Thao and Jacob's Dunedin wedding combined vibrant pinks and corals with fresh Florida citrus and subtle tones of pale blue. The waterfront Tampa Bay nuptials were filled with custom details and unique experiences, and even the pair's pup made an appearance,
“Our wedding theme was Old Florida meets elevated wetland vibes. Jacob is a proud fifth-generation Floridian, and he is passionate about Florida history. Initially, during wedding planning, Jacob expressed that he wanted to have Old Florida themes of oranges. However, the concept of ‘elevated wetland' vibes came to fruition when I was talking to our florist, Ven, about my vision of having Spanish moss and bayou-Florida-foliage incorporated, and she knew exactly what I envisioned,” the bride detailed. “Our colors were a blend of orange, dusty blue, coral, rose pink, and olive green. We chose them because we felt they embody Florida (citrus fruit, the water, the greenery) and also because those are my favorite colors!”
The Tampa couple relied on the wedding planning experts from Coastal Coordinating to organize their 255-guest October wedding. They guided the bride and groom through the planning process and seamlessly coordinated the event day to allow them to fully enjoy quality time with loved ones.
“I enjoy making decisions on details and having that autonomy. So, when it came to finding a wedding planner, I wanted one who could help me by providing resources and following up on finalizing details. We had a large wedding, so it was very important that they would be able to coordinate all the moving parts,” the bride explained. “We chose Coastal Coordinating based on the good reviews posted and seeing their work on social media. In addition, their price for full wedding planning was within our budget and financially feasible. The service that Coastal Coordinating provided was so good! Cayla was our wedding planner, and she was very patient with guiding and reminding me to get certain tasks done. On the wedding day, they were great with having everything ready and in order.”
The pair incorporated their personalities throughout the celebration, from a nod to the bride's career to the family's heritage and culture, as well as including the couple's favorite foods.
“The wedding was so fun because it was so us! I am a veterinarian and love our dogs, so we had our dogs be part of the wedding celebration. Also, we both love gelato and pizza! The Gelato Carte was wonderful to have for our guests! We also were able to have our favorite local pizza restaurant, Cristinos, provide our late-night-snack!” Thao beamed. “Our wedding was unique because we got to celebrate each other's family and background and share culture and love over the whole weekend. Our American friends got to appreciate the Vietnamese culture, and the older generation of Vietnamese-American folk got to experience a modern American wedding!”
The bride turned to seasoned pro Amber McWhorter Photography to skillfully document the wedding day in a way that felt natural and authentic. Amber's creative eye and comforting approach resulted in the couple clearly feeling at ease, making for stunning portraits.
“I wanted a photographer who would be able to capture the moment in raw and real-time emotion and edit/color style. We chose Amber McWhorter Photography because we really liked her perspective and how she captured moments of couples,” Thao raved. “Amber was wonderful for our engagement shoot and on the wedding day! She was patient and helped guide us to be natural in front of the camera.”
Although the entire evening was unforgettable, there were several key parts of the day that were memorable for Thao. Each special experience had her friends and family at the core.
“The whole night was memorable. There were a few moments that definitely stood out. First was when my dad sang for us; instead of having a father-daughter dance, my dad dedicated the song You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban to me. Next was having our dog, Coco, be with us for the reception and having her on the dance floor. And finally, the Vietnamese welcome event for the night before the wedding was so awesome having everyone there enjoying Vietnamese culture. Jacob and I wore traditional ‘ao dai,' and our families and friends were able to feast on Vietnamese cuisine, sing karaoke at my parent's house, and enjoy a Lion Dance show,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
Jacob proposed on December 29th in Halong Bay, Vietnam. We were on a boat cruise, and we were all planning on taking sunset photos. We stood there to pose, and then the photographer said turn around. Next thing I knew, Jacob was on his knee asking me to marry him!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I enjoy making decisions on details and having that autonomy. So, when it came to finding a wedding planner, I wanted one who could help me by providing resources and following up on finalizing details. We had a large wedding, so it was very important that they would be able to coordinate all the moving parts.
We chose Coastal Coordinating based on the good reviews posted and seeing their work on social media. In addition, their price for full wedding planning was within our budget and financially feasible. The service that Coastal Coordinating provided was so good! Cayla was our wedding planner, and she was very patient with guiding and reminding me to get certain tasks done. On the wedding day, they were great with having everything ready and in order.
What was your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My inspiration for hair and makeup was to be classy, natural, and simple. I chose Femme Akoi Beauty Studio based on the good reviews and social media posts showcasing their work. The service was great, and I would highly recommend them!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I wanted a photographer who would be able to capture the moment in raw and real-time emotion and edit/color style. We chose Amber McWhorter Photography because we really liked her perspective and how she captured moments of couples. Amber was wonderful for our engagement shoot and on the wedding day! She was patient and helped guide us to be natural in front of the camera.
“I wanted a photographer who would be able to capture the moment in raw and real-time emotion and edit/color style. We chose Amber McWhorter Photography because we really liked her perspective and how she captured moments of couples. Amber was wonderful for our engagement shoot and on the wedding day! She was patient and helped guide us to be natural in front of the camera.”
-The Bride
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme was Old Florida meets elevated wetland vibes. Jacob is a proud fifth-generation Floridian, and he is passionate about Florida history. Initially, during wedding planning, Jacob expressed that he wanted to have Old Florida themes of oranges. However, the concept of ‘elevated wetland' vibes came to fruition when I was talking to our florist, Ven, about my vision of having Spanish moss and bayou-Florida-foliage incorporated, and she knew exactly what I envisioned.
What were your colors?
Our colors were a blend of orange, dusty blue, coral, rose pink, and olive green. We chose them because we felt they embody Florida (citrus fruit, the water, the greenery) and also because those are my favorite colors!
“We had a large wedding, so it was very important that a wedding planner would be able to coordinate all the moving parts. We chose Coastal Coordinating based on the good reviews posted and seeing their work on social media. In addition, their price for full wedding planning was within our budget and financially feasible. The service that Coastal Coordinating provided was so good! Cayla was our wedding planner, and she was very patient with guiding and reminding me to get certain tasks done. On the wedding day, they were great with having everything ready and in order.”
-The Bride
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Amber and Britt of Amber McWhorter Photography were really awesome! The photos turned out amazing, and we are just so happy! Our florist, Toussant Floral, created the most gorgeous floral magic that was even better than my dreams could ever imagine! Our venue was so accommodating to our requests the entire time. Nicole was the event planner/manager, and she had special dinosaur chicken nuggets for the ring bearer!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Take time and enjoy wedding day! The day and night go by so fast and just remember to take it all in. As for the planning process, everything will come together!
