Saoirse and Grant
“My theme and wedding inspiration were simple, warm, and timeless. I am not someone who cares about trends. I have always loved an elegant, warm look that sets a romantic ambiance through the use of candles. We chose white flowers and candles for the reception and ceremony. It’s timeless, and you can’t go wrong.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Saoirse and Grant’s romantic downtown St. Pete wedding was a timeless July celebration filled with lush white florals, glowing taper candles, and classic black-and-white attire for their 135 guests. The Wesley Chapel bride and groom exchanged vows at historic Trinity Lutheran Church before hosting a candlelit ballroom reception at their Spanish-style boutique hotel venue. The bride wore a gown made by her sister that incorporated pieces of her mother’s wedding dress.
“What made our wedding unique was that there was genuinely no stress. We knew the day was about getting to marry each other surrounded by our favorite people, so from day one, I refused to let the happiest day of our lives thus far become grounds for arguments, attitude, or sad tears!” the bride beamed. “We chose St. Petersburg because we had so many guests coming from out of town and knew it would be a beautiful, walkable area for them to get around. Also, it’s very accessible to our beautiful beaches! We had a cultural mix of people who flew in from all over the world. As people kept saying, it was genuinely like the United Nations in there!”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“Once we decided we wanted to get married locally, my mom spotted The Birchwood on TikTok, and I researched more information on Marry Me Tampa Bay! Marry Me Tampa Bay was a great resource in finding more information on our beautiful venue and comparing our other options in the area, all in one place!”
The Proposal
“In April, we were visiting Grant’s brother, who was stationed in Hawaii. Easter morning, we went for a sunrise walk along a cliff, and he got down on one knee! It was a total surprise since we had been traveling together almost 24/7 since January.
It turns out that the previous summer we spent in Ireland, he went with my sister to pick out the ring and had my dad fly home with it a few months later. It could’ve been a ring pop—the story had me a happy mess. He’s a keeper!”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“My sister threw me the sweetest bachelorette weekend in St. Petersburg. We chose St. Pete because it has the perfect mix of beautiful rooftop restaurants and fun cocktail bars, and everything is so easy to walk to.
We went to Nova Scotia for our honeymoon! We wanted something different and a break from the heat. We stayed at Trout Point Lodge, and the experience was exceptional. Included in the package are high-quality local meals and five-course dinners in their beautifully decorated cabin in the woods.
We turned our phones fully off and went kayaking, soaked in the hot tub and sauna by the river, and stargazed (we saw 10 shooting stars one night)! We stayed there for about three nights and then spent two nights in downtown Halifax. It was the perfect balance of a city and mountain vacation. I highly recommend it!”
The Reception Venue
The Birchwood
“We knew what we were looking for very early on; it was just a matter of whether it existed in the area we wanted. When we found The Birchwood, we knew it was a perfect fit: the stunning ballroom, the rooftop, the location, the in-house offerings, their pricing, and their lovely staff! We didn’t need to tour anywhere else. It was a no-brainer for us and exactly what we were praying for.
We wanted something that could host our guest count without feeling massive. This is underrated in the overall feel of any event. The Birchwood ballroom was a perfect balance between intimate while still being comfortable for our guest count. Not to mention, the ballroom is beautiful! Since my mother was doing the decor, it meant she didn’t need to do anything with the ceilings or walls.
Having great in-house food and drink was a massive relief. The entire staff, from the concierge to the servers, went above and beyond. We truly can’t thank them enough!”
The Inspiration
“My theme and wedding inspiration were simple, warm, and timeless. I am not someone who cares about trends. I have always loved an elegant, warm look that sets a romantic ambiance through the use of candles. We chose white flowers and candles for the reception and ceremony. It’s timeless, and you can’t go wrong.
I had the bridesmaids wear black dresses. Who doesn’t look and feel good in black? I wanted all of the girls to feel confident. The boys wore black tuxedos. Who doesn’t look and feel good in a black tuxedo?”
The Experience
“We love to have a great time, and we think warm, low lighting sets a mood that allows everyone to relax. We tried to keep formalities minimal and everything upbeat and light. The bride and groom set the tone for the day, and everyone will remember how they felt more than anything else!
This was the happiest day of our lives, and essentially all we wanted to do was throw the best party we could! We wanted our ceremony to convey the covenant we were making and our love for each other and the Lord. We then wanted to give people good food, drink, and great music!”
From The Venue
“Saoirse and Grant’s wedding felt like a modern love story with old-world charm. Designed to complement the timeless character of our historic venue, every detail embraced a vintage aesthetic, from the blend of digital and film photography to the mostly candlelit reception. Elegant white florals and the bride’s romantic lace gown completed the look, creating a celebration that felt nostalgic, intimate, and timeless.
The standout design element was the breathtaking candlelit reception, where towering hurricane candle displays transformed the space with a warm, cinematic glow. The mother of the bride was also such a big help in bringing this vision to life. Their sculptural presence created an intimate, old-world ambiance that perfectly complemented the venue’s historic architecture and elevated the entire guest experience.”
—Abby Brown, The Birchwood
The Most Memorable Moments
“As a bride who is very much not into too much glam, having my sister make my dress incorporating pieces of my mother’s dress, which was made by her sister who has since passed, was incredibly special. I will never forget how I felt in that dress, separate from the fact it was beautiful.
We were so fortunate to have our own pastor from our church, Hope Revolution, officiate our wedding, and he told a beautiful story of our relationship during the ceremony that made the moment personal and raw.
Grant and I love to dance, so one of the most memorable moments was when the dance floor was full. We were dancing together, and I just remember taking a moment and looking around at the people from all the different eras in both of our lives chatting, hugging, and dancing together. Our worlds were literally colliding, and I just remember that moment feeling so special!”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
When I say all of our vendors were amazing beyond what we could have asked, I mean it! We were so blessed. Our photographer, Gypsy Lemon Photography, is a true gem! We knew we wanted beautiful photos, but we both don’t love anything too staged, so we were delighted not only when we received our album with photos we love and will cherish forever, but also with how wonderful our experience was on the day. We felt so comfortable and genuinely enjoyed taking photos!
Our videographer, Camcorder Diaries, was exactly what we were looking for. Our video feels like an old home movie, so real and raw. Our DJ, Nando, was the best! Everyone was complimenting the music and begging for one more song at the end. If it’s important to you, the music can make or break the experience.
What advice would you give to other St. Pete couples?
The day genuinely goes by so quickly, so soak in every moment. While it’s not about the guests, you generally want them to have a good time too! So figure out how much this matters to you and look at things from that lens.
While photo ops are great, any talented photographer will be able to capture everyone beautifully regardless. So, if overall experience is a priority, don’t make decisions solely based on how great the photos will be. Consider weather conditions, the commute between ceremony and reception, and putting your budget toward where it matters (you don’t need the custom napkins, I promise).
If you can balance it all and get the beautiful location for photos, you’ve hit the jackpot! Overall, Tampa is beautiful and thriving, so don’t stress and pray about it. You’ll find your perfect place.
