Cristina and Steven
Academy of Holy Names & Armature Works
“I really leaned into disco balls and mood lighting to set the vibe for an epic night! We wanted the venue to feel like a club when our guests entered and immediately get them excited to ring in the New Year! Our colors were black and white. I felt like these colors are just so classic and never go out of style. The silver of the disco balls matched the colors perfectly. I also went with red lighting up the walls of the reception space to give the room that club feeling we were going for!” -The Bride
FEATURING
Cristina and Steven’s modern Tampa Heights wedding invited their favorite friends and family to ring in the New Year in epic style, surrounded by a monochromatic palette of classic black and white accented with glimmering disco balls and twinkling candlelight.
“The night of my wedding was my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary! Growing up with parents who got married on New Year’s Eve, I have always wanted to do the same. This holiday has always been my favorite because, as a family, we always did something fun to celebrate, whether it was a dinner, vacation, or just getting together to watch the ball drop at midnight!” the bride beamed. “My parents’ friends have continued to rave about how much fun they had through the years, and we wanted our guests to have the same experience. Being a big celebratory holiday, it was a no-brainer that we wanted to throw a party.”
The Ceremony Music
Sweet Harmony
“I wanted the live instruments for the ceremony, specifically a piano. I thought the sound of a piano was so elegant and was what I envisioned for when I walked down the aisle. I chose Sweet Harmony because not only were their rates within my budget, but they offered such a variety of choices.
They had multiple instruments to choose from as well as a long list of song selections. We decided on the piano and violin duo. They were incredibly easy to work with and the musicians played our selections beautifully. They were fantastic!”
The Proposal
“My husband proposed on July 4th on Redington Shores Beach surrounded by family! We had been at the beach all week vacationing with both our families, and it couldn’t have been any more perfect.”
The Bach Parties & Honeymoon
“We honeymooned in Puerto Rico and stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Dorodo Beach. We had the most incredible experience and cannot recommend that resort enough. It truly felt like paradise, we never wanted to leave! The amenities, service, food, and atmosphere were exactly what we were looking for. Our priority was relaxation so we loved spending time at the beach and spa.
My bachelorette was supposed to be in St. Pete on the beach, but the hurricanes had destroyed the house we were staying in so we had to pivot to Tampa. I just wanted a low key weekend with friends to enjoy pool time and some espresso martinis!
My husband celebrated his bachelor party in Baha Mar, Bahamas where they were able to spend time in the casino, pool bars and on the beach!”
The Design
“The night of my wedding was my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary! Growing up with parents who got married on New Year’s Eve, I have always wanted to do the same. This holiday has always been my favorite because, as a family, we always did something fun to celebrate, whether it was a dinner, vacation, or just getting together to watch the ball drop at midnight! My parents’ friends have continued to rave about how much fun they had through the years, and we wanted our guests to have the same experience. Being a big celebratory holiday, it was a no-brainer that we wanted to throw a party.
I really leaned into disco balls and mood lighting to set the vibe for an epic night! We wanted the venue to feel like a club when our guests entered and immediately get them excited to ring in the New Year!
Our colors were black and white. I felt like these colors are just so classic and never go out of style. The silver of the disco balls matched the colors perfectly. I also went with red lighting up the walls of the reception space to give the room that club feeling we were going for!
Aside from marrying my husband, one of my favorite moments was walking into our reception space and finally seeing all the months of planning come to life! I was blown away by the execution from each of my vendors. Seeing something in your head and then actually seeing that vision in real life was a magical moment. Our jaws dropped when we walked into that room, and we were instantly put into party mode!”
The Experience
“From the moment we began planning our wedding, we agreed the three most important things for us were good music, delicious food, and an open bar. My husband and I both wanted to prioritize our guests’ experiences, making the night as seamless and fun as possible for them. Providing transportation for all guests to and from their hotel and ceremony venue to the reception was a non-negotiable for us.
Being New Year’s Eve, we also wanted to keep the night upbeat as much as possible. To accomplish this, we had the majority of speeches given at the rehearsal dinner. My dad was the only speech given at the reception.
Also, we opted out of a seated dinner; instead we had food stations open for two hours while music began playing so our guests could grab a snack while socializing and dancing. My husband and I both love food so we made sure everything that was served had ties to us. Conch fritters for my husband’s Key West roots. Ropa vieja empanadas and cuban cigars tied in our hispanic heritages. Anyone who knows me knows I love my french fries, so we had to have a french fry bar accompanied by several toppings to add on and three different slider sandwiches.
How lucky am I to share my wedding anniversary with my parents and start NYE traditions with my own family!”
Which vendors exceeded your expectations?
I cannot say enough good things about my photographer and videographer! They captured our entire day so beautifully and made us feel so comfortable and natural while doing it. They are true professionals who know what they’re doing but also know how to make you have fun!
Danielle Perez is the most talented makeup artist – my bridesmaids and I felt so beautiful leaving her chair! We used Puff N’ Stuff for our catering, and they were phenomenal. Not only was the food delicious, Sandy and her team went above and beyond with personalizing the stations and decorating to match our venue.
Inpulse Entertainment stole the show with their incredible entertainment. The musicians, singer, and DJ were fantastic and had our guests dancing all night! Curtis was so fun to work with and contributed so many great ideas that helped the night really come together.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
I may be biased, but Tampa is the best city to get married in! Compared to other cities, it is very affordable and has so many venue and vendor options.
