Jessica and Pete
Green Bench Brewing Company
“The wedding theme was simple, elegant and classic. We didn’t want to go with any fads, and we wanted to have fun with it, while keeping it timeless. Our colors were black and white with some earthy undertones. We went with black tie optional so everyone would dress their best, and our guest did not disappoint. I love an excuse to dress up and didn’t hesitate to post a story about what to wear giving examples of long formal dresses. Our guests looked and felt fabulous.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Jessica and Pete’s urban St. Petersburg wedding blended traditional and modern elements for a chic celebration featuring a monochromatic palette highlighted by shimmering gold accents. Following a formal cathedral ceremony, guests enjoyed an al fresco reception in the beer garden of a local brewery.
“The wedding theme was simple, elegant, and classic. We didn’t want to go with any fads, and we wanted to have fun with it, while keeping it timeless,” the bride shared. “Our colors were black and white with some earthy undertones. We went with black tie optional so everyone would dress their best, and our guest did not disappoint. I love an excuse to dress up and didn’t hesitate to post a story about what to wear giving examples of long formal dresses. Our guests looked and felt fabulous.”
“Jessica and Pete envisioned a black-and-white formal affair within the relaxed setting of a brewery. This venue presented some unique challenges due to the guest count and its lack of experience hosting weddings of this scale, but it was incredibly rewarding to think outside the box and creatively adapt the space to their vision,” wedding planner Delaney Driver at Wilder Mind Events revealed. “We divided the cocktail hour area to create a distinct and engaging space, complete with an interactive drink wall and live oyster shuckers. The reception itself was filled with fun and unique elements, but one of my favorite details was the color-blocked tables, designed to complement the dance floor. One set of tables featured a white base with black accents, while the other had a black base with white linens. A stunning floral statement piece above the black-and-white dance floor tied the entire look together seamlessly.”
The St. Pete couple sought a wedding planning team who could bring their ambitious vision to reality for their February nuptials. The attentive and skilled planners at Wilder Mind Events impressed the couple with their gentle guidance, detail-oriented approach, and thorough execution.
“We decided we needed a wedding planner because ideas were getting out of control and we needed someone who could make it come to life and see our vision. We needed someone who knew prices and could give us comparisons to choose from. We wanted to be savvy without compromising quality,” the bride explained. “Our wedding planner fell into our laps as a gift from God. Delaney and Morgan from Wilder Mind Events were at multiple wedding we attended, and they know how to bring a room to life with their eye for detail. They are worth every single penny and more. Delaney showed up to every meeting with a ‘punch list;’ she meant business and was always ready to go. She never said no to an idea. She would think about it, even dream about our wedding day, and that is where the magic happens. Despite personal health challenges, she took any call or email we had. She never once made us feel we were getting any less of her. I just can’t say enough about her as a human and a business owner. She is a true warrior she fought for her health, and she fought to give us our dream wedding. She is savvy and knows what vendors to use to make your money go a long way.”
“Morgan came to every meeting and then stepped in during Delaney’s absence. Fast forward to wedding day, Morgan was more like the maid of honor, she pinned my dress when a bustle broke, she helped me change into my new dress, she magically dropped off so many things at the hotel before we even got back to the room at night. We woke up to find she saved one of every dessert for us to try. She was the real MVP and seven months pregnant!” the bride beamed. “It really is amazing how the team came together on Leap Day and coordinated so many vendors to make our dreams come true. We would 100% recommend a wedding planner like Wilder Mind Events because just when you think you can handle it all, it’s just so much better not to have any added stress on your big day. They truly went above and beyond for us and we are so thankful for them. You pay for their expertise and they deliver.”
The pair prioritized their 198 guests’ experience by creating an interactive wedding flow that kept everyone mingling and socializing, and allowed the couple to spend as much time with their loved ones as possible.
“What made our wedding unique was trying not to be too traditional. The venue Green Bench Brewing and Webb City Cellars allowed us to create an experience where the crowd traveled to different areas of the venue for the next experience, from the tasting room, to the dinner room, to the dessert room, and then the dance floor. We were able to create a flow of traffic to keep people interested and not seated for hours,” Jessica shared. “We also didn’t have parent dances because when the time came we didn’t want to stop the fun in the moment. We also didn’t take traditional portraits during cocktail hour because we didn’t want our family and friends to wait for us; we wanted to celebrate with them immediately.”
With a focus on the experience, emotions, and unique details, Jessica and Pete recognized the importance of hiring a seasoned photography and videography team to document the entire celebration.
“We wanted to make sure to capture all the little moments. We immediately loved that Sabrina Autumn Photography was a couple, and they were able to work well together, as having two different vendors can be difficult. Both are very soft spoken and kind individuals. Sabrina and Ryan photographed some of our best friends greatest moments so we knew we had nothing to worry about,” the bride gushed. “Getting the video sneak peek just days after the wedding was amazing; we had something to hold us over and we didn’t even know it was coming. Then came all the photos and multiple videos. They put them together to tell the story of the day and show how much love and fun filled the air. These two went over the top to finesse photos and videos in their collaboration of our day. There were some parts, like a champagne spray that came about spontaneously, that we thought there was no way they caught it, but they sure did! We love and appreciate that they are the gold standard in photography and videography and dedicate so much time and effort into their work.”
Many memories stood out to Jessica while reminiscing about their big day, including the Catholic Mass ceremony, wedding party introductions, and a special surprise at the end of the evening.
“We absolutely loved being at the altar and seeing all of our friends come up for communion or a blessing; it was a really special moment. We shared so many wide smiles as we looked back at them,” the bride recalled. “And our boys coming out onto the dance floor and doing the leap frog when they were introduced was epic. Plus I can’t forget about the fireworks! That was a total surprise – it was something we wanted but didn’t make the budget.”
The Proposal:
I didn’t see it coming. Peter is like a child – you never know what you will find in his pockets. We were in NYC together to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the NY Rangers in game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals (lets go Bolts!). On the last day, we made a visit to the Dead Rabbit, the most acclaimed bar in America. Peter was nervous, plotting on where to propose because Brooklyn Bridge is right there. That’s when I nonchalantly discovered the ring box in his full pockets. Peter pulled it out, slapped it on the bar, and responded with “Let’s see if it fits?” There we were sobbing together bellied up at a world class Irish Pub, engaged.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Ireland and Spain. We wanted to reconnect with our heritage and experience the culture, the countryside and hospitality. Plus, we’re FSU fans, and we’ve got to see FSU play the kickoff classic in Dublin! We were in no rush as we now have a lifetime together.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Darien, GA at Emmas Driftwood Farm. 80 acre of peace and quiet, until 30 of us arrived. The property has 5 luxury accommodations, 13 bedrooms, a private pool, bikes, games, covered pavilion, and two docks. We had food catered by Pineapple Espresso so you know it was amazing; Laurene, the owner and a friend of the mine, made brunch everyday for all of us. The others all chipped in for the other meals either making them at home or bringing ingredients with them. We never had to leave the compound and even brought in a band from Nashville, Tennessee to perform a live country concert in the pavilion. We had a “Witch” theme day were we all dressed up and had a photo shoot, because well, the party planners were over the top. We played games, danced, laughed, and almost peed our pants making all kinds of lasting memories. The cost for four days was under $500 per person, so it made sense for a group this large.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The wedding theme was simple, elegant, and classic. We didn’t want to go with any fads, and we wanted to have fun with it, while keeping it timeless.
What were your colors?
Our colors were black and white with some earthy undertones. We went with black tie optional so everyone would dress their best, and our guest did not disappoint. I love an excuse to dress up and didn’t hesitate to post a story about what to wear giving examples of long formal dresses. Our guests looked and felt fabulous.
What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
We wanted to make sure to capture all the little moments. We immediately loved that Sabrina Autumn Photography was a couple, and they were able to work well together, as having two different vendors can be difficult. Both are very soft spoken and kind individuals. Sabrina and Ryan photographed some of our best friends greatest moments so we knew we had nothing to worry about.
Getting the video sneak peek just days after the wedding was amazing; we had something to hold us over and we didn’t even know it was coming. Then came all the photos and multiple videos. They put them together to tell the story of the day and show how much love and fun filled the air. These two went over the top to finesse photos and videos in their collaboration of our day. There were some parts, like a champagne spray that came about spontaneously, that we thought there was no way they caught it, but they sure did! We love and appreciate that they are the gold standard in photography and videography and dedicate so much time and effort into their work.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We decided we needed a wedding planner because ideas were getting out of control and we needed someone who could make it come to life and see our vision. We needed someone who knew prices and could give us comparisons to choose from. We wanted to be savvy without compromising quality. Our wedding planner fell into our laps as a gift from God. Delaney and Morgan from Wilder Mind Events were at multiple wedding we attended, and they know how to bring a room to life with their eye for detail. They are worth every single penny and more. Delaney showed up to every meeting with a ‘punch list;’ she meant business and was always ready to go. She never said no to an idea. She would think about it, even dream about our wedding day, and that is where the magic happens. Despite personal health challenges, she took any call or email we had. She never once made us feel we were getting any less of her. I just can’t say enough about her as a human and a business owner. She is a true warrior she fought for her health, and she fought to give us our dream wedding. She is savvy and knows what vendors to use to make your money go a long way.
Morgan came to every meeting and then stepped in during Delaney’s absence. Fast forward to wedding day, Morgan was more like the maid of honor, she pinned my dress when a bustle broke, she helped me change into my new dress, she magically dropped off so many things at the hotel before we even got back to the room at night. We woke up to find she saved one of every dessert for us to try. She was the real MVP and seven months pregnant!” the bride beamed. “It really is amazing how the team came together on Leap Day and coordinated so many vendors to make our dreams come true. We would 100% recommend a wedding planner like Wilder Mind Events because just when you think you can handle it all, it’s just so much better not to have any added stress on your big day. They truly went above and beyond for us and we are so thankful for them. You pay for their expertise and they deliver.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations and how?
A round of applause to our best friend at Fresh Factory, Melanie and her crew. How she pulled it off and kept her composure in the wedding, we aren’t sure. This was a first for them serving 200 plates knowing her best friend Jessica would be judging everything. We are so proud and honored that she took on this insane task. Melanie loves to cook and has a passion for feeding people. One of our favorites is her Peruvian chicken with “the green sauce;” we had people ask us for her sauce it’s that good. She loves to be creative with food and is ahead of the trends, she brought that to the table with her butter boards drizzled in honey. We love and appreciate all that it took to make this family style dinner a not so average meal. It was outstanding.
Wilder Mind Events really surprised us; we didn’t know what to expect day of. You have all of this on a vision board or a file but you never really picture the entire thing all together, and wow, just amazement with their overall performance in every aspect of planning to making the dream come true.
As for Muriel’s Cakes and Cookies, we’ve never seen dessert go so fast. There is always left over cake or desserts but there was nothing left; it was all gone and every dessert was raved about. Our personal favorites were of course the most gorgeous cake in coconut flavor, crème brulee and nutella shooters. We asked for a dessert room and she whisked up her best.
We haven’t talked much about the flowers but the pictures speak for themself. By the Bay Floral killed the assignment. The installation over the dance floor you can’t miss, in pictures it is absolute perfection. Heather also came to a walkthrough and helped us use flowers to help divide the room in to experience sections.
Without Sabrina Autumn Photography we would rapidly lose memories of all the details of the wedding. We are so thankful they spent the day with us and didn’t miss a beat.
So a shout out to Ursula’s Alterations in St. Pete because they snatched the wedding dress and made it even more form fitting than it was originally designed to be.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
This should be so much fun; the moment it’s not fun anymore just stop and take a break, hug for 60 seconds and revisit it later. Husband and wife, that’s all that’s going to matter in the end. Take time during the planning phase to just be with your person, relax. It comes quick and it’s gone quicker.
Planning saves so much time and effort. You must have a wedding planner you can trust. The faster you start planning and paying the bills as they come, the easier it is in the long run. Make a list of the things you can go without, then go without them. We only talked about our wedding with each other and the planner, we didn’t want a lot of opinions or to second guess what we wanted. Up until the month of our moms were still asking what the colors were. It was way less stressful this way and it was also a surprise for everyone.
Please do your homework, you get what you pay for. So many people want to bundle your deal, “we can do your photos, food, flowers and decor, the more you bundle the more you save,” no way. Each vendor has a specialty for a reason go with the best in each field.
