Tara and Leon’s waterfront Dunedin wedding featured rustic inspired elements and a calming color palette of champagne, sand and blush. The Tampa Bay bride and groom wed in Dunedin for its gorgeous sunsets and inviting environment.

“We wanted a cozy, intimate space within our budget that would guarantee heartfelt memories to be cherished and cater to guest accommodations,” the bride explained. “We chose the waterfront venue at Beso Del Sol for the infinite horizons of the backdrop of Florida’s Gulf Coast including Honeymoon Island. It was the perfect fit for the start of our lives together and exceeded our expectations. Pam Dawson, the venue coordinator, provided us with a wealth of information on preferred vendors. She also assisted in the preparation of the timeline, organization of the seating chart, and floor plan for the reception. Beso Del Sol accommodated all our needs.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT BESO DEL SOL | EMAIL

Searching for a local Dunedin wedding caterer who could provide a menu that would impress their guests in both presentation and taste, the couple selected Amici’s Catered Cuisine.

“If we cut corners anywhere, we didn’t want it to be on the menu. It was our goal to treat those who love and support us with only the best! We wanted the food to be extraordinary and to be able to provide options,” Tara shared. “We chose Italian with hopes people would eat up and fall in love with the variety of colorful pastas in Amici’s Catered Cuisine pasta bar. Their staff is kindhearted, caring, and committed to the finest in taste and professionalism and didn’t take away from the intimacy of our wedding.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT AMICI’S CATERED CUISINE | EMAIL

Aside from incorporating their adorable pet Schnoodle named Scooter into their wedding, the bride reminisced that some of her most memorable moments included the people who came together to celebrate their love.

“The coming together of our loved ones will always be cherished! We had family and friends from Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Florida. We surrounded ourselves with love on the first day of our lives together and are grateful for the blessings and support of those that could celebrate with us as we declared our union,” Tara reminisced.

How did you incorporate you and your spouse’s personalities into the wedding?
Leon’s calm and romantic personality was incorporated via the wedding colors, and both our personalities shown thru in the small details. I couldn’t have a wedding without sunflowers, as they are known to be the happiest of flowers and symbolize adoration, loyalty, and longevity. These were included as accents into the bouquets and around the base of the cake with greenery. The cake also had a vine of sunflowers that intertwined from the tree trunk base with both our initials, T+L, carved into it. The reception table centerpieces included charming, earthy chalk colored mason jars with ivory floral that sat on top of wood log slices to enhance the organic, rustic feel.

The Proposal:
Leon proposed on Sunday, December 23rd. I had just picked my Mom up at the airport, and we arrived at his house. She was aware of the surprise and kept it a secret. He asked me to come into the house through the front door versus the garage. I opened the door to a walkway of rose petals and candles that led to a candlelit heart! There he was with Scooter, his fur baby, on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?” Scooter had the ring around his neck, and the song, Perfect, by Ed Sheeran and Beyonce was playing.

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration? 
We wanted an intimate wedding: simple, rustic and heartwarming.

What were your colors?
Champagne, sand, and blush.

What did you look for in a wedding catering company and what was your menu inspiration?
Taste was first and foremost. If we cut corners anywhere, we didn’t want it to be on the menu. It was our goal to treat those who love and support us with only the best! We wanted the food to be extraordinary and to be able to provide options.

We chose Italian with hopes people would eat up and fall in love with the variety of colorful pastas (bowtie, penne and cheese tortellini) in Amici’s Catered Cuisine pasta bar. Their staff is kindhearted, caring, and committed to the finest in taste and professionalism and didn’t take away from the intimacy of our wedding.

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted a cozy, intimate space within our budget that would guarantee heartfelt memories to be cherished and cater to guest accommodations.

We chose the waterfront venue at Beso Del Sol for the infinite horizons of the backdrop of Florida’s Gulf Coast including Honeymoon Island. It was the perfect fit for the start of our lives together and exceeded our expectations. Pam Dawson, the venue coordinator, provided us with a wealth of information on preferred vendors. She also assisted in the preparation of the timeline, organization of the seating chart, and floor plan for the reception. Beso Del Sol accommodated all our needs.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Keep it simple! Shorten the guest list by inviting those you have spoken to the most in the last few months and consider your closest relationships. Surround yourselves with those who will strengthen and support your marriage. Splurge wisely and skip what doesn’t matter. Most importantly, prioritize love and your partner, the meaning of the union and the commitment being made. The solidity of the love is the most important element!

Ceremony Venue: Andrews Memorial Chapel
Reception Venue: Beso Del Sol Resort *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Kennedy Grace Photography
Florist: The Bride’s Bouquet
Caterer: Amici’s Catered Cuisine *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Chantilly Cakes
DJ: Boone’s Professional Events
Officiant: Pastor Joel Eason from Bridgeway Church
Invitations: Etsy
Transportation: Imperial One
Dress Shop and Designer: Alfred Angelo
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Bearer of the Bling Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Camposecco Artistry