Annie and Thomas
Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement
“The wedding was designed around my dress! My dress was a rosy pink with gold, and my bridesmaids’ dresses were in shades ranging from gold to copper, while Thomas and the groomsmen wore gold ties. Our ceremony area was draped in blue and copper, while our reception area was draped in green with blue and floral table coverings and green and coral floral dishes.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Annie and Thomas’ downtown St. Pete destination wedding was a colorful fete filled with a rainbow of flora, lush fabrics and impressive artwork set in an elegant gallery setting.
“The wedding was designed around my dress! We had just two and a half months to plan the wedding so instead of looking for a traditional wedding dress, I just chose a gown I loved. My dress was a rosy pink with gold, and my bridesmaids’ dresses were in shades ranging from gold to copper, while Thomas and the groomsmen wore gold ties. Our wedding planners brought the vision to life, creating a colorful, eclectic, and exuberant wedding with Arts and Crafts themes that complemented both my dress and the venue,” the bride beamed. “We used so many colors! Our ceremony area was draped in blue and copper, while our reception area was draped in green with blue and floral table coverings and green and coral floral dishes. I love color, and it came together beautifully! Parties A La Carte and MMD Designs worked together to help us create something that was colorful and exuberant but also beautifully designed.”
The pair personalized their wedding day experience through their style selections to ensure the entire event felt authentic to their personalities. Each element, from the venue to the colors and decor, spoke to their love story and personal tastes.
“We live in Columbus, Indiana, and my parents have a home in St. Petersburg where we have wonderful memories. It just seemed right to create these memories in St. Pete as well and share one of our favorite spots with our families and friends,” Annie revealed. “Thomas and I both love antiques and vintage as well as the Arts and Crafts style, so we had fun incorporating those elements into our wedding. I’m a huge fan of color and pattern, which clearly came through in a big way. The most important parts of the wedding for both of us were creating a great experience for our guests and having fun ourselves. Everything was just very us. We didn’t choose anything because it felt like we should. We picked things we enjoyed that made us happy.”
With an shortened planning period, Annie turned to the experts at Parties A La Carte to guide them through the process and ensure their destination wedding was an unforgettable soiree.
“We moved our wedding date up, so we only had two and a half months to plan! We needed a wedding planner who was incredibly professional and capable of pulling it off in a very short amount of time. Enter, Parties A La Carte. We interviewed a few wedding planners in the area, and we were just immediately impressed with Jessica and Cara,” the bride beamed. “There aren’t enough positive things in the world to say about the PALC team. They’re just a wonderful group of people who truly care about the people they work with. They go above and beyond in every area.”
The Indiana couple knew a museum setting would be the perfect choice for their 110-guest May celebration. Given their shared love of the period and style, the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement was an ideal choice, with its pristine event space and convenient location in the vibrant city of St. Petersburg.
“We were interested in a museum wedding from the beginning! We both love history and a vintage feel, so this was a great fit. The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is one of my absolute favorite museums,” Annie raved. “Thomas and I both love the arts and crafts style of art and their collection, so it seemed like a great fit.”
“The event’s design was rich with exquisite details that we truly cherished. The intricate patterns and thoughtful touches stood out to us, making the day genuinely unforgettable. One of the bride’s favorite artists, William Morris, was featured throughout the design, perfectly aligning with the venue’s theme. His contributions from the Arts and Crafts Movement added a significant layer of cohesion to the celebration,” Kelsey DiMisa of Parties A La Carte revealed.
When it was time to transform the event space into a vibrant wedding vision, Annie turned to the extensive inventory at Kate Ryan Event Rentals to provide stylish seating options, elegant dining tables, and decorative bars to set the scene. The couple also collaborated with the creative team at Bruce Wayne Florals to work their magic and create stunning floral artwork befitting the galleries.
“Bruce Wayne came highly recommended by our planner. The best creative results come from having the freedom to create, so we really let the florist run with the vision!” the bride exclaimed. “I didn’t want to restrict the florist, or any of our vendors, to some strict idea I had in my head.”
“Annie and Thomas’ wedding was a florist’s dream, showcasing the beauty of creativity. With Amanda Allen’s and her team’s guidance at MMD Events, the vibrant and bold flower selections came to life,” John Elice, Creative Director at Bruce Wayne Florals detailed. “We sourced stunning blooms harvested and shipped from a farm in Oregon, along with unique foliage from local garden centers. We created a captivating atmosphere by blending traditional flowers with unexpected elements like dried sea oats. The ceremony colors were inspired by the stunning tiled murals of the museum, while the reception drew inspiration from the timeless elegance of the old Dutch masters.”
“The ceremony was styled with vibrant green foliage, including huckleberry, magnolia, cherry laurel, green tree ivy, and water oak, creating a natural and foraged ambiance. We incorporated clusters of burgundy coleus, brown agonis, solidago, red amaranthus, and burgundy disbuds, adding a rich tapestry of color and texture. Preserved beech in shades of copper and burgundy deepened the palette. At the same time, stunning antique red hydrangeas, cream Sahara roses, and golden mustard roses brought warmth and elegance alongside chocolate Queen Anne’s lace. Finally, delicate accents of pale blue larkspur added a touch of serenity and grace,” John added. “For the reception styling, we drew inspiration from the timeless beauty of old Dutch master paintings. Bold blooms in a vibrant color palette showcased coral charm peonies, coral sweet peas, salmon ranunculus, apricot lisianthus, apricot parrot tulips, and antique caramel garden roses, enriched by deeper tones of burgundy to elevate the overall design. Adding texture and movement, we embraced Tess garden roses, burgundy coleus, privet berries, hellebores, jasmine, and moss. To finish, delicate light blue delphinium provided a gentle touch of elegance.”
It was impossible for Annie to choose a single standout memory from the evening, however, the overall experience left an impression that lasted long after her dance-fatigued feet!
“We’ll always remember it as being the best party we’ve ever been to,” the bride reminisced. “The band was amazing, and we were just living it up together. We danced like crazy, and I remember being so glad I brought sneakers.”
The Proposal:
We were going out to my parents’ house for dinner, and Thomas asked if I wanted to go for a walk with our dog, Eddie, when we arrived. We took a walk out to the garden, which we always call the dog park since it’s fenced in and Eddie loves to run in it, and Thomas got down on one knee and proposed! It was perfect.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We moved our wedding date up, so we only had two and a half months to plan! We needed a wedding planner who was incredibly professional and capable of pulling it off in a very short amount of time.
Enter, Parties A La Carte. We interviewed a few wedding planners in the area, and we were just immediately impressed with Jessica and Cara. There aren’t enough positive things in the world to say about the PALC team. They’re just a wonderful group of people who truly care about the people they work with. They go above and beyond in every area.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We were interested in a museum wedding from the beginning! We both love history and a vintage feel, so this was a great fit.
The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is one of my absolute favorite museums. Thomas and I both love the arts and crafts style of art and their collection, so it seemed like a great fit.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The wedding was designed around my dress! We had just two and a half months to plan the wedding so instead of looking for a traditional wedding dress, I just chose a gown I loved. My dress was a rosy pink with gold, and my bridesmaids’ dresses were in shades ranging from gold to copper, while Thomas and the groomsmen wore gold ties. Our wedding planners brought the vision to life, creating a colorful, eclectic, and exuberant wedding with Arts and Crafts themes that complemented both my dress and the venue.
What were your colors?
We used so many colors! Our ceremony area was draped in blue and copper, while our reception area was draped in green with blue and floral table coverings and green and coral floral dishes. I love color, and it came together beautifully! Parties A La Carte and MMD Designs worked together to help us create something that was colorful and exuberant but also beautifully designed.
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
Bruce Wayne Florals came highly recommended by our planner. The best creative results come from having the freedom to create, so we really let the florist run with the vision!” the bride exclaimed. “I didn’t want to restrict the florist, or any of our vendors, to some strict idea I had in my head.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All of our vendors were wonderful. Parties A La Carte coordinated all of our vendors, so I have to give them the #1 shoutout. Our band was incredible. The Finesse Party Band exceeded our wildest expectations and had our guests dancing all night! Our friends and family are still talking about how amazing the band was.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
A great wedding planner is worth their weight in gold. I would have never even known the possibilities without Parties A La Carte. They also just made the day of so relaxing. I didn’t worry about anything.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We’re planning a rural England trip that we’ll designate as the honeymoon.
