Tiffany and Ermanno’s classic outdoor Seffner wedding featured an outdoor ceremony under a towering oak tree dripping in florals, followed by an outdoor tented reception filled with greenery and wooden elements.

“The overall theme of our wedding was classic, elegance, timeless, and beauty,” the bride beamed. “We wanted to showcase nature and the beautiful aspects of the venue itself with lots of greenery and white and cream flowers. We wanted to keep it classic and showcase the ‘wow’ of the natural aspects of the venue.”

The St. Petersburg bride and groom chose to host their wedding just outside of Tampa Bay because they wanted a nearby location that combined Florida’s natural beauty yet still convenient for out-of-town guests.

“It was important that our wedding be near us, but we also wanted more aspects of nature involved in the wedding itself,” the bride explained. “We wanted something close by but a little bit further than the city to show the natural aspects of a beautiful area and venue. It was also very important to us that it be near an airport for anyone traveling in and that there would be hotel accommodations nearby.”

Prioritizing aesthetic appeal and the ability to make their design choices for their January nuptials, the couple chose Mill Pond Estate for its stunning setting and outstanding service.

“The overall look and feel of the venue, including the natural surroundings, played a significant role in creating the desired ambiance for our wedding. Also, having a venue that allowed flexibility in terms of customization, layout options, and timing was huge for us,” the bride shared. “We chose Mill Pond Estate for its tranquil beauty and serenity. It had so many great locations for photos and for the guests to enjoy the evening. We wanted to have the natural elements of the venue’s beauty shine throughout the day. We loved how stunning it was, and we didn’t want to do many pops of color. We wanted to keep it more neutral with greenery. The service was awesome, and Amber was attentive and always available. She was very knowledgeable and helpful.”

After selecting their venue, the couple hired a wedding planner, Coastal Coordinating, for expert advice and guidance throughout the process, ensuring a stress-free experience.

“We wanted someone who truly understood weddings inside and out and someone we could rely on to guide us through the entire process. We needed a wedding planner who just got us and knew what we were thinking,” the bride explained. “Katy, Carly, Cayla, and the entire Coastal Coordinating team were incredible from start to finish! They made the planning process seamless and were extremely helpful on the wedding day. They were knowledgeable, hands-on, and really connected with us. It was amazing from day one.”

The wedding took place beneath a centuries-old oak tree draped with Spanish moss, surrounded by 88 of their closest friends and family. The reception was held in the Grand Meadow under a large white sailcloth tent filled with wooden accents, white florals, and lush greenery. To bring their floral and greenery vision to life, the couple hired Monarch Events and Design.

“We were inspired by nature, simplicity, greenery, and all-white flowers. We wanted to showcase the gorgeous surroundings of the venue by making the flowers elegant yet natural. Our goal was to be classic and elegant, which was the inspiration behind our floral design,” the bride detailed. “Jean King from Monarch Events and Design was amazing from the start. She was so sweet and kind and listened and took the time to understand the vision. Jean provided a great proposal and showed us what she could do.”

Tiffany and Ermanno chose specific elements to include in their celebration, incorporating their individual cultures and personalities.

“We wanted the day to be about everyone who was there to share special moments with us and showcase our true selves. There were a few things that we did that were ‘us’ and showcased our love, as well as how our culture and family are so important to us,” the bride revealed. “We had our rehearsal lunch at the same restaurant where we had a first date. We also had Italian food to showcase Ermanno’s culture and Thai food to showcase my culture. We also incorporated fun elements throughout the wedding, like a champagne wall where guests rang a bell to receive a glass of champagne from the bartenders. Everyone loved it! Additionally, we created a wall with favors for guests, featuring their names and table numbers on champagne bottles. It was interactive and enjoyable, and we loved making these personal touches to share with everyone.”

To create the perfect atmosphere and keep guests entertained and engaged throughout, the couple chose Grant Hemond & Associates.

“Music was super important to us, and having a DJ who could mix great music while playing EDM, 80s/90s music, and top hits was crucial. We wanted our wedding to reflect us and include important parts of our lives. We wanted to make a fun entrance into the reception, so we chose a song that really hyped up the crowd and played into the grand entrance, making it truly enjoyable and reflective of us. We aimed to have fun and spend time with family, so keeping the dancing going all night was huge for us, and Jason rocked it. He did an amazing job and played the best music to keep everyone happy and on the dance floor,” the bride beamed. “Grant Hemond & Associates‘ flexibility and ability to pair us with a great DJ who knew our type of music were essential. They have so many great options for DJs, and they picked the perfect one for us. We connected with Jason right away, and he was amazing. I love that they have so many options, which made it easy. They really know what they’re doing and made the process seamless from start to finish.”

Out of all the memories from their special event, the blending of their two distinct cultures into one was the most memorable.

“We were able to use our own catering, which allowed us to incorporate our cultures, especially through the food,” the bride reminisced. “My parents own a Thai restaurant in Palm Harbor, and they brought in some of the great food from their restaurant for the guests to experience during cocktail hour. Ermanno is Italian, so the catering also showcased Italian culture. This was super important to us, and the food was phenomenal. Everyone really enjoyed everything.”

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
The overall look and feel of the venue, including the natural surroundings, played a significant role in creating the desired ambiance for our wedding. Also, having a venue that allowed flexibility in terms of customization, layout options, and timing was huge for us.

We chose Mill Pond Estate for its tranquil beauty and serenity. It had so many great locations for photos and for the guests to enjoy the evening. We wanted to have the natural elements of the venue’s beauty shine throughout the day. We loved how stunning it was, and we didn’t want to do many pops of color. We wanted to keep it more neutral with greenery. The service was awesome, and Amber was attentive and always available. She was very knowledgeable and helpful.

The Proposal: 
Ermanno planned a surprise engagement and included everyone which was so wonderful.

We went to Lassing Park in Saint Pete, where Ermanno had secretly arranged for everyone to be there but asked them to hide so I wouldn’t know. He told me to dress up because we were supposedly taking photos for a friend’s realty company website, so I didn’t suspect a thing. It was perfect because I was dressed up, and a photographer was already there.

When we arrived, Ermanno found the perfect spot, got down on one knee, proposed, and then called everyone over to join in the celebration. It was absolutely perfect. To make it even more special, Ermanno had food catered from Bacchus Wine Bistro St. Pete, the restaurant where we had our first date. It was so perfect!

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone who truly understood weddings inside and out and someone we could rely on to guide us through the entire process. We needed a wedding planner who just got us and knew what we were thinking.

Katy, Carly, Cayla, and the entire Coastal Coordinating team were incredible from start to finish! They made the planning process seamless and were extremely helpful on the wedding day. They were knowledgeable, hands-on, and really connected with us. It was amazing from day one.

What was your wedding floral inspiration?
We were inspired by nature, simplicity, greenery, and all-white flowers. We wanted to showcase the gorgeous surroundings of the venue by making the flowers elegant yet natural. Our goal was to be classic and elegant, which was the inspiration behind our floral design.

Jean King from Monarch Events and Design was amazing from the start. She was so sweet and kind and listened and took the time to understand the vision. Jean provided a great proposal and showed us what she could do.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Music was super important to us, and having a DJ who could mix great music while playing EDM, 80s/90s music, and top hits was crucial. We wanted our wedding to reflect us and include important parts of our lives. We wanted to make a fun entrance into the reception, so we chose a song that really hyped up the crowd and played into the grand entrance, making it truly enjoyable and reflective of us. We aimed to have fun and spend time with family, so keeping the dancing going all night was huge for us, and Jason rocked it. He did an amazing job and played the best music to keep everyone happy and on the dance floor.

Grant Hemond & Associates‘ flexibility and ability to pair us with a great DJ who knew our type of music were essential. They have so many great options for DJs, and they picked the perfect one for us. We connected with Jason right away, and he was amazing. I love that they have so many options, which made it easy. They really know what they’re doing and made the process seamless from start to finish.