Oana and Abrar's destination Sand Key wedding showcased an intimate elopement featuring neutral tones of sandy white, natural wood, and a decorative picnic tablescape with ocean views.
“I always wanted a beach wedding. For the past three years, we've been traveling to different areas of Florida in the winter, and we were in Tampa the year we decided to get married,” the bride revealed. “Because of COVID, none of our families could attend from overseas, and we decided not to wait.”
The Philadelphia couple searched for a local wedding photographer with a portfolio of touching images and stunning sunsets to capture their March nuptials. Valentina Rose Photography's calming presence put the bride and groom at ease, creating natural, emotion-filled moments.
“When we chose our photographer, we were looking for someone who specialized in sunsets and had a clean aesthetic. I was also looking for someone who would make us feel comfortable, and Valentina Rose Photography fit that profile. She checked all the boxes, and she was great,” the bride raved.
“The non-traditional vibes of this elopement were so special!” Valentina Rose, owner of Valentina Rose Photography, recalled. “One detail that stood out to me was that they were the only ones of their family here in the U.S. while everyone else was in their home countries; after being together for so long, they wanted to tie the knot and make things official, just the two of them and their daughter, the little family they created. This resonated with me as my family has similar circumstances, and I wanted to ensure the best experience for them and beautiful images they could look back on.”
Although Oana and Abrar planned an intimate event, the aesthetics were still Oana's top priority. With all-white flowers in mind, the bride turned to the creative team at Lemon Drops Weddings & Events to create a beautiful backdrop for the vow exchange.
“I got inspired by Pinterest and wanted an arch with white roses. Lemon Drops Weddings & Events had a great portfolio and did micro weddings. They offered a great service,” the bride beamed.
The pair exchanged personalized vows during their ceremony before taking family photos with their daughter along the picturesque coastline. The intimacy of the day made the celebration truly unforgettable.
“Our vows were both very emotional and honest, and the pictures we took with our one-year-old daughter felt very special and intimate,” Oana reminisced.
“Since it was a true elopement and the only witnesses present were myself and the officiant, I made sure that every detail was captured,” Rose shared. “Oana and Abrar really thought out the big and small picture, how the colors of their picnic would reflect with the colors on the beach, their florals, and the arch; even the sun seemed to just shine more golden for them that day!”
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
I wanted an arch with white roses. I got inspired by Pinterest.
Lemon Drops Weddings & Events had a great portfolio, and they did micro weddings. They offered a great service.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
When we chose our photographer, we were looking for someone who specialized in sunsets and had a clean aesthetic, and Valentina fit that profile. I was also looking for someone who would make us feel comfortable, and she did.
Valentina Rose Photography checked all the boxes, and she was great.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The wedding of your dreams can mean something different than what everybody else does. Follow your heart and intuition.
