Cheyanne and Preston’s intimate Clearwater Beach wedding relied on nature to inspire their soft watery color palette and neutral minimalist decor. The natural florals and sea glass details offered a fresh take on the typical beach wedding.

“Our wedding theme was very simple and pretty. Clearwater Beach is beautiful; we wanted to let the scenery do the majority of the talking! The simplicity of it all really allowed the beauty of the palm trees, string lights, and sunset to stand out,” Cheyanne beamed. “All of our tables were decorated with candles in vases, shards of blue-green sea glass, and seafoam colored cheesecloth runners. We had gorgeous flower arrangements that just flowed so beautifully in the breeze on our arch. Our wedding colors were all considered ‘sea glass’ colors. I was super inspired by the soft shades of greens and blues that make you think of the ocean.”

The couple vacationed together to Clearwater Beach, which spurred them to relocate to Tampa Bay, where they now call Hudson home.

Cheyanne and Preston searched for a waterfront wedding venue that celebrated the Florida lifestyle.

“The Flamingo deck at the Hilton Clearwater Beach was the perfect space to give us the indoor/outdoor feel. We hired the Hilton Clearwater Beach because of their location and because of the wedding packages that they offered for the size of the wedding that we wanted,” the bride explained. “We wanted a place that would be able to make our visions come to life, from the food to the table setting and the service. I knew the Hilton was the perfect venue for us after just one meeting with my venue coordinator, Candice, who was able to show me exactly everything that they had to offer. I told her our expectations for our wedding day, and she went above and beyond to blow anything we had originally imagined out of the water.”

Cheyanne and Preston planned their nuptials to fall on their six-year anniversary, so when COVID-19 threatened their wedding plans, they stayed steadfast in hosting their celebration on their sentimental date. Although their guest list dropped from roughly 65 guests to 35 guests due to travel restrictions, the couple believed the overall experience of their intimate wedding, especially the jaw-dropping sunset, was incredibly special and unique.

“Not only was July 18th the best day of our lives but it also included the best sunset that anybody has ever seen in Florida,” the bride gushed. “Our wedding was unique because everything about it was so ‘us’. It was beautiful, it was fun, it was sweet and it was full of so much love.”

When selecting their wedding cake, the pair opted for a non-traditional cupcake tower accented with sugar sea glass. They sought a confectioner who could create cakes that were as beautiful as they were delicious.

“We wanted a bakery that could give us something yummy and that offered some unique flavors!” Cheyanne revealed. “The Artistic Whisk was one of the three vendors that we were able to choose from in our Hilton package. We really loved looking at the cakes they showcased on their website, and they had so many amazing flavors to choose from.”

Even through 2020’s year of uncertainty, the couple maintained that starting their lives together and celebrating with the people who mattered the most made the day memorable. It was Cheyanne and Preston’s closest friends and family who created cherished and surprising moments for the couple.

“The toasts given by our maid-of-honor and best woman were very special and memorable. They were both so heartfelt and definitely did not leave a dry eye in the room,” the bride reminisced. “The Mother/Son dance was also very memorable and included a classic switch-a-roo from a slow dance into Gangnam Style that nobody was expecting.”

What did you look for in a wedding venue?​
We wanted a wedding venue that allowed us to be outside and by the ocean; the Flamingo deck at the Hilton Clearwater Beach was the perfect space to give us the indoor/outdoor feel. We wanted a place that would be able to make our visions come to life, from the food to the table setting and the service.

We hired the Hilton Clearwater Beach because of their location and because of the wedding packages that they offered for the size of the wedding that we wanted. I knew the Hilton was the perfect venue for us after just one meeting with my venue coordinator Candice who was able to show me exactly everything that they had to offer. I told her our expectations for our wedding day, and she went above and beyond to blow anything we had originally imagined out of the water. We also chose the Hilton because of how professional and personable Candice was when meeting with her.

How would you describe your theme?
Our wedding theme was very simple and pretty. Clearwater Beach is beautiful! We wanted to let the scenery do the majority of the talking. All of our tables were decorated with candles in vases, shards of blue-green sea glass, and seafoam colored cheesecloth runners. We had gorgeous flower arrangements that just flowed so beautifully in the breeze on our arch. The simplicity of it all really allowed the beauty of the palm trees, string lights, and sunset to stand out.

What were your colors? 
Our wedding colors were all considered “sea glass” colors. I was super inspired by the soft shades of greens and blues that make you think of the ocean. I wanted our wedding to reflect the beach and the ocean without being your stereotypical “beach themed wedding.”

The Proposal:​
We were on a weekend getaway to Hilton Head Island where Preston planned on proposing on the beach, only to get there during a giant wind storm. This caused plans to change, and Preston proposed while I was getting ready to go out on a dinner date. He put a little note in the bottom of a wine glass asking me to marry him and then got down on one knee with the ring. I said yes and jumped into his arms because I had been waiting for this moment for five long years!

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We did not have a honeymoon because of COVID and traveling restrictions. So many of our friends and families came from out of town, so instead, we decided to take a week-long staycation and spend time with our loved ones together.

What did you look for in a wedding bakery?​
We wanted a bakery that could give us something yummy and that offered some unique flavors! The Artistic Whisk was one of the three vendors that we were able to choose from in our Hilton package. We really loved looking at the cakes they showcased on their website, and they had so many amazing flavors to choose from.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Remember to breathe and have fun! The planning process was way more detailed and stressful than I ever anticipated, and I would not have been able to have done any of it without the help of my family, friends, and my hubby.

Venue and Caterer: Hilton Clearwater Beach *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Paisley Sunshine Photography
Florist: Save the Date Florida
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
DJ: Fast Breaks Entertainment
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Zola
Dress and Bridesmaid Dresses: Maria’s Bridal Connection, Allure Bridal (Bridal) Mori Lee (Bridesmaid)
Shoe Designer: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Bombshell Beauty

Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.