Jessica and Evan’s summer South Tampa wedding featured a green and white color palette that complemented their stunning drapery that transformed their reception venue into an elegant garden soiree.
We met the bride at a bridal show we participated in and loved we were with her throughout her wedding planning process.
“I got a Marry Me Tampa Bay bag during that show that I ended up using throughout my entire engagement to keep various wedding items in, and had it with me the morning of the wedding,” the bride shared.
At that event, we found Gabro Event Services, and it gave us another chance to go inside our wedding venue,” We wanted someone who was a true professional who could accentuate the beautiful high ceiling main room and beautiful water views at our venue,” Jessica explained. Gabro was incredibly easy to work with and responsive. They took our thoughts and vision for the space and turned it into reality. They set the tone for the evening with beautifully draped ceiling, walls and candle uplighting.”
MORE: GABRO EVENT SERVICES WEDDINGS
To capture the elegant decor, beautiful floral details and the overall mood of the couple’s wedding day, Jessica and Evan hired Tampa wedding photographer Marc Edwards Photographs.
“After meeting Marc, Evan and I instantly clicked with him and trusted him to capture our special day. He was such a positive energy on our wedding day and made our lives so easy with his simple direction and attention to detail,” the bride gushed. “iPhones are all over weddings, but Marc had a way of capturing real moments and emotions without making us feel like we were trying. He is a true professional and an artist. Looking at our photos now really make us feel as though we’re reliving the best day of our lives!”
MORE: MARC EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHS WEDDINGS
A live band was on the list of “must haves” for the couple. Sharing the same first dance song as the bride’s parents, they wanted their love of music to come through on their wedding day.
“Choosing a live band over a DJ was probably the easiest decision of the whole wedding!” Jessica shared. “We chose Josh Walther & the Phase 5 Band because we liked that they weren’t just a wedding band, they’re a local Tampa band! We loved going to see them play at other venues before our own wedding and knew that they were true professionals. They kept everyone dancing all night and made our wedding such a fun atmosphere.”
With delicious food, a great band, and libations to celebrate, the couple knew what was most important to them on their wedding day. Hiring Tampa Bay caterer Amici’s Catered Cuisine and cake bakery Alessi Bakeries, the couple was sure to set the bar high for their guests.
“We looked for a well-established, professional catering company. Since we did a seated dinner with over 180 guests, it was important to us to use someone we could rely on that also had excellent food. We hired Amici’s Catered Cuisine for their proven reputation in the industry and amazing food selection. Our guests kept complimenting the food,” the bride beamed. “It was also an added bonus that they have worked many weddings at our venue, so they were very familiar with the space. Their service was excellent, and we were never worried about anything going wrong.”
MORE: AMICI’S CATERED CUISINE WEDDINGS
Looking back, the bride’s most memorable moment was an impromptu detour suggested by their photographer.
“After taking pictures with our wedding party downtown after the ceremony, we realized we had some extra time before we needed to head to the reception. Someone mentioned they were hungry, and Marc recommended we stop by On Swann. It ended up being the perfect spontaneous pit stop for our day. On Swann has a great ambiance that made for excellent photos, and it was so fun to grab some appetizers, drinks, and just hang out with our wedding party. It was a great little unplanned surprise for everyone. The best moment was when Evan was invited by the owner to go behind the bar to test out their red antique meat slicer by cutting prosciutto. It was a hilarious sight, and Evan, marrying into a large Italian family just hours before, felt like he was truly Italian after that!” Jessica reminisced.
How would you describe your theme?
July 15th was the first Saturday available at our church, Sacred Heart, so it was decided that we would have a summer wedding. Then, when we decided we’d have the reception at the Tampa Garden Club, the garden theme kind of fell into place.
What were your colors?
Our main colors were green and white, but our wedding had many garden colors incorporated. The ferns in each table’s centerpiece were the green component, and the white draped room made for great contrast.
The Proposal:
We make it a point to travel as much as we can, so we decided to spend a week up in Blue Ridge, Georgia in a mountain cabin. It was the third day of our trip, so I had already assumed it wasn’t happening this trip. We were going to Hawaii in a couple months after all. However, we spent the day white water rafting, and then as we were drinking wine on the back porch of our cabin getting ready for dinner, Evan got down on one knee and popped the question! I was honestly so surprised, and we went to dinner afterwards to celebrate.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted to find a true professional who could capture not only pictures of the day, but the feeling and mood.
I want to learn more about Marc Edwards Photographs.
Marc Edwards Photographs did just that. Especially nowadays, a lot of people have access to high-quality cameras and can take pictures. iPhones are all over weddings, but Marc had a way of capturing real moments and emotions without making us feel like we were trying.After meeting Marc, Evan and I instantly clicked with him and trusted him to capture our special day. He was such a positive energy on our wedding day, and made our lives so easy with his simple direction and attention to detail. He is a true professional and an artist. Looking at our photos now really make us feel as though we’re reliving the best day of our lives!
What did you look for in a wedding decor/draping company?
We wanted to select a vendor that helped accentuate the beautiful high ceiling main room and beautiful water views at our venue, without overdoing it.
I want to learn more about decor and draping from Gabro Event Services
We wanted someone who was a true professional, and Gabro Event Services was incredibly easy to work with and responsive. They took our thoughts and vision for the space and turned it into reality. They set the tone for the evening with beautifully draped ceiling, walls and candle uplighting.
What did you look for in a wedding catering company?
We looked for a well-established, professional catering company. Since we did a seated dinner with over 180 guests, it was important to us to use someone we could rely on that also had excellent food.
I Want to Learn More about Catering from Amici’s Catered Cuisine
We hired Amici’s Catered Cuisine for their proven reputation in the industry and amazing food selection. We went to their “date night” complementary tasting and fell in love with their passed hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail hour and filet mignon and chicken entree! Our guests kept complimenting the food. It was also an added bonus that they have worked many weddings at our venue, so they were very familiar with the space. Their service was excellent, and we were never worried about anything going wrong.
Why did you hire a wedding band?
Having a live band was the top item on our “must” list for our wedding. We, along with our families, love live music, and there’s nothing better than a good live band at a wedding. Choosing a live band over a DJ was probably the easiest decision of the whole wedding!
I Want to Learn More about Entertainment from Phase 5 Band.
We chose Josh Walther & the Phase 5 Band because we liked that they weren’t just a wedding band, they’re a local Tampa band! We loved going to see them play at other venues before our own wedding and knew that they were true professionals. As for their service, they were outstanding. Josh was always available to answer any of our questions, and their online wedding portal/forms really made it so easy to pick out music we loved (and music we don’t like), so they knew just what to play at our reception. They kept everyone dancing all night and made our wedding such a fun atmosphere.
What was your wedding cake inspiration?
For our wedding cake, we wanted something simple and floral and cannoli filling was an easy choice since cannoli’s are one of my favorite desserts.
I want to learn more about desserts & cakes from Alessi Bakeries
We chose Alessi’s Bakery because we loved that they were a local bakery and that they had a dedicated department just to wedding cakes. Their service was fantastic! From our initial cake tasting to the day of the wedding, they were prompt, thorough, and just pleasurable to work with.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
There is so much planning that goes on before the wedding, so make sure to plan some time for simply life to happen that day. We made sure to ensure enough time in between the ceremony and reception because we didn’t want to rush and having that extra time to spontaneously go to On Swann with our bridal party ended up being one of the most memorable parts of our day!
Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Tampa Garden Club
Photographer: Marc Edwards Photographs *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Videographer: Hearts Video
Florist: The Potting Shed
Caterer: Amici’s Catered Cuisine *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Bar: Spunky Spirits
Draping: Gabro Events Services *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Cake: Alessi Bakery *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Band: Phase 5 Band *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Officiant: Fr. Michael Reyes at Sacred Heart Church
Invitations: Tampa Calligraphy
Transportation: Ambassador Limousine
Dress Designer: Madeline Gardner
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Morilee Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Destiny and Light
