Melanie and Lee’s outdoor waterfront Palmetto wedding featured elegant botanical details and a dash of rustic touches to complement the couple’s fall wedding. A neutral color palette of sage green, gold and burgundy was the perfect combination for their sunset nuptials.
“I’ve always wanted an outdoor fall wedding, so that was most important to me when searching for a venue and selecting our dates,” Melanie explained. “We both love to have fun and wanted our guests to have a great time at our wedding. Instead of having cake, we opted for a blazing donut station where guests could watch the chef flambé donuts in brandy and serve them over ice cream. It was a huge hit!”
The Tampa couple searched for a Sarasota wedding photographer who came with experience, attention to detail and personality to boot, ultimately hiring Andi Diamond Photography.
“From our very first conversation, I knew we had to hire Andi of Andi Diamond Photography as our photographer! I cannot say enough positive things about Andi and her work. She exceeded our expectations in every way and is a true professional,” Melanie beamed. “Her experience and connections with other local vendors were extremely helpful, not just on our big day, but throughout the planning process. Lee and I are both a little camera shy, so I knew we needed a photographer who could give us some direction and who we were comfortable with. We had so much fun and shared many laughs with Andi on our wedding day!”
MORE: ANDI DIAMOND PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDINGS
Searching for real wedding inspiration, Melanie often turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay to research specific vendors and to get a feel for their work. Ultimately she found her Sarasota wedding hair and makeup artist through our website.
“While doing research, I came across Femme Akoi on the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and loved their work showcased on Instagram,” the bride explained. “They were able to accommodate my needs having such a large party; we needed hair and makeup on-location for nine people. They were great to work with! I provided very little direction about hair and makeup style for my party, and the results were amazing! Everyone loved their hair and makeup and looked great.”
Looking back on their wedding day, the couple not only had an unforgettable reception with the bride’s uncle’s band performing, but her aunt also got on stage to sing, along with a surprise guitar solo from her brother.
“The whole day was full of memorable moments, but at the top of my list are getting ready with my girls, our first look, the ceremony, and celebrating with friends and family at our reception. I can honestly say that I had a fun wedding day with minimal stress from start to finish, and I give credit to our wonderful vendors and the girls in my bridal party for making that happen!”Melanie reminisced.
The Proposal:
We were walking along the water near the Vinoy basin after having a romantic dinner at Annata in downtown St. Pete. We stopped for a moment to soak in the view, and Lee casually got down on one knee and popped the question. Apparently he had been waiting for the right moment for over a month! It was definitely worth it, and obviously my answer was “Yes!”
What was your hair and makeup inspiration?
While doing research, I came across Femme Akoi on the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and loved their work showcased on Instagram. They were able to accommodate my needs having such a large party; we needed hair and makeup on-location for nine people. They were great to work with! I provided very little direction about hair and makeup style for my party, and the results were amazing! Everyone loved their hair and makeup and looked great.
I want to learn more about hair & makeup from Femme Akoi.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Experience, personality, and attention to detail.
I want to learn more about Andi Diamond Photography.
From our very first conversation, I knew we had to hire Andi of Andi Diamond Photography as our photographer! I cannot say enough positive things about Andi and her work. She exceeded our expectations in every way and is a true professional. Her experience and connections with other local vendors were extremely helpful, not just on our big day but throughout the planning process. We felt at ease working with her. Lee and I are both a little camera shy, so I knew we needed a photographer who could give us some direction and who we were comfortable with. We had so much fun and shared many laughs with Andi on our wedding day! We are beyond thrilled with our wedding photos and look forward to having Andi capture more special moments for us in the future.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Rustic, simple, and elegant. Being an outdoor fall wedding, I wanted to incorporate some rustic elements, yet did not want to take anything away from the natural beauty and scenery of our venue.
What were your colors?
Neutral colors with sage green, gold, and burgundy accents. The colors all came together to create an elegant, yet rustic vibe.
How did you incorporate you and your spouse’s personalities into the wedding?
We both love to have fun and wanted our guests to have a great time at our wedding. We were willing to pass on some of the old wedding traditions to make this happen. For example, instead of having cake, we opted for a blazing donut station where guests could watch the chef flambé donuts in brandy and serve them over ice cream. It was a huge hit!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do your research when selecting vendors to make sure they can meet your needs and that you can rely on them to avoid any additional stress on your special day. There are lots of great resources (such as sites like Marry Me Tampa Bay!). You will be glad you took the time to choose the right vendors; I certainly am!
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Palmetto Riverside Bed & Breakfast
Photographer: Andi Diamond Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: 2birds Events
Caterer: Puff n Stuff
Rentals: The Reserve Vintage Rentals
Officiant: Julie Volpe (Family Friend)
Invitations: Minted
Dress Designer: Paloma Blanca
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Azazie
Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
