Katherine and Mike's classic South Tampa wedding combined timeless white flowers and greenery along with muted shades of watercolor blue hues, set in a historic building with a tradition of hosting lavish events over the past century. The charming architectural details paired with the classic color palette created an inviting evening of dinner and dancing.
“Our wedding was classic, simple, and traditional, which we chose because we are pretty simple people. I love blue, so I knew I wanted that to be an accent, and the rest sort of fell into place as we made decisions,” the bride explained. “We chose shades of white, gold, and blue because I have just always loved that color combo.”
The St. Pete bride recognized the importance of having a trusted wedding planner in her corner who could help guide her through the months of decisions and details for their 180-guest celebration. Katherine immediately connected with Kelci Zicconi, owner of Kelci Leigh Events, during their first conversation, and her reassuring presence made the planning process enjoyable for the couple.
“We wanted someone we felt confident in handing over the process to and felt we could trust every bit. We looked for someone who would be willing to run with the bits and pieces of a vision I could provide, and that is exactly what Kelci Leigh Events did,” Katelynn gushed. “I loved Kelci from the start; she seemed so confident in what I wanted to get done and wasn't scared away by my lack of ability to make decisions. I absolutely loved working with Kelci, and I cannot rave about her enough.”
Katherine selected a classic satin gown with a fitted silhouette and illusion neckline from Florida's largest wedding dress shop Truly Forever Bridal. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a chic low chignon and accented with natural tones for her lips and eyes, by the artists at Femme Akoi Beauty Studio.
“Truly Forever Bridal was having a giant sale over Thanksgiving break, and I was able to get an appointment. The shopping experience and alterations were perfect. They did a great job of reading me and taking my simple, but not totally typical, array of bridal dresses I liked and gave me a great variety of options,” the bride shared. “I went with my mom, and they quickly could tell I wasn’t one to love the dress shopping experience, so they made it easy and fun while also being quick to move on but spotting when to make me slow down and take in what I was wearing. It was all so well done.”
The couple focused on the overall guest experience, prioritizing the menu offerings and ambiance in order to set the tone for their guests' enjoyment. Live music in the form of an acoustic violinist for the ceremony, courtesy of Breezin' Entertainment, and a hybrid DJ-musician combo from Graingertainment for the reception entertainment created lasting memories.
“We are both fun and easygoing, so that's what we wanted the whole day to embody. We focused on creating the best food and cake choices that we knew everyone would enjoy with us. We chose music based on loving such a variety of music and wanting classic wedding songs, songs that make you sing and dance, and songs that make you want to dance with somebody!” the bride beamed. “Mike and I had gone to a wedding and experienced a hybrid setup of some band pieces and a DJ, and we loved it. So when I was searching for a band or DJ, Graingertainment was recommended by my planner and could do exactly what we wanted. I immediately loved speaking with Dylan and knew he could be fun and upbeat and also make the flow of the day happen. He met all of my expectations and beyond with how he navigated the reception and provided the most fun dance floor.”
The South Tampa venue was transformed with soft shades of white, blue, and gold, creating a romantic atmosphere for the evening. Kate Ryan Event Rentals provided delicate draping that created a neutral backdrop, along with chic ghost chairs paired with gold flatware and pops of blue glassware and linen napkins. The creative floral team at Monarch Events and Design added elegant blue taper candles and classic white flora accented with blue blooms to complete the space.
“I wanted someone who could listen to my vision of greenery, white, with spots of blue, and then could list off the perfect flowers. Monarch Events and Designs were spot on and immediately captured the vision I was saying I wanted as we had our first meeting,” Katherine raved. “They were able to work with our budget and offer similar ideas to what we originally asked for in order to keep our order reasonable. I cannot thank them enough for how beautiful they made the day.”
Looking back on the special day surrounded by friends and family, the time spent celebrating stood out to the bride as an everlasting memory.
“Our dance floor was unforgettable,” Katherine reminisced. “It was just so much fun dancing the night away with all of my favorite people.”
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
I wanted someone who could listen to my vision of greenery, white, with spots of blue, and then could list off the perfect flowers.
Monarch Events and Designs were spot on and immediately captured the vision I was saying I wanted as we had our first meeting. They were able to work with our budget and offer similar ideas to what we originally asked for in order to keep our order reasonable. I cannot thank them enough for how beautiful they made the day.
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My hair was a collaboration of wedding hairdos I have seen over time, and my makeup was staying as natural as possible.
I loved Femme Akoi Beauty Studio. I did a trial with them, and I knew they would be just perfect. They worked so well with all of my bridesmaids, the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, and the groom's grandparents, with last-minute additions and making everyone look beautiful.
The Proposal:
Mike and I had planned dinner and the beach a week or so prior, and so when the day came he made it an earlier dinner so we could “make it to sunset.” At sunset, on the beach, he proposed! I asked what he wanted to do after, and he suggested going to our favorite spot for a beer, Green Bench Brewery. When we arrived, all of our friends and family were there to celebrate us! It was such an incredible day.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Savannah, GA. I had bridesmaids from all over, and I just wanted a fun, sunny town where we could eat good food and enjoy being together.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Secret Akumal in Mexico. We wanted something we didn't have to spend too much time planning and could just relax.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone we felt confident in handing over the process to and felt we could trust every bit. We looked for someone who would be willing to run with the bits and pieces of a vision I could provide, and that is exactly what Kelci Leigh Events did.
I loved Kelci from the start; she seemed so confident in what I wanted to get done and wasn't scared away by my lack of ability to make decisions. I absolutely loved working with Kelci, and I cannot rave about her enough. Kelci Leigh Events truly made the whole day come together and flow so smoothly, and that's truly more than I could have asked for.
What was your wedding dress style inspiration?
Truly Forever Bridal was having a giant sale over Thanksgiving break, and I was able to get an appointment. The shopping experience and alterations were perfect. They did a great job of reading me and taking my simple, but not totally typical, array of bridal dresses I liked and gave me a great variety of options. I went with my mom, and they quickly could tell I wasn’t one to love the dress shopping experience, so they made it easy and fun while also being quick to move on but spotting when to make me slow down and take in what I was wearing. It was all so well done.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding was classic, simple, and traditional, which we chose because we are pretty simple people. I love blue, so I knew I wanted that to be an accent, and the rest sort of fell into place as we made decisions.
What were your colors?
We chose shades of white, gold, and blue because I have just always loved that color combo.
How did the decor rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
Kate Ryan Event Rentals did almost all of our rentals, ceremony chairs, draping and flipping the room, tables, tablecloths, blue glassware, and blue napkins. They had the most perfect accents and made the setup exactly what I wanted.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We are both fun and easygoing, so that's what we wanted the whole day to embody. We chose music based on loving such a variety of music and wanting classic wedding songs, songs that make you sing and dance, and songs that make you want to dance with somebody!
Mike and I had gone to a wedding in Fort Lauderdale and experienced a hybrid setup of some band pieces and a DJ, and we loved it. So when I was searching for a band or DJ, Graingertainment was recommended by my planner and could do exactly what we wanted. I immediately loved speaking with Dylan and knew he could be fun and upbeat and also make the flow of the day happen. He met all of my expectations and beyond with how he navigated the reception and provided the most fun dance floor. Our dance floor was unforgettable. It was just so much fun dancing the night away with all of my favorite people.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
They were absolutely all just amazing. Kelci Leigh Events truly made the whole day come together and flow so smoothly, and that's truly more than I could have asked for.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The local vendors are amazing. Your dreams can come true, and all you need to do is find the right team, so take the time to talk to vendors, ask questions, and be okay with being picky in choosing who you work with. It is worth the time on the front end for how easy they make the rest of the process.
