Tristan and Kay
“Even though we were married in November, I really wanted to stay away from the typical autumn tones. We went with a deep berry color and a ton of shades of pink to brighten up the florals. Our colors were baby pink, berry tones, and soft oranges. My dress had a blush pink tulle skirt, and I decided a very pink palette would be a great contrast to the white of the ship and the blue sky.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Tristan and Kay’s coastal, elegant Clearwater wedding was a joyful November celebration aboard Yacht StarShip surrounded by 119 family members and friends. Against sweeping water views and open blue skies, the bride and groom exchanged vows before an evening that moved seamlessly from ceremony to reception as the city skyline shifted around them. Lush florals in shades of baby pink, berry, and soft orange brightened the crisp white setting, while a blush-toned gown and playful personal touches added warmth and personality throughout the day.
“We were both born and raised in St. Pete and knew a destination wedding was not necessary. We were excited to have friends and family from out of town (and country) visit us and explore our hometown,” the bride beamed.
The Proposal
“We were in Denmark visiting Kay’s family and went to rent a swan-shaped pedal boat on The Lakes. I love that it was just the two of us sitting in our little boat, able to have a special moment to ourselves. My ring is from Nora Sermez and features two swans beside the diamond, so his proposal location was as perfect as my dream ring is.”
The Venue
Yacht Starship
“We wanted the wedding to feel low-pressure. We agreed you can’t be stressed on a boat, and that’s how we decided Yacht StarShip was the right fit for us. Having a moving venue made our wedding pretty unique. Most importantly, our wedding venue needed to host the number of guests for whom we had a rough estimate; we really didn’t want to have to make sacrifices with the guest list. We wanted a venue that could host both the ceremony and the reception in one place to make things easier.
We chose Yacht StarShip after spending an evening on one of their dinner cruises. The food was so good, the bar was open, and the view from each deck was beautiful! Amazingly, the backdrop changes throughout the evening, so your photos have variation. The service was great. The evening flowed perfectly, and everyone on staff was kind and accommodating. Allison Gruchacz from Yacht StarShip, who was my day-of coordinator, was so amazing and made sure every detail was handled.”
The Details
Two of the most important elements of the wedding were the cake and the florals.
Kay is a musician, so I wanted him to choose the songs played, and we walked back down the aisle after the ceremony to Ocean Man by Ween, which is so silly and fun just like us.
The Bach Party
“We went to Charleston, SC, for my bachelorette. I just wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been before and heard it was a fun city!”
Most Memorable Moment
“The rehearsal dinner was actually a highlight for us. Having some sweet, slow moments with our families and bridal party before a very busy wedding day was so important. We used the patio area of Island Way Grill.”
The Design
“Even though we were married in November, I really wanted to stay away from the typical autumn tones. We went with a deep berry color and a ton of shades of pink to brighten up the florals. Our colors were baby pink, berry tones, and soft oranges. My dress had a blush pink tulle skirt, and I decided a very pink palette would be a great contrast to the white of the ship and the blue sky.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Small Things Flower Co. was the perfect choice, as Nicole knew I wanted to make as few decisions as possible. She is truly my dream florist. We discussed colors casually, and she fully delivered with bouquets and fixtures for the venue that were beyond my expectations.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Take advantage of the natural beauty! There are so many gardens, beaches, and parks that will do most of the decorating for you. Tampa Bay is so special.
