Na’iyma and Keith’s St. Pete wedding created a fairytale experience with Victorian charm and elegance using a soft pink and deep blue color palette, golden details, and an abundance of florals for their 75 guests.

Inspired by the bride’s favorite shade of purple, the wedding featured hues of mauve and navy, elevated with shimmery metallic gold. The result was a balance of softness and sparkle.

“I loved princesses and castles growing up. Princess is also what my father used to call me,” Na’iyma revealed. “I wanted something softer than my favorite color purple, so naturally mauve was the perfect color! We used some gold accents to pull together the Victorian feel into The Birchwood’s magnificent ballroom.”

Na’iyma had long envisioned her wedding day, and upon seeing the picturesque interior of the Harborside Chapel, she knew it was the perfect locale for their ceremony.

“We wanted something beautiful, clean, and that reminded us of us. We chose Harborside Chapel because it’s the most beautiful ceremony venue I have ever seen,” the bride beamed. “It’s so fresh, white, clean, bright, and airy. They over-deliver, from all the decor they have to even filming our wedding to be shared and for us to have for eternity. I absolutely loved it! We also had marriage counseling, too, which was also a huge bonus.”

It was that magical ceremony setting, along with the grand entrance, that the bride attributes as the most unique aspect of their big day.

“I think Harborside Chapel made our wedding unique. It’s not every day you find a venue so beautiful. We also had lovely ceremony music, with a live violinist and a pianist. The song I walked down the aisle to was a mash-up of Perfect by Ed Sheeran (which is Keith and my song) and the traditional Bridal Chorus which is something I have always wanted to walk down the aisle to since I was a child,” Na’iyma recalled.

The pair had always dreamed of a waterfront wedding reception, and both loved the downtown St. Pete area, so the chic ballroom with an outdoor terrace at The Birchwood was an ideal choice for their celebration, especially given the COVID climate.

“We wanted something elegant, fresh, clean, and big enough so our guests felt safe during COVID. The Birchwood was perfect because they had the rooftop bar that made our after-party and rehearsal party so much fun. Our guests could really enjoy the scenery and fresh breeze coming from the water,” Na’iyma raved. “The staff was amazing and very accommodating. From the very beginning, they were on top of it and made sure that every detail was discussed thoroughly, and we were able to choose what we wanted. We couldn’t have asked for anything more from a venue. They over-delivered and made us feel special on our wedding day. “

Another perk of hosting their reception at the boutique hotel was that the newlyweds celebrated their first night as husband and wife with a complimentary honeymoon night.

“We chose The Birchwood because I especially love anything with a vintage vibe. It was beautiful, and we had earned a free overnight stay on the evening of our wedding; we loved that!” the bride shared.

Na’iyma knew exactly what she wanted her show-stopping wedding cake to look like, a Victorian-inspired confection she had seen online. She researched multiple wedding cake bakeries to find an artist who could deliver both delicious flavors as well as a stunning work of cake art.

“I really wanted something that looked very enchanting. We chose The Artistic Whisk after considering seven cake companies because they had the best customer service. They were quick to respond, and their cake tasted the absolute best of the bunch,” the bride gushed. “One of the best parts about working with The Artistic Whisk was that they gave us exactly what we wanted. There were no alterations to the photo I sent them, and it looked even better in person. We had three flavors: strawberries with champagne, chocolate, and blue velvet. They are an outstanding cake company, and we will definitely be going back for more occasions.”

Perhaps it was the sheer overwhelming joy of the day or maybe the sugar high, but the couple partied long into the evening even though that’s not usually their style. The bride shared that there were many memorable moments throughout the day, which culminated in a celebration that they both will treasure forever.

“Every moment with my husband was memorable that day. I love him so much,” Na’iyma beamed. “I really love when he said his vows, our first dance, and when Keith and I stayed up until the wee hours of the night at our after-after party. It’s really not like us, but we enjoyed it. We will never forget our night.”

What did you look for in a ceremony venue?
We wanted something beautiful, and clean, and that reminded us of us. We chose Harborside Chapel because it’s the most beautiful ceremony venue I have ever seen. It’s so fresh, white, clean, bright, and airy. They over-deliver, from all the decor they have to even filming our wedding to be shared and for us to have for eternity. I absolutely loved it! We also had marriage counseling, too, which was also a huge bonus.

The Proposal:
I told Keith that I really wanted to do a couples photoshoot. After a year of asking he finally arranged one in the park and we had our good friend Jose take our photos. Keith and Jose had a secret code for when Keith was going to pop the question. Jose said, “I’m going to put on the big boy lenses,” then Keith dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife. I had no idea anything was going to happen, and it was a complete surprise. We never went ring shopping beforehand so I was overwhelmed with joy that we made the time to go shopping. It was one of the most special days of our lives.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent eight days at the YouandMe resort in the Maldives. We chose this place because my husband really wanted to relax in a hut in the ocean with an infinity pool. He chose the best honeymoon ever! We really enjoyed our time together.

What did you look for in a reception venue?
We wanted something elegant, fresh, clean, and big enough so our guests felt safe during COVID. We chose the Birchwood because I especially love anything with a vintage vibe. The staff was amazing and very accommodating. From the very beginning, they were on top of it and made sure that every detail was discussed thoroughly and we were able to choose what we wanted. They were very caring. The day of the event was amazing! We couldn’t have asked for anything more from a venue. They over-delivered and made us feel special on our wedding day. 

The Birchwood was perfect because they had the rooftop bar that made our after-party and rehearsal party so much fun. Our guests could really enjoy the scenery and fresh breeze coming from the water.

Another perk was their boutique hotel rooms. It was beautiful, and we had earned a free overnight stay on the evening of our wedding; we loved that!

How would you describe your theme?
Victorian romantic theme. I loved princesses and castles growing up. Princess is also what my father used to call me.

What were your colors?
I wanted something softer than my favorite color purple, so naturally mauve was the perfect color! We used some gold accents, too, to pull together the Victorian feel into the Birchwood’s magnificent ballroom. My husband looks amazing in navy so it really was the perfect combination. 

What was your wedding cake inspiration?
I really wanted something that looked very enchanting. We chose The Artistic Whisk after considering seven cake companies because they had the best customer service. They were quick to respond, and their cake tasted the absolute best of the bunch. We had three flavors: strawberries with champagne, chocolate, and blue velvet, (blue velvet was by far the best flavor). 

One of the best parts about working with The Artistic Whisk was that they gave us exactly what we wanted. There were no alterations to the photo I sent them, and it looked even better in person. They are an outstanding cake company, and we will definitely be going back for more occasions. 

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Whatever doesn’t get planned, don’t worry about it, because it’s not important the day of. Spend as much time enjoying your spouse because at the end of the day it is your day together. I would make sure everything is planned way beforehand and try not to do any last-minute things. It’s nice to be able to really enjoy the last couple of weeks leading up to the wedding. Sometimes saving more money can be more of a hassle than it’s worth so if you find yourself stressing about something then it’s not worth your time.

Ceremony: Harborside Chapel *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Reception Venue and Caterer: The Birchwood *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Jessica Cruz Photography
Videographer: Ricco Campos
Planner: Elle Gray Events
Florist: Flower Child Florist
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
DJ: Delite Entertainment
Officiant: Griffith with Harborside Chapel
Dress Shop and Designer: The White Closet Bridal Company, Stella York
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: JJ’s House
Hair: Lex Cosmetics
Makeup: Corine Potter
Gelato Cart: Paciugo

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.