Ivana and Mike’s jewel-toned St. Pete wedding incorporated vintage furniture, hand-painted signage, and a hanging flower ceremony backdrop, to create a dreamy winter celebration in the most whimsical of ways.
“Our theme was classic, boho-chic,” Ivana shared. “We chose a color palette of merlot and navy, with hints of mauve, gold, pale pink, and emerald. The darkness of the merlot and navy looked perfect for our wintertime wedding and gave our ambiance the classy yet romantic vibe we were going for.”
As most fur baby parents will agree, their pets are everything. Imagining their big day, the bride and groom knew that incorporating their dog, Willow Brooke, into the festivities was imperative.
“We couldn’t think any higher of FairyTail Pet Care‘s service! They took amazing care of Willow Brooke before, during, and after our wedding. During our first look with Willow, she almost didn’t come to us — That’s how good they are,” Ivana joked. “FairyTail Pet Care truly is worth the cost as they not only provide amazing service, but also something priceless, a piece of mind! Mike and I would hire them again in a heartbeat and recommend them to anyone planning a wedding with pets! They go above and beyond to make sure everyone is well cared for!”
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In search of a St. Pete wedding caterer that could impress their 85 guests with a wide variety of food, Ivana and Mike reached out to Olympia Catering to get the job done right.
“We hired Olympia because two years prior we went to a friend’s wedding who had used them, and Mike remembered how amazing their pasta was,” Ivana exclaimed. “Their service was excellent! Darren, the owner was able to come to the reception for a walk-through, which was awesome and very helpful! He also helped execute the idea of having the cake displayed on a vintage grand piano at the reception space. The team was awesome and everything was delicious!”
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The couple already had an idea of who they would hire for their wedding entertainment after attending a friend’s wedding, after being blown away by how well the DJ kept the party going.
“We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because their DJ, Ben, was so awesome at a prior wedding we had attended,” Ivana shared. “Our DJ, Jason Tally was excellent! He made sure to let our guests know about the photo booth, that their place cards doubled as an ornament, and the light services he provided really transformed the space!”
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With both Ivana and Mike agreeing to disagree about their most cherished memories, one thing’s clear; they definitely had quite the celebration.
“From the ceremony, my uncle and I put so much work into to the after-party at our hotel suite, the night was truly unforgettable,” Ivana beamed. “After everyone left the reception, my dad pulled a lounger from the poolside into our living room and was serving prosciutto on it! He literally ordered an entire salted pig leg and wine while the guests formed a line going all the way out of the door!”
Why did you choose to incorporate your pet into your wedding?
Our fur babies are a big part of our family! It wouldn’t have felt right if they weren’t involved in our celebration! Our dog, Willow Brooke, spent the morning hanging out while the girls got ready, and then was walked down the aisle by a dear friend of the brides.
We met with FairyTail Pet Care and fell in love with them and the service they offered! We also entered their annual #AdoptDontShop contest where they give away a free wedding package to a lucky couple who adopted their fur baby, and while we didn’t win the grand prize, we still won a discount off of their services! We knew we wanted to include our pup in our special day, but weren’t sure how to make it work financially. Luckily, we were surprised with the most amazing gift at Ivana’s bridal shower. A few different family members all pitched in and gifted us FairyTail’s services!
We couldn’t think any higher of FairyTail Pet Care‘s service! They took amazing care of Willow Brooke before, during, and after our wedding. During our first look with Willow, she almost didn’t come to us — That’s how good they are. FairyTail Pet Care truly is worth the cost as they not only provide amazing service, but also something priceless such as a piece of mind! Mike and I would hire them again in a heartbeat, and recommend them to anyone planning a wedding with pets! They go above and beyond to make sure everyone is well cared for.
The Proposal:
The proposal was perfect! I thought Mike was going to do it during our upcoming cruise, which I was almost dreading because I figured at every moment I would wonder if that is when he is going to propose, so I totally did not see it coming when he proposed a month earlier when my family from Germany was in town!
My family was staying at the Guy Harvey Outpost Resort, and we figured while we were staying there, we may as well have our friends and additional family over to hang out and meet the family in town from Germany. This included a group of Mike’s closest friends and his family. As my mom and I were transferring the items from the cooler to the refrigerator, I remember thinking that we may have to Photoshop Mike into the group photo since he was still golfing! Once we got settled into the room, we went down to take the group photo. My mom mentioned that my grandma, Oma, wouldn’t be able to walk to the beach for the photo, so I suggested just taking it by the pool since it was so hot anyway. My mom said, “No,” that most of the group was already at the beach, so I kissed my Oma goodbye and went to the beach to take the photo. Walking down, I eventually saw Mike then noticed all the cameras, and family members surrounding us. Thank God it was recorded because I blacked out from the adrenaline! Mike had a banner made that said, “Melissa Ivana, will you marry me?” I said “yes,” and it was amazing! We both cried and were shaking! After the proposal, we celebrated at the pool bar! It was such an amazing day, full of positive vibes and those we love!
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
Boho vibes.
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio was excellent!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Classy, boho-chic.
What were your colors?
Merlot and navy, with hints of mauve, gold, pale pink, and emerald. The darkness of the merlot and navy looked perfect for our wintertime wedding and gave our ambiance the classy yet romantic vibe we were going for.
What was your menu inspiration?
We didn’t really have a menu inspiration. I initially told Mike I wanted either chicken wings or vegan options. He was not down for either of those and since he didn’t have much input at the wedding — I let him win this one.
We hired Olympia Catering because two years prior we went to a friend’s wedding who had used them, and Mike remembered how amazing their pasta was. Their service was excellent! Darren, the owner was able to come to the reception for a walk-through, which was awesome and very helpful! He also helped execute the idea of having the cake displayed on a vintage grand piano at the reception space. The team was awesome and everything was delicious!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because their DJ, Ben, was so awesome at a prior wedding we had attended.
Our DJ, Jason Tally was excellent! He made sure to let our guests know about the photo booth, that their place cards doubled as an ornament, and the light services he provided really transformed the space!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Give yourself an allotted amount of time to focus on certain things, then move on and give your attention to others. I got too wrapped up in little things instead of focusing on the big picture. However, in the end, our day was still perfect!
Ceremony Venue: Sacred Lands
Cocktail Hour & Reception: Admiral Farragut Academy
Photographer: Concept Photography
Videographer: Roulette-Travel
Planner: Blue Skies Weddings and Events
Pet Planner: FairyTail Pet Care *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Jason’s Creations
Catering, Cake and Linens: Olympia Catering & Events *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bar Service: Spunky Spirits Bartending Services
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates – Jason Tally *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Invitations: Sarah Bubar Designs
Transportation: Suncoach Transport
Ceremony Dress: The White Closet Bridal Company, Lillian West
Reception Dress: Hayley Paige
Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Photo Booth: Brothers Photo Booth
Chair Rentals: Chiavari Chic