Madison and Jake's romantic garden Tampa wedding captured the allure reminiscent of 18th-century England. The decor featured a blend of blues in different shades and patterns, along with peaches and pinks, reflecting the ambiance of Europen wildflower gardens.
“Our wedding inspiration came from sources that embodied romance and timeless love. That inspiration was largely drawn from the stories of Jane Austen and other similar period pieces. We knew we wanted our florals to feel like cuttings from an English garden and for the dress designs and suits to feel like something straight from the pages of Pride & Prejudice,” the bride detailed. “My favorite color is blue, and I opted for different shades and patterns of blue since I couldn't choose just one! My secondary colors were peach and pink as well as gold, for an earthier and more grounding tone.”
The Tennessee couple opted for a destination Florida wedding because the bride is from Tampa, making the location convenient for family. The ceremony took place within the bride's hometown diocese at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, followed by a garden-inspired reception, a nod to Madison and Jake's degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
To find their trusted vendor team, the couple utilized Marry Me Tampa Bay's planning tools and real weddings to provide insight and advice.
“We used Marry Me Tampa Bay for our initial research phase, and we were very pleased with the results. We were brand new at this and needed a trustworthy source! We mainly utilized the site to gather information and narrow down which vendors to interview,” the bride shared.
The pair entrusted Mary Anna Photography to document every moment of their 115-guest October celebration. They looked for a photographer whose style spoke to them and made them feel at ease in front of the camera.
“It was very important to us that we find a photographer whose work stirred something in us because we were well aware that they would be capturing memories to last a lifetime and pictures we would want to pass down through generations. It was also a priority for us that we found someone who clicked with our personalities and made us feel comfortable being ourselves,” Madison revealed. “We can't say enough about how wonderful it was to work with Mary Anna Photography. From the start, Mary was warm and welcoming and was so incredibly organized and patient throughout the planning process. She set our hearts at ease. In addition to Mary and Ben’s talent and beautiful work, what made their service outstanding was how they interacted with us on our wedding day. It’s such an intimate thing to bring someone into your space as you share some of the most vulnerable and special moments with your closest family and friends. And yet, it felt like Mary and Ben were part of our family rather than apart from it. Their kindness, warmth, and sincerity shone through everything they did the entirety of the day.”
The couple infused their wedding with personal touches reflecting their personalities and interests.
Being nature enthusiasts, they brought the essence of a garden indoors through abundant florals and earthy tones. To add a unique touch, their favorite local brewery crafted a special “Roo” brew, named after their cherished dog, Ronnan, to serve at the wedding.
“We wanted our wedding to be a genuine representation of who we are. We're both avid nature lovers, so it was important to us that we create the feeling that we had brought the outside inside! We incorporated lots of florals and earthy hues,” the bride beamed. “We also love to travel, so we decided to name our reception tables after some of our favorite places instead of using numbers. We had guests sitting at Yellowstone National Park and Cape Town, South Africa.
Honoring and celebrating with their loved ones played an important role in Madison and Jake's day, which surrounded the couple with a supportive and caring atmosphere.
“Community matters a great deal to us, and so it was incredibly special to see the room filled with the people who have been most important in our lives and who had traveled from all across the country to celebrate with us. It was surreal and the best gift we could have ever received,” the bride gushed. The love our guests brought with them, you could feel it emanating from each person throughout the ceremony and reception.”
Weddings are a joyous occasion where cherished moments are shared with loved ones, but they also provide a priceless chance for the newlyweds to savor quiet moments together as partners. Sometimes, amidst the celebration, it's essential to embrace spontaneity and dance in the rain.
“There was a moment when Mary and Ben were taking pictures of just the two of us outside of the reception hall, and it began to rain ever so lightly. It was the kind where the sun is still shining, my favorite kind of rain shower, and we took the opportunity to run through the rain,” the bride reminisced. “Mary, Ben, and Jimmy were snapping photos and recording video the entire time. It was magical and certainly a moment we’ll never forget.”
The Proposal:
It was a beautiful November evening in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a field under a tree where we had enjoyed a picnic many years ago.
When Jacob got down on one knee and proposed, I enthusiastically agreed to forever. It was just us, the Cades Cove wildlife, and our beloved pup, Ronnan, who was also exceptionally delighted. We realized early on that not only were we in love, but we also made a phenomenal team, and we put that superpower to work when planning our wedding together. It took us time to see our dream wedding come to life, but it made the effort all the more worthwhile.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
It was very important to us that we find a photographer whose work stirred something in us because we were well aware that they would be capturing memories to last a lifetime and pictures we would want to pass down through generations. It was also a priority for us that we found someone who clicked with our personalities and made us feel comfortable being ourselves.
We can't say enough about how wonderful it was to work with Mary Anna Photography. From the start, Mary was warm and welcoming and was so incredibly organized and patient throughout the planning process. She set our hearts at ease. In addition to Mary and Ben’s talent and beautiful work, what made their service outstanding was how they interacted with us on our wedding day. It’s such an intimate thing to bring someone into your space as you share some of the most vulnerable and special moments with your closest family and friends. And yet, it felt like Mary and Ben were part of our family rather than apart from it. Their kindness, warmth, and sincerity shone through everything they did the entirety of the day.
“It was very important to us that we find a photographer whose work stirred something in us because we were well aware that they would be capturing memories to last a lifetime and pictures we would want to pass down through generations. We can't say enough about how wonderful it was to work with Mary Anna Photography. In addition to Mary and Ben’s talent and beautiful work, what made their service outstanding was how they interacted with us on our wedding day. It’s such an intimate thing to bring someone into your space as you share some of the most vulnerable and special moments with your closest family and friends. And yet, it felt like Mary and Ben were part of our family rather than apart from it. Their kindness, warmth, and sincerity shone through everything they did the entirety of the day.”
-The Bride
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
The bachelorette weekend was hosted in Key West, Florida. We wanted to select somewhere within driving distance from various cities in the Sunshine State, while also feeling as though we’d arrived in a Caribbean paradise. It was the perfect combination of relaxation and fun in the sun!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding inspiration came from sources that embodied romance and timeless love. That inspiration was largely drawn from the stories of Jane Austen and other similar period pieces. We knew we wanted our florals to feel like cuttings from an English garden and for the dress designs and suits to feel like something straight from the pages of Pride & Prejudice.
What were your colors?
My favorite color is blue, and I opted for different shades and patterns of blue since I couldn't choose just one! My secondary colors were peach and pink as well as gold, for an earthier and more grounding tone.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We explored the Hawaiian Islands for our honeymoon over the course of two weeks, traveling to Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. We wanted to choose a destination that would allow us equal opportunities to be adventurous and to unwind. We were also enchanted by the Aloha spirit embodied by the Hawaiian people, which kept a feeling of love and joy at the core of each day!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Working with Mary Anna Photography and our videographer was the best decision we made for our wedding day! Even when the unplanned things happened, they were right there beside us – smiling, capturing memories, being the best hype team, and supporting us in every way possible. Our cake baker also went above and beyond! She worked with us on each step of the process, making sure every detail of our cake and dessert table matched exactly what we were envisioning. There are no words to sufficiently commend her artistry, communication, dedication, and heart of gold!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Breathe, and remind yourselves why you're planning a wedding in the first place: to share one of the happiest moments of your life with the people you care about most. It's a huge undertaking, and things are going to happen that will stress you out along the way. Take it all in stride and keep perspective. Allow your idea of your wedding to be fluid around that central pillar. In the end, it will be beautiful, it will be perfect, and it will be your own.
