DIY Blue Waterfront Downtown Tampa Wedding

University of South Florida graduates Vanessa and Dan met through mutual friends and immediately realized they had similar interests in subjects such as world religions. Six months after their initial meeting, the Tampa couple began dating.

“We just hit it off very quickly and enjoyed each others company,” Vanessa reminisced.

Ten months into the relationship Dan proposed over dinner.

“I was eights months pregnant chowing down on Italian food. I was just like ‘yes' and kept eating,” Vanessa joked. “We waited until she could walk down the aisle with us to get married.”

Blue Waterfront Downtown Tampa, FL Wedding – Yacht Starship

The couple planned their downtown Tampa wedding in just under three months, with the help of family and friends.

Vanessa, a professional ice skater, originally wanted to tie the knot on a cruise ship, but wanted to keep her wedding local so that her cast mates could attend her wedding.

With Vanessa's love for the water and since Dan's history with the Coast Guard, holding a yacht wedding on the Yacht StarShip was perfect reflection of the couple.

“We liked the idea of Yacht StarShip because it was on the water and also a very fun, all-inclusive, affordable night. It's a great choice for a stress-free and fun wedding,” the bride shared. “We were able to take a complementary cruise a few months before our wedding, which sealed the deal. We are also given a complementary cruise for our one-year anniversary; we are looking forward to it.”

The newlyweds kept the evening simplistic and light, allowing the atmosphere of cruising around Tampa on a yacht be the focus.

“Everyone had a great time at the wedding: going back to the buffet for seconds and dancing on the deck until the yacht docked. It was the perfect length, not too long or short,” Vanessa explained. “We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will always remember it as a fun night.”