Arianna and Colin
Davis Islands Garden Club
“We wanted to have our wedding completely outdoors, which played a major role in shaping the design. Our goal was to create the feel of an elevated backyard dinner party with long tables and candles under a canopy of string lighting to set the ambiance. Our color palette included greens, whites, creams, purples, and pinks.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Arianna and Colin’s South Tampa wedding combined romantic candlelight, moody blooms in deep shades of plum and berry, and a lush garden setting. The couple exchanged vows surrounded by native foliage before dining and dancing with their closest friends and family in an al fresco waterfront reception.
“We wanted to have our wedding completely outdoors, which played a major role in shaping the design. Our goal was to create the feel of an elevated backyard dinner party with long tables and candles under a canopy of string lighting to set the ambiance,” the bride shared. “Our color palette included greens, whites, creams, purples, and pinks. Since our wedding was in November, I wanted something different from the traditional fall hues. One day on a walk, I noticed a mosaic tile address sign featuring a beautiful mix of purples, greens, and whites, reminiscent of various flowers. Inspired by its unique combination, I took a picture and used it, along with other inspiration images, to guide our color scheme.”
The Tampa couple sought a seasoned wedding planner to help guide the conception of their 134-guest November celebration. They immediately knew that the team at The Olive Tree Weddings would bring their vision to fruition and ensure they enjoyed the entire wedding day experience.
“I wanted either a full or partial planner to assist with vendor outreach, organization, and overall expertise. Thankfully, my sister did some research and found The Olive Tree Weddings; she sent me their social media and website, to ensure their portfolio aligned with our vision, ideas, and personalities before making a decision. We decided to work with The Olive Tree Weddings after our initial phone call with Amanda Biery. Right from the start, she was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I immediately felt that we were aligned with our vision, and her guidance on vendors, layout, and all the details was invaluable,” Arianna raved. “Amanda is personable and trustworthy, which made the entire wedding planning process feel stress-free. She was also incredibly patient—especially when I struggled with certain decisions, like when I texted her for the 100th time about rearranging seating because of a new Instagram picture, or announced that I had bought a fountain for champagne and flowers. I had complete confidence that she and her team would execute our vision, but when we arrived at the venue on our wedding day, we were truly blown away—it exceeded all our expectations. The day ran so smoothly, and if it didn’t we had no idea because the Olive Tree team handled it right away. I’ve already recommended Amanda and her services to my friends in Tampa because our experience with them was seamless. We’re so sad that after two years of planning, our time working together has come to an end!”
The pair personalized their wedding to offer their treasured guests an immersive experience that felt truly Tampa.
“We infused our personalities into the wedding by creating a weekend in Tampa that reflected the things we love to do and the experiences we wanted to share with family and friends. We loved the idea of bringing all of our out-of-town friends and family to Tampa so they could experience everything we love about this city with us,” the bride detailed. “Colin handpicked cigars for guests from Ybor and ensured we had our favorite local beers. I incorporated special details like a champagne floral fountain, and carefully selected songs that were either meaningful to us or that evoked cherished memories with friends and family, performed by the string quartet before and after the ceremony.”
The bride selected wood chairs paired with neutral celadon linens for a soft, homespun look reminiscent of a backyard wedding. Gold flatware and flickering candlesticks added a touch of sparkle, while twinkling bistro lights overhead provided mood lighting as the sun set over the water.
“We have three top memorable moments from the day. Our first unforgettable moment was our first look. We met on the rooftop before heading to the venue with family. Having that quiet, intimate moment together before the festivities began was incredibly grounding for us,” the bride reminisced. “Our second memorable moment was the ceremony. Everything about the ceremony felt and looked enchanting, from the angled bench seating to the flower arches that played off the natural landscape. Colin dedicated a lot of time to writing our ceremony, in collaboration with his uncle, who officiated and shared heartfelt words on our behalf. The ceremony as a whole was a meaningful and cherished moment. Then to cap off the night, we crowd-surfed and sang on stage. It was the perfect way to close an unforgettable evening.”
The Proposal:
Our engagement took place over Labor Day weekend at a vineyard in the North Fork while we were visiting our families. As soon as we arrived, Colin proposed, and we spent the rest of the day celebrating with everyone.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I wanted either a full or partial planner to assist with vendor outreach, organization, and overall expertise. Thankfully, my sister did some research and found The Olive Tree Weddings; she sent me their social media and website, to ensure their portfolio aligned with our vision, ideas, and personalities before making a decision.
We decided to work with The Olive Tree Weddings after our initial phone call with Amanda Biery. Right from the start, she was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I immediately felt that we were aligned with our vision, and her guidance on vendors, layout, and all the details was invaluable. Amanda is personable and trustworthy, which made the entire wedding planning process feel stress-free. She was also incredibly patient—especially when I struggled with certain decisions, like when I texted her for the 100th time about rearranging seating because of a new Instagram picture, or announced that I had bought a fountain for champagne and flowers. I had complete confidence that she and her team would execute our vision, but when we arrived at the venue on our wedding day, we were truly blown away—it exceeded all our expectations. The day ran so smoothly, and if it didn’t we had no idea because the Olive Tree team handled it right away. I’ve already recommended Amanda and her services to my friends in Tampa because our experience with them was seamless. We’re so sad that after two years of planning, our time working together has come to an end!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Since we were married before our November celebration, we ended up honeymooning before it. Our friends had a beautiful wedding in France, so we extended our trip and spent a week in the South of France for our honeymoon. We chose the South of France because it offered the perfect mix of beach club relaxation, unforgettable food, drinks, stunning views, outdoor exploration, and rich culture.
Where did you host your bachelor/bachelorette parties?
We decided not to have traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties. Instead, over the summer I celebrated my bridal shower at my parents’ house in Rhode Island, and afterwards, we spent the weekend in Newport with friends.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted to have our wedding completely outdoors, which played a major role in shaping the design. Our goal was to create the feel of an elevated backyard dinner party with long tables and candles under a canopy of string lighting to set the ambiance.
What were your colors?
Our color palette included greens, whites, creams, purples, and pinks. Since our wedding was in November, I wanted something different from the traditional fall hues. One day on a walk, I noticed a mosaic tile address sign featuring a beautiful mix of purples, greens, and whites, reminiscent of various flowers. Inspired by its unique combination, I took a picture and used it, along with other inspiration images, to guide our color scheme.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
When thinking about which vendors exceeded our expectations, two instantly come to mind—florals and photography.
From the moment we chose Davis Island Garden Club, we knew we wanted to work with Kali of Blue House Florals. She is simply amazing. Floral design was one of the easiest parts of planning because we were fortunate to work with a vendor we truly connected with and trusted. On our wedding day, we were in awe of how everything came together—the bouquets, aisle flowers, fountain, and arches were breathtaking. The table centerpieces popped with color and tied the tablescape together beautifully. Kali brought our floral vision to life in ways we never imagined—our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without her incredible work.
Our photographer, Stephanie Velez, and her team were professional, calming, and brought an energy that was so appreciated amidst the wedding day excitement. We were thrilled to capture two distinct looks with them—first, a more editorial-style shoot at the JW’s Beacon, and second, a series of stunning garden shots throughout our venue. Stephanie and her team also captured the little details and candid moments between us, our family, and friends. Once again, we were lucky to work with a vendor we fully trusted, knowing the results would be photos we’ll cherish for a lifetime.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Enjoy the process. While all the decisions can feel hectic at times, if you’re working with the right people and creating something that reflects who you are, it will feel right and exciting. Don’t forget to relax and soak it all in—everything goes by so fast!
