Andrea and Lauren’s urban downtown St. Pete wedding combined a variety of colorful hues, homespun details, and disco balls for a punch of sparkle. The brides exchanged vows during sunset before dining and dancing with loved ones, including an energetic ‘hora loca’ to end the evening.

“We wanted a wedding that felt whimsical, with lots of wildflowers and some disco balls, but nothing too crazy. We also wanted to give our friends and family a very queer experience that they otherwise wouldn’t get to live. From flags to the music and overall atmosphere, we DIY’d all of our decor and utilized help from our wedding planners, friends, and family. Our goal was to have a beautiful yet humble reception where people had fun and loved the space but also didn’t take anything too seriously,” the bride shared. “We didn’t have any specific colors; we had multiple colorful flowers and cottagecore style. We also didn’t have maids of honor; instead, we had ‘friends of honor’ who could wear whatever they wanted as long as it was colorful and happy, and this was reflected in our wedding pics. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

The local St. Pete couple sought an inclusive space that fit their whimsical vision for their September celebration. The beautiful rooftop and banquet room at Red Mesa Events was the perfect setting for their 50 guests to experience the vibe of the city they called home.

“Inclusivity was number one. Red Mesa Events is a very queer space, and we felt it the day we went to tour the venue. Not only that, but they were also able to provide the food (which we were already big fans of) and the bar. Red Mesa had a lot of experience with same-sex couples, and a lot of their staff is queer; it felt like a genuinely safe space to be. Their service was terrific,” Andrea raved.

The couple focused on fine-tuning their guest list to a core group of close friends and family. By limiting the attendance, the resulting experience felt intimate and intentional.

“The people and music were the most important part of the wedding for us. We were quite strict with ourselves and our family when it came to creating the guest list,” the bride recalled. “Our rule was, ‘If we were in that person’s city, would we ask them out to dinner and pay for their dinner?’ If the answer was no, then it wasn’t someone we really needed at our wedding. Now that we look back, we are so happy with that approach; we had only best friends and the closest family members there with us, and the vibes were immaculate.”

While searching for the ideal wedding photographer, Andrea knew that creativity and flexibility were just as important as the portfolio of work. Upon meeting with Sabrina Autumn Photography, the connection was instant, and the collaborative energy was evident.

“We wanted someone who could bring our unique vision to life. A lot of photographers take pride in their style (as they should) but tend to be rigid when doing things a bit differently. We were looking for a team with which to blend ideas. We loved Sabrina Autumn Photography‘s style, and the first time we met, I told Sabrina I had a specific vision. I was happy to know that she was eager to play with different photography and editing styles, which essentially brought everything to life,” the bride beamed. “Sabrina and Bryan were incredible!”

“From my first conversation with Andrea and Lauren, they had a love for each other and community that is hard to come by. It was important that there were rainbow flags and inclusion present throughout. Their wedding party colors were amazing; coupled with Lauren’s suit jacket and Andrea’s wildflower bouquet, there were pops of color everywhere!” Sabrina Massmann, owner of Sabrina Autumn Photography, gushed. “I loved that their love was the center of it all, and they poured their heart and souls into every detail. All the first looks were such an outpouring of emotion. There are so many moments/photos that stand out from their day, but if I had to pick one favorite, I would say the Hora Loca! It was the moment I felt everyone came together and truly let go and just poured all of their love into Andrea and Lauren; it was magical!”

Being surrounded by so many loved ones, along with locking eyes with her spouse during the ceremony processional, created a core memory for the bride.

“While walking down the aisle and seeing our friends and family that traveled quite far to be there, and people that otherwise would never have crossed paths, the love and emotion were palpable,” Andrea reminisced. “It was such an emotional wedding. Any wedding can be emotional, but a lesbian wedding hits the spot. Seeing my wife waiting for me down the aisle and the sun shining through the window, I will never forget that moment.”

The Proposal: 
We both had rings but were waiting for the right time to propose. We had a tough year overall for many reasons, and we felt like we didn’t have space to celebrate something like an engagement. But on a random Sunday, we woke up early and decided to go to Blowing Rock Preserve; little did we know that both of us brought our rings and decided to propose on a beautiful walk. It was a much-needed moment of joy in a dark year. 

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Inclusivity was number one. Red Mesa Events is a very queer space, and we felt it the day we went to tour the venue. Not only that, but they were also able to provide the food (which we were already big fans of) and the bar.

Red Mesa had a lot of experience with same-sex couples, and a lot of their staff is queer; it felt like a genuinely safe space to be. Their service was terrific.

What did you look for in a wedding photo/video team? 
We wanted someone who could bring our unique vision to life. A lot of photographers take pride in their style (as they should) but tend to be rigid when doing things a bit differently. We were looking for a team with which to blend ideas. 

We loved Sabrina Autumn Photography‘s style, and the first time we met, I told Sabrina I had a specific vision. I was happy to know that she was eager to play with different photography and editing styles, which essentially brought everything to life. Sabrina and Bryan were incredible!