Brittany and Tyson’s destination St. Pete wedding featured a traditional Catholic ceremony followed by a dazzling waterfront wedding reception with a champagne and gold glitter color palette.
“Together we decided what our top priorities were, where we were willing to splurge, and where we felt we didn’t need to,” the bride explained. “A fabulous venue with a beautiful view, great company, a great band and a great bar were at the top of our list. We were most concerned with ensuring everyone had a great time!”
The Washington D.C. couple chose to have their destination wedding in their hometown of Tampa Bay to complement a neutral but elegant theme for their waterfront St. Petersburg wedding at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club.
“We were pretty picky when it came to venues. Our guest list and head count significantly limited our options in terms of space. But more importantly, why have guests travel all the way to Florida from across the country to huddle them up in a ballroom without any sort of Florida feel?!” Brittany shared. “Having grown up on the water, we really wanted to showcase the beauty of our hometown, while incorporating the groom’s favorite past time, golf! Isla Del Sol’s pristine golf amenities and breathtaking ballroom with stunning waterfront beach scenes and beautiful sunsets pretty much sold us, sight unseen!”
The couple searched for a Tampa Bay wedding photographer who had optimal experience with their reception venue and who could capture their “must have” shots.
“We had a lot of photo-ops as far as Isla was concerned, and we knew that we would be in a race against time with a late wedding start and a lengthy Catholic ceremony, so we needed someone who could navigate the grounds efficiently,” Brittany explained. “After our first phone conversation with Brian of Brian C. Idocks Photographics, I just felt like he was a realist, very down to earth, not trying to up-sell and nickel and dime us every step of the way. Best of all, their packages included engagement shots to get familiar with them beforehand and a photo album design after the big day, when all your creative juices are all dried up! Brian and Derica were wonderful to work with. They were very open to suggestions and making sure our needs were met. They were extremely professional and responsive throughout the entire process and day of.”
Since Brittany was planning her wedding from afar, she relied heavily on recommendations from her wedding venue coordinator for all of her St. Petersburg wedding rental needs.
“We were primarily looking for rental vendors who could be a one-stop shop to carry out our vision, without having to employ multiple resources. I literally sat down with Melissa of Isla del Sol and told her what types of linens, chairs, chargers, etc. I was envisioning, and she took care of the rest. Her relationships within the industry speaks volumes and her attention to detail is second to none! We chose Over the Top Rental Linens and Signature Event Rentals because of their specific offerings,” the bride shared.
Looking back, the bride’s most cherished memories were reliving her favorite college songs on the dance floor with family and friends.
“My most memorable moment was dancing to our favorite songs that we once danced to in Tallahassee’s finest establishments, except this time we were surrounded by everyone we love most–our family and closest friends, on our wedding night! Pretty surreal after all of these years together. Another unforgettable moment was when the Florida State Warchant came on. Three-quarter’s of our guests were FSU alums, so there was a lot of tomahawk chopping to say the least,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
The day started out like any other Saturday. We decided to take a mini “stay-cation” and travel from Baltimore (where we were living at the time) to D.C., to finish our last minute Christmas shopping and see the beautiful city all lit up. Well, Tyson had other plans. On our way to dinner, he suggested we take the scenic route through the park and walk by the National Christmas tree, while listening to the carolers. Worried about being late for our dinner reservations, I was adamant that we go straight to the restaurant. But with a little convincing, we were on our way. While we were in the park admiring all of the Christmas lights and decorations, Tyson handed a complete stranger his phone to take a picture of us. (I had already tested the lighting on Snapchat, and it was terrible!) But, Tyson insisted that we take at least one good photo. Annoyed by now, I reluctantly agreed. As the stranger took the shot, Tyson dropped to his knee, and I said YES! (Fun Fact: It was so dark out that I immediately went to the restroom once we arrived at the restaurant, so that I could see what the ring actually looked like, and boy was it a beauty!)
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We looked for someone who was familiar with our venue. We had a lot of photo-ops as far as Isla was concerned, and we knew that we would be in a race against time with a late wedding start and a lengthy Catholic ceremony, so we needed someone who could navigate the grounds efficiently. We also looked for someone who we hit it off with and that we could be ourselves with. It was important for our photographers to understand what we were envisioning on the big day.
Brian of Brian C. Idocks Photographics was referred to us by Melissa at Isla. He was spoken highly of. After our first phone conversation, I just felt like he was a realist, very down to earth, not trying to upsell and nickel and dime us every step of the way. He’s extremely knowledgeable with many years of experience under his belt. Best of all, their packages included engagement shots to get familiar with them beforehand and also photo album design after the big day, when all your creative juices are all dried up! Brian and Derica were wonderful to work with. They were very open to suggestions and making sure our needs were met. They even acted as a little bit of a coordinator at the reception, making sure that everyone was on the same page as far as the timeline was concerned, to ensure they captured every necessary shot! They were extremely professional and responsive throughout the entire process and day of. I would highly recommend them!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Location, location, location. We were pretty picky when it came to venues. Our guest list and head count significantly limited our options in terms of space. But more importantly, why have guests travel all the way to Florida from across the country to huddle them up in a ballroom without any sort of Florida feel?! Having grown up on the water, we really wanted to showcase the beauty of our hometown, while incorporating the groom’s favorite past time, golf!
Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club’s pristine golf amenities and breathtaking ballroom with stunning waterfront beach scenes and beautiful sunsets pretty much sold us, sight unseen! We wanted our guests to enjoy a scenic cocktail hour and sunset views during the dinner, and Isla did just that! Every single guest could enjoy a gulf front view while they enjoyed their dinner! I have to say, Melissa and her team at Isla outdid themselves. I’m pretty neurotic when it comes to details, but they absolutely nailed it. From the start of the planning process through the duration of the reception night, Melissa and her team were extremely responsive and their attention to detail certainly rivaled my own! It truly was a joy to work with someone of Melissa’s caliber. Any bride would be lucky to have her on the big day!
How would you describe your theme?
Our inspiration was neutral elegance at sunset, think lots of ivory, champagne and gold with touches of blush in our florals. We knew we didn’t want to introduce too many colors and be “cookie cutter, matchy-matchy.” I loved a clean polished look of neutral hues, with the sequins from our linens and bridesmaids dresses getting the extra attention, when the candlelight from the reception hit it.
What were your colors?
Champagne and neutrals. Lots of glittery-gold accents, gold sequin details and ivory, with subtle pops of blushes in our floral arrangements. We wanted to keep the color scheme simple and timeless and let the beauty of the venue be the focal point.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t sweat the small stuff & savor every second! So cliche, but so true. The day becomes a blur; make time for yourselves to take it all in!
Ceremony Venue: St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Reception Venue and Caterer: Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club – Melissa Rowjohn *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Brian C. Idocks Photographics
Videographer: Hearts Video
Planner: Liz Kamali Events
Florist: Sharen’s Flowers & Gifts
Linen Rentals: Over the Top Linen Rentals *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Chair Rentals: Signature Event Rentals
Cake: Publix Bakery
Groom’s Cake: Elise Garcia
Band: Bay Kings Band
Officiant: Monsignor Caverly
Invitations: A&P Designs *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Transportation: Network Transportation
Dress Shop and Designer: Nikki’s Glitz and Glam Bridal Boutique – Essence of Australia *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Snapsuits
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Bari Jay
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Mirror Signage: Window Kote
Photo Booth: Prints Charming
