Jessica and Reid's classic Tampa wedding showcased elegant sophistication, featuring a monochromatic color palette complemented by crisp white linens, white flowers, and baby's breath arrangements.
“We chose a classic black and white theme for our wedding with a modern take on certain aspects,” the bride shared. “I wanted simple elegance, so we did not have an accent color.”
Born and raised in Tampa, the couple, who met during adolescence, chose to marry in their hometown. They selected their wedding venue with special significance, as it has hosted generations of the groom’s family weddings.
“Reid and I met in high school and grew up in South Tampa together,” the bride beamed. “This has always been our home, and Reid's family has been married at our venue for generations.”
The bride wore a square neck gown with a front slit and a back bodice and train godet, which was hand embroidered with a beaded floral applique. Her hair was worn in a low bun with strands gently pulled back, resulting in a relaxed yet elegant style. The Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup artists created Jessica's hair and makeup look while enhancing the bridal party's beauty.
“I had seen Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup on Instagram tags in other weddings of friends and acquaintances. I knew they were local and that they would do an incredible job. I wanted to feel like the prettiest version of myself, and Adore Bridal succeeded,” the bride raved. “I didn’t want to be so overdone that I didn’t feel like myself. I felt beautiful, and I felt like I stayed true to myself. I was a fan of their work space during my trial, and they were gracious enough to host my bridal party for our preparations the morning of the wedding.”
The February wedding was held across the expansive grounds of Tampa's oldest golf and country club. The ceremony unfolded on the lawn, set against a picturesque backdrop of lush putting greens and swaying palm trees. To enhance the ambiance of the event, a harpist provided enchanting background music.
The bride hired Tampa wedding planner Oh My Occasions to alleviate the stress of managing the intricate details and coordinating multiple vendors, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable planning process. Conveniently, a mutual friend connected the couple with the ideal planner that she had been searching for.
“I needed someone with a lot of experience and patience because I had no idea what I was doing. I am easily overwhelmed,” the bride confided. “We knew Amber and her team at Oh My Occasions through her husband. She laid everything out clearly from start to finish. I knew she was in control of every aspect, and nothing would be overlooked. She made me feel at ease.”
“We had a monochrome color palette and kept things feeling modern and bright. With lots of candlelight and a clean aesthetic, it felt sophisticated and timeless,” Amber Schryver, owner of Oh My Occasions, added. “I love how the strings during the ceremony were a nod to both their parents' weddings and how they incorporated their dogs into their wedding (peek at the custom collars!). Their love spanned many years, from a childhood romance to their wedding day, so it was beautiful to see how their friends and family had watched their love story grow and come together to celebrate their marriage.”
In addition to hiring a wedding planner, the bride sought inspiration and vendor recommendations from the experts at Marry Me Tampa Bay.
“I pulled a lot of my inspiration from featured weddings,” the bride stated. “It helped me a lot to know what vendors I needed to look for and what vibe I wanted.”
Following the vows, 180 guests gathered at the indoor reception to honor the new bride and groom and to dance the night away. To enhance the atmosphere of the event, Jessica opted to include an assortment of elegant decor pieces from Kate Ryan Event Rentals in the reception.
A wedding is an event filled with cherished memories, many of which will stay with Jessica forever. Among all the wonderful moments of this event, she particularly cherished taking time to connect and share several quiet moments alone with Reid.
“The most memorable moment from our wedding was getting a chance to do our portraits just the two of us with our dogs. The whole evening was magical, but it was nice to have a moment to connect with each other,” the bride reminisced. “Our private dance at the end had the same effect, allowing us to reconnect alone for a moment and reflect on our perfect day.”
“The groom's late father had a plaque in a building at the venue, and they took photos there,” the planner added. “I love being able to bring passed loved ones into a couple's special day to really honor their importance and memory.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Virgin Voyages Cruise to the Bahamas – a fun, all-inclusive way to travel and keep everyone together.
What was your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I had seen Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup on Instagram tags at other weddings of friends and acquaintances. I knew they were local and that they would do an incredible job.
I wanted to feel like the prettiest version of myself, and Adore Bridal succeeded. I didn’t want to be so overdone that I didn’t feel like myself. I felt beautiful, and I felt like I stayed true to myself. I was a fan of their work space during my trial, and they were gracious enough to host my bridal party for our preparations the morning of the wedding.
The Proposal:
Reid proposed to me in the living room of our new house. We had just moved in together and I was totally not expecting a proposal anytime soon. If I’m being honest – neither of us can remember what he said to me, but I remember it being very sweet. We were both so excited the moment became a blur. He had planned for a friend to take photos for us downtown and made dinner reservations, so the day took off from there.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I needed someone with a lot of experience and patience because I had no idea what I was doing. I am easily overwhelmed.
We knew Amber and her team at Oh My Occasions through her husband. She laid everything out clearly from start to finish. I knew she was in control of every aspect, and nothing would be overlooked. She made me feel at ease.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
The Dominican Republic.
How did the rentals add to the ambiance of your wedding?
Kate Ryan Event Rentals provided the chairs and much of our table settings that just brought the whole event together.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We chose a classic black and white theme for our wedding with a modern take on certain aspects.
What were your colors?
I wanted simple elegance, so we did not have an accent color.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our photographer and planner far exceeded my expectations. They were the most incredible and calming presences, and they expertly navigated all hiccups and changes of plans. They made friends with all of our friend's wedding parties and family and made our night the most memorable event.
