AnneMarie and Ben’s jewel-toned autumn wedding took place 42 stories over the scenic downtown Tampa skyline. The South Tampa bride and groom wanted to showcase the town they love by providing their 70 guests an unforgettable dinner experience with bird’s eye views of the city.
“Our wedding was warm and inviting, but also elegant and timeless. We wanted our wedding to feel classic and sophisticated, and The Tampa Club achieved this perfectly,” the bride beamed. “Ben and I always dreamed of having a fall wedding but we wanted to steer clear of oranges and yellows. We were drawn to the rich golds and jewel tones for our October wedding. Our color palette included creams and golds with a pop of merlot.”
“Our wedding was warm and inviting, but also elegant and timeless. We wanted our wedding to feel classic and sophisticated, and the Tampa Club achieved this perfectly,” the bride beamed. “Ben and I always dreamed of having a fall wedding but we wanted to steer clear of oranges and yellows. We were drawn to the rich golds and jewel tones for our October wedding. Our color palette included creams and golds with a pop of merlot.”
AnneMarie relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay to provide real wedding inspiration and trusted vendor recommendations for her big day.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay provided us with inspiration from real couples and made the wedding planning process less intimidating. We were able to narrow down vendors and see their work truly in action!” the bride shared. “The planning process can be overwhelming for couples, and Marry Me Tampa Bay served as a one-stop-shop and excellent resource for all of our planning needs.”
Wanting a venue that was truly indicative of Tampa, the couple immediately fell in love with the panoramic views and attentive service offered by The Tampa Club.
“We wanted city elegance. Ben and I met in downtown Tampa, and we were thrilled to invite family and friends to the city that is so near and dear to our hearts. The Tampa Club has the most beautiful view of our city skyline; it is breathtaking! Our guests were able to experience Tampa from new heights and fall in love with the city that we call home,” the bride gushed. “Planning a wedding during a pandemic is certainly not ideal, however, The Tampa Club ensured that our special day would be beautiful and safe. Melissa Davidson was a delight to work with as she made the wedding planning process enjoyable and stress-free! The Tampa Club was very attentive to our needs and ensured our experience was seamless.”
Although the planning process had its challenges, the bride maintains that overall their COVID-era wedding was unforgettable.
“We will always remember our wedding day! Getting married during a pandemic certainly made our wedding unique, however, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Ben and I chose to focus on the joy rather than the things we could not control. Our vendors stood by us from start to finish, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Our wedding day was about bringing people together safely and comfortably all while celebrating the start of our forever,” AnneMarie reminisced.
The wedding day is over in the blink of an eye, with a few key moments that stand out in the blur, and for AnneMarie one of the most memorable ones was her first look with Ben.
“I was definitely a bundle of nerves the morning of our wedding and felt a bit overwhelmed. When Ben and I saw each other before our ceremony, I felt immediately at peace,” the bride revealed. “Seeing each other before the wedding was such a sweet moment! It calmed our nerves and gave us a chance to be together for a few minutes alone and share our excitement about our ceremony and reception. The day flew by so quickly; I am glad we have that memory of just the two of us.”
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I definitely wanted something timeless and classic for my wedding hair and makeup. As a registered nurse, I usually have my hair pulled back and wear minimal makeup so I was very much looking forward to being full glam but also wanted to feel like myself.
Femme Akoi is very active on social media and spotlights many of their real-life brides along with the creativity and talent of the artists. Natalie was my artist, and she made me feel beautiful! She was such a big help with offering suggestions for bridal hair and makeup that aligned with my vision, and she always ensured I was happy and felt my absolute best. Femme Akoi also provided hair and makeup services to all of my bridesmaids and made each one feel special and absolutely beautiful! They were such a delight to work with and made the “glam” process stress-free!
The Proposal:
Ben proposed after three years of dating. He surprised me with the most beautiful engagement party directly after with our families and closest friends. He caught me totally off-guard!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted city elegance. Ben and I met in downtown Tampa and we were thrilled to invite family and friends to the city that is so near and dear to our hearts.
The Tampa Club has the most beautiful view of our city skyline; it is breathtaking! Our guests were able to experience Tampa from new heights and fall in love with the city that we call home.
Planning a wedding during a pandemic is certainly not ideal, however, The Tampa Club ensured that our special day would be beautiful and safe. Melissa Davidson was a delight to work with as she made the wedding planning process enjoyable and stress-free! The Tampa Club was very attentive to our needs and ensured our experience was seamless.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Antigua for our honeymoon and stayed at the Cocobay Resort. We can’t recommend it enough! We wanted to escape to a tropical paradise and this resort gave us our own private oasis.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding was warm and inviting, but also elegant and timeless. We wanted our wedding to feel classic and sophisticated, and The Tampa Club achieved this perfectly!
What were your colors?
Ben and I always dreamed of having a fall wedding but we wanted to steer clear of oranges and yellows. We were drawn to the rich golds and jewel tones for our October wedding day. Our color palette included creams and golds with a pop of merlot.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
We are so lucky to live in a city that houses so many incredible wedding vendors! Take your time and enjoy the entire planning process. This season of life flies by, so be sure to soak it all in!
Venue & Caterer: The Tampa Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer/Videographer: Love and Covenant
Planner: Piper Marie Events
Florist: Northside Florist
Rentals: Gabro Event Services
Cake: Publix
DJ: Bay Kings Band
Officiant: Joanne Petrella
Invitations: Minted
Transportation: Blue One Transportation
Dress: Allure Couture
Shoe Designer: Bella Belle Shoes
Bridesmaides: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
