Kelci and Josh's Clearwater private estate wedding was a bohemian-inspired celebration with stunning views of the water. Following an outdoor ceremony, guests dined and danced beneath a clear open-air tent surrounded by soft draping, wispy pampas grass, and a plethora of candlelight.
“The theme of our wedding was boho neutral. I loved this theme because of the time of the year, and the accents of the property went so well with the idea and my own personal taste,” the bride shared. “Our personalities and design styles typically tend to lean more neutral, timeless, and natural. I was trying to avoid the current wedding trends so we could always look back and relate to our personal style and touches that were selected for this special day. We chose from a very neutral earth-tone color palette. We always knew that we would stick with neutral colors, but once we decided on this estate as our wedding venue, I wanted all the color choices to blend with the home, the roof, the landscaping, etc. I had an image in my head and really tried to tie everything together to bring it to life.”
The bride and groom elected to host their nuptials at a private Clearwater residence that belonged to friends. The unique setting was one of Kelci's favorite attributes, knowing that they would be the only people to be wed at the beautiful property.
“The venue was unique. I ultimately decided on this venue because it wasn't just another venue where hundreds of weddings had been held. We are the first and the only to be had there. I remember liking other wedding venues in the beginning, but once I began looking up photos, I found repetitive photos of several different brides, grooms, and families. I wanted something different,” the bride articulated. “We chose Belleair Beach as our wedding venue because of the spectacular views and the beautiful estate, and we value a close relationship with the owners.”
The Odessa couple transformed the private residence into a dreamy, tented reception space for their 100 guests. By curating decorative rentals, including specialty tables and chairs and place settings, the property transformed into their bohemian wedding vision.
“The rentals provided us with such a romantic setting,” Kelci beamed. “From the beautiful clear tent with chandeliers on every corner to the gorgeous farmhouse tables, china/crystal, tabletop decor, and the security of backup generators to keep the party going all night, rain or shine.”
Although the weather took a turn just before the ceremony, the intimate atmosphere made for an unforgettable memory for the bride.
“The rainy romantic ceremony and dancing the night away with our friends and family will be two things I will never forget,” Kelci reminisced. “I was truly upset when I found out the rain was coming during the evening of our wedding, but I will never forget walking down the aisle with my father and seeing the most important people in our lives standing in the pouring rain as I passed by and approached the altar, where our wedding parties, Josh, and our officiant had been standing for several minutes- soaking wet. It was such a surreal moment to see how much we meant to these friends and family members who sacrificed getting wet and ruining their beautiful outfits, hair, and makeup for the evening.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Nashville, Tennessee. I am a true country girl and country music fan and I thought this would be a perfect fit for me and my country girls to broadcast our array of cowgirl boots.
The Proposal:
Josh and I were both born and raised in Odessa, FL. We did not grow up together or know one another until after college, but once we met and began dating, we both came to realize we had similar interests growing up.
One of those interests included boating and skiing on Lake Keystone. I am sure we passed each other several times on the lake, unknowingly. We dated several years before we were fortunate enough to purchase our forever home on Lake Keystone. Josh then bought a boat, and sunset cruising became one of our favorite things.
Josh had a secret photographer capture our proposal one evening on one of our sunset cruises; he asked me to marry him on our boat and on our lake, watching a beautiful sunset in the backyard of our home.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We plan to visit Greece.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The theme of our wedding was boho neutral. I loved this theme because of the time of the year, and the accents of the property went so well with the idea and my own personal taste. Our personalities and design styles typically tend to lean more neutral, timeless, and natural. I was trying to avoid the current wedding trends so we could always look back and relate to our personal style and touches that were selected for this special day.
What were your colors?
We chose from a very neutral earth-tone color palette. We always knew that we would stick with neutral colors, but once we decided on this estate as our wedding venue, I wanted all the color choices to blend with the home, the roof, the landscaping, etc. I had an image in my head and really tried to tie everything together to bring it to life.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We had wonderful vendors, and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Our caterer really blew me away. They helped us create our vision for cocktail hour and for dinner. I had no idea what to feed my guests, but the chef created my menu and made all of my food dreams come true. I am a huge seafood fan, while my husband tends to eat more casually. We had the best selection of both worlds. From caviar-topped raw oysters on the half shell to homemade truffle lobster-stuffed ravioli and even simple pleasures like potato skins and sliced tenderloin (the groom's favorite).
I couldn't/wouldn't have done it without our wedding planner. Once I discussed my visions with her, she created the most creative mood boards and floor plans and knew of every vendor to use that would fit the needs of my venue plans. Our florist also played a huge role in my vision with the types and colors of florals that were provided. Our bartenders kept my guests hydrated and the party going. They made freshly crafted, beautiful cocktails that were truly delicious.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Follow your heart and not the trends. Imagine being old and grey and looking back at your wedding pictures. Also, pay extra for the entertainment! It's worth it.
