Jillian and Austin’s romantic downtown Tampa wedding was not only a celebration of their marriage but also an opportunity to say goodbye to 100 of their friends and family before moving to the other side of the world. With only a few months to plan, the bride and groom opted for an intimate ceremony in December followed by an elegant spring reception.

“Our wedding was unique because of our timeline. We were only engaged for a couple of months before we started planning our wedding,” the bride shared. “People may think that everything happened so quickly, but with Austin getting deployed to Japan, we were eager to tie the knot! We were able to pull together everything so seamlessly in a matter of months with the support of family and friends. It truly was so special!”

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With the groom’s mother familiar with Tampa wedding photographer Carrie Wildes Photography, the couple felt confident in choosing her to capture their big day.

“We were more than pleased with the services we received from Carrie. Not only was she professional but she cared and listened too. The photos she took of us, our families, and the whole night will be some of my favorite memories forever. She certainly went above and beyond what we were hoping for,” the bride gushed. “Since our move to Japan, Carrie worked around a whole different time change just to ensure we got our album and prints in a timely manner!”

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With the help of their wedding venue, Jillian and Austin found a wedding DJ with good taste in music who could keep the day flowing smoothly.

“One of the best things about The Tampa Club is that they have a wedding planner and a list of preferred vendors. Since we were still in need of a DJ, we hired Graingertainment from their list,” Jillian explained. “Graingertainment ended up being absolutely perfect for the job. We asked for great music and throwbacks and that’s exactly what they gave us. They were also very helpful in keeping everything on schedule, which was a huge added bonus in our book!”

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To complement her long sleeve lace wedding dress, Jillian selected a romantic updo with curls framing her face and a touch of glam by Michele Renee The Studio.

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Making sure their day reflected their love story, the couple incorporated meaningful details and plenty of personality.

“From the saber arch to my love for flowers, ensuring our guests saw little things that were unique to us was important,” the bride beamed. “However, what really mattered the most to us was family. Seeing so many of our loved ones travel from so many different states and coming together in one place really left us speechless!”

Feeling more than grateful for their day of bliss, the bride and groom owed a lot of credit to one person in particular.

“Austin’s mom, Amy was a true blessing. As I was finishing school and Austin with training, we did not have as much time to plan as we wanted, but with Amy’s driving force behind it all, everything came to life so perfectly,” the bride reminisced. “When Austin and I walked into the venue and saw everything together, we were truly taken back. We really owed it to a lot of people to capture our dream wedding and we will never forget that day.”

The Proposal:
One of our very first dates was at St. Marks lighthouse so every year we go back and enjoy the sunset with a picnic. Austin and I were doing long-distance for a while as he was finishing up training, and I was finishing school in Tallahassee. Since we would go back to the lighthouse every year grew, it became something special for us and ended up being where Austin proposed. It was everything and more because of how meaningful it was.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Austin’s mom was familiar with Carrie Wildes Photography and suggested we look into her.

We were more than pleased with the services we received from Carrie. Not only was she professional but she cared and listened too. The photos she took of us, our families, and of the whole night will be some of my favorite memories forever. She certainly went above and beyond what we were hoping for. Since our move to Japan, Carrie worked around a whole different time change just to ensure we got our album and prints in a timely manner!

How would you describe your wedding theme?
Whimsical and romantic, but also elegant and timeless. Austin and I’s relationship is all four of those things: light and fun, but also caring and beautiful.

What were your colors?
White, sage green, and gold. We chose these colors because I loved how clean and elegant they were together. We also added a touch of greenery which helped bring out the whimsical and romantic side, while all the beautiful white and gold accents gave it such a timeless look.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
One of the best things about The Tampa Club is that they have a wedding planner and list of preferred vendors. Since we were still in need of a DJ, we hired Graingertainment from their list. Graingertainment ended up being absolutely perfect for the job. We asked for great music and throwbacks and that’s exactly what they gave us. They were also very helpful in keeping everything on schedule, which was a huge added bonus in our book!

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Enjoy the process. It gets stressful, but enjoy every step. You’re about to start a whole new journey and this time you’ll have to cherish forever, so have fun!

Venue: The Tampa Club
Photographer: Carrie Wildes Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Planner: Confetti Events
Florist: 2Birds Events
Cake: Hands On Sweets
DJ: Graingertainment *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pros
Dress: David’s Bridal
Hair and Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro