Alexis and Nick
“Our wedding was modern. I kept things simple and elegant, incorporating personal touches that held meaning for me. I enjoy neutral colors and vintage flair, and our color palette was mostly black and white. I incorporated black and white pictures of family, gold and black details, and simple desserts and cake.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Alexis and Nick’s elegant Clearwater Beach wedding featured a rooftop terrace ceremony overlooking the Gulf, a romantic floral arch, and bouquets in a classic black, white, and espresso palette. The reception tables were styled with centerpieces crafted by the bride and her mother, gold and black accents, and layered place settings, giving the space a polished look. Vintage family photos and Italian-inspired favors added a personal touch. As the sunset, the rooftop transformed into a lively dance floor, with guests waving colorful glow sticks, lighting up the night, creating a vibrant party atmosphere.
“We live in Brandon, FL, and chose Clearwater because we knew we wanted to be married on the beach. Since we got engaged on St. Pete Beach, it felt truly special to celebrate our wedding on or near the water. We didn’t want to be directly on the sand, but we loved the idea of having the beach close by. We’re originally from Upstate, NY, so bringing all of our people down to Florida to celebrate with us—where we’ve built a life together and made so many memories—was incredibly meaningful,” the bride revealed. “We are both foodies, so our food selection was important to us. We are also proud of our Italian heritage, so it was important to us to include a pasta course at dinner, Italian dinner music, Italian desserts, and limoncello favors to celebrate!”
The Proposal
“Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday; Nick brought us to see the sunset on St. Pete’s Beach before dinner. We set up a little picnic spot, poured some wine, and he had one of our best friends hide and take professional photos of the whole moment. It was perfect.”
The Bach Parties and Honeymoon
“My amazing girlfriends took me to Fort Lauderdale to the most adorable and girly Airbnb. My expectations were to be somewhere warm for all my girlfriends traveling from the Upstate, NY winter. I wanted to have a space where we could have genuine girl time. It was absolutely perfect, from taking a group Pilates class to hanging out at local bars with live bands, to having a private chef at the house for a hibachi dinner.
We went to Italy for our honeymoon! We traveled to Rome, Italy, and then explored the Amalfi Coast. We love embracing our Italian heritage and wanted to learn more, truly immersing ourselves in our roots. We were sure to include a little history by exploring Rome, and then took time for relaxation while exploring the Amalfi Coast.”
The Venue
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach
“We cared most about three things: being outdoors, having amazing food, and ensuring the music set the tone for a great party. We wanted a venue that was outdoors, one that offered wedding packages, so we wouldn’t have to source all our vendors or worry about endless rental companies. The property, views, and central location, along with accommodations, were also very important, as many of our guests were traveling.
When we had our first tour with Cassie at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach, her personable customer service immediately stood out to us. We found her to be very informative and organized, and she addressed all of our questions and concerns without hesitation. We knew we loved the venue when we toured the Sky Terrace; it felt dreamy, unique, and airy, which was the vision we were looking for. The destination and the rooftop terrace were so unique, unlike any venue we had ever been to, and that’s what made it all feel so perfect. The ambience of the terrace railing overlooking the ocean view, with the string lights lit, was magical.”
The Photography
Lifelong Photography Studio
“We wanted someone who had worked at the venue before and knew their way around, especially someone who knew how to capture photos without showing the tourist area of Clearwater Beach goers. We made sure to review the company’s previous work and explore its reviews to see if it matched the vibe we were looking for at a good rate.
We chose Lifelong Photography Studio based on their reviews of service, the work I saw on their Instagram, and the wedding package rates they offered. I appreciated their communication and quick turnaround with our photos.”
The Design
“Our wedding was modern. I kept things simple and elegant, incorporating personal touches that held meaning for me. I enjoy neutral colors and vintage flares. I incorporated black and white pictures of family, gold and black details, simple desserts and cake, and mostly black and white decor.
Our colors were mostly black and white. I chose chocolate and espresso brown for my bridesmaids. I thought it would look chic and elegant on all of my bridesmaids’ complexions.”
Most Memorable Moment
“Our ceremony was so beautiful and felt so intimate with our friends and family all gathered on the terrace. The moment I walked into our reception for the first time, seeing all of our visions come to life while being surrounded by all of our favorite people was the most incredible feeling. I remember as we sat at our sweetheart table, we looked around in awe.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our videographer truly went above and beyond. From start to finish, he was extremely professional and creative. On our wedding day, he blended in seamlessly, capturing every meaningful moment without ever feeling intrusive. The final video blew us away, as he even created a whole video from our “night before” celebration, featuring personal video messages from our guests; it was truly special.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Explore all the venues you can, look at options that include everything and ones that maybe require a little more effort, and know your non-negotiables as a couple. For example, a sit-down dinner or buffet? Band or DJ? Which vendor are you willing to allocate more budget for? And of course, look into local vendors & small businesses.
