Alexa and Ricky's downtown Tampa wedding was an elegant evening that featured a traditional ceremony in a historic cathedral, followed by a chic ballroom reception filled with classic flora, neutral shades, and romantic candlelight.
“I would describe our wedding as traditional formal. I always envisioned a classic ballroom, black-tie wedding. I didn’t want the decoration to be overwhelming. I wanted the room to look simple yet elegant, with a lot of candles to give that romantic feel,” the bride shared. “Our colors were gray and white. I wanted a very neutral palette, nothing that was distracting in photos, and colors that were timeless.”
The Tampa natives hosted their January nuptials in the heart of the city. Upon choosing the iconic Sacred Hearth Catholic Church for their ceremony, they sought a nearby reception space with equally stunning space to accommodate their 220 guests. They immediately knew the Hilton Tampa Downtown would be an ideal choice, but it was the venue coordinator's thoughtfulness and attention to detail that impressed them beyond measure.
“I wanted a venue with a ballroom that had a lot of space. We had invited around 240 guests, so I figured a hotel would be the best option to accommodate such a large guest list. I chose the Hilton Tampa Downtown because of the amount of space they had, and I fell in love with their beautiful chandeliers,” the bride beamed. “We had gone to quite a few events there prior to our wedding, so I knew what it looked like when it was all set up and decorated. Their event coordinator, Melissa, was amazing! She guided me throughout the entire process and was quick to answer any questions I had throughout the planning. The day we signed the contract, she gave us two Tiffany-crystal champagne glasses as a gift!”
To set the tone for the chic event, Alexa turned to A&P Design Co. to create custom stationery pieces featuring traditional letterpress calligraphy. The bridesmaids donned elegant pewter gowns and carried classic bouquets of roses and greenery, while gentlemen sported classic black suits.
“My invitation inspiration was clean, simple, and elegant. We chose one color letterpress in the color pewter to match our white and silver-gray color scheme,” the bride shared. “I loved all of the work of A&P Design Co. that was posted on their Instagram. They were amazing to work with and had a quick turnaround time. I had made a few last-minute changes to the wording on the invitations, and they were so responsive to all of my questions and requests!”
The party-focused pair envisioned celebrating with their friends and family on the dance floor all night long and prioritized entertainment as a key element in the planning process. Having a live band brought the intangible energy that they were looking for and kept everyone moving and shaking for hours on end.
“The most important element of our wedding was to have a great band. I wanted to make sure our guests were dancing the entire night!” the bride revealed.
Alexa sought a cake artist with a reputation for wedding day confections that are as delicious as they are beautiful. The result was a stunning four-tier creation from The Artistic Whisk adorned with dozens of roses and filled with both unique and traditional flavors.
“I wanted a solid white wedding cake to match the minimalistic style of our wedding decor, with white flowers cascading down. We added the same foliage we used in my bouquet to add that little bit of color without taking away the monochrome look,” the bride detailed. “I wanted a bakery that could create a beautiful cake that was reasonably priced and that tasted great! The Artistic Whisk gave us four different samples to take home and try, and they all were amazing. We chose cinnamon roll and classic vanilla.”
Recognizing the value of capturing their wedding day in a way that still photographs cannot, Alexa and Ricky enlisted the creative team at J&S Media to artfully document their celebration through cinematography. Experiencing the vows, speeches, and dances through video and sound is something they will get to enjoy for years to come.
“I looked for experienced videographers with high-quality equipment,” the bride explained. “Besides their professionalism and sweet personalities, J&S Media were the most reasonably priced without sacrificing quality! They also had worked with my photographer in the past, so I knew they would work well together.”
As the epic evening came to a close, the couple prepared for a picturesque sparkler send-off with their guests. While all of the guests headed outside for the grand exit, Alexa and Ricky shared an intimate last dance that will forever remain a cherished memory for the bride.
“The most memorable moment was when all the guests left the room to line up outside for the sparkler send-off, and Ricky and I had the entire room to ourselves. The band played Can’t Help Falling in Love for one final dance to end the night. It was such a special moment,” Alexa reminisced.
What was your wedding invitation inspiration?
My invitation inspiration was the same as everything else for my wedding design: clean, simple, and elegant. We chose one color letterpress in the color pewter to match our white and silver-gray color scheme!
I loved all of the work of A&P Design Co. that was posted on their Instagram. They were amazing to work with and had a quick turnaround time. I had made a few last-minute changes to the wording on the invitations, and they were so responsive to all of my questions and requests!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bachelorette party was in Vegas because I wanted to have a lot of dancing and entertainment! My MOH has great connections and hooked us up with the presidential suite at the Bellagio.
The Proposal:
Ricky proposed in the middle of a Monday afternoon at Amalie Arena. He told me we were there to check out the renovations to his suite. Once we got to the suite, there were rose petals everywhere, champagne on ice, and a photographer waiting for me! We also got to take a photo on the ice with the Stanley Cup!
What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
I looked for experienced videographers with high-quality equipment.
Besides their professionalism and sweet personalities, J&S Media were the most reasonably priced without sacrificing quality! They also had worked with my photographer in the past, so I knew they would work well together.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I would describe our wedding as traditional formal. I always envisioned a classic ballroom, black-tie wedding. I didn’t want the decoration to be overwhelming. I wanted the room to look simple yet elegant, with a lot of candles to give that romantic feel.
What were your colors?
Our colors were gray and white. I wanted a very neutral palette, nothing that was distracting in photos, and colors that were timeless.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I wanted a venue with a ballroom that had a lot of space. We had invited around 240 guests, so I figured a hotel would be the best option to accommodate such a large guest list.
I chose the Hilton Tampa Downtown because of the amount of space they had, and I fell in love with their beautiful chandeliers. We had gone to quite a few events there prior to our wedding, so I knew what it looked like when it was all set up and decorated. Their event coordinator, Melissa, was amazing! She guided me throughout the entire process and was quick to answer any questions I had throughout the planning. The day we signed the contract, she gave us two Tiffany-crystal champagne glasses as a gift!
What was your wedding cake inspiration?
I wanted a solid white wedding cake to match the minimalistic style of our wedding decor, with white flowers cascading down. We added the same foliage we used in my bouquet to add that little bit of color without taking away the monochrome look.
I wanted a bakery that could create a beautiful cake that was reasonably priced and that tasted great! The Artistic Whisk gave us four different samples to take home and try, and they all were amazing. We chose cinnamon roll and classic vanilla.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
St. Kitts. We wanted to be on an island that wasn’t crowded. We fell in love with the photos of Park Hyatt St. Kitts online and chose the location based on that. There were probably 30 other guests in the entire resort. It was magical!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! At the end of the day, your guests won’t care that you used carnations over roses or if your napkins weren’t folded the way you wanted them to be. Give them good food, good drinks, and great music, and the night will be a success! Enjoy every moment of the day because it goes by so fast.
