Waihan and Chester’s intimate Clearwater Beach wedding was a romantic affair with a rooftop ceremony overlooking the ocean and a ballroom reception featuring white florals and hints of orange with tropical accents to bring out their guests’ inner vacation mode.
“We were looking for soft, romantic hues. Flower-wise, we wanted darker greenery with white florals. We incorporated our personalities into the wedding through the aesthetics,” the bride shared. “Our signs and wedding favors were a flamingo motif to tie in the Florida theme. We also managed to incorporate hints of orange into our flowers because I went to the University of Florida, Go Gators!”
While the bride is originally from Tampa, she was living in California while planning her December celebration. She chose Clearwater Beach for its proximity to the beach and abundance of nearby resorts and restaurants. The breathtaking views showcased to the couple’s 55 guests why they moved back to the Sunshine State.
“Outside of the details of the aesthetics, we prioritized guest experience as many of our friends and family traveled a long way to attend the wedding,” Waihan explained. “We were looking for a venue that included catering, lodging, and proximity to the beach, and we were really impressed by the tour and service we received all around by the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach. Also, the venue’s coordinator, Kayla, is amazing to work with and goes above and beyond for her clients.”
The couple sprinkled little bits of Florida all throughout their big day. The ocean view complemented the chiffon bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen’s bowties. Their guests took home luggage tags with gold printed flamingos, while two bright pink flamingos adorned the top of the white wedding cake. Décor from Kate Ryan Event Rentals added touches of gold to the romantic white tablescape along with the tropical table numbers in delicate gold frames.
After researching multiple wedding photographers pre-screened by their planner, Waihan and Chester selected the husband and wife team of Dewitt for Love Photography for their true-to-life editorial approach.
“We ultimately picked Dewitt for Love Photography because we appreciated their photography style, and they were an absolute blast to work with!” the bride beamed.
The couple’s portraits incorporated lots of natural light as the perfect accent for Waihan’s loose beach curls and graceful makeup.
“Having someone who can work with Asian hair texture and complexion was important to me and some of my bridesmaids,” the bride explained. “Grissel, the makeup artist from Femme Akoi Beauty Studio, absolutely nailed it. Their crew arrived punctually on our wedding day and was very attentive to every one of us.”
Looking back, showcasing their love in front of their loved ones made the day unforgettable for Waihan and Chester.
“All the moments were memorable as it was a chance to get all of our loved ones altogether,” the bride reminisced. “However, the first look and the ceremony were the most memorable moments. And, the weather was perfect!”
The Proposal:
During our drive on the Road to Hana in Maui, Chester pulled over at what seemed to be an abandoned area to have a picnic. I was confused initially, as there were barricades. There was a doggie following us the entire time, and Chester asked me to toss banana bread at him as a distraction. When I turned around, he popped the question!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We were open to suggestions. Our planner sent us a number of photographers on her preferred list, and we were able to view their portfolios.
We ultimately picked Dewitt for Love Photography because we appreciated their photography style, and they were an absolute blast to work with.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Outside of the details of the aesthetics, we prioritized guest experience as many of our friends and family traveled a long way to attend the wedding.
We were looking for a venue that included catering, lodging, and proximity to the beach, and we were really impressed by the tour and service we received all around by the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach. Also, the venue’s coordinator, Kayla, is amazing to work with and goes above and beyond for her clients.
What were your hair and makeup inspiration?
Having someone who can work with Asian hair texture and complexion was important to me and some of my bridesmaids.
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio came up as a recommendation from our planner. Grissel, the makeup artist, absolutely nailed it. Their crew arrived punctually on our wedding day and was very attentive to every one of us.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We haven’t had our honeymoon yet, but we plan on going to the Bahamas.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Downtown St. Pete. I thought it checked a lot of boxes in terms of higher-end lodging, entertainment, food, etc.
What was your theme?
It was very Florida-beach, modern romance inspired.
What were your colors?
We were looking for soft, romantic hues. Flower-wise, we wanted darker greenery with white florals, with hints of orange.
Why did you choose to incorporate a photo booth into your wedding day?
We were looking to capture more fun photos of our guests. and we were impressed by the work that The Gala Photobooth has done in the past.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All the vendors did an amazing job, but a special shoutout to our planner, Melanie, for helping us navigate the stress of planning a wedding and making it fun! She was a master project manager in keeping everything in order from start to finish.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
We would highly suggest locking down your vendors early on, especially with the backlog caused by COVID.