Bailey and Jordan's waterfront St. Petersburg wedding featured a romantic palette of soft blue accented with pastel pinks and peaches to bring a summer feel to their seaside soiree. With the calm water of the channel surrounding the destination ceremony and reception, guests enjoyed the best that Florida has to offer, sharing in a delectable dinner and lively music before jetting back to their hometowns.
“I was going for a classic, timeless, elegant, coastal vibe with a pop of color and personality,” the bride shared. “Dusty blue is one of my favorite colors, and I knew I wanted to incorporate this into our day, especially since it felt very right for a waterside wedding. Initially, I was going to stay classic and do simple all-white florals. However, I love color and wanted an elegant pop of color for our florals. I decided on pinks, oranges, etc, to compliment the dusty blue but still give a timeless feel.”
The Nebraska couple relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay's renowned vendor recommendations and real wedding inspiration to guide them from a distance as they planned their 40-guest summer celebration.
“I came across the Marry Me Tampa Bay website many times throughout my planning experience. It was such a great resource and helped me find and confirm that vendors were reputable. Additionally, It had some great articles for wedding planning advice that I loved using!” the bride beamed. “I utilized the website to research vendors and confirm they were the correct choice. My wedding photographer was a preferred vendor on Marry Me Tampa Bay and was my favorite vendor!”
Seeking a photographer who was organized and timely while also possessing an artistic eye for natural imagery, the bride and groom knew Amber McWhorter Photography would be the ideal choice. Amber's stunning portfolio of work and stellar reviews made hiring her a no-brainer.
“I wanted a photographer who could capture the genuine joy of our day through candid photos. Amber McWhorter Photography was amazing! You could tell she was a true professional,” Bailey raved. “Not only did she take beautiful, candid photos of our day, but she was able to keep things moving promptly so that we could enjoy our wedding. Her photos are beautiful, and she was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day. Her editing and creative eye are unmatched!”
The bride and groom focused on the guest experience for their destination Florida wedding, paying special attention to the menu offerings of the evening. Bailey and Jordan turned to an experienced wedding caterer with over 40 years of experience to create a customized plated dinner menu filled with delicious offerings that would delight their guests' tastebuds.
“Since a lot of our guests were traveling for our wedding, we wanted to make it a unique wedding experience where they felt pampered. To do this, we made sure our cocktails and food were high-end, and we put a lot of our budget towards accomplishing a spectacular dining experience,” the bride revealed. “I wanted a caterer that had great reviews and could do a sit-down meal for our guests. I chose Amici's Catered Cuisine because their ratings were phenomenal, and they offered a package that included everything I needed. Our guests raved about the food! They loved the garlic Parmesan fries, and the meat was all cooked perfectly and full of flavor! I enjoyed the Mexican street corn, too! We got compliments about every item served at the wedding, from appetizers to desserts.”
The couple exchanged vows in front of a birch arch adorned with romantic, pastel flora from Beneva Weddings, before cutting a rug with their friends and family thanks to DJ Ben from Grant Hemond & Associates. The organic nature of the arrangements created an ethereal feel and incorporated the bride's romantic garden vision.
“I wanted an organic feel to my flowers, with more blooms than greenery. My theme/keywords were warm pinks, peach, beige, deep emerald foliage, elegant, garden party, romantic, timeless. I wanted a florist who understood my vision and was passionate about their clients and delivering quality services,” Bailey articulated. “I chose Beneva after looking at previous weddings they had done. Throughout the process, I worked with Corona. She was amazing! She was always willing to chat with me to discuss my vision, make changes, and make sure the flowers were everything I dreamed of. Beneva nailed it!”
Although the setting was truly picturesque for the destination nuptials, it was the company of their guests and becoming a wife that stood out to Bailey.
“Marrying my best friend was the most memorable part of the day! Also, getting to celebrate with our closest family and friends was unforgettable. It could not have been more beautiful!” ” the bride gushed. “
The Proposal:
We got engaged in Hawaii. We went on a family vacation with my side of the family. We don't get to see them as often as we would like since we live in different states, and Jordan knew it would be important to me to have them there to celebrate.
On the first night of the trip, we went to dinner, just the two of us, and took a walk on the beach where he proposed at sunset. Afterward, we were greeted by drinks with my family and a decorated hotel room. It was everything I could have dreamed of and more!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I was going for a classic, timeless, elegant, coastal vibe with a pop of color and personality. I am a huge fan of a timeless wedding, but I also love color and wanted to incorporate some pops of personality!
What were your colors?
Dusty blue is one of my favorite colors, and I knew I wanted to incorporate this into our day, especially since it felt very right for a waterside wedding. Initially, I was going to stay classic and do simple all-white florals. However, I love color and wanted an elegant pop of color for our florals. I decided on pinks, oranges, etc, to compliment the dusty blue but still give a timeless feel.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I wanted a photographer who could capture the genuine joy of our day through candid photos.
Amber McWhorter Photography was amazing! You could tell she was a true professional. Not only did she take beautiful, candid photos of our day, but she was able to keep things moving promptly so that we could enjoy our wedding. Her photos are beautiful, and she was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day. Her editing and creative eye are unmatched!
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My goal with my wedding hair and makeup was a classic, elegant, and soft look. I wanted to feel beautiful but also like myself. I went for a sleek updo and natural-toned makeup with a light eye. I have extremely curly hair and was very worried about the humidity in Florida.
Adore Bridal had great reviews. I also loved that they did airbrush makeup. This was a great alternative to traditional makeup with the hot Florida humidity! My stylists, Julia and Vicky, were amazing and able to help me achieve the exact look I wanted. My hair stayed put for the majority of the night and was the exact look I was going for, and my makeup was flawless. They were amazing!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Nassau, Bahamas. We chose this location primarily due to the close proximity to Florida! It was so fun!
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
I wanted an organic feel to my flowers, with more blooms than greenery. My theme/keywords were warm pinks, peach, beige, deep emerald foliage, elegant, garden party, romantic, timeless. I wanted a florist who understood my vision and was passionate about their clients and delivering quality services.
I chose Beneva after looking at previous weddings they had done. Throughout the process, I worked with Corona. She was amazing! She was always willing to chat with me to discuss my vision, make changes, and make sure the flowers were everything I dreamed of. Beneva nailed it!
What did you look for in a wedding caterer?
Since a lot of our guests were traveling for our wedding, we wanted to make it a unique wedding experience where they felt pampered. To do this, we made sure our cocktails and food were high-end, and we put a lot of our budget towards accomplishing a spectacular dining experience. I wanted a caterer that had great reviews and could do a sit-down meal for our guests.
I chose Amici's Catered Cuisine because their ratings were phenomenal, and they offered a package that included everything I needed. Our guests raved about the food! They loved the garlic Parmesan fries, and the meat was all cooked perfectly and full of flavor! I enjoyed the Mexican street corn, too! We got compliments about every item served at the wedding, from appetizers to desserts.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Being a small wedding, I really wanted a DJ who could make the intimate wedding feel like a huge party, and our DJ did just that!
We used Grant Hemond & Associates. Ben Daniele was so fun and really engaged and interacted with our guests. He played great music and kept everyone on the dance floor all night.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Amber McWorther Photography was one of our best vendors. Not only did Amber capture our day beautifully, she was professional and got us our photos back well before the deadline.
Adore Bridal was so great. Not only did they do beautiful work on myself and my bridal party, but they were so kind and a great addition to our bridal suite!
The food from Amici's Catered Cuisine was phenomenal. Our guests raved!
Everyone said ours was the best wedding cake they had!
DJ Ben of Grant Hammond and Associates was the life of the party!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do your research on your vendors! They will really make or break your day! Websites such as Marry Me at Tampa Bay, The Knot etc., are great resources!
