Hayley and Robbie
Raymond James Stadium & HOtel Zamora
“Our first date was the inspiration for our wedding. We chose Raymond James Stadium as the location for our wedding ceremony because it was close to home, suited our personalities, and was the site of our first date. The goal was to elope, but a courthouse environment did not suit us. We were the first couple ever to be married in the stadium.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Hayley and Robbie’s urban Tampa wedding combined their love of football and family for a unique celebration that paid homage to their love story. The bride and groom eloped in an intimate stadium ceremony before hosting their friends and family for a festive celebration overlooking the Florida coastline.
“Our wedding date was October 15th, which was also the same day as our first date! We went to a Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on October 15th for our first date. To return to the stadium for our wedding day was indescribable. We had a mini-reception at the stadium following the ceremony, then a full reception three days later with additional family and friends,” the bride explained. “The entire atmosphere was a crucial part of our wedding. To experience Raymond James Stadium for our private wedding, rather than for a football game, was indescribable. Standing on the field to give private vows was beyond special to both of us. Being escorted down the aisle by both my father and my nephew was extremely important to me. Marrying my best friend was the most memorable moment, not only from that day, but of my whole life.”
The Proposal
“Robert and I had taken a mini-trip to Orlando, FL, to spend a day at Universal. When we returned to the hotel, Robbie had battery candles and rose petals set all throughout the room. We celebrated our engagement by then going to Dave & Buster’s. Back at our home on the day of our engagement, two mourning doves had made a nest on the front door’s wreath. The birds had laid two eggs, which are often a sign of new beginnings. Some also believe mourning doves to be messengers of hope and love, even from our departed loved ones. Discovering this was extremely heartwarming as Robert proposed on the anniversary of his father’s passing. It felt like a message from his father.”
The Hair & Makeup
Adore Bridal
“I chose Adore Bridal them because I loved their portfolio, and family friends have used them before. For Raymond James Stadium, my hair inspiration was my mother’s dress. I knew I wanted a half-up, half-down look that incorporated pearls to match the dress.
For The Hotel Zamora, my everyday look was the hair and makeup inspiration. This day was supposed to be more fun and relaxed, so I wanted to feel myself. For each day, I only had eyeshadow and lashes on for makeup, nothing more. This was to help me feel comfortable in my own skin, as I do not typically wear makeup on my face.
Adore Bridal listened to every request, and I was beyond happy with the outcome! Beyond their services, they were so kind, and it felt like I had known them my whole life.”
The Inspiration
“Our first date was the inspiration for our wedding. We chose Raymond James Stadium as the location for our wedding ceremony because it was close to home, suited our personalities, and was the site of our first date. The goal was to elope, but a courthouse environment did not suit us. We were the first couple ever to be married in the stadium.
We chose navy, a color we both love, with gold accents. To highlight our personalities, we played off our ‘house-divided’ rivalry. Robert is a Detroit fan, and I am a Tampa Bay fan. I put mini Bucs and Lions football helmets in our centrepieces, and used larger helmets in place of our flower girls’ baskets. Also, as animal lovers, our fur-babies are a huge part of our personalities. We incorporated our two dogs, Cooper and Killian, into our wedding day through photo booth props, bar signs, and bar napkins.”
The Photography
Limelight Photography
“Once we were engaged, I knew immediately that I wanted to use Limelight Photography for our wedding photographer. My brother hired their company, so I was familiar with their work and loved their entire process. Some key qualities of their company that I personally love include high-quality photos, kind/fun photographers, a quick turnaround time, and their use of pic-time to generate a photo gallery for easy viewing/sharing.
I specifically chose Limelight Photography because I was familiar with their work and loved their process. The services provided definitely exceeded my expectations! They scheduled multiple check-ins to generate a photo timeline to make sure all key moments were captured.
Limelight Photography exceeded our expectations. Our photographers, Natalia and Noelle, were amazing! Not only did they do an incredible job capturing our special day, but they also helped everywhere they saw fit outside of photo taking. “
The Bach Party
“My sister booked Go Tiki Tours for a day on the water at my request. I wanted to keep the party small as we were not having a traditional wedding. After the tour, we went to The Blind Goat in Tampa for food and drinks. We chose this location, not only because it is owned by a family friend, but because it is such a fun environment!”
The Dress
Truly Forever Bridal
“In the photos at Raymond James Stadium, I wore my mother’s dress. I always loved the corset and pearls on my mother’s dress, so I did not change much. My seamstress replaced the puffy sleeves with organza and added pieces of my mom’s original sleeves onto the organza. She also added a layer of organza to the top of the dress after removing seven large bows; one of those bows was later used on our flower girl’s dress.
I originally did not want a wedding dress of my own, as we planned to elope. However, since we were having a reception at The Hotel Zamora, my mom and sister encouraged me to find a dress of my own so I could experience wedding dress shopping and possibly have a dress to pass down to future daughters. I chose Truly Forever Bridal. I went wedding dress shopping less than two months prior to the reception, so I had to find a dress that fit right off the rack due to timing. I loved the dress’s corset and the fact that it had pockets! It made me feel like a true bride.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Legends Global is the exclusive hospitality partner of Raymond James Stadium, responsible for the stadium’s food and beverage operations for games, concerts, events, etc. Their staff did a great job! We were blown away with the food and bar. They exceeded our expectations by incorporating our wedding hashtag (#SzatsThat) into their dessert label and displaying the buffet in a creative manner with foods that were beyond delicious.
Limelight Photography also exceeded our expectations. Our photographers, Natalia and Noelle, were amazing! Not only did they do an incredible job capturing our special day, but they also helped everywhere they saw fit outside of photo taking.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
I highly recommend prioritizing communication not only with your spouse, but with all vendors, too. Wedding planning is stressful, but support is all around!
When the wedding day comes, remember timelines are simply guidelines. Only you will notice if something unplanned presents itself. Focus on the milestone you’re taking, not the clock, not the no-show guests, not the drink spills on your dress, etc. Do not expect to take home a clean dress.
