Ana and Holden's downtown St. Pete wedding was a romantic affair filled with shades of sentimental pink accented with chic gold details. Guests enjoyed an elegant ballroom setting for the ceremony and formal dinner before cutting loose during the reception's epic dance party.
“Our theme for the wedding was classic with modern touches. I wanted timeless and classy. I can look back at those photos and still love the theme and the memories,” the bride shared. “My wedding colors were hot pink, light pink, white, and ivory. I love the color combination, but they also have a sentimental meaning because both my mother and grandmother love the color pink as well.”
The Jacksonville couple hosted a destination wedding for their where the groom's family resided; with such a vibrant dining scene, nightlife, and culture, downtown St. Pete was a perfect choice. Upon finding The Birchwood through research on Marry Me Tampa Bay, Ana and Holden were sold on the convenient location, stunning venue, delicious food, and exceptional service.
“I found the majority of my vendors through online research and using Marry Me Tampa Bay. The main vendor I came across from Marry Me Tampa Bay was my venue, The Birchwood. I was able to see great pictures of the space and other couples' experiences working with them. This helped me in my decision to add The Birchwood to the list of venues to pick, and it ended up working out perfectly!” the bride beamed. “I love how Marry Me Tampa Bay displays weddings and vendors to allow you to see all the information you need. The pictures of weddings and decor were a great resource in my planning process.”
“I looked for a venue that had a lot to offer and was in a great location. I wanted a beautiful space where I could do both the ceremony and reception. I can absolutely say The Birchwood provided amazing service! I could go on and on about them!” Ana raved. “From the minute we signed our contract with them until the end of the wedding day, they were the absolute best. The Birchwood is in a great location in downtown St. Pete and offers so much to help you have an amazing wedding day. I love that they have so much to offer, unlike other venues that just provide a space. On top of that, the food they serve is so delicious!”
The couple prioritized quality time with loved ones by keeping the wedding formalities short and providing lots of great music to keep their 90 guests partying on the dance floor throughout the September evening.
“I wanted to have a super fun wedding that both of our families could enjoy. Holden and I both love to dance and spend time with our families. We are both big on enjoying the moment, so having a wedding where we could have fun on top of all the formalities made it so special and such a great time,” the bride shared.
Ana sought a seasoned wedding photography team with a broad portfolio and stellar reputation. She turned to the experts at Lifelong Photography Studio and was blown away by the wedding day experience and the gorgeous images they captured.
“I was looking for a photographer who was professional and had a lot of experience working with couples and weddings. I picked Lifelong Photography Studio because they are hands down the best for weddings. I love their style of pictures and how they put so much detail into every photo. We had so much fun working with them, and their entire time was amazing!”
While the reception will forever stand out in Ana's memory, it was the surprise appearance of a new ‘guest' on the dance floor that her friends and family will never forget.
“One of the most memorable things about our wedding is that our reception was a total dance party, and mid-way through it, we had a robot on stilts! It was so much fun, and everyone still talks about that moment!” the bride reminisced.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I looked for a venue that had a lot to offer and was in a great location. I wanted a beautiful space where I could do both the ceremony and reception.
I can absolutely say The Birchwood provided amazing service! I could go on and on about them! From the minute we signed our contract with them until the end of the wedding day, they were the absolute best.
The Birchwood is in a great location in downtown St. Pete and offers so much to help you have an amazing wedding day. I love that they have so much to offer, unlike other venues that just provide a space. On top of that, the food they serve is so delicious!
The Proposal:
After eating dinner at one of our favorite spots, we decided to walk alongside the beach. It was there in a secret cove that Holden asked me to marry him! He and I are both private, so I'm glad the proposal was us.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I was looking for a photographer who was professional and had a lot of experience working with couples and weddings.
I picked Lifelong Photography Studio because they are hands down the best for weddings. I love their style of pictures and how they put so much detail into every photo. We had so much fun working with them, and their entire time was amazing!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme for the wedding was classic with modern touches. I wanted timeless and classy. I can look back at those photos and still love the theme and the memories.
What were your colors?
My wedding colors were hot pink, light pink, white, and ivory. I love the color combination, but they also have a sentimental meaning because both my mother and grandmother love the color pink as well.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
My biggest advice to other couples is to have fun throughout the whole process and don't sweat the small stuff! Everything will fall into place and enjoy your wedding because it goes by so fast!
