Alexandra and Jake
Bella Cosa
“We aimed for a timeless and elegant vibe for the night, choosing formal attire with an optional black tie dress code. After all, how often do you get to wear a beautiful floor-length gown? We wanted our guests to dress to the nines and feel amazing while doing it. Our color palette featured champagne, taupe, and black, with subtle pops of olive. These classic, simple colors will still look stunning when we look back 20 years from now.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Alexandra and Jake’s destination outdoor waterfront Lake Wales wedding was a perfect blend of elegance and Southern charm. The neutral color palette was complemented by wooden accents, sprawling oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and abundant champagne and taupe florals mixed with greenery.
“We aimed for a timeless and elegant vibe for the night, choosing formal attire with an optional black tie dress code. After all, how often do you get to wear a beautiful floor-length gown? We wanted our guests to dress to the nines and feel amazing while doing it,” the bride beamed. “Our color palette featured champagne, taupe, and black, with subtle pops of olive. These classic, simple colors will still look stunning when we look back 20 years from now.”
The Texas couple selected Central Florida for their 100-guest destination wedding, both to honor the bride’s roots and to accommodate their family.
“Jake and I live in the Austin area and ultimately decided to have our wedding in Florida. I was born and raised there, and about 90% of my family and friends still live there. I also have quite a few older family members who would have been unable to travel out of state,” the bride explained.
Alexandra turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay as her primary source of inspiration for her May wedding, helping her refine and evolve her vision throughout the planning process.
“I mostly used Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration,” the bride revealed. “As I’m sure most brides do, I changed my vision multiple times. I was constantly scouring the page to make sure I had thought of every design choice possible.”
The couple thoughtfully blended their individual styles, seamlessly merging the bride’s love for contemporary elegance with the groom’s southern, Texas-born roots to create a wedding that beautifully showcased both their unique personalities and meaningful details.
“It was quite easy to incorporate my style because I love a clean, classic, modern look. Incorporating my husband Jake’s style was the tricky part,” the bride joked. “He’s Southern through and through, born and raised in Texas, and since we couldn’t have the wedding in Texas, I wanted to make sure his personality was represented too. My husband wore his black cowboy boots with his tux and his gold Aggie ring from Texas A&M. We added personal touches with specialty drinks named after our four pups, a Bird Dog whiskey shot we called ‘Man’s Best Friend,’ in honor of our black lab who passed away last year and was a skilled bird-hunting dog.”
To capture every meaningful moment, the bride and groom sought a Central Florida wedding photographer who would capture the day as it unfolded. With her warm, comfortable approach, they knew Valentina Rose Photography was the perfect fit after their first meeting.
“I looked for a photographer with a more moody editing style. Don’t get me wrong, the bright and light wedding portraits are beautiful, but I personally prefer the moody look. I also wanted someone who would provide a lot of photos. I’m the type of person who, if I’m having a bad day, loves looking back at photos from a time when I was really happy can completely turn my mood around. I wanted someone who would make both my husband and me feel comfortable in front of the camera. My husband hates taking photos, so I needed someone who could help him open up and have fun, and that’s exactly what Valentina did,” the bride revealed. “I initially reached out to Valentina Rose Photography because she offered everything I was looking for in a photographer. In fact, she was the only photographer I interviewed! I contacted her first for an engagement shoot, and when we had a call to go over the details, that call ended up lasting about an hour and a half because I felt so comfortable with her! It honestly felt like I was talking to my best friend. I knew right away she’d be my wedding photographer. Her photos always capture exactly what I want, even when the conditions aren’t ideal. So many of our guests now follow her on Instagram and have commented on how much they love her personality and how great she is.”
The event took place at a 1920s Italian-inspired lodge beside Lake Pierce, once a vacation spot for the rich and famous. Alexandra and Jake exchanged vows beneath captivating oak trees, with the stunning panoramic view of the lake as their backdrop and her stepfather officiating. The bride wore a plunging V-neckline gown adorned with intricate beading and sequined embroidered lace.
“One of the most memorable wedding moments was when I surprised my husband with a dress change. He’s a fan of traditional, classic styles, and my ceremony dress was full of sparkly sequins and beading. To surprise him, I changed into a simple, off-the-shoulder gown. After dinner, he was asked to go out to the dock, and funnily enough, he asked our photographer if he was in trouble because he had no idea what was happening. I quickly changed and tapped him on the shoulder, and when he turned around, he was completely speechless. He actually preferred this dress over my ceremony gown, but that’s okay—my first dress was for me. Seeing his reaction made it all worth it,” the bride beamed. “Another unforgettable part of the night was my Maid of Honor’s speech. She’s the one who introduced Jake and me, and she and her husband (who was also a groomsman) had been friends with Jake long before she met me. Hearing her talk about us as a couple and our individual friendships with them, as well as the friendship between the four of us, almost brought me to tears. She even joked about us creating the ‘ultimate adult friendship hack,’ which got everyone laughing. Bring on the couple’s trips!”
The Proposal:
Jake proposed at a speakeasy in Chicago. Everyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with speakeasies and make it a mission to find one in every city I visit. Our first date, which my Maid of Honor (and now her husband, a groomsman) set up as a blind double date, was at a speakeasy in Houston. It was only fitting that we began this next chapter where our story all started.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We are about to spend our honeymoon in Italy and Greece! I’ve always dreamed of honeymooning in Greece and it is finally becoming a reality! Since we’re already going to be over there, we are adding in Italy and having a two-week honeymoon.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
We debated a lot of places for the bachelorette party but ultimately chose Scottsdale. It’s a bachelorette hotspot, just like Austin and Nashville, so be prepared for that. We had so much fun! There are tons of activities—if you’re up for the lively bachelorette and bar scene, it’s easy to find, or if you’re after something quieter, just step off the main strip. And, of course, there are plenty of speakeasies to explore!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I looked for a photographer with a more moody editing style. Don’t get me wrong, the bright and light wedding portraits are beautiful, but I personally prefer the moody look. I also wanted someone who would provide a lot of photos. I’m the type of person who, if I’m having a bad day, loves looking back at photos from a time when I was really happy can completely turn my mood around. I wanted someone who would make both my husband and me feel comfortable in front of the camera. My husband hates taking photos, so I needed someone who could help him open up and have fun, and that’s exactly what Valentina did.
I initially reached out to Valentina Rose Photography because she offered everything I was looking for in a photographer. In fact, she was the only photographer I interviewed! I contacted her first for an engagement shoot, and when we had a call to go over the details, that call ended up lasting about an hour and a half because I felt so comfortable with her! It honestly felt like I was talking to my best friend. I knew right away she’d be my wedding photographer. Her photos always capture exactly what I want, even when the conditions aren’t ideal. So many of our guests now follow her on Instagram and have commented on how much they love her personality and how great she is.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We aimed for a timeless and elegant vibe for the night, choosing formal attire with an optional black tie dress code. After all, how often do you get to wear a beautiful floor-length gown? We wanted our guests to dress to the nines and feel amazing while doing it.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a DJ, but Five Star Entertainment truly blew me away. I’m not someone who loves to dance, and I was worried about getting my guests on the dance floor, but they had everyone dancing and having a blast all night! They were the ultimate hype team from start to finish!
Valentina Rose Photography also exceeded my expectations—I can’t praise her enough! ASO Creative was another fantastic vendor. I decided last minute to extend our contract so we could capture our exit and private last dance, and the wedding videos he produced were absolutely stunning.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Research everything, and don’t be afraid to dive into DIY projects! Without all the DIYs I tackled, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the wedding I envisioned. Small touches, like the wedding fan programs, freed up room in my budget for other things, like my day-of coordinator. That’s another thing I highly recommend. Initially, my budget didn’t account for a coordinator, but as the day approached, I realized I needed at least a day-of coordinator. If you can make room in your budget, definitely invest in one!”
