Breaunna and Alyssa
“Our wedding theme was heavily focused on entertainment. Our vision was never to have a moment of boredom. Most of our lives, we grew up attending music festivals, concerts, and being with friends and family, having the grandest time. We knew from the moment of planning that we wanted to throw an extravaganza. Our colors were all over the place! Very different from your average wedding. We had pastels, pink, green, purple, and PRIDE. Pride flags and pride flowers are used to show love and embrace the colors of the LGBTQ+ community.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Alyssa and Breaunna’s colorful, rainbow Lithia wedding unfolded on a warm April evening, blooming to life as their 120 guests were surrounded by pastel florals, neon accents, and vibrant rainbow-drenched pride décor. From champagne-pouring stilt walkers to fire dancers, casino tables, mini golf, and a silent-disco afterparty, the celebration unfolded like a personalized festival—perfect for two brides whose motto has always been ‘Let’s get it done.’
Pride flags accented the landscape, threading symbolic color through each space, while live music carried across the venue, culminating in their unforgettable first dance accompanied by a live saxophonist. The result was an immersive, high-energy celebration that reflected their personalities, their story, and their commitment to making sure no one was ever bored.
“Our guiding principle for the wedding was simple: we didn’t want anyone to be bored. Enchanted scenery, games, entertainment, mouth-watering food, the best drinks, and more, just for the best company!” Alyssa beamed. “The dream was large: champagne dresses, people on stilts, silent disco afterparties, live music, casino games to win big, and more! Our love story has been built on travel, entertainment, and music festivals, and we wanted our loved ones to feel the magic we have been creating together ever since day one.”
The Proposals
Alyssa’s Proposal: “Breaunna is nothing less than extraordinary. And for that, I had to give her an epic proposal. We originally planned to go to Las Vegas to see Adele. To propose the day before the concert would be the most sentimental experience ever. This plan was carefully orchestrated as Breaunna is very involved in planning. It took me eight months to create this plan. I had to find and fly out videographers, photographers, and event planners to help set up our proposal. I also had to find a way for Breaunna not to know how it was being done. So I created a flyer and told her there would be an Adele pre-party before the concert. I made a fake flyer and email to show her why we were going to the event space earlier than the concert. She had no clue.
As soon as we arrived, we were approached by a golf cart that was the event planner, and even she made the experience believable and asked, ‘Are you girls headed to the pre-party? Hop in.’ As we arrived, there was a beautiful heart-shaped arch of real white roses, with a sign in the middle that said, ‘Will you marry me?’ And it was my moment to shine, which I proposed. There were sparklers, music, and the most intimate experience.”
Breaunna’s Proposal: “Alyssa is a very laid-back person and also all about intimacy. We were going to Destin for our anniversary weekend, five months after the original proposal, and I had told Alyssa I had found a great photographer to take pictures for our anniversary. It was the most beautiful and breathtaking sunrise session, with a private state park location on the water. I set up a romantic picnic where we could be in the moment together, take our pictures, and surprise her with the big question.”
The Photography
Regina as the Photographer
“We were on the hunt for a photographer who had experience capturing LGBTQ couples. It was super important to us to feel comfortable and at ease behind the camera. And guess what? We couldn’t have asked for a better person to capture our wedding day!
Regina, our photographer from start to finish, was absolutely incredible. She wasn’t just our photographer; she’s become a close friend. It feels like just yesterday when we had our first consultation with her and her studio. It was a three-hour session, but it was so welcoming and comfortable. Regina was super easy to work with; she was natural, and she made the whole process so smooth and pure. She was also a massive help on the wedding day (and our year anniversary day, as she photoshopped us all over again in our day of outfits). She helped us pick out the perfect dresses and made sure we looked our best. She also made the photo timeline a blast, with all our friends and family. Regina’s work is so bright and effortless. You can really see the beauty behind both the camera and the photos.
We chose Regina as the Photographer due to the inclusiveness of her business. She works with many LGBTQ couples and families. She is also very sweet, quirky, and easy to get along with. When we visited her Instagram page, we could really see each photo capture the moment. We were also looking for a unique style, bright, vibrant, and natural.”
The Planner
“We were looking for someone who could have us show up on our wedding day. Bre is a very big planner and plans everything in our relationship, from the trips we travel to the food we eat, and it was very important that we found someone who was able to orchestrate our big day with little to no help from us. It was such a stressful event to plan, and we wanted to do as much as we could, but all we wanted was to arrive at the venue with everything as we’d dreamed.
We hired Wilder Mind Events because of the unique weddings they have planned. We were looking for something less traditional: bright colors, crazy requests, and inclusiveness of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Bach Party and Honeymoon
“We chose not to have a bachelorette party or a wedding party. We really enjoyed the main focus being on us as a couple. Breaunna and I do everything together, and spending time apart did not feel appropriate for us. We really enjoyed the time we had together. In fact, the night before, we got a hotel in Tampa at the JW Marriott and had a lovely dinner and drinks in Hyde Park. The morning of, we woke up to a couple’s massage and a final breakfast as an engaged couple, preparing for our big day. It really set the mood.
We did not have a traditional honeymoon. Since we eloped 10 days before the wedding in Mexico, we chose that as our honeymoon. It was the most magical feeling to have that intimate moment together before the wedding. Mexico was the perfect place. We had the most dream vacation by participating in cooking classes, private dinners on the beach, and sailing away on a yacht to recite our vows. We were surrounded by Breaunna’s parents, who have been a massive support to our relationship, and it was very memorable to have them there with us for the big moment!”
The Experience
“Our guiding principle for the wedding was simple: we didn’t want anyone to be bored. Enchanted scenery, games, entertainment, mouth-watering food, the best drinks, and more, just for the best company! The dream was large: champagne dresses, people on stilts, silent disco afterparties, live music, casino games to win big, and more! Our love story has been built on travel, entertainment, and music festivals, and we wanted our loved ones to feel the magic we have been creating together ever since day one.”
We incorporated our personalities by offering so many different activities and sights during our wedding. The amount of entertainment and surprises we had for our guests really captured the extraordinary nature of our relationship.
Our wedding was super unique because of the color scheme. Can you believe it? We had our guests dressed in black! But guess what? They still managed to shine with their own little pop of color through their accessories.
The most special part of our wedding was all the personal touches we added to show how much we love each other. Our venue was a 3-day stay. The night before, all our family was together, the day of was our beautiful wedding, and the last day was a great day with family and close friends. We had a home-cooked buffet-style breakfast prepared by Breanna’s mom, with country bacon flown in from the Carolinas, homemade shrimp and grits, and more! During the day, we played lawn games and even had a fun visit from Booze and Bubbles, who hosted a private and personal mixology class for us! Later that night, we had a live hibachi dinner experience for everyone!”
The Details
“Our wedding theme was heavily focused on entertainment. Our vision was never to have a moment of boredom. Most of our lives, we grew up attending music festivals, concerts, and being with friends and family, having the grandest time. We knew from the moment of planning that we wanted to throw an extravaganza. Fire dancers, cocktail dresses, champagne ladies, live music, mini golf, and gambling, we had it all. Seeing our guests’ reaction as they all walked in was our favorite moment.”
Our colors were all over the place! Very different from your average wedding. We had pastels, pink, green, purple, and PRIDE. Pride flags and pride flowers are used to show love and embrace the colors of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Catering
Elite Events Catering
“Our wedding menu inspiration was really to be something everyone could eat, regardless of dietary restrictions: vegan, pescatarian, vegetarian, carnivore, and revolving-flambe taste.
Being the big foodies we are, we wanted delicious food, served hot. The live-action options were a hit. Fresh hot food is captured as soon as you grab your plate. We had a carving station, a pasta station, and even a Rainbow Caesar salad! But most importantly, we ended the night with a banana flambe.
We hired Elite Events Catering for the initial connection we had with Melissa Misgen and her team. The moment we walked in for our tasting, we were treated like royalty, with a glass of wine to pair with each dish, and we got to know Melissa and her husband and how they started their business. We had a personal chef who tailored her menu to our preferences. It was a very personable experience, and the food was outstandingly delicious.”
Most Memorable Moment
“The most memorable moment for us on our big day would be our first dance. We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect song, Maybe, by Griz. This song is significant in our relationship because it represents a core memory of a very important connection we had five years ago. Fast forward to our first dance, we brought this moment back to life, where we played the song that holds so much meaning to our lives. To tie it all together, Alyssa was able to hand-select the most talented saxophonist.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
“Regina As The Photographer, Tristan and his video team, Troy the saxophonist, and Regan the florist. These four individuals played a pivotal role in making our day unforgettable. Regina effortlessly captured every moment, positioning us without overwhelming us or our timeline. Tristan and his team were incredibly collaborative; he was incredibly accommodating and discreetly followed us throughout the video recording process, resulting in a breathtaking wedding video. Troy truly stole the show during our wedding dance. He was secretly brought out to the crowd in the middle of our first dance and performed a solo as we danced around him. It was a spontaneous decision, but it turned out to be one of the best choices we made. And Regan’s work truly spoke volumes. The stunning rainbow arch she created for us was the centerpiece of the night, beautifully reflecting our wedding theme.”
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
“Spend time together. People say to plan time together on your wedding day (Yes, do this too!) However, the time leading up to your wedding can be extremely stressful. Take your time thinking about what is best for you and what is important to you, and do what you both want. It is, at the end of the day, a celebration of your love. Think about the little things, they are important! Even if no one realizes it, you will, and you will remember it if it’s special to your love.
If your gut is telling you something, follow it! You have this one day, but you have months to plan it together. Cherish the time, set a consistent date for wedding planning, have fun, listen to each other, and enjoy your time.
Biggest tip: buy a bottle of wine, you will need it!”
