Lindsey and Gus' downtown Tampa wedding was a daydream overlooking the Hillsborough River. The springtime reception's modern design featured a stand-out greenery wall that created an enchanted garden effect for the head table.
“It was important to us that our wedding felt very much ‘like us,' so the theme and design were all things that we liked or a style that we resonated with,” the bride shared. “The colors were dusty pink, champagne, and neutrals with pops of wood and gold accents.”
While planning her 120-guest April wedding, the local bride read Marry Me Tampa Bay for décor ideas and to review the area's most respected wedding professionals.
“We used Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration and to research vendors,” the bride explained. “I found my makeup artist, Femme Akoi, on Marry Me Tampa Bay.
The vibrant husband-wife team of Dewitt for Love Photography skillfully utilized Tampa's waterfront downtown as a backdrop, capturing the couple's special day with expertise and creativity. Their organization, fun-loving approach, and insightful recommendations resulted in stunning photos that beautifully showcased the city's diverse landscapes.
“We wanted someone who had personality and, of course, took pictures that we loved. We met with Dewitt for Love Photography and immediately felt very comfortable. Not only were they incredible photographers, but they were so organized, and they were a lot of fun,” the bride beamed. “We knew right away that we could trust them with our vision and that they would put our friends and family at ease. They're incredibly knowledgeable and were able to provide insight on the optimal timeline, best places for photos, etc.”
From the first conversation, Shannon Kelly Films captured the Tampa couple's hearts with her ability to create a wedding video that showcased their style and love story. With professionalism and a heartfelt understanding of their vision, Shannon thoughtfully crafted a video that would forever hold the cherished memories and emotions of their special day.
“We looked for someone who could tell the story of our day that we would want to watch a million times over. We loved Shannon Kelly Films from the first time we spoke with her,” the bride gushed. “She wanted to know a lot about us as a couple, our style, and how we wanted that portrayed in the video. She was professional and organized, and it was apparent that she had thought out her vision for the video even before our big day. We knew from the get-go that she would thoughtfully craft something we could cherish forever.”
Kate Ryan Event Rentals played a pivotal role in enhancing the ambiance of the rustic modern-themed reception with their cross-back wood chairs, while their ivory linens and gold-rimmed chargers perfectly complemented the overall aesthetic.
“We hired vendors that would blend well with us and our bridal party, and we picked colors and decor that we liked. We're both rather casual, so for us, we went with a rustic casual feel and incorporated wood and gold accents,” Lindsey revealed. “Then we added pops of personality like themed cocktails and customized gifts for the wedding party (axes and earrings). We also picked music we enjoy for our entry songs and a DJ that could mix oldies and new music to keep our family dancing!”
Cocktail hour took place on the riverfront patio with passed hors d'oeuvres from Elite Events Catering before their plated reception. Their guests enjoyed the signature cocktail selections of Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds, along with a decadent cake from Tampa Bay Cake Company.
Looking back, celebrating with her guests was the highlight of the night for the bride.
“We really danced the night away, and our DJ was great at interacting with our guests while keeping the party going. Everyone had a great time! Let's just say our feet were sore for a couple of days,” the bride expressed. “On a more sentimental note, the ceremony and the speeches were very important to us.”
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I didn't have a clear vision for hair and makeup, so I needed a little help.
I liked that Femme Akoi Beauty Studio provided recommendations specific to our timeline/wedding. We had a unique schedule with a four-hour gap between the ceremony and reception, and they came back to do touchups before the reception, which was great.
The Proposal:
We traveled to St. Augustine almost every year for three years for vacation because it's a very cute historic town not far away. We went there for a trip, and Gus proposed at the bridge inside the botanical garden at the Lightner Museum.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We wanted a very low-key honeymoon, so we took a quick trip to Nassau to lay on the beach for a few days.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
St. Petersburg, FL, so I could have a weekend out with my friends who live locally!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who had personality and, of course, took pictures that we loved. We met with Dewitt for Love Photography and immediately felt very comfortable. Not only were they incredible photographers, but they were so organized, and they were a lot of fun.
We knew right away that we could trust them with our vision and that they would put our friends and family at ease. They're incredibly knowledgeable and were able to provide insight on the optimal timeline, best places for photos, etc.
What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
We looked for someone who could tell the story of our day that we would want to watch a million times over. We loved Shannon Kelly Films from the first time we spoke with her.
She wanted to know a lot about us as a couple, our style, and how we wanted that portrayed in the video. She was professional and organized, and it was apparent that she had thought out her vision for the video even before our big day. We knew from the get-go that she would thoughtfully craft something we could cherish forever.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
It was important to us that our wedding felt very much “like us,” so the theme and design were all things that we liked or a style that we resonated with.
What were your colors?
The colors were dusty pink, champagne, and neutrals with pops of wood and gold accents.
How did the rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
We used Kate Ryan Event Rentals to rent cross-back rustic wood chairs to complement our rustic modern theme, which had a major impact on the feel of our reception space. We also rented Ivory linens and gold-rimmed chargers.
What was your wedding cake inspiration?
We did a naked cake and hired Tampa Bay Cake Company because we loved their designs and felt it would fit well with the theme of our wedding.
Their cakes were by far the best tasting we had!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Hire vendors that can execute your vision that you feel comfortable with and pick things that resonate with your personal style to make the wedding unique to you. One thing I saw during the process that I tried to keep in mind was that after the wedding, you're no longer a bride and groom; you're a husband and wife. Try to remember that bigger picture during the planning process; you found your person!
