Ja'Shayla and Chris' downtown St. Pete wedding elegantly tied together their personal style with handmade accents, superhero save-the-dates and a golden glam theme with a splash of color.
“Our theme was an ode to my love of precious jewelry: diamonds, gold, silver, and pearls. I love bling and classy elegant things, so I tried to keep the wedding simple, with a touch of luxury and elegance,” the bride shared.
The bride and groom began their wedding festivities with a rehearsal dinner at downtown St. Pete boutique hotel The Birchwood.
“Just like everything else for our wedding we wanted something unique and special to us,” the bride explained. “The view at The Birchwood for our rehearsal dinner really set the vibe. We didn't want a typical rehearsal dinner, so the setup on the rooftop allowed for a more casual style and a chance to be outdoors and mingle. The weather was perfect, and since we carefully chose every item on our menu, the food was gone within minutes. It was exactly what we wanted.”
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The bride, a self-proclaimed foodie, made sure her guests were well fed, with a custom menu.
“I knew I wanted steak, and I knew Chris had to have a special plate, so I just cared about having food that was tailored to our wedding and needs,” the bride explained. “Olympia Catering wowed me with their food and service, and it's hard to wow me. I'm a foodie who loves fine dining, and I would hire them for all of my events at any venue. Every single plate was eaten. Everyone commented on how good the food was. My mom was so pleased with how the catering captain took care of her and me, she wrote them a letter.”
The couple's sophisticated wedding cake, also by Olympia Catering, featured added a touch of glam with a quilted design and gold lettering.
“When we first started planning our wedding, I was not really looking forward to the cake or really cared at all to have a wedding cake since Chris does not eat cake. But after our cake tasting, I was so in love with my cake! I was actually excited about it. It was literally the best wedding cake I've ever had! Our friends came over a week later to eat more of it with us,” the bride gushed.
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The bride and groom looked for a St. Pete wedding photographer with an editorial meets “warm and fuzzy family vibe.”
“This was a huge moment for us, and we knew we would use these photos forever,” Ja'Shayla shared. “Once we met with Gabrielle of Lifelong Photography Studio and saw her work, we knew she was going to do a great job. The team at Lifelong was amazing. We love our photos, and we loved Gabrielle! She was on time, professional, helpful and super sweet. They did everything we wanted and more. Lifelong made the whole day a truly gorgeous memory, and they stayed late to capture even more for us.”
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Reminiscing on their special day, the couple gushed over some of their favorite moments including their first dance and their vows to each other. Ja'Shayla and Chris both agreed that they got lucky with some amazing vendors.
“I have to be honest. I was very concerned being fresh from New York City because I didn't know anyone or the quality of their service, but after our wedding, I was truly grateful and amazed at all of our vendors,” the bride gushed. “From the DJ to the photographers, florist, planner and the catering, everything went perfectly!”
What did you look for in a wedding rehearsal venue?
Just like everything else for our wedding we wanted something unique and special to us. Since our wedding was black tie and plated, we wanted the rehearsal dinner to be the opposite.
I want to learn more about weddings at The Birchwood
The view and the vibe at The Canopy at The Birchwood overlooking the water was always a place Chris and I enjoyed. We wanted our guests to experience that view and eat great food. We didn't want a typical rehearsal dinner, so the setup on the rooftop allowed for a more casual style and a chance to be outdoors and mingle. The weather was perfect, and since we carefully chose every item on our menu, the food was gone within minutes. It was exactly what we wanted.
How did you incorporate you and your spouse's personalities into the wedding?
We love fashion and music, so it was an easy once I chose the perfect dresses and suits. Chris is Jamaican, and our DJ really made the night perfect blending reggae and our favorite hits to keep everyone dancing. I incorporated Chris into everything: our save-the-dates were comic book cards that turned us into superheroes. We both went to Penn State University, so we named our tables after dorms from our school, and our seating chart was a Penn State orientation board. We also really love candles, so I handmade candles with a scent that we blended to represent us as our favors to our wedding guests. It was all about the little details.
The Proposal:
Chris flew to New York City for my birthday for my last big party before I gave up my Manhattan apartment. He asked me to come out to lunch to celebrate my birthday privately. We walked to DUMBO Brooklyn by the carousel on the Hudson River. He set up the tripod and said we were going to take some photos under the Brooklyn bridge, but first I had to open my birthday gifts. One of which was a large photo album that contained photographic memories from our five years of long-distance dating. I was totally in love with this gift! It was so thoughtful and sentimental. When I got to the last page, there was a photo of my ring. I looked up to find him down on one knee. I looked in disbelief. Like, is this for real? He said it was for real with a red ring box in hand. He asked and I said, “Yes,” all while the camera caught every moment on video.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted our photos to have an editorial meets warm and fuzzy family vibe, because this was a huge moment for us, and we knew we would use these photos forever.
I want to Learn more about Lifelong Photography Studio
Once we met with Gabrielle of Lifelong Photography Studio and saw her work, we knew she was going to do a great job. The team at Lifelong was amazing. We love our photos, and we loved Gabrielle! She was on time, professional, helpful and super sweet. They did everything we wanted and more. Lifelong made the whole day a truly gorgeous memory, and they stayed late to capture even more for us.
How would you describe your theme?
An ode to my love of precious jewelry: diamonds, gold, silver, and pearls. I love bling and classy elegant things, so I tried to keep the wedding simple, with a touch of luxury and elegance.
What were your colors?
Gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls. Plum was an accent color. I wanted a clean golden glam look with a touch of color. My dress was the first thing I had solidified during planning, so I literally planned everything around my dress.
What was your wedding menu inspiration?
Food is very important to me, and I wanted to make sure our guests were well fed. I didn't really care what as long as it tasted great, and there was plenty of it. I knew I wanted steak, and I knew Chris had to have a special plate, so I just cared about having food that was tailored to our wedding and needs.
I Want to Learn More about Olympia Catering
Olympia Catering wowed me with their food and service, and it's hard to wow me. I'm a foodie who loves fine dining, and I would hire them for all of my events at any venue! At our wedding, every single plate was eaten; everyone commented on how good the food was. My mom was so pleased with how the catering captain took care of her and me, she wrote them a letter. Olympia is an excellent catering service. The food was delicious, and they made sure we weren't the couple who missed the food at their own wedding, plus they kept my mom's glass full.
What was your wedding cake inspiration?
When we first started planning our wedding I was not really looking forward to the cake or really cared at all to have a wedding cake, since Chris does not eat cake. But after our cake tasting, I was so in love with my cake. I was actually excited about it. It was literally the best wedding cake I've ever had! Olympia Catering was amazing. Our friends came over a week later to eat more of it with us.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make your wedding about you and don't do anything you don't want to. Make a list of your priorities and start there. If you don't want something typical weddings have, just take it out and save your money. You're paying for it so enjoy it, every part of it.
Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg
Reception Venue: Museum of Fine Arts
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Planner: B Remembered Events
Florist: Creations by Mylez
Caterer & Cake: Olympia Catering *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bar: Catering by Lundy's
DJ: Inpulse Entertainment
Officiant: Rev. Dr. Will Browne
Dress Shop and Designer: Bridal Reflections Fifth Avenue, Galia Lahav
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Bridal Dreams Mall, Jovani
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Susan Perez & Lindsay Travis Artistry
Rehearsal Dinner: The Canopy at The Birchwood *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
