Allie and Alfred's downtown Tampa wedding was a whimsical evening that perfectly complemented the couple's unique sense of style with the eccentric aesthetic of downtown. The waterfront Tampa wedding ceremony took place at sunset and was followed by an enchanting indoor reception filled with luxurious florals, an epic dance party, and a breathtaking view of the city lights at night.
“We would describe the theme as boho-chic with a contemporary vibe. We chose this style because we love the simple shades of green, ivory, and blush with lots of candle lighting,” the bride explained. “We wanted a lot of greenery but also wanted to brighten up the palette since it was a spring wedding.”
The Colorado Springs couple, who lived in Tampa while planning their wedding, carefully included details that perfectly reflected their personalities.
“We think our wedding was unique in that it fits our personal style perfectly. From the groom and groomsmen’s blue suits and floral ties to my dress that was custom made and like nothing I have seen before, it all was exactly and perfectly us,” Allie beamed.
Before the couple began their wedding planning journey, they sought an experienced and reputable planner who would be essential in creating a 150-guest celebration.
“We were referred to Parties A’La Carte by my mother-in-law who had full confidence in Jessica from working with them for my sister-in-law’s wedding,” Allie shared. “We wanted true professionals who would take away all of the stress that a wedding can bring upon an engaged couple. They not only helped in that aspect, but they brought so many different elements into our wedding that we would not have been able to imagine on our own. We had total trust in our wedding planner, and she exceeded all of our expectations.”
The bride and groom understood the importance of documenting their wedding day and treasuring the memories forever. The couple hired Tampa wedding videographer Bonnie Newman Creative to tell their love story in a genuine and unique way.
“We wanted a wedding videographer who would capture every detail and moment so that when we watch our video we can truly relive the best day of our life,” Allie shared. “We chose Bonnie Newman Creative because from the very first conversation we felt that she was someone who was real and authentic who would care about our love story and not just look at it as another event to video. Having a videographer, especially Bonnie Newman Creative, was one of the best decisions we made. We were blown away with the results of our final video and can’t stop watching it.”
For the romantic indoor reception, Bruce Wayne Florals decorated with lush greenery that flowed over the sweetheart table adorned with eucalyptus leaves and candles. Tall flowering centerpieces featured delicate ivory and blush pink florals that matched the bride's cascading rose bouquet.
“Our wedding floral inspiration came about because we knew we wanted eucalyptus and roses, and I had reviewed countless wedding boards online that had given me an idea of what I wanted,” the bride detailed. “Our wedding planner highly recommended Bruce Wayne Florals, and we knew it was the perfect choice when we attended our mock table set up. It was all so beautiful we literally didn’t change a thing.”
Rentals from Gabro Event Services were brought in to enhance the boho-chic ambiance. The sleek white draping elegantly complemented the contemporary space, while clear acrylic chargers added texture to the tablescape. Kate Ryan Event Rentals provided the bar rental, and Grant Hemond & Associates brought out the sound system for an epic dance party.
In addition to having a stunning atmosphere, Allie and Alfred also wanted to provide their guests with an amazing dinner experience. They relied on the longtime friendship and reputation of Catering by the Family to create a delicious menu.
“We had a unique situation with our wedding caterer in that the owner of Catering by the Family is a good friend of my husband’s family, so it was an easy choice. The menu inspiration was primarily based on having options for everyone. We had our filet and fish with our favorite greens and feta salad to start,” the bride shared. “Catering by the Family has awesome, unique dish options, especially in their hors d'oeuvres. Our favorite was the Cuban sandwich egg rolls. We loved the service; everything came out timely and was delicious, and we got to enjoy our entire meal before we started partying.”
While the couple looked back on their wedding day, it was the moment they became husband and wife that brought back the sweetest memories.
“Our ceremony was the most memorable moment for us. It was perfectly timed during sunset on the river and truly captured the sacrament of marriage,” the bride beamed. “We also will never forget our first dance because it felt like nothing else existed and we were so mesmerized by our love for each other.”
What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
We wanted a wedding videographer who would capture every detail and moment so that when we watch our video we can truly relive the best day of our life.
We chose Bonnie Newman Creative because from the very first conversation we felt that she was someone who was real and authentic who would care about our love story and not just look at it as another event to video. We were blown away with the results of our final video and can’t stop watching it.
The Proposal:
Alfred and I were on a mini-vacation in St. Augustine around Christmas. We were taking in the city covered in lights when he completely surprised me in the middle of the park. I didn’t even give him a chance to kneel before saying yes!
How would you describe your theme?
Boho-chic with a contemporary vibe. We chose this style because we love the simple shades of green, ivory, and blush with lots of candle lighting.
What were your colors?
Shades of green, ivory, white, and blush with silver and glass accents. We wanted a lot of greenery but also wanted to brighten up the palette since it was a spring wedding.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We were referred to Parties A’La Carte by my mother-in-law who had full confidence in her from working with them for my sister-in-law’s wedding.
Parties A'La Carte came highly recommended. We wanted true professionals who would take away all of the stress that a wedding can bring upon an engaged couple. They not only helped in that aspect, but they brought so many different elements into our wedding that we would not have been able to imagine on our own. We had total trust in our wedding planner, and she exceeded all of our expectations.
Where did you spend your honeymoon and why did you choose that location?
We spent our honeymoon on a 7-day cruise to the Virgin Islands on Norwegian Cruise Lines. We chose this so that we could relax and not have to worry about planning too much on our honeymoon. We chose this cruise line because they have amazing amenities, and it was everything we dreamed of.
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
We wanted eucalyptus and roses, and I had reviewed countless wedding boards online that had given me an idea of what I wanted.
We hired Bruce Wayne Florals because our wedding planner highly recommended them, and we knew it was the perfect choice when we attended our mock table set up. It was all so beautiful we literally didn’t change a thing.
What was your menu inspiration?
We had a unique situation with our wedding caterer in that the owner of Catering by the Family is a good friend of my husband’s family, so it was an easy choice. The menu inspiration was primarily based on having options for everyone. We had our filet and fish with our favorite greens and feta salad to start.
Catering by the Family has awesome, unique dish options, especially in their hors d'oeuvres. Our favorite was the Cuban sandwich egg rolls. We loved the service; everything came out timely and was delicious, and we got to enjoy our entire meal before we started partying.
How did your wedding rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
Our wedding rentals made our wedding look so simply elegant and it all went perfectly with the look of the venue. It all was so well put together, it seemed like it was meant to go in that space.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a wedding DJ who cared about his craft of mixing and not just shuffled premade playlists. We also wanted someone who would take our input in music choices into consideration.
We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because they seemed extremely professional and even had multiple DJs from their company reach out to us so that we could decide for ourselves whom we thought would be the best fit.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don't rush. Try to envision what they see as their perfect day. We would highly recommend Parties A'La Carte to save you from a lot of hard decisions. Having a videographer, especially Bonnie Newman Creative, was one of the best decisions we made.
