Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Oak Tree Wedding Ceremony Decor Ideas | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Sarasota Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film

Classic White and Greenery ‘Old Florida’ Wedding | Palmetto Riverside B&B

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30Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Florida Wedding Inspiration jpg

Megan and Brian

Palmetto Riverside Bed & Breakfast

“We wanted a classic, Italian-inspired wedding. I loved the look of whites, greens, and woods that were so well complemented by the venue. We wanted to keep the colors simple and clean because the nature at the venue was so beautiful.” – The Bride

18Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Florida Wedding Inspiration Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast jpg

FEATURING

Megan and Brian’s waterfront “Old Florida” Palmetto wedding was a timeless celebration featuring neutral tones of creamy white and ivory paired with classic greenery, roses, and hydrangea set against the backdrop of the bay. The couple exchanged vows under a towering oak tree before dining and dancing with guests with an al fresco reception beneath a canopy of romantic string lights.

“We wanted a classic, Italian-inspired wedding. I loved the look of whites, greens, and woods that were so well complemented by the venue with its pink tile roof. We wanted to keep the colors simple and clean because the nature at the venue was so beautiful. We wanted the decorations to go together well and not overwhelm the space,” the bride shared. “I also love green and was very excited when I found the bridesmaid dresses!”

After honing in on her style, the bride looked to online resources such as Marry Me Tampa Bay to view previous weddings at her outdoor waterfront venue.

“We chose Palmetto for the ‘Old Florida’ feel, proximity to water, and the accessibility of having a town like Bradenton nearby for our guests to stay and have things to do,” the bride revealed. “Marry Me Tampa Bay was a great tool to look at other weddings done at our venue, which was super helpful when I determined how I wanted the decor for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception to look! It showed me what was possible and helped me envision the day.”

The Tampa couple sought a talented photography and videography team to effortlessly document their March nuptials. Valuing a thoughtful and organized approach as highly as an impressive portfolio of work, Megan and Brian were immediately intrigued after discovering Evoke Photo + Film.

“We wanted a team who valued the candid moments and had the experience to make the day as smooth as possible!” the bride explained. “I looked up specific editing styles and Evoke Photo + Film popped up! I loved the way the photos looked and how many different types of photos they were able to capture. I talked with Stacy and loved her philosophy towards her and her team’s work.”

The pair personalized a few celebration details to suit their styles, opting for a unique mode of guest transportation, as well as music selections that were reflective of their tastes.

“We did a couple of different things to incorporate our personalities,” the bride detailed. “Brian loves being on the water, so we had guests transported from the hotel to the venue on a tiki boat. We both love R&B and soul music, so a lot of our music for the dances and the reception was R&B and soul.”

The ceremony held a special place in Megan’s memory, as the customized nuptials felt uniquely personal to their relationship.

“The ceremony was incredibly memorable! Our officiant did a great job of asking our friends and family for the details and painting a picture of our relationship and how we met,” the bride reminisced. “We all loved how it turned out!”


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Classic Embossed White Spring Wedding Invitation Suite Ideas
Bridal Party Getting Ready Champagne Toast Wedding Portrait | Matching Neutral Blush Bridesmaid Pajamas Ideas

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples? 
Plan out the wedding planning process to give yourselves time to enjoy being engaged. A lot of vendors in the Tampa Bay area book out a year or more in advance, leading people to jump right into planning after an engagement, which is what we did. If you are aware of that, you can give some time to relax, knowing that you will potentially have to wait up to a year for a date once you start planning. 

Bride and Mother Getting Ready Wedding Portrait | Ivory Strapless Button Back Mermaid Wedding Dress Inspiration
Bride Getting Ready Wedding Portrait | Bridal Veil with Pearl Detail Ideas | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Ivory Strapless Button Back High Slit Mermaid Wedding Dress Inspiration | Monochromatic Bridal Bouquet with White Roses, Orchids, and Stock Flowers | Tampa Bay Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Mismatched Bridesmaids Reformation Satin Artichoke, Forest, and Tea Party Wedding Dress Inspiration

The proposal:
Brian asked if we could hang out with some of his friends on the Friday of the week of the proposal, so on the day of, we walked to the Tampa Riverwalk to meet his friends at a nearby bar. As we got to a park on the Riverwalk, we walked onto a blanket that had flowers and champagne, and he proposed! Our families had traveled in for it and came out to surprise me! I was so shocked and was not expecting it to happen that day. Afterward, we went to a great restaurant downtown. It was wonderful; Brian did a great job!!!

Boat Wedding Guest Transportation Ideas
Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Estate Wedding Ceremony Decor Ideas | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Florida Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Oak Tree Wedding Ceremony Decor Ideas | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Sarasota Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Bride and Father Walking Down Wedding Aisle | Florida Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Outdoor Waterfront Wedding Ceremony | Bradenton Estate Event Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Sarasota Photographer Evoke Photo and Film

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Evoke Photo and Film did an amazing job! They were incredibly professional and fun, they got the candid moments and were able to capture all the posed photos I wanted super quickly, which made it easy to enjoy more time with our friends and family. The videos were also amazing, I loved for both the photos and videos there were multiple points of view captured for so many of the different moment!

Our day-of-coordinator was also amazing. She worked so hard to make sure our day ran smoothly. My whole family didn’t notice a single thing out of place and noted how organized and well-run everything was! She was attentive to detail and what we wanted, and was always available for questions or discussions. I can’t say enough good things! 

Bride and Groom Wedding Ceremony Vow Exchange | White Arbor with White Roses, Hydrangeas, Stock Flowers, and Greenery Decor Ideas
Bride and Groom Wedding Ceremony Vow Exchange
Bride and Groom First Kiss Wedding Portrait | Outdoor Oak Tree Oceanfront Wedding Ceremony Ideas | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Sarasota Photographer Evoke Photo and Film
Bride and Groom Just Married Sunset Wedding Portrait | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Black Groom Suit with Neutral Cream Tie Wedding Attire Inspiration | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film

Where did you spend your honeymoon? 
Costa Rica! We wanted to go to a place where we could relax/navigate easily with little help. We wanted a nice hotel that was not all-inclusive, and Costa Rica had some great options.

Where did you host your bachelorette party? 
The Keys! I wanted a mix of boating, relaxing, and going out for a bachelorette. The Keys provided all three!

Bride and Groom Just Married Dock Wedding Portrait | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Bride and Groom Just Married Dock Wedding Portrait | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Vintage Gold Mirror Our Favorite People Wedding Reception Seating Chart Display Inspiration
Elegant Wedding Reception Cocktail Hour Cheers Grass Wall Bar Decor Ideas
Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Wedding Reception Tablescape Ideas | Rustic Wooden Cross-Back Chairs, White Taper Candles with Hurricane Tube Glass, White Rose in Bud Vases Centerpiece Inspiration | Florida Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration? 
We wanted a classic, Italian-inspired wedding. We wanted to keep the colors simple and clean because the nature at the venue was so beautiful. We wanted the decorations to go together well and not overwhelm the space!

What were your colors? 
I loved the look of whites, greens, and woods that were so well complemented by the venue itself with the pink tile roof. I also love green and was very excited when I found the bridesmaid dresses!

Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Wedding Reception Tablescape Ideas | Rustic Wooden Cross-Back Chairs, White Taper Candles with Hurricane Tube Glass, White Rose in Bud Vases Centerpiece Inspiration | Florida Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film | Venue Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast
Elegant Italian Inspired Outdoor Wedding Reception Sweetheart Table Ideas | White Rose, Hydrangeas, Stock Flowers, and Greenery Head Table Decor Inspiration | Bradenton Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Elegant Italian Inspired Wedding Reception Tablescape Ideas | Rustic Wooden Cross-Back Chairs, White Taper Candles with Hurricane Tube Glass, White Rose in Bud Vases Centerpiece Inspiration | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film
Elegant White Wedding Reception Centerpiece Decor Ideas | White Taper Candles with Hurricane Tube Glass, White Rose in Bud Vases
Ivory Two-Tiered Wedding Cake with White Rose Accents and Traditional Bride and Groom Cake Topper Ideas | Sword Cake Cutter | Classic White Rose, Hydrangeas, Stock Flowers, and Greenery Cake Table Display Inspiration
Ivory Two-Tiered Wedding Cake with White Rose Accents and Traditional Bride and Groom Cake Topper Ideas
Bride and Groom First Dance Wedding Portrait | Bradenton Wedding Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film

What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
We wanted a team who valued the candid moments and had the experience to make the day as smooth as possible!

I looked up specific editing styles and Evoke Photo + Film popped up! I loved the way the photos looked and how many different types of photos they were able to capture. I talked with Stacy and loved her philosophy towards her and her team’s work

Bride and Groom Wedding Reception Sparkler Grand Exit Inspiration | Gold Strapless Flapper Reception Dress Ideas | Bradenton Photographer and Videographer Evoke Photo and Film

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Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pros

Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.

Feature Credits

Vendors and venues marked with

are Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros and have been personally vetted by our editor.

Rehearsal Dinner VenueRiverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
Florists/DecorOneco Florist
Cakes & DessertPublix
DJ/Band & Live EntertainmentDJ Chozen
DJ/Band & Live EntertainmentSerenade Events
Invitations & StationeryMinted
Limo and TransportationRiverside Tours
Dress and Bridesmaid AttireThe White Magnolia Bridal Collection
Bridesmaids DressesReformation
Hair & MakeupSarai Tirado Beauty

About the Author

Anna Coats

Marry Me Tampa Bay editor Anna Coats created Marry Me Tampa Bay in 2012 to showcase the area’s best local weddings and vendors. She has been featured as a wedding expert on the national talk show Daytime, Fox13, ABC Action News, Great Day Tampa Bay, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum).

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