Heather and Ryan's waterfront Lake Wales wedding was a beautiful blend of romance and charm set against the enchanting backdrop of Lake Pierce. Their celebration highlighted the serenity of Florida's natural beauty with an outdoor waterfront ceremony followed by an inviting reception featuring wooden tables, pastel decor, and gold accents.
“Our wedding was romantic and elegant, and our colors were dusty blue, dusty rose, and sage. The combination of all three gave me the soft romantic look I was going for. We wanted a look that would capture the beauty of the venue. I truly wanted it to feel like a fairytale,” the bride explained. “It was our day, and we wanted it to be true to us. From our musical selection for the ceremony, our vows, and incorporating Ryan’s love for a good old-fashioned it was a day all about us.”
The pastel color palette didn't just set the tone for the decor but also the groom's attire.
“From the moment we started discussing our wedding, Ryan was adamant about wearing a sage green suit. Most men don’t take a huge role in planning their wedding. Ryan did, and him in a sage green suit just made sense,” the bride shared.
The Riverview couple read Marry Me Tampa Bay during their planning process to research and review vendors, along with viewing past wedding features for their 100-guest affair.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay came up multiple times in our search results,” Heather revealed. “I used them for inspiration and reference of weddings that potential vendors assisted with.”
From the beginning, Heather and Ryan knew they needed someone dependable to offer consistent help and straightforward advice. This led them to Ashley Johnson, the owner of B Eventful, a wedding planning team who became a critical part of transforming their wedding dreams into reality.
“We definitely wanted someone who would be with us throughout the whole process. I wanted someone that I could trust to help me make every important decision and give us honest feedback, the bride explained. “B Eventful was the first and only planner that we had a meeting with. After our first meeting, it just felt right; they were exactly what we needed. They offered everything I was looking for, full planning, vendor recommendations, budget planning, and, most importantly, help to bring our vision to life. I can’t praise them enough for everything they did for us. Ashley is an absolute godsend. She continually eased my worries and calmed all my nerves and stresses throughout the planning process, especially on the day of. Every time I thought we were running behind, she would assure me that we were right on time and this was my day; they couldn’t start without me.”
Their February wedding date was a touching tribute to Heather's grandmother's birthday. From an unexpected butterfly sighting to initials and the wedding date stitched inside Ryan's suit, the celebration was punctuated with numerous personal and sentimental elements.
“We wanted a day that had traditional elements but also represented our fun-loving selves. From the vows to our ‘Love you Moore' sign to our making an old fashioned in our unity ceremony, it captured us and made it our own. We wanted to do something different to represent the blending of our lives, so instead of a unity candle or the blending of sand or whiskeys that recently became popular, we added our own twist and made an old-fashioned Ryan’s favorite drink,” Heather revealed. “Our officiant had the perfect words to describe this moment, ‘When consumed straight up, bourbon is enjoyable, but it’s not at its best. Once joined together with bitters and simple syrup, the ingredients balance each other and create something wonderful. In some ways turning bourbon into an ‘Old-Fashioned’ is a lot like marriage; by blending together and supporting one another, they are becoming the best versions of themselves.'”
The reception space was filled with hues of dusty blue and rose linens, beveled-rimmed glass chargers, and subtle gold flatware from A Chair Affair, creating an atmosphere that was both romantic and elegant. The circular ceremony arch perfectly transitioned into a stunning backdrop for the couple's sweetheart table.
“I fell in love with the table setting mockup our planners made for us, and it was perfect and everything I had envisioned for our day,” Heather beamed.
As the newlyweds thought about the most meaningful moment of the day, the subtle and intimate moments truly spoke to their hearts.
“Exchanging our vows and Ryan putting my grandmother’s wedding band on my hand was the most memorable. It’s a piece of jewelry that I always remembered being on hers when I was a little girl, and being able to wear something that represented almost five decades of my grandparents' love for each other is truly indescribable,” Heather reminisced.
“Seeing the double doors open and watching the most beautiful woman in the world walk towards our forever and dancing with our daughters to Step by Step by Brandon Davis, the lyrics couldn't have been more perfect for us and our girls,” Ryan recalled.
The Proposal:
Ryan completely surprised me; the “I truly had no idea it was coming” type of surprise. We went to dinner with some friends in downtown St. Pete. North Straub Park looked so pretty with the lights on all the trees, we went for a little walk, and we went inside the banyan tree, taking a few pictures and laughing. While my back was turned, Ryan got down on one knee. I turned around and absolutely couldn’t believe it.
“I can’t praise B Eventful enough for everything they did for us. Ashley is an absolute godsend. She continually eased my worries and calmed all my nerves and stresses throughout the planning process, especially on the day of. Every time I thought we were running behind, she would assure me that we were right on time and this was my day; they couldn’t start without me. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to help us plan our day.”
-The Bride
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
\We definitely wanted someone that would be with us throughout the whole process. I wanted someone who I could trust to help me make every important decision and give us honest feedback.
B Eventful was the first and only planner that we had a meeting with. After our first meeting, it just felt right; they were exactly what we needed. They offered everything I was looking for, full planning, vendor recommendations, budget planning, and, most importantly, help to bring our vision to life. I can’t praise them enough for everything they did for us. Ashley is an absolute godsend. She continually eased my worries and calmed all my nerves and stresses throughout the planning process, especially on the day of. Every time I thought we were running behind, she would assure me that we were right on time and this was my day; they couldn’t start without me.
From the very beginning of the planning process, B Eventful guided, informed, and reassured us that everything would be perfect. They were attentive, and no matter how many times we emailed, texted, or asked for a call, they were there. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to help us plan our day. They love what they do and truly care about their couples and creating their dream wedding. They made sure everything was flawless. If there was an issue, they made sure it was handled without it affecting our day/experience.
Honestly, I contacted them because of their name and the tiny bee that was in their logo. Anyone that knows me knows my personal connection and love for bees, a sweet reminder of my aunt, who is no longer with us. She used to call me Beezer.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
St. Augustine, FL. To accommodate our work and daughter’s school schedules, we chose a location in Florida that we could go to right after the wedding to decompress and enjoy each other. Ryan is a native Floridian with ties to the St Augustine area. He used to visit at least once a year, and I had never been. Ryan couldn’t wait to show me around and experience all the hidden gems it held.
Where did you host your bachelorette & bachelor parties?
JoToro at Sparkman Wharf. We wanted to celebrate together with our closest friends, and what’s Barbie without her Ken? That was our theme. We chose this area because the restaurant had the perfect patio that we could use just for our party. They allowed us to decorate the space, and we knew there were other options nearby to continue the night!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Romantic, elegant. We wanted a look that would capture the beauty of the venue.
What were your colors?
Dusty blue, dusty rose, and sage. The combination of all three gave me the soft romantic look I was going for.
From the moment we started discussing our wedding Ryan was adamant about wearing a sage green suit. Most men don’t take a huge role in planning their wedding. Ryan did, and him in a sage green suit just made sense.
How did the rentals add to the ambiance of your wedding?
All the linens, chargers, and flatware were from A Chair Affair. I fell in love with the table setting mockup our planners made for us, and it was perfect and everything I had envisioned for our day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Remember, it is your day; take time to breathe and just soak it all in together. I loved the time Ryan and I spent taking pictures of just the two of us after the ceremony, and we were able to walk around our gorgeous venue and take it all in.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
B Eventful, Stephanie Lanni Photography. and I Marry Couples. From the moment we met with all these incredible women, I just knew they were the ones we needed for our day.
From the very beginning of the planning process, B Eventful guided, informed, and reassured us that everything would be perfect. They were attentive, and no matter how many times we emailed, texted, or asked for a call, they were there. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to help us plan our day. They love what they do and truly care about their couples and creating their dream wedding. They made sure everything was flawless. If there was an issue, they made sure it was handled without it affecting our day/experience.
Our photographer was perfect in every way! I fell in love with her work and her beautiful, light, and airy style. She made me feel so comfortable in front of the camera, and it was like having a friend you’ve known your whole life capture the most important day in your life. She is so talented, and we are beyond thankful she was there to capture every moment.
Our officiant created a ceremony that was so perfect for us. She found a beautiful way to acknowledge the blending of our families and pay tribute to those no longer with us.
