Bridgette and Austin
“Our wedding theme and design were inspired by the ocean. A reflection of both my husband’s career and the life we’re building together. Our color palette centered around shades of blue and purple, accented with ivory, and each color carried special meaning.
Blue was inspired by the ocean, representing the peacefulness of the water that Austin so frequently braves. It also happens to be his favorite color, making it a natural choice to anchor our design. Purple brought a sense of softness, romance, and the beauty of spring. As my favorite color, it reflected my personality and added a feminine touch that beautifully complemented the more coastal elements of our design. Ivory tied everything together with timeless elegance. To us, it symbolized the purity of our marriage and the sacred commitment we were making to one another. Together, the palette felt balanced, intentional, and deeply personal.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Bridgette and Austin’s romantic Tampa Bay wedding combined pastel flora and watery blue tones befitting the spring season and stunning ocean views. The local bride and groom exchanged vows in a traditional chapel ceremony before dining and dancing with their 120 treasured guests in a waterfront ballroom reception at an esteemed Florida resort.
“The most memorable moment was standing at the altar, looking into Austin’s eyes, and saying I do,” the bride reminisced. “Throughout our relationship, Austin has loved me in a way I had never experienced before. He has shown me grace, unwavering support, and a love that has made me feel truly seen, cherished, and valued. Even now, he continues to make me feel like a bride every single day. Not because of the wedding itself, but because of the way he chooses to love me. Standing before God, surrounded by our family and friends, and committing the rest of my life to the man I admire so deeply is a moment I will carry with me forever. It wasn’t simply the beginning of our marriage. It was the fulfillment of prayers, hopes, and a love story that led us exactly where we were meant to be.”
The Personal Touches
“The most unique element of our wedding was our custom McNulty family crest. Honoring Austin’s Irish heritage was incredibly important to us, and we wanted to create something that celebrated not only where our families came from, but also the new legacy we were beginning together. We worked with an artist to create a custom watercolor interpretation of the traditional McNulty crest, thoughtfully incorporating our wedding colors, blue and purple hydrangeas, and a cross at the top to symbolize the faith that underpins our marriage. It transformed a centuries-old family symbol into something that beautifully represented our own love story.
The crest became the signature detail woven throughout our entire wedding day. Guests first encountered it in our invitation suite, and it continued to appear on our seating chart, cocktail napkins, koozies, and other carefully curated details throughout the celebration. Rather than feeling like a logo, it became a visual thread that connected every part of our wedding. To us, it represented so much more than our Irish heritage. It symbolized family, faith, legacy, and the beginning of a new chapter. Honoring the generations who came before us while celebrating the family Austin and I are building together.”
The Proposal
“Austin proposed at the top of King John’s Castle in Limerick, Ireland, and it was truly a moment I’ll never forget. We’ve always shared a deep love for Ireland, its history, and Austin’s Irish heritage, so there couldn’t have been a more meaningful place for such an important moment.
Growing up, I always dreamed of being a Disney princess, but I never imagined my own proposal would feel like something straight out of a fairytale. Standing together at the top of a centuries-old castle, overlooking one of our favorite countries, Austin asked me to spend forever with him. It was romantic, unexpected, and more magical than I ever could have imagined. Looking back, it was the perfect beginning to our story. A proposal rooted in love, history, and legacy, in a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“Marry Me Tampa Bay was one of the very first resources I turned to when we began planning our wedding. Starting the planning process can feel both exciting and overwhelming, and their platform gave me a trusted place to begin. I found their curated vendor recommendations especially helpful. From there, I explored each vendor’s website and social media, which naturally introduced me to other talented wedding professionals throughout the Tampa Bay area. Before long, I had discovered an incredible community of creatives who not only shared a similar design aesthetic but also frequently collaborated.
That first step was instrumental and ultimately led me to the entire vendor team that brought our wedding to life. I’m so grateful for the role Marry Me Tampa Bay played in helping us find the talented people who made our vision a reality.”
The Bach Party and Honeymoon
” I celebrated my bachelorette party right here in Tampa because, for me, it was never about the destination. It was about the women I wanted standing beside me. I wanted the weekend to be less about a typical bachelorette party and more about expressing my gratitude for the incredible women who helped shape the person I am today. We spent an evening celebrating around Tampa, laughing, reminiscing, and creating new memories together.
We spent our honeymoon in Hawaii, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect way to begin our marriage. Austin actually planned the entire trip, and his vision was simple: to give us the opportunity to slow down, disconnect from the busyness of everyday life, and simply enjoy being husband and wife. After months of planning, Hawaii gave us exactly what we were looking for. Surrounded by the beauty of the ocean, we spent our days relaxing, exploring, and reflecting on the incredible journey that had brought us to that moment. It gave us the space to truly be present with one another and begin dreaming about the life we were building together.”
The Bridal Beauty
Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup
“My wedding hair and makeup inspiration wasn’t centered around a particular trend or celebrity. It was about how I wanted to feel. As a mom of two, there have been seasons where I’ve struggled to truly see my own beauty. Throughout our relationship, Austin has consistently made me feel more beautiful, confident, and loved than I ever have before. For years, I hid behind my long hair and rarely wore it up. On our wedding day, I chose an elegant updo because it symbolized so much more than a hairstyle. It represented the confidence Austin has helped me discover. The confidence to embrace who I am as a woman, a mother, and now, his wife.
When it came to makeup, I knew I wanted full glam, and the Adore Bridal team absolutely delivered! I told them not to be afraid to go all out, and they somehow created a look that made me feel like the very best version of myself. Beyond their incredible talent, they brought such positive energy to the getting-ready suite, constantly encouraging me and making the entire morning feel joyful and relaxed. By the end of the night, my hair and makeup still looked just as beautiful as when I walked out the door that morning. More importantly, when I look back at our photos, I don’t just see a beautiful hairstyle or flawless makeup. I see a bride who felt completely confident, deeply loved, and genuinely herself.”
The Experience
“Planning our wedding was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. While I certainly enjoyed designing the details, what surprised me most was how deeply I fell in love with the purpose behind it all. Every decision became an opportunity to honor our faith, celebrate our families, and tell the story of our relationship in an intentional and meaningful way.
Through this journey, I discovered that weddings are so much more than beautiful celebrations. They mark the beginning of a marriage, create memories cherished for generations, and leave a legacy for families to look back on for years to come. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in the wedding industry, where my hope is to help other couples create weddings that are just as meaningful as they are beautiful.”
The Dress
Truly Forever Bridal
“I wanted a gown that felt elegant and effortlessly sophisticated. From the beginning, I was drawn to the clean structure of Mikado fabric. Its crisp lines represented the strength, stability, and foundation we are building in our marriage. To soften those structured elements, I paired the gown with delicate lace sleeves that brought in a sense of romance and femininity. It became the perfect balance of classic elegance and heartfelt romance. Much like the relationship Austin and I have built together.
Finding my dress was an experience I’ll cherish forever. My bridal stylist at Truly Forever Bridal, Ash, made me feel completely seen from the very beginning. She didn’t simply help me try on dresses. She physically sat on the floor beside me, listened to my vision, and helped me dream through every possibility. I told her I envisioned sleeves and wanted to feel both covered and feminine. When she returned with a strapless gown, I was admittedly surprised since I had been so certain that wasn’t what I wanted. With a smile, she simply said, ‘Trust me, you might be surprised.’ She was absolutely right.
It was the third dress I tried on, and the moment I stepped in front of the mirror, tears filled my eyes. Ash added temporary lace sleeves so I could fully envision the finished look, and suddenly everything came together. In that moment, I wasn’t just looking at a beautiful dress; I was looking at myself as a bride. For the first time, I felt completely confident, elegant, and entirely myself. It’s a moment I’ll never forget, and one I’ll always be grateful to Ash for helping create.”
The Photography
“When searching for a wedding photographer, I wanted someone whose work felt light-filled and editorial, while still capturing genuine emotion. Beautiful portraits were important, but I also wanted every photograph to tell the story of our day in a way that felt authentic and natural.
From my very first conversation with Buffy Feldman at Lifelong Photography, I knew she understood exactly what I envisioned. She made me feel heard, valued, and completely confident that our story was in the right hands. What I admire most about her team is their incredible ability to document not only the big moments, but also the quiet, meaningful ones that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Looking through our gallery feels like reliving the day all over again. Lifelong beautifully captured every emotion. From the joyful tears and heartfelt embraces to the carefully curated details, we poured so much love into. Their photographs don’t just document what our wedding looked like; they preserve exactly how it felt, and that is a gift we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.”
The Ceremony
Harborside Chapel
“The most important element of our wedding was ensuring that every decision reflected what mattered most to us: our faith and our family. When we began searching for a ceremony venue, we weren’t simply looking for a beautiful church. Finding a church where we truly felt God’s presence was incredibly important, as we wanted our ceremony to be centered on the covenant we were making before Him. Austin and I are both deeply rooted in God, so it was incredibly important that our marriage begin under the cross and that we share communion during our ceremony. That moment was a beautiful reminder that our relationship is built on a foundation much greater than ourselves.
The moment we walked into Harborside Chapel, we both stopped in our tracks. Our eyes immediately filled with tears. We were completely overwhelmed with awe, but it wasn’t because of the architecture. It was the overwhelming sense of peace we felt the instant we stepped inside. At that moment, we both knew we had found the place we wanted to become husband and wife. It wasn’t simply about how the church looked. It was about how the church made us feel. That feeling gave us complete confidence that this was exactly where God was calling us to begin our marriage. Beyond that, the care we experienced from the church community made our decision even more meaningful. The guidance, support, and marriage preparation they provided leading up to our wedding gave us a strong foundation as we entered this new chapter together. It reminded us that while we were planning a beautiful wedding, we were also intentionally preparing for a lifelong marriage.”
The Reception
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
“When searching for our reception venue, we wanted a space that felt effortlessly elegant while embracing the beauty of the coast. We envisioned a black-tie celebration with subtle coastal influences that felt sophisticated. Accessibility was also incredibly important to us, as we wanted a venue close to home to showcase Tampa Bay.
The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay‘s Skylark Ballroom was everything we hoped and dreamed for. From the soft blue carpeting that echoed the movement of the water to the watercolor-inspired artwork, sparking bubble chandeliers, and breathtaking panoramic views of the bay, the space perfectly complemented our vision. It felt refined, romantic, and unmistakably coastal without ever feeling overly themed.
Beyond the beautiful setting, the Hyatt team exceeded our expectations. Their attention to detail was evident in every interaction. From flawlessly executing each plated meal to thoughtfully maintaining a comfortable room temperature atmosphere for our guests throughout the evening, we felt fully covered. They anticipated our needs before we even had to ask and even made sure we had late-night burgers and truffle fries waiting for us after the long night. Their hospitality allowed us to be present and enjoy every moment with our family and friends.”
The Inspiration
“Our wedding theme and design were inspired by the ocean. A reflection of both my husband’s career and the life we’re building together. As a merchant mariner, he spends long periods at sea supporting our family, and I wanted our wedding to honor his dedication in a way that felt meaningful and personal. Beyond its beauty, the ocean has always represented a sense of peace, strength, and home for us.
Our color palette centered around shades of blue and purple, accented with ivory, and each color carried special meaning. Blue was inspired by the ocean, representing the peacefulness of the water that Austin so frequently braves. It also happens to be his favorite color, making it a natural choice to anchor our design. Purple brought a sense of softness, romance, and the beauty of spring. As my favorite color, it reflected my personality and added a feminine touch that beautifully complemented the more coastal elements of our design. Ivory tied everything together with timeless elegance. To us, it symbolized the purity of our marriage and the sacred commitment we were making to one another. Together, the palette felt balanced, intentional, and deeply personal.”
From The Photographer
“What made their wedding so special was how beautifully the day transformed from beginning to end. Their ceremony at Harborside Chapel was bright, romantic, and intimate, and the day ended with such a lively and fun reception at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The room was filled with energy, laughter, and everyone out on the dance floor celebrating right alongside them. We loved capturing that contrast between the sweet, emotional moments earlier in the day and the colorful, high-energy celebration that followed. It truly felt like the perfect reflection of their love story and the people they chose to celebrate it with!”
-Buffy Feldman, Lifelong Photography
The Content Creation
Behind The Vows
“Hiring a wedding content creator was actually one of the very last decisions we made during the planning process, and looking back, it was one of the best investments of our entire wedding day. I was looking for someone who could capture authentic, behind-the-scenes moments through short-form videos that told the story of our day in a natural and meaningful way.
Behind the Vows exceeded every expectation. What they delivered was so much more than content. It was the emotion of the day preserved in real time. Within just 24 hours, we were able to relive the laughter, happy tears, quiet moments, and joyful celebrations that passed by so quickly in the whirlwind of the day. Watching those videos together the morning after our wedding is a memory I’ll treasure forever. While our photographer beautifully captured what our wedding looked like, our content creator allowed us to immediately relive how it felt. I’ll be recommending Behind the Vows to every engaged couple I meet because that gift is truly priceless.
From The Content Creator
“The day was full of so many unique details, and we had a lot of fun capturing some unique transitions and trends for the day. With an emphasis on family and personal touches, the moments of this wedding really showcase true love in a way that was so easy to capture. Delivering this gallery was seamless and easy, knowing the couple embodied an elegant, heartfelt touch.”
-Gabrielle Mondejar, Behind the Vows
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
It truly feels impossible to single out just one vendor because every member of our vendor team exceeded our expectations in their own unique way. From our florist and cake designer to our photographer, videographer, entertainment, and venue team, each person poured so much care and passion into making our wedding day unforgettable. They weren’t simply vendors; they became part of our story, and we hope they know how deeply appreciated they are.
If I had to highlight one vendor, it would be our wedding content creator, Gabi, with Behind the Vows. Booking a content creator was a last-minute decision, and I never imagined just how meaningful that investment would become. From the moment we met her, she brought such a calming, joyful presence that immediately put us at ease. She worked so seamlessly alongside our photographer and videographer that it felt as though the three of them had been a team for years.
The memories Gabi captured are something I’ll treasure forever. Being able to relive our wedding day almost immediately through her lens was an incredible gift. One that allowed us to soak in the moments we had missed in the excitement of the day. For that, I will always be grateful. She gave us more than beautiful content. She gave us the chance to experience our wedding all over again.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
My biggest piece of advice is to remember that your love story is already written. Your wedding isn’t about creating a story. It’s about celebrating the one you’ve already been living with.
Choose vendors who take the time to know you, understand what matters most, and genuinely care about telling your story. The right team won’t simply execute beautiful details. They’ll preserve the moments, emotions, and memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your lives.
And above all, don’t lose sight of what the day is truly about. This isn’t a production. It isn’t a performance. It’s the beginning of your forever. Let every decision be rooted in the love you share, because that’s what your family and friends will remember long after the flowers have faded.
