned to me that it’s so important to like your photographer and feel comfortable around them because they’ll be with you all day, and if you’re not comfortable, it’ll show in the pics. When I had my intro phone call with Stacy, she was just so cool and down to earth, and I felt like we were on the same page with my photography expectations. We talked and talked and I just knew it was a perfect fit. It was also important that the photo/video were on the same team so that they would work well together and not have conflicting ideas/styles of shooting, and it worked out perfectly. Their whole team was absolutely amazing.”
Brooke and Tyler prioritized music and photography for their big day, while the bride planned for a stylish grand entrance to the ceremony.
“Photography/videography and a great band were of top-tier importance to us! We wanted the day to be beautifully captured and for all of our guests to have the best time!” Brooke detailed. “One of the most important aspects of our wedding was the vintage car. Since our wedding party came out the front doors and took their place on the steps, there wasn’t a true ‘aisle’ to walk down. I wanted my aisle moment as a bride, so my dad and I snuck out the back door and got in the Rolls Royce while the guests were seated out front. I made my grand entrance from the front drive by pulling up in the beautiful blue Rolls!”
Having chosen a historic inn for their wedding venue, Brooke aimed to showcase the beautiful property for all their visiting guests’ enjoyment. A greenhouse-style tent created an enchanting space for an unforgettable reception. An impulse decision to include film photography also resulted in some of their more treasured images that perfectly preserved the memory of the day.
“The venue in itself was unique; it’s a historic hotel that was relocated and recently renovated, so you have a modern design with classic historical elements. The clear top tent was the vibe. It was an upcharge, but worth it! I’d highly recommend it,” the bride gushed. “We also decided last minute to add film to our photo package, another thing I definitely recommend!! The film photos have a vintage vibe and capture the details so beautifully. They are some of our favorite photos!”
As much as they loved celebrating with their loved ones, the couple cherished their alone time together, taking in their stunning surroundings.
“After the ceremony and bridal party pics, we hopped in a golf cart with the photo/video team and took sunset pics on the golf course. This was one of my favorite moments because it gave Tyler and I some time away from the rest of the guests, and we got some stunning pictures that have a completely different look than all of our other photos,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
Tyler planned a romantic surprise picnic on Pass-a-Grille beach at sunset!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
St. Thomas, USVI. I wanted my bach party to be a few weeks before the wedding, which made it a January trip. Living in Florida, there are not many more ideal places to be in the dead of winter than everywhere else, so I decided to go further south to the Caribbean! USVI was perfect because it’s a US territory, so it’s easy to travel to and beautiful in January. It was beyond perfect!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Virgin Gorda and Guana Island, both in the British Virgin Islands. Since we honeymooned in February, it’s peak season in the Caribbean, and we knew we wanted to go someplace warm and sunny.
Although we love to travel, after the craziness of the wedding, we knew we didn’t want to travel too far. We were able to relax and didn’t have to plan too much for the vacation since we were so busy planning for the wedding; we didn’t want the added stress of planning a complex trip on top of that.
What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
We found our photographer through Marry Me Tampa Bay! Photographers each have a certain vibe to their portfolio, and I loved Evoke Photo + Film‘s imagery and editing. One of my friends mentioned to me that it’s so important to like your photographer and feel comfortable around them because they’ll be with you all day, and if you’re not comfortable, it’ll show in the pics.
When I had my intro phone call with Stacy, she was just so cool and down to earth, and I felt like we were on the same page with my photography expectations. We talked and talked and I just knew it was a perfect fit. It was also important that the photo/video were on the same team so that they would work well together and not have conflicting ideas/styles of shooting, and it worked out perfectly. Their whole team was absolutely amazing.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme was classic, elegant, and timeless. We knew this was the vibe we were going for, and the classic elegance of the venue helped bring our vision for the overall wedding to life!
What were your colors?
Our colors were champagne and navy, with accents of white and green florals. To stay true to the timeless theme, an overall neutral color scheme fit the vibe perfectly.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Evoke Photo + Film. The photos and videos were everything we could’ve dreamed of and more! Their team was so great the entire day and they caught all the moments without being in the way of the moments happening!
Our band freakin’ rocked! Our guests couldn’t stop raving about them. Our planner was everything I wanted. She was on top of everything to make sure it all went as planned, and the sweetest, too! Our hair and makeup artists were a fantastic husband/wife duo. They did a beautiful job glamming up all the girls; everyone looked so gorgeous!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
February weddings are underrated because it’s not technically “peak season” yet!
