Cortney and Jayson’s classic Brooksville wedding seamlessly combined rustic charm with classic elegance, featuring wooden elements, a monochromatic color palette, and, of course, a cowboy hat!

“Our inspiration was very classic Southern but with a modern touch. We wanted it to be elegant and timeless, very simple and neutral. We are very laid back and not over the top, so a relaxed but elegant vibe was the goal for the day,” the bride explained. “We very much wanted everything about the day, including the venue and the decor, to be true to us and our personalities. Our colors were very classic and simple, black and white. We know that we will look back at our wedding 40 years from now and still love the simplicity and timelessness of it.”

The New Port Richey couple selected the Tampa Bay area for their February wedding due to its convenient location and the abundance of amenities for their out-of-town guests.

“We have a lot of local family and friends, and there is always plenty to see and do in the Tampa area for those coming from out of state. Everyone loves an excuse to take a Florida vacation!” the bride beamed.

With an abundance of inspiration online, Cortney used the real weddings featured on Marry Me Tampa Bay to view how other couples celebrated locally and to narrow down her ideal look.

 “I used Marry Me Tampa Bay during the wedding planning process. It was a treasure trove of advice as well as inspiration for options to use during my wedding,” the bride raved. “I loved being able to see the featured weddings and what other people did. I never would’ve had half the ideas for my own wedding if I didn’t have it as a resource. I found my bridal hair and makeup team, Adore Bridal through Marry Me Tampa Bay!”

The bride, originally from New York, envisioned a wedding full of classic and vintage charm, while the groom dreamed of a rustic event incorporating nature and outdoor elements. With a guest list of 120, they set out to find a spacious venue that suited both their personalities. After visiting several locations, Cortney and Jayson toured Legacy Lane Weddings and immediately knew they had found the perfect wedding venue.

“Our main priority when we first began looking for a venue was that it had to be big enough, and it also had to feel like it was a good fit for both of our personalities. Jason was born and raised in the South and knew that he wanted to do something a bit on the rustic side. I am from upstate New York; I love the southern atmosphere but am more drawn to vintage and classic things. A lot of the venues we researched online or toured were either very much suited to one or the other’s personality. We wanted it to be a place that both of us were over the moon about. We knew we wanted it to be somewhat rustic but not too rustic,” the bride explained. “As soon as we turned onto the long driveway leading to the beautiful white house, I knew Legacy Lane Weddings was our place. The initial feeling was confirmed during the tour. It was beautifully rustic, with a reception barn and a gorgeous outdoor ceremony site. But the property as a whole felt as if you stepped back in time. I learned that not only was Legacy Lane Weddings a beautiful venue, but it was designed to be an entire wedding weekend getaway. We could have up to thirty of our closest friends and family members stay on the breathtaking property for the entire weekend. In addition, the venue included all the decorations as well as the day of coordinators. From the initial tour and booking of our date to the day of the wedding, Legacy Lane’s service was impeccable. They ensured that everything we possibly needed or wanted was taken care of. They beautifully executed my vision, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the entire team there.”

With a specific photography and videography look in mind, Cortney was drawn to Iyrus Weddings‘ editing and personality.

“For photo and video, I knew that I wanted a very fine art style. I really wanted my photos to look like they were something out of a publication. I also wanted someone who I knew was great at capturing the emotion of the day on film, which can sometimes be difficult. I needed a team who could craft a story of the day through their lens. Iyrus Weddings had been the photo and video team for one of my best friend’s weddings, and as soon as I saw their pictures and video, I knew that was who I wanted to go with. Will DeCosta is the most amazing, friendly photographer to work with,” the bride gushed. “It instantly felt like we were friends from our first conversation, and I knew how important it would be for me to be comfortable around our photographer. I honestly would have moved my date around to make sure I could have Iyrus for my wedding!”

The bride envisioned a look full of old Hollywood glamour for her hair and makeup and knew the skilled artists at Adore Bridal had the experience and talent to bring her dream to life.

“I really wanted my hair and makeup to go with the classic, timeless feel that I was going for. What is more timeless than glam Hollywood waves? I ended up going with Adore Bridal because after speaking with multiple vendors and reviewing their work, I was extremely confident that they could accomplish my hair goals. I knew that glam waves are one of the more difficult styles to master, and when they told me they had extensive professional training in that style specifically, I knew it was a great fit,” the bride shared. “In looking at their work, the makeup always seemed to bring out the natural beauty of the bride. I wanted a full glam look, but I also didn’t want the makeup to wear me. Adore had the perfect balance of glam and natural. I was absolutely thrilled with their services. They did exactly what I wanted, and I’ve never felt more beautiful. During the entire morning it felt like I was just spending time with friends, they made it so comfortable and natural.”

Looking back, the overwhelming emotion of seeing each other for the first time during their wedding is a magical and unforgettable experience.

“The most memorable moment was walking down the aisle and seeing my husband standing at the altar waiting for me,” Cortney reminisced. “We didn’t do a first look because we deeply wanted that first moment to be the moment I was walking down the aisle, and I am so happy that we did it that way. I will never forget the look in his eyes and the emotion we felt at that moment.”

What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I really wanted my hair and makeup to go with the classic, timeless feel that I was going for. What is more timeless than glam Hollywood waves? I ended up going with Adore Bridal because after speaking with multiple vendors and reviewing their work, I was extremely confident that they could accomplish my hair goals. I knew that glam waves are one of the more difficult styles to master, and when they told me they had extensive professional training in that style specifically, I knew it was a great fit.

In looking at their work, the makeup always seemed to bring out the natural beauty of the bride. I wanted a full glam look, but I also didn’t want the makeup to wear me. Adore had the perfect balance of glam and natural. I was absolutely thrilled with their services. They did exactly what I wanted, and I’ve never felt more beautiful. During the entire morning it felt like I was just spending time with friends, they made it so comfortable and natural.

The Proposal: 
Jayson proposed on New Year’s Eve. We were in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and had just watched the ball drop. We were walking down the street, seemingly to have a normal end of the night, and head back to our campsite. On the way back, Jayson asked if I wanted to stop for a picture in front of the large “Gatlinburg” sign. While we were having our picture taken, he dropped down to one knee and proposed. 

What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team? 
For photo and video, I knew that I wanted a very fine art style. I really wanted my photos to look like they were something out of a publication. I also wanted someone who I knew was great at capturing the emotion of the day on film, which can sometimes be difficult. I needed a team who could craft a story of the day through their lens. 

Iyrus Weddings had been the photo and video team for one of my best friend’s weddings, and as soon as I saw their pictures and video, I knew that was who I wanted to go with. Will DeCosta is the most amazing, friendly photographer to work with. It instantly felt like we were friends from our first conversation, and I knew how important it would be for me to be comfortable around our photographer. I honestly would have moved my date around to make sure I could have Iyrus for my wedding!

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples? 
Do exactly what you want to do. Don’t fall into the pressure to follow trends about what is “in” or “out” for weddings. Don’t do things just because they will make a good photo op if it is not something you actually want. Do what truly makes you happy.

As far as planning and logistics, I recommend checking off as much of your to-do list as early as possible. This will lead to a much more relaxing month and week leading up to your wedding so that you can actually take it all in and enjoy it for what it is.  

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations? 
Our venue, Legacy Lane Weddings was truly amazing. The care, thought and dedication that was put into our wedding was unmatched. It felt very personal; they truly cared about our special day.

Iyrus Weddings absolutely knocked it out of the park. The photos are absolutely stunning, and I am so thankful I had them to capture our day. They arrived early to scope out the property to get ideas and figure out the best places to get shots. I cannot recommend them enough.

Our catering was exceptional. We had two food trucks, and the food was hot, fresh, and most importantly, delicious! Everyone had a blast going up to the trucks and choosing their meals. 

What did you look for in a wedding venue? 
Our main priority when we first began looking for a venue was that it had to be big enough, and it also had to feel like it was a good fit for both of our personalities. Jason was born and raised in the South and knew that he wanted to do something a bit on the rustic side. I am from upstate New York; I love the southern atmosphere but am more drawn to vintage and classic things. A lot of the venues we researched online or toured were either very much suited to one or the other’s personality. We wanted it to be a place that both of us were over the moon about. We knew we wanted it to be somewhat rustic but not too rustic.

As soon as we turned onto the long driveway leading to the beautiful white house, I knew Legacy Lane Weddings was our place. The initial feeling was confirmed during the tour. It was beautifully rustic, with a reception barn and a gorgeous outdoor ceremony site. But the property as a whole felt as if you stepped back in time. I learned that not only was Legacy Lane Weddings a beautiful venue, but it was designed to be an entire wedding weekend getaway. We could have up to thirty of our closest friends and family members stay on the breathtaking property for the entire weekend. In addition, the venue included all the decorations as well as the day of coordinators. From the initial tour and booking of our date to the day of the wedding, Legacy Lane’s service was impeccable. They ensured that everything we possibly needed or wanted was taken care of. They beautifully executed my vision, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the entire team there.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
The elements that were most important to us were the food and entertainment. We knew it was our day and it would be perfect for us, no matter what, but we also wanted our family and friends to have the best time. We all know the best way to do that is to have killer food and upbeat, energetic entertainment! I wanted a DJ with extensive experience and positive reviews. I also wanted to make sure they were experienced in the music genre we enjoy. Guest engagement and quality equipment were also very important. 

I hired Tampa Bay DJ Company because they provided all of the services I was interested in, and they had a lot of DJs who all had amazing reviews. I felt comfortable that anyone I went with was going to do a great job, and I was right! Our DJ listened to exactly what we wanted and executed our vision. They were a delight to work with.