Joanne and Kyle's St. Pete Beach wedding was a fairytale come to life at Florida's iconic “pink palace.” The luxurious wedding began with a traditional Catholic mass with a Rolls Royce to transport the bride and groom to their ballroom reception overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
“I would describe our theme as royal vintage with romantic touches. Our colors were neutrals, with pops of blush and light purples. I love the elegant look,” the bride beamed. “We both love lavish things; our personalities are big and bold, and we wanted this wedding to be us.”
While envisioning her fairytale wedding for 90 guests, Joanne knew there was only one venue with the historic charm and royal reputation to create the ultimate guest experience, The Don CeSar.
“I needed the venue to stand out to me. How can you miss the big pink building? I chose The Don Cesar because I felt like it was the most royal venue!” Joanne exclaimed. “We choose this location because we loved the ballroom with the open windows looking out to the beach, and we loved that it's a historic building. The catering manager was absolutely amazing, as well as the chef. I can't say enough great things about them! They really went above and beyond and everything was literally perfect. They really made my vision come to life and suggested having cocktail hour by the beach pavilion because I wanted my out-of-town guests to be able to be by the beach.”
The Seminole couple had an extravagant vision to match their big personalities and sought out a wedding planner who would complement their enthusiasm. Joanne selected Heather Taylor, owner and lead planner of Blue Skies Weddings and Events, for her impeccable reputation and premier wedding vendor contacts.
“I wanted a wedding planner who could see my vision and who knew their stuff. I completely trusted that Heather and Chris of Blue Skies Events understood what I was looking for,” the bride revealed. “I wanted everything to match and blend even down to the carpet.
With floral and decor being a top priority, Iza's Flowers was the ideal floral designer to collaborate with during the planning process, while Kate Ryan Event Rentals offered a unique selection of lace linens worthy of a royal wedding.
“The florals were most important to me; I needed them to be big and stand out. I wanted romantic and loose arrangements,” the bride shared. “Iza of Iza's Flowers got my vision, and I couldn't have been happier with my flowers. I loved how I was able to do a mock-up beforehand.”
Desiring timeless and artistic wedding portraits, the bride fell in love with Limelight Photography's stunning sunset portfolio and superior customer service.
“I looked for quality with both soft colors and black and white. Dafne of Limelight was the absolute best, and her personality is one of a kind and so bright and cheery. Her passion for her work stands out,” the bride raved. “Limelight's service was amazing. The owners, Rebecca and Michael, were so awesome and helpful from the beginning. Rebecca is so on top of things with detail and service.”
From their time-honored Catholic ceremony to their dance party reception emceed by Grant Hemond & Associates, every aspect of the day intertwined with the vision of historic charm and royal romance.
“The whole day was so magical. I would say every moment was perfect,” the bride reminisced. “It was unique in how we kept it all in theme with the vintage vibes and kept it traditional at the same time.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
New Orleans. I had been there before for a friend's bachelorette party and loved the city. I had the best time so I wanted to go back with my girls.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I wanted someone who could see my vision and who knew their stuff. I completely trusted that Heather and Chris Tyler of Blue Skies Weddings and Events understood what I was looking for.
The Proposal:
It was Kyle's birthday party, and we had our family and closest friends over to our home.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Quality with both soft colors and black and white. Dafne of Limelight Photography was the absolute best, and her personality is one of a kind and so bright and cheery. Her passion for her work stands out. Limelight's service was amazing. The owners Rebecca and Michael were so awesome and helpful from the beginning. Rebecca is so on top of things with detail and service.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I needed it to stand out to me. How can you miss the big pink building?!
I chose The Don Cesar because I felt like it was the most royal venue. We choose this location because we loved the ballroom with the open windows looking out to the beach, and we loved that it's a historic building. The catering manager was absolutely amazing, as well as the chef. I can't say enough great things about them! They really went above and beyond, and everything was literally perfect. They really made my vision come to life and suggested having cocktail hour by the beach pavilion because I wanted my out-of-town guests to be able to be by the beach.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Royal vintage with romantic touches.
What were your colors?
Neutrals, with pops of blush and light purples. I love the elegant look.
What was your floral inspiration?
Romantic and loose arrangements. The florals were most important to me; I needed them to be big and stand out.
My planner works with a lot with Iza's Flowers, and I liked that I could trust her as well from the referral. Iza got my vision, and I couldn't have been happier with my flowers. I loved how I was able to do a mock-up beforehand.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
I hired Adam Hensley with Grant Hemond & Associates because I heard such great things about him and how he really gets the party started.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We did an over-the-water bungalow at the Royalton in Antigua. We knew we wanted a bungalow and somewhere close.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Meet with a vendor before you choose them.
Ceremony Venue: St. Paul's Catholic Church
Reception Venue and Caterer: The Don CeSar *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Limelight Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Ricci Ocampos Films
Planner: Blue Skies Weddings and Events *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Iza's Flowers *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Reception Chairs: So Staged Event Design
Linen Overlay Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Cakes by Carolynn
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Msgr. Gibbons of St. Paul's Catholic Church
Transportation: Luxor Limos, Imperial One Limo
Dress: Isabel O'Neil Bridal Collection, Rivini *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Shoe Designer: Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Bari Jay
Hair and Makeup: Destiny and Light Hair & Makeup Group
Rehearsal Dinner: Rococo Steakhouse
Photobooth: The Enchanted Mirror Co.
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.
