Destination St. Pete Beach Wedding | Don CeSar Wedding
With Quinn and Christian both in the hospitality industry, guest experience topped the couple's list for their destination St. Pete Beach wedding.
“I cared about how the guests felt at the hotel when they checked in all the way to checkout. I wanted everyone to feel special and enjoy all of little details we had planned,” the bride shared.
The Atlanta couple hosted a welcome reception the night before the wedding to connect with their friends and family.
“The wedding events go by so quickly and knowing I had this time set up to actually see everyone and have conversations before the big day was so much fun to look forward to,” Quinn explained.
Entertainment was an important part of the couple's St. Pete Beach wedding, with guests treated to live music and a DJ.
“We wanted the whole package, live music for Christian and a DJ to play the songs the way I like to hear them on the radio. There was never a moment when you didn’t hear the perfect song being played,” the bride shared.”I loved how Grant Hemond & Associates (DJ vendor) set our wedding up for success by going over every last detail with me and offering excellent suggestions along the way.”
MORE: GRANT HEMOND & ASSOCIATES WEDDINGS
To complete their elegant black, ivory and blush wedding, the couple searched for a creative St. Pete Beach wedding florist who could help them plan remotely.
“Northside Florist provided me with Facetime calls to make sure they knew exactly what I wanted and what my vision of the special day was,” Quinn said. “We wanted something timeless, sharp and flattering.”
Looking back, one of the couple's most memorable moments was seeing each other during their “first look.”
“Our first look was so private and special to both of us. It was important to both of us that we were in a secluded location where all of the wedding guests wouldn’t see us. We had a moment together that we will never forget,” Quinn reminisced.
The Proposal:
We drove down to Florida for a vacation to visit family and friends. Immediately after checking in, we ran down to the beach to watch sunset and enjoyed the powder white sand.
Christian started bringing up how important The Don CeSar Hotel has been to him. It is where he started his career, where we met and worked, which brought us together for the long haul. Reminiscing about the start of our relationship, I cut him off saying, “I know I was a part of it.” Clearly I didn’t realize what was happening.
As we approached the beautiful “Pink Palace,” I noticed that he put his hand in his pocket. What seemed to be a split second later, he was down on one knee asking me if I would spend the rest of my life with him. My answer was clearly, “YES!,” but I didn’t know what to do, so I kneeled down in the sand with him and I cried. I turned around and he had a bottle of champagne arranged with two chairs for us to watch the sunset.
How would you describe your theme?
Classic, romantic elegance. I wanted to enhance the beauty that the Don CeSar already has.
What were your colors?
The colors were very simple: black, ivory and blush. We wanted something timeless, sharp and flattering.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
Someone creative and helpful while I lived so far away.
Northside Florist provided me with Facetime calls to make sure they knew exactly what I wanted and what my vision of the special day was.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ/entertainment?
We wanted the whole package. Live music for him and a DJ to play the songs the way I like to hear them on the radio. We selected a DJ that was very accommodating to work with and a live musician to make our wedding perfect. There was never a moment when you didn’t hear the perfect song being played.
The friendly personalities you encounter from your first call to reserve a DJ at Grant Hemond and Associates, all the way through to the last dance are beyond impressive. They walk you through the entire process very easily and make you feel very confident about something you have never done before. I loved how they set our wedding up for success by going over every last detail with me and offering excellent suggestions along the way. Our DJ, Eric was on point! He went over all details with us and the live performer a week prior to the event to make sure everyone was on the same page. His introductions of our family and friends were so smooth, and he kept the party going until the very end.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Let your venue help you! They see so many special events, and they can tell you who not only gets the job done, but who gets the job done the right way and with a positive attitude. The last thing you need with so many moving parts is someone who isn’t flexible to work with.
On a personal note, make an appointment two days before your wedding to do something alone for an hour; I chose a mani/pedi appointment. The day before the wedding is packed with questions and people arriving. I personally think all brides need at least an hour of nothing. It’s really nice when you don’t have to answer any questions, and you can just breathe. Save the massage for after the wedding when you can truly relax.
Venue: The Don CeSar Hotel *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Aaron Lockwood Photography
Videographer: Voila Cinematic
Planner: Georgia Watson Events
Florist: Northside Florist
Draping/Lighting: Cheers Events
Caterer: Loews Don CeSar Hotel
Chairs and Glass Chargers Rentals: Signature Event Rentals
Linen Rentals: Connie Duglin
Sweetheart Love Seat Rentals: MMD Events
Cake: The Cake Zone
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates – Eric Harding *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Live Entertainment: Colt Clark
Officiant: Reverend Tom Greene
Stationary: Alchemy Hour Designs
Transportation: Blue One Transportation
Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal (New York)
Hair & Makeup: Colours by Linny
Photo Booth: Get The Picture
