Erin and Tommy
“I would call our theme a simple, elevated classic. We wanted to have a timeless feel, as it’s also our style. Our colors were olive green and white. We really like olive green but also that it’s a really great way to bring color in without really focusing on color. The green tied in perfectly as the natural accent in the flowers, and it was a color that looked great against the white of the venue and other elements.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Erin and Tommy’s chic downtown Tampa wedding combined a neutral palette of crisp white and natural greenery to create a timeless atmosphere within their historic venue. Sleek, modern centerpieces towered over dining tables accented with pops of gold flatware, while a combination of live music and DJ tracks had everyone partying on the dance floor all night long.
“I would call our theme a simple, elevated classic. We wanted to have a timeless feel, as it’s also our style. We really wanted to keep the wedding simple both in terms of the planning and in the details, as we were planning while moving across the country, and to focus on having a big celebration with the people we care about and not overdue the extras,” the bride revealed. “Our colors were olive green and white. We really like olive green but also that it’s a really great way to bring color in without really focusing on color. The green tied in perfectly as the natural accent in the flowers, and it was a color that looked great against the white of the venue and other elements.”
The Boston bride originally hailed from the Tampa area, so Marry Me Tampa Bay served as a local resource for vetting their wedding vendors from a distance.
“It was great to follow along on social media and the website,” Erin shared. “I read a lot of reviews and blog posts about certain locations and vendors.”
Seeking a gorgeous indoor setting for their 160-guest May celebration, the couple looked for a venue that combined architectural charm with inclusive ammenities. Upon touring The Vault, a historic venue, known for its iconci bank valut, the pair knew they had found the ideal space that satisfied their wish list.
“We started out thinking we wanted to be by the water but ultimately decided we didn’t want to mess with the weather. From there we really wanted a space to comfortably fit our somewhat large guest list and that had beautiful architecture, something that felt like a special occasion and not purely a blank event space. After a few tours, I quickly realized that I also wanted a venue with a lot included things like linens, table settings, and chairs. I didn’t want to be chasing down more vendors for all the moving parts,” the bride explained. “There were so many reasons that we chose The Vault! The space is gorgeous and the building feels so grand. The main room has beautiful tall pillars and timeless marble floors. The Vault offered floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light pour in and had a lovely shaded grass area for cocktail hour. It really felt like the best of both worlds.”
“In terms of logistics and numbers, The Vault offered a reasonable price for the wedding package to include a lot of the moving parts like linens, table settings, and chairs which saved us from sourcing or paying more elsewhere. They also cater the event, with amazing food options, so it runs so smoothly!” Erin gushed. “Another huge pro was having a get ready space that also saved us from sourcing another location and additional transportation. The easy, timely, and smooth communication with The Vault team was impressive; from almost year in advance to the final clean up, they were the best!”
Erin and Tommy prioritized their guests’ involvement and experience, from friends and family performing the ceremony officiation and readings to the formal dances and special toasting flutes. Their focus remained on the people in attendance rather than the static elements of the wedding day.
“One of the most important elements to us was the guests. Tommy and I have been together for almost 10 years and because of that nearly all of our guests know both of us individually and a lot of them know each other, so we wanted to throw a party, or reunion of sorts. We made decisions to ensure we could accommodate our guest list size and bring the party to life. We also walked into the reception to the Florida State University war chant as we are big fans and started dating at FSU,” Erin beamed. “Another really important element to us was involving those close to us in the big day. We had family and close friends who gave us readings and even married us! We also had a surprise additional dance to celebrate my mom and her dad’s father-daughter dance that was missed on my parents’ wedding day. We even used the same champagne glasses that Tommy’s parents used on their wedding day.”
One of the unique experiences that the couple planned for their guests was an interactive photo booth with printed photo strips as favors. The Gala Photobooth provided an elegant backdrop where everyone could strike a pose before leaving with their own special keepsake to remember the evening.
“Photo booths are so fun! I try to stop and take photos anytime I see one. It’s a fun feeling to pose with friends and family, especially with props, and walk away with a copy then and there. We felt it was a must to have that and hope our guests found the photos as a nice keepsake from our big day. We also added the option to have a photo guest book in addition to a traditional one, which is a great keepsake for us,” the bride detailed. “The Gala Photobooth was recommended by another vendor, and their service was great! They were very responsive but also so easy, there was only communication in booking and reminders. The team ran the photo booth, and the photo guest book and smoothly sent around the photos. We had so many friends and family easily download the pictures/ We also loved the options of color/black & white, single images, or multiple in a strip!”
While the entire day was truly unforgettable, it was the moments leading up to the ceremony that will remain a core memory for Erin. From anxiously waiting to walk down the aisle on the arm of her father to seeing the groom for the first time, those precious thoughts are forever stored in her memory.
“As cheesy as it sounds the day was so perfect with what we dreamed up and full of memorable moments, but it does go by so quickly,” the bride reminisced. “One of the most memorable moments was walking down the aisle. The moments and brief conversation I had with my dad before the curtains were drawn for us to enter is something I’ll never forget. And then when the curtains did open there was an overwhelming feeling of trying to take it all in while walking with a long train trailing behind. It was truly memorable to get to Tommy; we didn’t do a first look, so it felt extra special finally standing next to him and communicating through looks during the ceremony that we were finally getting married!”
The Proposal:
We were in the process of moving to Boston from Florida so we were in Boston at the time. Tommy had sent me to the most amazing spa day ever and even made sure I got a manicure. Before dinner, we drove out to a park and walked along the water overlooking the city skyline. We were the only ones out there that night, and he proposed! It was such a special moment. We then went to dinner where we celebrated, just the two us, before calling our family and friends.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We really wanted a beach location without a really long travel day from Florida) We also wanted an all-inclusive resort that was somewhat affordable. DR checked those boxes for us!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bachelorette was in Treasure Island, Florida and I would highly recommend it. I was doing a lot of traveling already to Tampa from Boston for wedding things and didn’t want to find the logistics for a whole other place and timeframe. So we combined the bachelorette and bridal shower weekend. The shower was the Sunday of the bachelorette weekend. It worked out great, and it was easy to travel for me but also my bridesmaids. It also allowed more bridesmaids to attend both events that would have otherwise had conflicts.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I would call our theme a simple, elevated classic. We wanted to have a timeless feel, as it’s also our style. We really wanted to keep the wedding simple both in terms of the planning and in the details, as we were planning while moving across the country, and to focus on having a big celebration with the people we care about and not overdue the extras.
What were your colors?
Our colors were olive green and white. We really like olive green but also that it’s a really great way to bring color in without really focusing on color. The green tied in perfectly as the natural accent in the flowers, and it was a color that looked great against the white of the venue and other elements.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We started out thinking we wanted to be by the water but ultimately decided we didn’t want to mess with the weather. From there we really wanted a space to comfortably fit our somewhat large guest list and that had beautiful architecture, something that felt like a special occasion and not purely a blank event space. After a few tours, I quickly realized that I also wanted a venue with a lot included things like linens, table settings, and chairs. I didn’t want to be chasing down more vendors for all the moving parts. There were so many reasons that we chose The Vault! The space is gorgeous and the building feels so grand. The main room has beautiful tall pillars and timeless marble floors. The Vault offered floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light pour in and had a lovely shaded grass area for cocktail hour. It really felt like the best of both worlds.
In terms of logistics and numbers, The Vault offered a reasonable price for the wedding package to include a lot of the moving parts like linens, table settings, and chairs which saved us from sourcing or paying more elsewhere. They also cater the event, with amazing food options, so it runs so smoothly! Another huge pro was having a get ready space that also saved us from sourcing another location and additional transportation. The easy, timely, and smooth communication with The Vault team was impressive; from almost year in advance to the final clean up, they were the best!
Why did you choose to incorporate a photo booth into your wedding day?
Photo booths are so fun! I try to stop and take photos anytime I see one. It’s a fun feeling to pose with friends and family, especially with props, and walk away with a copy then and there. We felt it was a must to have that and hope our guests found the photos as a nice keepsake from our big day. We also added the option to have a photo guest book in addition to a traditional one, which is a great keepsake for us.
The Gala Photobooth was recommended by another vendor, and their service was great! They were very responsive but also so easy, there was only communication in booking and reminders. The team ran the photo booth, and the photo guest book and smoothly sent around the photos. We had so many friends and family easily download the pictures/ We also loved the options of color/black & white, single images, or multiple in a strip!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All our vendors were really above and beyond. I could sing praises about each of them! The communication was really easy, and they were all total pros fielding any question we threw their way and had great recommendations. When other future brides have reached out for a certain vendor I send my whole list because I want everyone to work with them.
A special shoutout to our day of planner, Nancy Cotto, who helped a lot before ‘day of’ and took care of so much. It was so great knowing that on the big day someone was taking care of everything. She and the team also have so much experience, she is equipped to handle any pop up because odds are she has seen it before. I am not someone who has been very interested in florals but I had some big ideas about the tablescapes and how I wanted the room to feel when decorated. After one call with the team at Wonderland Floral Art about my vague ideas, they sent over their design including beautiful flowers and rental pieces such as candles and glass hurricanes. It quickly became one of my favorite wedding elements.
I also can’t forget about Kristen Weaver Photography; she went above and beyond! I have received so many kind words about our wedding photos, and they are truly so high quality. I am so grateful for those memories thanks to the team. The were also superstars in creating, supporting, and live-updating the timeline. I did not know before how involved this team would be in the timeline of the day, and they were total pros talking me through the process and making sure Tommy and I fit in all the elements we wanted! Inpulse Entertainment and The Vault were outstanding!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Be sure to incorporate elements that are special to you as a couple. Involve the people closest to you both and lean on the little traditions between the two of you or that our within your family. Trust your vendors! They do this all the time, and you chose them for a reason.
When the big day rolls around know that they have your vision and will get the job done (they always do), and sit back and enjoy your wedding day that you put so much effort into planning!
