Nicole and Austin’s downtown Tampa waterfront wedding was an enchanting celebration adorned with soft pastels and bright whites, beautiful garden flowers, and breathtaking views of the riverfront. With 150 guests journeying from near and far to join in the couple’s wedding festivities, the bride and groom’s focus was on ensuring that everyone enjoyed themselves, incorporating personalized touches such as including their furry friend in the ceremony and delighting attendees with an ice cream cart at the reception.

“Our wedding inspiration was vintage/whimsical; we felt that it matched our taste. Our colors were pale pastels of all sorts, mostly pinks and blues. We had a Spring wedding, so we wanted it to feel that way,” the bride shared.

When choosing a Tampa wedding planner, finding someone who could guide the pair seamlessly through the planning process and also feel like a friend can mean all the difference.

“We wanted someone easy to talk to, organized, and who would help us feel confident in the execution of the wedding day. We chose B. Eventful because from the start (before we even hired them), Ashley Johnson and her team gave us so much great wedding advice when we were in the exploration phase,” Nicole beamed. “She checked in a few times to check on our stress levels and made a great connection with us off the bat. That connection continued throughout the planning process. Working with them was fun! Ashley felt more like a friend than a vendor, who was genuinely excited for us and did an excellent job tying everything together.”

Luckily for the Tampa bride and groom, their planner knew exactly what to do when unpredictable weather brought hurricane-force winds that caused a quick logistical change from a lawn ceremony to exchanging vows on the veranda overlooking the Hillsborough River.

“Being a Florida wedding, we know there are always risks of rain; Nicole and Austin’s wedding was no different. At the first sight of rain, the entire vendor team quickly changed directions and were able to adapt to the new plan with ease,” Ashley Johnson, owner and lead planner of B Eventful, explained. “Having an amazing vendor team who can work together with the same vision is vital to the success of your wedding day. We are so thankful for the team we had at Nicole and Austin’s wedding!”

Nicole carefully considered what she needed in a wedding photographer, and Lifelong Photography Studio’s ability to bring out the best of their couples and make them feel relaxed was the exact energy she was looking for. Owner and lead photographer Buffy Feldman captured the pair’s natural chemistry.

“We wanted someone who made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, was easy to talk to, and had a good vibe. From all of our photographer phone calls during the hiring phase, Buffy from Lifelong Photography Studio stood out,” the bride beamed. “She was energetic, positive, and easy to talk to, and we just clicked. On the day of the wedding, she did not disappoint. She brought such fun energy to the day and kept us inspired to keep shooting pictures. Buffy was our biggest cheerleader!”

As the March celebration unfolded, stunning chargers, chairs, candles, votives, and tableware from Outside the Box Event Rentals and Kate Ryan Event Rentals’ carousel smoke blue drinkware transformed the modern space into an enchanted garden. Colorful florals and greenery from Save the Date Florida adorned wooden feasting tables while Tampa Bay DJ Company filled the dance floor.

The couple’s beloved pet was even included in the ceremony as the “best boi” and was featured on their signature drinks.

“I admired how Nicole and Austin infused personal touches into their wedding day, making it uniquely their own. Their dog’s participation in the ceremony, the use of significant locations from their life’s adventures as table numbers instead of traditional numbers, and the inclusion of the La Tarantella or Italian ribbon dance (a tradition that is said to bring good fortune to their marriage) a longstanding family tradition on Nicole’s side added meaningful and memorable elements to the celebration,” the wedding planner detailed.

“My family has a tradition where all wedding guests wrap the newlyweds in string on the dance floor during one song so they become a tangled mess and officially ‘tie the knot,’ which was so much fun,” the bride reminisced.

 The Proposal:
We got engaged on the Tampa Riverwalk on our way to what I thought was a casual brunch with just us two, but was actually all our family and friends to celebrate us.

What was your wedding floral inspiration?
We were going for a wildflower /picnic vibe for florals. Our wedding planner recommended Save the Date Florida. We looked at their portfolio, and they definitely matched what we were looking for!

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone easy to talk to, organized, and who would help us feel confident in the execution of the wedding day.

We chose B. Eventful because from the start (before we even hired them), Ashley Johnson and her team gave us so much great wedding advice when we were in the exploration phase. She checked in a few times to check on our stress levels and made a great connection with us off the bat. That connection continued throughout the planning process.

Working with them was fun! Ashley felt more like a friend than a vendor, who was genuinely excited for us and did an excellent job tying everything together.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, was easy to talk to, and had a good vibe.

From all of our photographer phone calls during the hiring phase, Buffy from Lifelong Photography Studio stood out. She was energetic, positive, and easy to talk to, and we just clicked. On the day of the wedding, she did not disappoint. She brought such fun energy to the day and kept us inspired to keep shooting pictures. Buffy was our biggest cheerleader!

What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My wedding day beauty inspo was a natural feeling of Old Hollywood.

I worked with Femme Akoi Beauty Studio several times as a bridesmaid, so I knew I could trust them when it came time for my big day. My hair and makeup artist was Ana Grace, and I could not be more grateful for her. She made me feel so beautiful. 

How did the rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
We rented drinking glasses from Kate Ryan Event Rentals, which were absolutely gorgeous! They were carousel smoke blue drinkware and added so much to our tablescapes. 

We rented chargers, chairs, candles, votives, and tableware from Outside the Box Event Rentals, which completed the look.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We just wanted a fun DJ!

Tampa Bay DJ Company is well known in the area, and when we met with Grant, we felt like he would be perfect for the job, and he was! The dance floor was filled, and we got lots of compliments on the music and how fun it was!