Kate and Edwin's South Tampa wedding featured an elegant evening with a traditional white and gold color palette and pops of navy and grey. After the personalized vow ceremony, guests were treated to a delicious meal, and an ultimate dance party reception that covered every musical genre the couple loved.
“The inspiration for our wedding was a classic, royal, and timeless design. We wanted to look back at photos in the future and not regret choosing a style or colors that were a fad at the time,” the bride shared. “Our primary colors were navy, grey, and white, with gold accents in the decor. We thought they were classic and really complimented each other, in addition to blending well with the character of the venue and its existing decor. It was also easy to coordinate the wardrobe of the wedding party with the navy and grey theme.”
Selecting a wedding planner who also provided catering services was the ideal planning combination for the Lutz couple.
“We wanted a wedding planner who would be able to take away the stresses of the planning process, had experience in doing so and was familiar with the venue,” Kate shared. “We ultimately chose Core Concepts because Laurie had experience with the venue and was able to translate our requests into a design document that included all the details of the event. We also liked Core Concepts because we were able to bundle the catering and bar services, which ultimately saved us money. It was important to have a catering team that made delicious food and cocktails! We didn’t want anyone walking away hungry.”
With a clear vision of their wedding day, the bride sought a romantic photography style that would capture the essence of their wedding day.
“We wanted a photographer who would capture traditional photos with a light and airy style and that was equally talented in taking posed and candid shots,” the bride explained. “Lifelong Photography Studio has such a traditional, timeless style, and that’s exactly what we wanted! We loved that their photos were light and airy and would capture the spirit of how we were feeling that day. It seems that so many photographers these days lean towards dark and moody filters, and that’s not how we wanted to remember our wedding day. The service at Lifelong was amazing, and we would definitely recommend our lead photographer, Kristen! She, along with the whole team, went above and beyond, listened to our requests, arrived earlier than expected, and even stayed an extra hour when asked on the day of. Lifelong Photography captured our wedding photos beyond our expectations, providing us with thousands of quality images.”
To transform the ballroom into their dream day, luxury rentals from Kate Ryan Event Rentals and A Chair Affair were selected to elevate the space.
“The rentals are really what turned the space into the magic that it was. Being a historic home, the venue had a lot of existing characters, but the rentals are really what elevated the space to the next level,” the bride gushed. “Small details like the chargers and tableware brought our vision of a classic and timeless wedding to life.”
With the stage set for a romantic evening, the couple hired one of the area's most popular DJs to entertain their guests.
“During the reception, we incorporated songs from all different music genres that we enjoy listening to together, including country, hip-hop, and some classic oldies like Frank Sinatra,” the bride shared. “We wanted a reputable DJ company that also provided additional services, such as additional lighting options and a photo booth. We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because they had great reviews and multiple services. We were happy with all the services and products they provided.”
As so much thought went into the details of the wedding day, their efforts paid off when Kate and Edwin saw the joy on their families' faces when they entered the ceremony.
“One of the most memorable moments for both of us was separately walking down the aisle, seeing not only the decorated space for this first time, but also hearing the harpist and violinist playing, along with seeing our friends and family with big smiles, sharing in our excitement. It’s something we won’t forget!” the bride reminisced.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I actually didn’t have a bachelorette party. My Mom and two sisters-in-law planned an amazing bridal shower for me, and that’s all I needed!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted a wedding planner who would be able to take away the stresses of the planning process, had experience in doing so and was familiar with the venue.
We ultimately chose Core Concepts because Laurie had experience with the venue and was able to translate our requests into a design document that included all the details of the event. We also liked Core Concepts because we were able to bundle the catering and bar services, which ultimately saved us money. It was important to have a catering team that made delicious food and cocktails! We didn’t want anyone walking away hungry.
The Proposal:
Edwin coordinated the proposal with my parents and grandparents, completely unbeknownst to me! He asked them if he could join our family vacation and proposed to me on the farm that belongs to my grandparents. It was a total surprise!
How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding?
We chose to write our own vows for the ceremony, incorporating a few humorous lines each to keep our guests entertained. The vows were a perfect combination of sentimental and humorous words. Edwin also dedicated the first portion of his vows to my family, particularly my parents and grandparents, which really showcased the caring side of his personality.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted a photographer who would capture traditional photos with a light and airy style, and that was equally talented in taking posed and candid shots.
Lifelong Photography Studio has such a traditional, timeless style, and that’s exactly what we wanted! We loved that their photos were light and airy and would capture the spirit of how we were feeling that day. It seems that so many photographers these days lean towards dark and moody filters, and that’s not how we wanted to remember our wedding day.
The service at Lifelong was amazing, and we would definitely recommend our lead photographer, Kristen! She, along with the whole team, went above and beyond, listened to our requests, arrived earlier than expected, and even stayed an extra hour when asked on the day of. Lifelong Photography captured our wedding photos beyond our expectations, providing us with thousands of quality images. They were also very responsive to our questions leading up to the wedding day.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon at Sandals Halcyon Resort in St. Lucia. After all the excitement and stress of the wedding, all we wanted to do was relax on the beach with some frozen drinks! We went with an all-inclusive because we didn’t want to have to make any hard decisions about where to eat, what to do, etc.!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
A classic, royal, and timeless design. We wanted to look back at photos in the future and not regret choosing a style or colors that were a fad at the time.
What were your colors?
Navy, grey, and white, with gold accents in the decor. We chose them because we thought they were classic and really complimented each other, in addition to blending well with the character of the venue and its existing decor. It was also easy to coordinate the wardrobe of the wedding party with the navy and grey theme.
How did your rentals add to the ambiance of your wedding?
The rentals are really what turned the space into the magic that it was. Being a historic home, our venue had a lot of existing characters, but the rentals are really what elevated the space to the next level. Small details like the chargers and tableware brought our vision of a classic and timeless wedding to life.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a reputable DJ company that also provided additional services, such as additional lighting options and a photo booth.
We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because they had great reviews and multiple services, like the photo booth option. We were happy with all the services and products they provided. During the reception, we incorporated songs from all different music genres that we enjoy listening to together, including country, hip-hop, and some classic oldies like Frank Sinatra.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The Tampa area is a great place for a wedding! There are so many different areas and venues that would fit almost any wedding style, be it the beach, a country barn, or a historic home in South Tampa like we did. There are also so many talented vendors in the area to choose from! Look for vendors that offer bundled services, as Core Concepts did with the planning and catering services. The bundled services will save you money and also cut down on the number of vendors you’ll be dealing with on the big day!
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Orlo House & Ballroom
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Planner and Caterer: Core Concepts *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Northside Florist Weddings
Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rentals: A Chair Affair *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes
Groom’s Cake: The Cake Girl *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Beacon Lane Wedding Invitations
Transportation: Exotic Luxury Rental Cars
Dress Shop and Designer: Lily's Bridal, Rebecca Ingram, Style Ardelle
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Lulu's Weddings
Hair & Makeup: Lasting Luxe
Rehearsal Dinner: Charley’s Steak House
Harpist and Violinist: Rebecca Cosas Music
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
