Sara and Jon's waterfront Clearwater wedding was an intimate day that showcased the city's charm and breathtaking views. The monochromatic wedding with a classic twist resulted in a timeless event that was the ideal destination Florida wedding.
“We did a black and white wedding with black suits, white ball gowns, and beautiful black and white photography,” the bride gushed. “It felt so timeless to us, which is why we loved the idea of black and white with classic themes. We knew we would always look back on our colors fondly.”
With 45 guests traveling internationally to their March wedding, the Canadian bride and groom selected a destination where everyone would enjoy the ample Sunshine and waterfront scenery.
“We live in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, but both of us are huge fans of Florida. Both sets of parents were visiting Florida for the winter from Newfoundland to escape the cold winter months. So, Jon and I thought Florida would be a perfect destination for our Newfoundland family and Alberta friends to visit,” the bride shared. “We are also huge Disney adults and planned to spend the rest of the week in Disney World.”
Since they were planning a destination wedding from another country with out-of-town guests attending, the couple looked for a wedding venue that provided an exceptional guest experience and that could host their ceremony and reception. Sara and Jon transported their guests to the beaches of Tampa Bay for dinner and dancing aboard a well-appointed yacht.
“The most important elements of our wedding were the venue and the atmosphere. We wanted a venue that was unique and accessible, something that would create a lifelong memory for our friends and family who traveled from another country. We also wanted a light-hearted and fun atmosphere, and so we thought an open bar accompanied that well. We chose Yacht Starship because we thought it would be a unique and extravagant experience for our guests. Also, we needed something all in one place because with all of our guests traveling to us, we had limited access to transportation, so having a venue that provided our whole wedding in one place was really important,” the bride explained. “Yacht StarShip provided a unique experience, and the scenic venue and hospitality of the employees were amazing. The employees made it clear to us that they would ensure a personalized event and that we would have the day of our dreams. Being from Canada, we had a lot of questions, and there was no shortage of emails from me during the planning, but the Yacht StarShip always had a timely and helpful response. We loved working with them and would highly recommend them to any couple attempting to host a destination wedding!”
The yacht wedding created everlasting memories for their friends and family, and the sandy beaches and city streets of Clearwater put the cherry on top.”
“We had a light-hearted and fun atmosphere for our wedding venue, but our wedding was unique because we had so many people from all over Canada visit Clearwater at the same time,” the bride shared. “Even before our actual wedding day, we loved taking in the gorgeous views and restaurants. Clearwater is a great tourist destination. It was so amazing to walk the beach together and visit all the local shops.”
Since Sara and Jon did their wedding planning from abroad, they relied on the expertise of Marry Me Tampa Bay for wedding research.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay was a great resource for exploring businesses that we had no idea about,” the bride raved. “Planning a wedding from a different country can be tough, so we had to rely heavily on good word of mouth and online reviews. Websites, like Marry Me Tampa Bay, came in very handy while we were researching different vendors. We did conduct a lot of research through Marry Me Tampa Bay.”
Because of their destination location, four of their most cherished guests couldn't attend, so they featured their three Bernese mountain dogs and ragdoll cat on their cocktail napkins to accompany a personally designed cocktail menu with specialty drinks named after their furry friends.
“The majority of our lives are centered around our pets,” Sara gushed. “Our specialty drinks included were ‘Sully’s Sangria,' ‘Charlie’s Whiskey,' and a mocktail ‘Pixie’s Punch.' All drinks are named after our pups!”
Looking back, the bride and groom remember taking in the beauty of the Sunshine State while celebrating their classic black-and-white affair surrounded by their closest loved ones.
“During our supper, Jon and I were getting some sunset portraits. We could hear the music downstairs playing while our guests were eating, and Jon and I were just dancing. We looked out and saw dolphins jumping below us, even a few calves. It was amazing!” the bride remembered. “Just being in Florida with our family and friends around us was pretty surreal. One of our favorite moments was after our wedding when we left the yacht and walked right onto the beach. Running around on the beach after the wedding with our best friends was pretty amazing.”
The Proposal:
Jon had spent so much time picking out the ring. He had chosen a ring from the Disney Enchanted Collection from Peoples. He chose Belle’s ring, and it was a complete surprise. He knew I would love it, and I was taken completely by surprise. Jon came home from work one night after working away for three weeks, walked in the door, and dropped to his knee.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bridesmaids planned the bachelorette in Clearwater. We went for brunch, spent the day on the beach, and did a dolphin tour before heading to our rehearsal dinner!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We knew that our friends and family would have to travel to our wedding. Being spread out all over Canada meant that either Jon and I would be traveling or all our guests would. Jon was firm on making sure that our wedding would give everyone the opportunity to go on a fantastic vacation.
We had contacted many venues for our wedding, looking for something that catered to an intimate 50-guest, destination wedding. We wanted a venue that could host our ceremony, dinner, and reception. We needed something at one place because with all of our guests traveling to us, we had limited access to transportation. There were a lot of Uber rides and car rentals during our wedding weekend, so having a venue that provided our whole wedding in one place was really important. Yacht Starship provided a unique experience. The scenic venue and hospitality of the employees were amazing.
The most important elements of our wedding were the venue and the atmosphere. We wanted a venue that was unique and accessible, something that would create a lifelong memory for our friends and family who traveled from another country. We also wanted a light-hearted and fun atmosphere, and so we thought an open bar accompanied that well. We chose Yacht Starship because we thought it would be a unique and extravagant experience for our guests. Also, we needed something all in one place because with all of our guests traveling to us, we had limited access to transportation, so having a venue that provided our whole wedding in one place was really important. Yacht StarShip provided a unique experience, and the scenic venue and hospitality of the employees were amazing. The employees made it clear to us that they would ensure a personalized event and that we would have the day of our dreams. Being from Canada, we had a lot of questions, and there was no shortage of emails from me during the planning, but the Yacht StarShip always had a timely and helpful response. We loved working with them and would highly recommend them to any couple attempting to host a destination wedding!
“The most important elements of our wedding were the venue and the atmosphere. We wanted a venue that was unique and accessible, something that would create a lifelong memory for our friends and family who traveled from another country. We also wanted a light-hearted and fun atmosphere, and so we thought an open bar accompanied that well. Yacht StarShip provided a unique experience, and the scenic venue and hospitality of the employees were amazing.”
-The Bride
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our wedding night at the Belleview Inn in Clearwater, where we did our bridal portraits. Then, we left for our honeymoon the day after our wedding.
We went to Orlando the day after our wedding. We took the bridal party to Disney and spent the whole week there. It was amazing!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We did a black and white wedding with black suits, white ball gowns, and beautiful black and white photography. It felt so timeless to us, which is why we loved the idea of black and white with classic themes.
What were your colors?
We chose black and white so that everything could be monochromatic. We knew we would always look back on our colors fondly.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our photographer exceeded our expectations. We were delighted to see previews the very next morning and throughout the week during our vacation in Disney. When we received our full set of photos, we were so excited! All of our portraits were gorgeous, and there were so many amazing candid photos.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t pay too much for transportation; it’s a very small aspect of the day if your ceremony and reception are in the same place. Make sure to carry spray on deodorant and setting spray. Having an invisible thread on hand is very useful. Make sure to wear lots of sunscreen every day! Sunscreen can expire, and you can still burn!
