Caslin and Bryce
westshore yacht club
“I wanted our wedding to embody a timeless feel. I didn’t want to follow too many of the social media trends since I wanted it to be something we could look back on and still cherish. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, I was really drawn to the Italian/Mediterranean vibe, with lots of greenery and organic textures. Given my husband’s familial roots in Sicily and our honeymoon in Sicily and Italy, we aimed to infuse elements of that aesthetic into the design.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Caslin and Bryce’s South Tampa wedding combined neutral white flora and greenery paired with gold accents, woven rattan elements, and a setting reminiscent of Italy’s southern coast.
“I wanted our wedding to embody a timeless feel. I didn’t want to follow too many of the social media trends since I wanted it to be something we could look back on and still cherish. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, I was really drawn to the Italian/Mediterranean vibe, with lots of greenery and organic textures. Given my husband’s familial roots in Sicily and our honeymoon in Sicily and Italy, we aimed to infuse elements of that aesthetic into the design,” the bride shared. “Green is my favorite color, and I love the outdoors, so I wanted to maintain a neutral color palette with hints of green throughout! We felt that the venue itself was incredibly beautiful, so we didn’t want to take away from its existing charm.”
The Clearwater couple envisioned a fall waterfront celebration with their 180 guests. Preliminary searches led the bride to other venue options before she discovered the Westshore Yacht Club through the many real wedding portfolios on Marry Me Tampa Bay. The beautiful architecture and picturesque outdoor space far exceeded the other locations Caslin was considering, and both knew it was the ideal choice upon their first visit.
“Initially, we had chosen a different wedding venue, but before signing the contract, I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t the right place for us. It just didn’t feel like us. So, I quickly searched on Marry Me Tampa Bay for outdoor wedding venues in Tampa and stumbled upon Westshore Yacht Club. I had done hundreds of searches before and never seen the Westshore Yacht Club so it was truly a timely thing! I reached out to them, and we scheduled a tour that week. As soon as we set foot on the grounds, we knew this was the perfect wedding venue for us! We had envisioned an outdoor ceremony by the water, and it fulfilled everything we had dreamed of. I also wanted a venue that was naturally beautiful, requiring minimal additional decoration, and the Westshore Yacht Club was exactly that,” Caslin raved. “We selected the Westshore Yacht Club because it offered the perfect blend of Mediterranean and Florida-style ambiance. It has a natural beauty without us needing to do anything to it. Additionally, the on-site coordinator, Amy Winkleman, was an absolute delight to work with. Her kindness and professionalism kept me relaxed throughout the entire wedding planning journey. She was certainly a major factor in our decision to choose the Westshore Yacht Club. From coordination and planning to food and service, everything surpassed our expectations at this venue!”
The pair prioritized key aspects of their October wedding to set the scene for an ideal party atmosphere. With delicious cuisine, an open bar, and engaging entertainment, the celebration was orchestrated for a memorable guest experience.
“The elements that were the most important were music, food, and endless drinks, the recipe for a fun party! We wanted to make sure that our guests felt well accommodated and could simply have a great time. If they were enjoying themselves, so were we!” the bride beamed. “Thanks to our incredible vendor team, we successfully met all three of these elements.”
The expert team at Grant Hemond & Associates provided the top-notch music throughout the evening. The DJ’s perfect balance of professionalism and energy helped the event run smoothly from ceremony to reception and kept everyone on the dance floor during the party.
“Choosing a DJ was a very important decision for our wedding. We knew that it could make or break the reception vibes. We were looking for someone who could maintain high energy levels and limit song requests yet accurately gauge the crowd. It was essential to find a DJ who would respect our song recommendations and refrain from playing specific songs as requested. My in-laws have used Grant Hemond & Associates many times for their past parties, so booking the DJ was actually our initial vendor decision upon getting engaged!” Caslin gushed. “Fortunately, we secured their services early in the planning process. The DJ was phenomenal and truly brought the energy to the reception! We received countless compliments about how enjoyable he was and how great the music was. He even incorporated some Irish songs and let my Irish cousins take over the mic in leading a group dance, so he was just such a great sport. Thanks to him, people were dancing non-stop throughout the entire night!”
Loved ones from near and far traveled to the Sunshine State to support Caslin and Bryce at their nuptials. Being surrounded by so many special friends and family throughout the evening will be forever engrained in the bride’s memory.
“Having all of our family together to celebrate with us the entire weekend was truly unforgettable,” Caslin reminisced. “We had over 20+ family members fly in from Ireland, along with relatives from NYC, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and various parts of Florida. Being surrounded by so much love and our favorite people made the entire day so incredibly memorable. Dancing all night with them and uniting our families together created lasting memories that we’ll cherish forever!”
The Proposal:
My husband proposed at the Safety Harbor Marina! He told me we were going out to dinner with his family (to make sure I got dressed up) and suggested we head downtown early to catch a sunset walk. He popped the question just as the sun was setting, with a photographer secretly capturing the moment. Then, he surprised me by arranging for our families to join us for dinner afterward!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My husband and I chose to do a joint bach party in Puerto Rico with all of our friends. Many of our bridal party members have been friends for years, so it was something we all wanted to experience together! We stayed in San Juan for four nights and had an incredible time. During the day, the guys and girls had their own separate activities and meals before meeting up at bars and clubs in the evenings. Our adventures included jet skiing, sailing on a catamaran, enjoying the beach, and playing games. We chose Puerto Rico because my husband and I had visited a few years prior and had a blast, always intending to return and share the experience with our friends.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We both love to travel, and I particularly enjoy planning trips for us. So, I organized our 10-day honeymoon to Sicily and Italy! Although I had visited Italy before, I had never explored the Southern region, where my husband’s ancestry lies, making it a meaningful and beautiful journey for us both.
Our itinerary was a blend of relaxing at stunning hotels and backpacking! We began in Palermo, where we spent three nights before flying to Naples and staying in Sorrento for another three nights. During our time there, we visited Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and Positano. We then traveled by train to Rome, where we stayed for two nights, before taking another train to Florence for our final two nights and enjoying a day trip to Tuscany. Some of our unforgettable highlights included a boat day, a pasta-making class, a vineyard/winery tour, spa days, getting lost in the streets, eating countless plates of pasta, and, of course, enjoying tons of wine!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I wanted our wedding to embody a timeless feel. I didn’t want to follow too many of the social media trends since I wanted it to be something we could look back on and still cherish. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, I was really drawn to the Italian/Mediterranean vibe, with lots of greenery and organic textures. Given my husband’s familial roots in Sicily and our honeymoon in Sicily and Italy, we aimed to infuse elements of that aesthetic into the design.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Initially, we had chosen a different wedding venue, but before signing the contract, I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t the right place for us. It just didn’t feel like us. So, I quickly searched on Marry Me Tampa Bay for outdoor wedding venues in Tampa and stumbled upon Westshore Yacht Club. I had done hundreds of searches before and never seen the Westshore Yacht Club so it was truly a timely thing! I reached out to them, and we scheduled a tour that week. As soon as we set foot on the grounds, we knew this was the perfect wedding venue for us! We had envisioned an outdoor ceremony by the water, and it fulfilled everything we had dreamed of. I also wanted a venue that was naturally beautiful, requiring minimal additional decoration, and the Westshore Yacht Club was exactly that.
We selected the Westshore Yacht Club because it offered the perfect blend of Mediterranean and Florida-style ambiance. It has a natural beauty without us needing to do anything to it. Additionally, the on-site coordinator, Amy Winkleman, was an absolute delight to work with. Her kindness and professionalism kept me relaxed throughout the entire wedding planning journey. She was certainly a major factor in our decision to choose the Westshore Yacht Club. From coordination and planning to food and service, everything surpassed our expectations at this venue!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Choosing a DJ was a very important decision for our wedding. We knew that it could make or break the reception vibes. We were looking for someone who could maintain high energy levels and limit song requests yet accurately gauge the crowd. It was essential to find a DJ who would respect our song recommendations and refrain from playing specific songs as requested.
My in-laws have used Grant Hemond & Associates many times for their past parties, so booking the DJ was actually our initial vendor decision upon getting engaged! Fortunately, we secured their services early in the planning process. The DJ was phenomenal and truly brought the energy to the reception! We received countless compliments about how enjoyable he was and how great the music was. He even incorporated some Irish songs and let my Irish cousins take over the mic in leading a group dance, so he was just such a great sport. Thanks to him, people were dancing non-stop throughout the entire night!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
While all the vendors exceeded my expectations, I was blown away by our florist! I shared some Pinterest photos of my vision for the flowers, unsure if it would be possible to do. However, our florist not only brought my vision to life but exceeded it beyond my imagination! Instead of a traditional floral arch at the end of the aisle, I wanted a half-circle floral arrangement on the floor surrounding us, creating the illusion of being in a field while also hiding nearby steps and railings. Our florist executed this concept flawlessly; it was undoubtedly my favorite decorative piece at the wedding.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Open a travel credit card and book all of your wedding expenses to earn points! We utilized this strategy and ended up staying at some of the finest hotels in Italy for a fraction of the cost or even for free, thanks to the points we accumulated through our wedding costs!
