Grace and James
“Our inspiration was a Bridgerton-style garden party, though James jokingly refers to the theme as simply ‘flowers.’ We wanted to embrace the spring season, leaning into color while still keeping things classic and timeless. The ceremony was held on the golf course, where the lush greens provided a perfect canvas for vibrant floral accents. The result was elegant but fun, traditional yet vibrant. Our palette featured soft baby blue, paired with several shades of pink—bubblegum, salmon, and peach—with cheerful yellow accents. The goal was to create something eye-catching yet refined, perfectly suited to the spring season and our venue.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Grace and James’ elegant Clearwater wedding featured an abundance of lush flora in a plethora of soft, pastel hues to immerse their guests in a garden-inspired atmosphere. The pair exchanged vows in an outdoor ceremony on a pristine waterfront lawn before dining and dancing in a luxurious ballroom reception.
“Our inspiration was a Bridgerton-style garden party, though James jokingly refers to the theme as simply ‘flowers.’ We wanted to embrace the spring season, leaning into color while still keeping things classic and timeless. The ceremony was held on the golf course, where the lush greens provided a perfect canvas for vibrant floral accents. The result was elegant but fun, traditional yet vibrant,” the bride shared. “Our palette featured soft dusty blue, paired with several shades of pink—bubblegum, salmon, and peach—with cheerful yellow accents. The goal was to create something eye-catching yet refined, perfectly suited to the spring season and our venue.”
The Indian Rocks Beach couple utiized Marry Me Tampa Bay’s extensive portfolio of real weddings to help define the vision for their 116-guest March celebration.
“With so much wedding content online, we appreciated how Marry Me Tampa Bay helped us narrow our vision with real weddings at local venues,” Grace revealed. “It was inspiring to see what was realistically possible in our area. It also helped us see which vendors our wedding planner had worked with regularly, which meant insightful feedback from real experience.”
With a wedding style in mind, the couple turned to the skilled pros at Parties a’ la Carte to guide the planning process and provide valuable recommendations to ensure stress-free preparations, allowing the bride and groom to fully enjoy their wedding day as everything came to fruition.
“We wanted someone experienced, familiar with our venue and area, and well-connected with local vendors. We underestimated just how much work planning a wedding is without a planner. A truly great planner brings a refined, well-honed process to the table—one that lifts the burden off the couple and transforms a stressful experience into an enjoyable one. In that regard, Parties A’ La Carte exceeded all expectations,” Grace raved. “Their team is exceptionally experienced and creative, and they managed to make the entire planning process not only seamless but genuinely enjoyable. They learn what we like and present us with researched options; we only have to do the fun parts! Jessica and Cara brought invaluable insight—effortlessly discerning what would work best and what to avoid, ultimately saving us both time and money. Their professionalism and meticulous attention to detail provided complete peace of mind from start to finish.”
Given the floral-heavy focus of the overall event theme, the bride relied on the creative experts at Bruce Wayne Florals to handcraft luxurious arrangements filled with a variety of blooms in a rainbow of soft and romantic shades. The assortment of flowers throughout the ceremony and reception space echoed the garden vibe and opulant style of the Bridgerton inspiration.
“Rather than choosing specific flower types, we focused on our color palette—baby blue, pinks, and peach—and let the florists guide the rest. That flexibility ensured nothing was compromised due to seasonality or availability. Even before our planner recommended Bruce Wayne Florals, we had already been admiring their work on Marry Me Tampa Bay and noted how frequently they collaborated with Parties A’ La Carte. No other local florist stood out quite the way Bruce Wayne did,” Grace gushed. “What impressed us most was how no two weddings looked the same, yet every design was consistently breathtaking. Their proposal and design board were incredibly thorough and professional, and the in-person mock-up felt like stepping into our wedding reception. Their team executed our vision flawlessly and thoughtfully repurposed our ceremony florals for the reception, adding both beauty and value.”
The couple embraced a personal approach to their wedding, opting for a friend as their officiant, while also prioritizing their guests’ experience via carefully selected entertainment.
“We felt strongly about having a personal officiant. A close friend performed the ceremony—he knew us both well, told meaningful stories, and even delivered a perfect impromptu joke when a helicopter briefly interrupted the vows,” the bride explained.. “And, of course, an amazing band was a must!”
The chose a petal-adorned ballgown that echoed the floral motif of the celebration, with soft, romantic curls and a blush lip color courtesy of the hair and makeup artists at Femme Akoi Beauty Studio.
With all of the pieces of the puzzle in place, Mary Anna Photography captured the entire wedding weekend as it unfolded, artfully documenting each formality and detail in a classic storytelling fashion.
“We wanted a timeless style—clean, classic portraits with bright, true-to-color lighting. Mary Anna Photography perfectly matched the classic, bright and timeless aesthetic we envisioned,” Grace gushed. “Her photography package included both engagement photos and a bonus session, which we used for our welcome party. The engagement shoot and welcome party were incredibly helpful in making us feel at ease in front of the camera before the big day. Mary has a remarkable eye for natural light and was fantastic at giving gentle yet clear direction. One of our favorite behind-the-scenes details, she would use her husband to demonstrate couple poses, which was both hilarious and effective!”
The entire celebration was truly unforgettable thanks to the beautiful atmosphere and surrounding friends and family. Core memories stood out to the bride and groom, from the start of the ceremony to the end of the reception.
“For me, the most unforgettable moment was approaching the aisle. Standing back with just my father,seeing all of our loved ones, the stunning setting, the beautiful florals—and, of course, James waiting at the end. It was the moment everything came together, the one we had envisioned throughout the planning process. Truly the moment,” the bride reminisced. “Despite our hesitation around doing a grand entrance, James says the grand exit was his most memorable. High-fiving guests, sharing a dip-kiss, waving goodbye, and driving off into the night in our greenery-adorned golf cart was the perfect, joyful finale to an incredible day.”
What was your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My inspiration was to look like the best version of myself—elevated, but still natural. I wanted a timeless look that would photograph beautifully and stand the test of time.
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio came highly recommended by Parties A’ La Carte, and I had worked with them before, so I knew I could trust their professionalism and artistry. Their team truly delivered—polished, dependable, and incredibly talented.
The Proposal:
Our proposal took place in an open-air suite in St Lucia, overlooking the Piton mountains and Carribbean Sea.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted a timeless style—clean, classic portraits with bright, true-to-color lighting.
Mary Anna Photography perfectly matched the classic, bright and timeless aesthetic we envisioned. Her photography package included both engagement photos and a bonus session, which we used for our welcome party. The engagement shoot and welcome party were incredibly helpful in making us feel at ease in front of the camera before the big day. Mary has a remarkable eye for natural light and was fantastic at giving gentle yet clear direction. One of our favorite behind-the-scenes details, she would use her husband to demonstrate couple poses, which was both hilarious and effective!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone experienced, familiar with our venue and area, and well-connected with local vendors. We underestimated just how much work planning a wedding is without a planner. A truly great planner brings a refined, well-honed process to the table—one that lifts the burden off the couple and transforms a stressful experience into an enjoyable one.
In that regard, Parties A’ La Carte exceeded all expectations. Their team is exceptionally experienced and creative, and they managed to make the entire planning process not only seamless but genuinely enjoyable. They learn what we like and present us with researched options; we only have to do the fun parts! Jessica and Cara brought invaluable insight—effortlessly discerning what would work best and what to avoid, ultimately saving us both time and money. Their professionalism and meticulous attention to detail provided complete peace of mind from start to finish.”
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
Rather than choosing specific flower types, we focused on our color palette—baby blue, pinks, and peach—and let the florists guide the rest. That flexibility ensured nothing was compromised due to seasonality or availability.
Even before our planner recommended Bruce Wayne Florals, we had already been admiring their work on Marry Me Tampa Bay and noted how frequently they collaborated with Parties A’ La Carte. No other local florist stood out quite the way Bruce Wayne did. What impressed us most was how no two weddings looked the same, yet every design was consistently breathtaking. Their proposal and design board were incredibly thorough and professional, and the in-person mock-up felt like stepping into our wedding reception. Their team executed our vision flawlessly and thoughtfully repurposed our ceremony florals for the reception, adding both beauty and value.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our inspiration was a Bridgerton-style garden party, though James jokingly refers to the theme as simply ‘flowers.’ We wanted to embrace the spring season, leaning into color while still keeping things classic and timeless. The ceremony was held on the golf course, where the lush greens provided a perfect canvas for vibrant floral accents. The result was elegant but fun, traditional yet vibrant.
What were your colors?
Our palette featured soft dusty blue, paired with several shades of pink—bubblegum, salmon, and peach—with cheerful yellow accents. The goal was to create something eye-catching yet refined, perfectly suited to the spring season and our venue.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We took a mini-moon to Mayakoba, Mexico immediately after the wedding, and have a summer honeymoon planned to Switzerland and Lake Como, Italy. Mayakoba was incredibly convenient to travel to, yet felt like a serene, luxurious escape. After the whirlwind of the wedding, lounging on the beach or in our jungle villa was exactly what we needed. Our summer trip will be a complete contrast—once fully rested, we’re looking forward to hiking, boating, and eating our way through the Swiss Alps and the charm of northern Italy.
Where did you host your bachelor/bachelorette parties?
The bachelorette party was held in Cape May, New Jersey. With most of the 15 attendees based in the NY/NJ area, I wanted to be mindful of the travel commitment for the wedding and chose a location that was both charming and accessible. Our house was perfectly situated in the heart of town—walking distance to the beach, restaurants, and shopping, which made for an unforgettable weekend. Unfortunately, the bachelor party had to be canceled due to the hurricanes, but we’re hoping to recreate it someday!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our band, Wonderama, was absolutely phenomenal—they kept the energy high and the dance floor full all night. Bowtie and Brush was another standout. The live portraits added such a unique and memorable touch to the evening, and many guests have already framed theirs as keepsakes. It was especially meaningful when a family member mentioned that his style reminded them of my late grandmother’s artwork. I hadn’t made the connection until then, but perhaps, on some level, that’s exactly why I was drawn to them.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Hire a planner! The value they provide is immeasurable. We truly felt like honored guests at our own wedding, rather than stressed hosts. Things inevitably go wrong—but with the right team, we didn’t even notice.
Give yourself ample time to finalize details and don’t be afraid to make changes until you’re completely happy—whether it’s your invitations, alterations, or design elements. The extra time and care are always worth it.
One practical tip that only takes a minute—set up a dedicated wedding email. It allowed me to compartmentalize planning and stay organized with ease. I could “enter and exit” wedding mode when I wanted and sorting communications into labeled folders made everything incredibly streamlined.
