Makayla and Adam's Clearwater wedding was a timeless celebration filled with neutral shades of white and gold, accents of greenery, and luxurious decor. The bride and groom wed in a traditional Catholic ceremony before celebrating in an elegant ballroom setting.
“Our wedding theme was classic, and we wanted a lot of greenery in our wedding to incorporate nature,” the bride shared. “Our colors were sage green, gold, and white. We wanted a more timeless classic look with the gold and white. We incorporated sage green with our florals and small table accents.”
The Pinellas couple turned to the seasoned team at Parties A' La Carte to flawlessly execute the planning of their 120-guest event from start to finish. Owner and lead event planner Jessica Ralph made them feel completely at ease throughout the process and handled every detail so that the couple could truly enjoy their day.
“We wanted someone who was calm and knew how to take control. Wedding planning should not be a stressful process for the couple. Jessica and the Parties A' La Carte team made the wedding planning process easy by sticking within our budget and creating the best time for us. They made the process very simple,” Makayla beamed. “They ended up being our heroes during the actual event and ushered us to and from formalities so that we got all the photos we needed or did not even know we needed.”
The pair personalized their May celebration through a custom monogram design that appeared throughout their wedding, from the custom stationery to the dance floor wrap. Their mutual love of plants was reflected through the lush green stems in the ceremony floral arrangements and dining table centerpieces.
“We have a lot of plants and greenery at home, so we had to incorporate that in the florals,” the bride detailed. “We loved the monogram that was created by our card designer, so we had our dance floor overlayed with it as well. Everything had our monogram on it because we wanted to have a personalized experience for ourselves and the guests.”
“Adam and Makayla’s wedding day encompassed so much elegance and romance in its design that we adored,” Kelsey DiMisa of Parties A' La Carte gushed. “One of our favorite details was the duogram incorporated throughout the couple's decor, starting on the invitation and then carried through the reception space. This branded the couple's day, bringing an element unique to the two of them.”
Gold Louis chairs, elegant ballroom draping, and chic gold tableware from Kate Ryan Event Rentals, including charger plates, sleek flatware, and delicate gold-rimmed glasses, adorned the place settings for a luxurious feel. Bruce Wayne Florals created towering arrangements on tall glass vases, mixed with coordinating low compote bowls, each filled with snowball hydrangeas, white roses, and wispy greenery, bringing the outdoors in. Romantic candlelight set the mood for the white and gold reception.
“We wanted someone who was local and had valuable experience in wedding florals. We chose Bruce Wayne Florals because they came highly recommended by everyone we talked to,” the bride raved. “When we came into the floral shop, we were greeted with a mockup of the centerpieces and other decorative florals. The mockup helped us to understand how everything would look on the wedding day, so we were sure we loved the florals.”
“Makayla and Adam had a specific vision for their wedding decor. They wanted timeless designs and plenty of candlelight to set the mood. To achieve their vision, we opted for lush white floral arrangements and filled the ballroom with candles, placing more on the tables than they could hold,” floral designer John Elice, of Bruce Wayne Florals detailed. “Working with the family throughout the process was a joy, and it was heartwarming to witness their laughter and tears on the big day.”
Looking back, the love that Makayla felt while surrounded by friends and family on the dance floor is something she will never forget.
“The most memorable moment of the wedding was the end of the dinner reception when the dance floor was open. Everyone got up and filled up the dance floor, which made us feel really special,” the bride reminisced, “It probably helped that we had an open bar!”
“The couple’s wedding day had many sentimental elements that made this day special. The church selected for the ceremony is the church the groom grew up attending. Makayla and Adam still attend services there where they have been able to grow their relationship in this space,” Kelsey shared. “When it came to selecting the reception venue, the couple wanted a location that was close to home so they could visit often, remembering their special day and celebrating their love on daily date nights! The wedding day was very family-oriented and highlighted their love for one another as well as their families, making the celebration special to all who attended!”
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone who was calm and knew how to take control. Wedding planning should not be a stressful process for the couple.
Jessica and the Parties A' La Carte team made the wedding planning process easy by sticking within our budget and creating the best time for us. They made the process very simple. They ended up being our heroes during the actual event and ushered us to and from formalities so that we got all the photos we needed or did not even know we needed.
We chose Parties A La Carte because my mother-in-law had worked with this company before on previous events. We are so grateful we trusted her judgment on this because Parties A' La Carte made the process very simple.
The Proposal:
Adam took me to England, where his extended family lives, so I was under the impression that we were just visiting his family. He surprised me in a location in Brighton called “Devil's Dyke,” which is a beautiful green grassy area with beautiful flowers.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
The Don CeSar! Their beautiful beach was the main reason I chose this location for my bachelorette party. The “Pink Palace” is a staple of elegance in our area, and I wanted a simple but beautiful experience before the wedding day.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme was classic, and we wanted a lot of greenery in our wedding to incorporate nature.
What were your colors?
Our colors were sage green, gold, and white. We wanted a more timeless classic look with the gold and white. We incorporated sage green with our florals and small table accents.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
The rentals from Kate Ryan Event Rentals really created a lot of elegance for our tables on our wedding day.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
We wanted someone who was local and had valuable experience in wedding florals. We chose Bruce Wayne Florals because they came highly recommended by everyone we talked to.
When we came into the floral shop, we were greeted with a mockup of the centerpieces and other decorative florals. The mockup helped us to understand how everything would look on the wedding day, so we were sure we loved the florals.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We have not chosen a honeymoon location, but we are thinking of going to the Rocky Mountains! We want to go somewhere secluded and full of nature hikes within driving distance from the Tampa Bay area.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make sure you are enjoying yourselves throughout the entire process. Wedding planning should not be a stressful process for the couple; that is why we hired a wedding planner.
