Olga and Matt
” I wanted a timeless classic vibe and was really hoping it would be something I would look at 30 years from now and still be as obsessed with it as I was while planning.
We went super classic and did black and white. I found myself really drawn to black for bridesmaid dresses and all-white flowers, and once we chose our venue, the colors matched so perfectly, I knew it was meant to be.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Olga and Matt’s elegant South Tampa wedding was a sophisticated soirée combining a monochromatic palette of chic black decor and classic white flora. The Florida bride and groom hosted their 84 closest friends and family for an intimate February celebration in a charming historic venue.
“Guest experience was at the top of our minds when thinking through all of the details, which is a big part of who Matt and I are to those around us. We will always be the ones to show up for our people, no questions asked, so late-night snacks, a huge dessert bar, and thoughtful favors (olive oil in honor of my Greek roots, and high-quality photobooth prints) were very important to us,” the bride detailed. “Matt and I are truly goofballs at heart. We love to dance and spend time with the people we love, and we wanted our wedding to be filled with fun moments and making memories we would cherish forever.”
The Bach Party and Honeymoon
“We spent my bachelorette in Rosemary Beach, and it was the perfect weekend! I wanted a mix of beachy, relaxing days filled with some shopping, some fun cocktails, and lots of girl time. I can’t recommend it enough!
Matt and I spent a few days in Marathon at Isla Bella resort right after the wedding, and we went to Greece in May. We held a second religious ceremony in the Greek church in Athens with my family over there, followed by a week in Naxos with our families at a stunning villa. I am calling it the familymoon.”
The Proposal
“Matt proposed on our four-year anniversary, which was December 19th. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and we had dinner reservations at Rocca. We had a fantastic meal, and Matt had suggested we go for a walk on the Riverwalk after dinner to look at some Christmas lights, which is something we had done when we first started dating. He pointed out a gazebo that was lit up like a Christmas tree along our walk and suggested we take a closer look. When I turned around, our families emerged, and before I knew it, Matt was down on one knee. It was absolutely perfect, and having our families there was so special and just what both of us wanted!”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay to see some different venues and how they came to life for weddings. It is also extremely helpful to see what vendors were being used, especially for my top venues!”
Most Memorable Moments
“Matt and I did private vows first thing the morning of our wedding, before everyone got to my parents’ home to start hair and makeup. I wanted to be able to be in the moment, not worried about crying and messing up my makeup, and it was the absolute perfect way to start our wedding day. Matt and I bawled our eyes out, and it was so special to have that moment and pause ahead of such a big day. It helped tremendously with my nerves, and I didn’t see him again until our first look!
There were a few special touches that made the day truly ours. I wanted to do a candle unity lighting during the ceremony, but I decided to include our parents, as they are such a big part of our lives. Judge Dora, who married us, read a beautiful script during the lighting, explaining how our parents poured their love into us and gave us light, and now Matt and I are coming together not only to start our family but also to truly bring both of our families together. It was so special and truly honored our parents on the best day of our lives.
We really stuck together the whole night after the ceremony. There were a few moments we drifted to talk to guests and dance with some friends, but we always linked right back up. We both agree that once we were on the dance floor, there were many moments we forgot anyone else was even there. We truly were in the moment, having the time of our lives and on cloud nine. It was the best feeling in the world and better than I could have imagined.”
The Photography
Limelight Photography
“I had a few photographers flagged from Instagram that had been tagged in weddings at Oxford Exchange. I am not super in tune with different photography styles; I just knew I wanted classic, timeless photos and, more importantly, someone reliable I could trust since photos were one of the most important things. Looking for photographers can be extremely overwhelming, and luckily, very early on in our wedding process, we went to a bridal show at Armature Works and stopped by the Limelight booth. The photos they had on display were stunning, and the representatives were so kind that they scheduled a meeting for us to learn more.
As soon as we met with Rebecca Zoumberos, the founder of Limelight, I knew they would be our photo/video team. She was extremely organized, giving me a mock timeline from that first meeting, and made me feel extremely confident that they would be able to capture our day beautifully. Daphne was assigned as our lead photographer, and as soon as we met her at our engagement shoot, I just couldn’t wait for the wedding day. She is one of the kindest people I have met and truly captured our day perfectly alongside the rest of the photo and video team. I would recommend her and everyone at Limelight without hesitation!”
The Photography and Videography
“Olga and Matt’s goal was simple: to create a night overflowing with love and joy. Standing there capturing every embrace, every laugh, every tear through my lens, I can confidently say they did exactly that.”
-Dafne Spencer, Limelight Photography
The Inspiration
” I wanted a timeless classic vibe and was really hoping it would be something I would look at 30 years from now and still be as obsessed with it as I was while planning! Growing up in Connecticut, I loved timeless, clean fashion and that is at the core of my personal style, so I gravitated towards that and decided it fit Matt and me perfectly!
We went super classic and did black and white. I found myself really drawn to black for bridesmaid dresses and all-white flowers, and once we chose our venue, the colors matched so perfectly, I knew it was meant to be. There was something truly so timeless about all-white flowers and sharp black tuxes/bridesmaid dresses. I never second-guessed my choice.”
The Venue
Oxford Exchange
“I always thought I would get married on the water, but one day, when Matt and I were at brunch at Oxford Exchange before we even got engaged, I had this epiphany moment of, ‘Oh my gosh, this would be the most perfect wedding venue.’
When we officially toured Oxford Exchange, I knew it was, without a doubt, our venue. Taylor gave us our tour, and we fell in love with literally everything: from the grand staircase entrance to the romantic dinner in the conservatory to the stunning black-and-white marble dance floor in the atrium, we knew this was the perfect place to celebrate the start of forever together. Every single person we worked with at Oxford Exchange was incredibly kind. Taylor was the most incredible coordinator we could have ever dreamed of. The day of our wedding, I truly did not worry about a single thing from when we walked in those doors until our balloon-drop grand exit. I knew no matter what, our team at Oxford would take care of everything, and they did exactly that.”
The Photobooth
The Gala Photobooth
“One of Matt’s few requests (along with cowboy hats and mini hot dogs as a late-night snack) was a photo booth. I was completely on board as I enjoy them so much at events, but I wanted something more modern.
As soon as I saw The Gala Photobooth online, I immediately knew it fit my vision and booked them on the spot. The photos came out incredible, and the team was so nice. The guests loved the prints, and I love that I get to see all the pictures in our guest book; everyone truly looked like they were having the best time.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
I was truly obsessed with all of our vendors and would recommend every single one, but I have to say our florist was just unreal. Flowers were one of those things I knew I wanted, but it can be overwhelming to choose. I had flagged Flora Fine from Oxford Exchange‘s preferred vendor list, and we saw Chris at the OE bridal show and instantly hit it off. Chris did not try to overcharge us and told us how we could make our budget go the farthest. My bouquet was simply stunning, and I will dream about all of the arrangements forever.
I truly poured my heart into every detail as I had a vision for our big day. Every one of our vendors came together and not only brought my vision to life but completely blew us away. The photo team and the music were some of the most important decisions to us, as let’s face it, the music sets the tone for the party. We wanted to be dancing all night with all of our favorite people and wanted someone we had the most confidence in to capture the whole thing. We had the best photo team and DJ (plus live sax player for cocktail hour/dinner and violinist for ceremony) that truly made our day unforgettable.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Book your vendors well in advance! Remember to enjoy the process no matter how stressful it feels at times and know that it really will be the best day of your life.
