After 40 years of marriage, Sandy and Bill's intimate waterfront St. Pete vow renewal featured a tropical ceremony, much different from the blizzard and two feet of snow that occurred during their first ceremony and rainstorm that arose during their 25th wedding anniversary party.
Vibrant pink, bright purple, and vivid yellow floral decor popped against the soothing earth tones of the private beachfront of their wedding venue's marina.
“Our theme was tropical. We went Lilly nuts!” Sandy exclaimed. “Our little flower girls referred to the event as the Lilly Party.”
After hearing about the “mini-mony” package created by Jillian Bartosiak, owner of Perfecting the Plan, which was initially created for couples affected by COVID, Sandy shared that she wished that she was a bride-to-be, which led her to a second walk down the aisle with the man she said “I do” to four decades earlier.
The occasion was especially sentimental as Jillian is the couple's niece, and she also officiated their vow renewal. Knowing that her aunt and uncle's prior anniversaries had faced every type of weather delay imaginable throughout their 42-years, the wedding planner realized the intimate 25-guest setting of the mini-mony made it the perfect opportunity to celebrate all the couple's years of love and dedication to each other.
“Jillian is our niece and one brilliant planner,” the proud aunt gushed. “She supplied all the vendors and did it all.”
When the retirees relocated from New Jersey to Tampa Bay, they joined the Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club, which sits in the secluded paradise of St. Petersburg and features picturesque water views.
“The venue was an easy choice for us. We are members there, and the service was excellent,” Sandy gushed.
Incorporating all the hallmark moments of a wedding day, the mini-mony featured modern tropical ceremony decor with brightly colored florals, while entertainment provided by Grant Hemond & Associates matched the energy of the atmosphere. To end the evening on a high note, a stunning two-tier wedding cake from The Artistic Whisk featured hand-painted Lilly Pulitzer-inspired tropical palms.
What did you look for in a venue?
It was an easy choice. We are members at Isla del Sol Yacht and Country Club. The service was excellent.
What was your vow-renewal theme?
Tropical. We went Lilly nuts! Our little flower girls referred to the event as the Lilly Party.
What did you look for in a planner?
We chose Perfecting the Plan because Jillian is our niece and one brilliant planner. She supplied all the vendors and did it all.
What was your cake inspiration?
The cake was Lilly inspired!
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Isla del Sol Yacht and Country Club *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Visual Muse Studio
Videographer: Tampaniac Pictures
Planner and Officiant: Perfecting the Plan and MiniMony Weddings *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Iza's Flowers
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rentals: Got You Covered Linens
Invitations: Inky Fingers Key West
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer
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.
