Vanessa and Brad’s intimate St. Pete Beach wedding was a vision of tropical elegance with a waterfront ceremony beneath the Florida palms and a romantic ballroom reception. Incorporating their maroon and blue color palette, the Gainesville couple perfectly captured a casual, but chic ambiance.
“We customized the ceremony, readings, and unity ceremony, and we used that opportunity to reflect our personalities. For the unity ceremony, we combined glass together in a vase and then later used that glass to create wine glasses together in a glass blowing class,” the bride shared. “It was also important that both of our families were represented even if they couldn’t make it, so we had framed pictures of our grandparents displayed at our reception.”
In search of a St. Pete Beach wedding venue that would be the perfect location for their 45 guests to enjoy the beautiful weather and ambiance, Vanessa and Brad chose Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club.
“Isla Del Sol was the perfect combination of everything we were looking for in a venue. It was such a stunning location that we knew that it was the place as soon as we saw it,” Vanessa gushed. “All of our vendors were amazing and we were blown away by how fantastic Melissa was! She thought of every little detail, and really was there to help guide us through all the decisions we had to make!”
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Finding a local wedding photographer who could not only capture the special moments from their big day but also bring their artistic talent to the wedding, the couple hired Lifelong Photography Studios.
“When looking for a wedding photographer, we wanted someone with creativity and the ability to document all of the emotions from the night. While we wanted your standard wedding portraits, we also wanted the photographer to be able to capture the spirit of the day, including the little moments with our loved ones,” the bride shared. “Buffy from Lifelong Photography Studios has a fantastic eye and likes to create imaginative shots, which we loved. She brings elegance to her work, and that helps the emotion really flow!”
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To complement their yacht club casual design inspiration, local wedding rental companies A Chair Affair and Over the Top Rental Linens provided the finishing touches for the reception decor. Chiavari chairs and ivory linens added an elegant feel to the event space.
Ready to celebrate all night, Vanessa and Brad made sure to find a DJ that was not only personable but also someone who could feel out the vibe and get the crowd hyped.
“Jason from Grant Hemond and Associates was exactly what we were looking for in a DJ,” the bride gushed. “He was able to find every song we requested, and had awesome suggestions for special songs to play during the ceremony and reception!”
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Looking back on their wedding day, it was hard for the couple to choose their most memorable moment, however, saying “I do” happens to top their list.
“Our whole day was amazing, but finally marrying my best friend was definitely near the top,” Vanessa beamed. “From getting ready to the first look, to our unique glass unity ceremony, every one of these moments we paused to take in the love that surrounded us!”
The Proposal:
We were on a cruise in the Caribbean and the stop that day was in Aruba. We went snorkeling on some beautiful reefs that morning, grabbed lunch, and walked around town. We then headed to Eagle Beach, which we heard was the best place to see the sunset on the island. As we were sitting in the sand and watching the sunset, Brad turned to me and asked me to marry him. It was perfect!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
When looking for a wedding photographer, we wanted someone with creativity and the ability to document all of the emotions from the night. While we wanted your standard wedding portraits, we also wanted the photographer to be able to capture the spirit of the day, including the little moments with our loved ones
Buffy from Lifelong Photography Studios has a fantastic eye and likes to create imaginative shots, which we loved. She brings elegance to her work that helps the emotion really flow!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
When searching for wedding venues, we were looking for somewhere with an outdoor ceremony option, an indoor reception, and a magical spot near the water, but not an actual beach.
Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club was the perfect combination of everything we were looking for in a venue. It was such a stunning location that we knew that it was the place as soon as we saw it. All of our vendors were amazing and we were blown away by how fantastic Melissa was! She thought of every little detail and really was there to help guide us through all the decisions we had to make!
What was your theme?
We didn’t really have a theme other than getting married! If we had to describe an actual theme, it would yacht club casual.
What were your colors?
Our wedding colors were maroon and french blue. Our favorite colors.
What was your hair and makeup inspiration?
I wanted my makeup to look natural and since my dress had a slightly vintage feel, I wanted my hair to be in a soft classic style.
Michele Renee the Studio took the time to try different styles for my hair and colors for my makeup to create exactly the look I wanted. Plus, she was such fun to work with!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
For our DJ, we wanted someone who could keep the party going but wasn’t too over the top, ensuring they adjusted based on our crowd and vibe was really important to us.
Jason from Grant Hemond and Associates was exactly what we were looking for in a DJ. He was able to find every song we requested and had awesome suggestions for special songs to play during the ceremony and reception!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Determine the most important elements of your wedding, and spend your money on those items. If you’re on a budget, don’t spend a lot in every single area. For us, we focused on photography and videography!
Venue and Catering: Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studios *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Imagery Wedding Films
Coordinator: Liz Kamali Events
Florist: Iza’s Flowers
Men’s Suits: Sacino’s Formalwear
Cake: Chantilly Cakes
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Zazzle
Dress Shop and Designer: The Dressing Room, Stella York
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Azazie
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee the Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Photo Booth: Boone’s Professional Events
Sunsail Sailboat Charter: Harvest Moon Charters
Ceiling Drapery: On the Move Productions
Chairs, Chargers & Flatware: A Chair Affair *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Specialty Linens: Over The Top Rental Linens *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
