Kourtni and Evan
Tampa River Center
“We would describe our wedding theme and design as simple, clean, and romantic. Evan and I aren’t the flashiest people, and I love greenery and muted colors. By incorporating whites, light pinks, and greens, we were able to add color and dimension without it being too bold.” – The Bride
FEATURING
Kourtni and Evan’s classic downtown Tampa wedding featured romantic florals, a scenic waterfront setting, and timeless elegance.
“We would describe our wedding theme and design as simple, clean, and romantic. Evan and I aren’t the flashiest people, and I love greenery and muted colors. By incorporating whites, light pinks, and greens, we were able to add color and dimension without it being too bold,” the bride detailed. “Being along the Hillsborough River, we wanted to complement the natural beauty around us rather than detract from it. Our colors, light pink, white, sage, and gold, were chosen for their soft, muted tones. We wanted to embrace color while ensuring the stunning surroundings remained the true focal point.”
Surrounded by 130 of their closest family and friends, the St. Pete bride and groom exchanged vows before a square floral archway adorned with lush blooms and greenery, with the Hillsborough River providing a breathtaking backdrop. Their May wedding was a destination celebration for most of their guests, with friends and family flying in from all over the U.S.—and even as far as Saudi Arabia, where one of the bridesmaids traveled from to be part of their special day. Kourtni wore an off-the-shoulder, flowy gown and styled her hair in soft waves for a classic, effortless look.
Capturing all the memories of the day was a top priority for Kourtni and Evan, and they wanted a photographer who could bring their vision to life with creativity and authenticity.
“When looking for a wedding photographer, we wanted someone who was simple but had a strong eye for photography. We saw a lot of out-of-the-box thinking from Mary Anna Photography in their portfolio, which immediately stood out to us. It was important that the person capturing our day had a creative vision, and Mary Anna had a way of transforming moments into something truly beautiful—things we would never have thought of ourselves,” the bride raved. “When we met her, we loved discovering that she and her husband work together, just like Evan and I. The two of them did an incredible job, and I truly cannot sing their praises enough. They even had a first look ready for us during the reception, creating such a special moment for us and our bridal parties to experience together.”
After the ceremony, guests transitioned to the indoor event space, where floor-to-ceiling windows framed stunning waterfront views. White linens and gold accents adorned the tables, while lush florals by Save the Date Florida added a soft, natural elegance to the celebration.
“Our floral inspiration was light and airy. We wanted to keep it simple and complement the beautiful scenery around us,” the bride explained. “We chose Save the Date Florida because they came on good recommendation from our planner and came up with a great plan to execute our vision while sticking close to our budget. Save the Date Florida created a full plan based on a conversation/design board and even built a Chuppah since they did not have one on hand.”
Kourtni and Evan made music a top priority, hoping to create an atmosphere where their guests could truly celebrate.
“When looking for music at our wedding, Evan and I were torn between having a live band and a DJ. We wanted the live element for energy, but also wanted the flexibility of choosing our own playlist. Our planner recommended Graingertainment because of their ability to provide a hybrid experience. We were able to get everything we wanted, live elements (sax, drums) with a playlist we could curate with the help of our DJ,” the bride revealed. “Graingertainment was great to work with. Music was central to the night’s energy, and their hybrid DJ setup blended live elements with a curated playlist to keep the party going. We really wanted our wedding to have good vibes—not just for us, but for everyone who traveled to celebrate with us. The music sets the tone/vibe of a wedding, and they were so accommodating with all of our requests. DJ Dylan kept the vibes high and had a really great read on the room. He knew exactly when to switch up a song to keep the energy going and when to let things play out. Graingertainment made it easy to get everything we wanted out of our music. “
Kourtni and Evan’s wedding was filled with thoughtful details that reflected their personalities and made the day unforgettable for their guests. To embrace their love for the water, they chose water taxis as the main mode of transportation to and from the venue, adding a unique touch that guests loved.
“We love being on the water, so having the water taxis as part of our wedding just made sense,” Kourtni shared.
As huge college football fans, the couple made sure to include gameday songs from Ohio State and Washington State in their wedding playlist.
“It was a moment all of our college friends could come together and celebrate on the dance floor,” the bride added.
To ensure guests enjoyed every detail, they featured a mix of great food, including a tater tot bar and nitro ice cream, and even made space to honor loved ones who had passed with a special tribute table. As the night came to a close, Kourtni and Evan boarded the water taxi one last time, surrounded by friends and family, soaking in the magic of the day.
“Our most memorable moments were our first look, our vows, the time we took during the reception to just enjoy 15 minutes together away from everyone, and dancing with everyone we love,” the bride reminisced. “Seeing everyone having such a great time made the day even more special for us and allowed us to truly soak in the joy of the celebration.”
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We are going to Australia for our honeymoon, visiting Sydney, Uluru, and Cairns before making a pitstop in Honolulu on our way back home. We chose Australia because it’s somewhere both of us have always wanted to visit, but it’s also a destination that’s tough to get to and one we may not be able to experience once we start a family. What better reason to take extended time off than your honeymoon? We actually planned this trip a year after our wedding, and did a mini-moon in Charleston for a week right after the big day.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Scottsdale, AZ. I chose Scottsdale because it’s closer to everyone in my wedding party and most of my other friends, and it has a little bit of everything. I love hiking and the outdoors, so we had that covered during the day, and there were also plenty of options to go out and enjoy at night. The weather is a plus too!
The Proposal:
Evan proposed at a winery in the Hamptons. We’re big fans of Summer House, and we had both been wanting to make a trip out to the Hamptons, so he told me he had planned one. We were going to stay with his parents on Long Island and make the trek out to the Hamptons for a night or two before heading home. Evan had planned a visit to a winery, but little did I know, he was going to propose. After a wine tasting and charcuterie board, we walked into the vineyard to look around—and that’s when Evan dropped to one knee and proposed! He had all of our family fly out for a lunch at the winery afterward, and then he planned a night in the city with our friends. He even made a sweet video featuring congratulations from any of my friends who couldn’t be there.
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
Our floral inspiration was light and airy. We wanted to keep it simple and complement the beautiful scenery around us. We chose Save the Date Florida because they came on good recommendation from our planner and came up with a great plan to execute our vision while sticking close to our budget. Save the Date Florida created a full plan based on a conversation/design board and even built a Chuppah since they did not have one on hand.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
When looking for a wedding photographer, we wanted someone who was simple but had a strong eye for photography. We saw a lot of out-of-the-box thinking from Mary Anna Photography in their portfolio, which immediately stood out to us. It was important that the person capturing our day had a creative vision, and Mary Anna had a way of transforming moments into something truly beautiful—things we would never have thought of ourselves.
When we met her, we loved discovering that she and her husband work together, just like Evan and I. The two of them did an incredible job, and I truly cannot sing their praises enough. They even had a first look ready for us during the reception, creating such a special moment for us and our bridal parties to experience together.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We would describe our wedding theme and design as simple, clean, and romantic. Evan and I aren’t the flashiest people, and I love greenery and muted colors. By incorporating whites, light pinks, and greens, we were able to add color and dimension without it being too bold. Being along the Hillsborough River, we wanted to complement the natural beauty around us rather than detract from it.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
When looking for music at our wedding, Evan and I were torn between having a live band and a DJ. We wanted the live element for energy, but also wanted the flexibility of choosing our own playlist. Our planner recommended Graingertainment because of their ability to provide a hybrid experience. We were able to get everything we wanted, live elements (sax, drums) with a playlist we could curate with the help of our DJ.
Graingertainment was great to work with. Music was central to the night’s energy, and their hybrid DJ setup blended live elements with a curated playlist to keep the party going. We really wanted our wedding to have good vibes—not just for us, but for everyone who traveled to celebrate with us. The music sets the tone/vibe of a wedding, and they were so accommodating with all of our requests. DJ Dylan kept the vibes high and had a really great read on the room. He knew exactly when to switch up a song to keep the energy going and when to let things play out. Graingertainment made it easy to get everything we wanted out of our music.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our planner, Kelci, exceeded our expectations without a doubt. She went above and beyond for us—even before she was officially supposed to be planning. Under our agreement, she would take over the process toward the end, but there was never a time we felt like we couldn’t reach out to her with questions. She made everything so smooth and enjoyable. Our caterer also exceeded our expectations. We fell in love with their food, but beyond that, they worked with us to make sure we had everything we wanted within our budget. They offered so many add-on assortments, and the food from the tasting was exactly what we got on the night of our wedding. We received so many compliments on the food. Our DJ, Dylan, was also amazing! We could not have asked for a better person to keep the energy high.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Recommendations are key! When planning a wedding, make sure to look at reviews, as they are so important to ensuring you get quality vendors. Set aside 10 to 15 minutes during your cocktail hour with you and your spouse; it gave Evan and me some time to decompress, enjoy the hors d’oeuvres, and have a little alone time before family and friends kept us busy all night. Try to take care of one big thing per month, since the final six weeks are so hectic and you’re doing a million things, so alleviate as much pressure as you can before that final stretch!
