Claudia and Giancarlos
Sacred Heart Catholic Church/The Italian Club of Tampa
“Our theme and wedding design inspiration were very classic Italian. For our colors, we chose hunter green, white, and gold. We wanted very classic colors, and these colors matched our venue really well.” -The Bride
Claudia and Giancarlos’ classic Tampa wedding began with a beautiful church ceremony that set a timeless and romantic tone for their day. Their reception complemented their Italian-inspired vision, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere for their 190 guests. Taking place in December, the celebration featured a refined palette of hunter green, white, and gold that brought their aesthetic to life. Towering centerpieces overflowing with white florals added striking height and elegance, perfectly complementing the overall design.
The Proposal
“We got engaged in Venice, Italy. During Christmas, Giancarlos surprised me with a trip to Italy for March. I did not expect him to propose, but looking back, there were lots of signs. My sister kept encouraging me to get my nails done and get a lash lift. I thought she just wanted to look good on the trip. Initially, the trip was just the two of us, but later his parents, my dad, my aunt, and a few other family members joined. It was very nice to have some of our family with us when we got engaged.”
The Bach Party and Honeymoon
“We had my bach party in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, at the RIU Palace all-inclusive resort. I’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica and wanted an adventurous bachelorette trip.
We had our honeymoon in Spain. We went to Madrid, Barcelona, and San Sebastian. We chose this location because we’ve always wanted to visit Spain.”
Most Memorable Moment
“Reading our vows together alone was very special, and I also really enjoyed dancing with all of our family and friends.”
The Inspiration
“Our theme and wedding design inspiration were very classic, Italian. For our colors, we chose hunter green, white, and gold. We wanted very classic colors, and these colors matched our venue really well. We wanted to create a fun environment for the wedding, so we set up a 360 camera and TV screens with live coverage of the dance floor.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
My photographer, florist, and hair and makeup team were all exceptional and very professional. The quality of their work was amazing.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Focus more on the marriage than on the wedding production. As a bride without a wedding planner, it was somewhat difficult not to see the wedding as a production. If I could do it over, I would at least have a day-of coordinator. Having a coordinator will help you focus more on the actual wedding.
More importantly, the advice I received from my older siblings was to slow down and soak in the little moments. This was the best advice. After so much time planning and anticipating the wedding, the time flew by, and the wedding was over before we knew it. However, slowed down and really enjoyed ourselves.
