Genessi and Justin's outdoor Tampa Bay wedding combined an earthy color palette, bohemian garden details, and fitting nods to the groom's favorite movie since the pair were wed on May the Fourth.
“I wanted a bohemian wedding with terracotta/taupe hues, extravagant yet simple flowers, and candles for a romantic garden appeal, while also adding a touch of Star Wars for my husband, who is a major fanatic!” the bride shared. “Our colors were terracotta, taupe, ivory, and sage. I absolutely love the earthiness of these colors, and no matter what season, they stand out beautifully.”
The Lakeland bride and groom sought a lush outdoor venue that reflected her love of flowers as an ideal backdrop for hosting their 50 guests.
“We had been looking for wedding venues with great garden scenery, but I didn’t want an open barn or botanical garden because I felt they were too public and not original. I wanted our venue to resemble us in every way and be special and unique. I love flowers, and I wanted to be surrounded by them. I wanted to smell them as I walked through the property. My mothers both have beautiful gardens, and I always knew if I wanted to incorporate myself well, the venue had to have a spectacular garden. I also like the simplicity of having a garden venue since you don’t have to worry too much about the expense of florals as the venue should speak for itself. Mill Pond Estate not only felt right instantly, but Toni’s vision of the estate brought a fairytale dream into an elegant reality,” Genessi beamed. “It was exactly what I imagined for our wedding. Outdoors, garden, a beautiful large oak tree, string lights, pebble stone walkways, I could go on and on! Their service was spectacular, and it felt very homey. I felt like the venue staff became family, and not only that, but they also made sure that our wedding was absolutely perfect. Anything we needed, including our wedding party, they made sure we had. They also took care of our pup as we celebrated all night!”
The couple opted for a cocktail-style reception and chose minimal decor that subtly accented their venue.
“We did not want to overdo it on table decors and centerpieces since we didn’t want to take away from the beautiful garden. So, Toni, the owner of the venue and our florist, reused our ceremony florals and placed them in simple small vases on the tables with runners, and our wedding coordinator included candles. It was very simple but extremely elegant and exactly how I wanted it,” the bride beamed. “I have seen many boho vintage wedding inspos but none like ours. I may be a little biased, but it was just so beautiful. From the florals to the setting, to the tables and décor. Let alone the venue itself was just spectacular in every way. Toni is the most unique and creative florist I had ever seen. Her pieces are one of a kind, and I loved that about her florals; plus, she sources most of her florals from her estate, which made it simple to decide her to be our florist.”
As a nod to the iconic date, May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day, the couple incorporated quirky elements from the movie.
“My husband loves Star Wars, so we made the table décor and his boutonniere special, including our cake and cake topper. One of our guest books was the silhouette of the millennium falcon, and we made sure to have a lightsaber send-off!” the bride detailed. “The colors were also chosen not just because of the bohemian appeal but as well as the representation of the planet of Tatooine from Star Wars.”
The bride knew she needed an experienced wedding planner to guide her through the process and bring her vision to life, and on the recommendation of her venue, she selected Stephany Perry Events for their attentive service and experience.
“I wanted help with especially the coordination of our wedding day as I had most of our ideas of who the vendors would be. I wanted someone who not only had the experience but also loved what they were doing and could help put my vision in place. Our venue recommended Stephany Perry Events, and thank God she did. Stephany and I clicked immediately! I loved her spunky personality, and her talent speaks for itself!” Genessi raved. “She knew immediately how to implement my ideas and make them into realities while also adding her own input on things. She made things so simple and run so smoothly. When I felt stressed about certain things, she would immediately set up a Zoom meeting and made me feel better. There is no way my day would have been as perfect as it was without her.”
Two key moments stood out to Genessi, and they involved the two most special people in her life – her husband, Justin, and their pet.
“One of our favorite moments was our pup, Snips, being a part of the ceremony. It wouldn’t have been our day without her being a part of it,” the bride reminisced. “Our first dance was also just absolutely perfect, surrounded by family in the center of the garden during golden hour. I won’t ever forget it.”
“My husband loves Star Wars, so we made the table décor and his boutonniere special, including our cake and cake topper. One of our guest books was the silhouette of the millennium falcon, and we made sure to have a lightsaber send-off! The colors were also chosen not just because of the bohemian appeal but as well as the representation of the planet of Tatooine from Star Wars.”
-The Bride
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I wanted a bohemian wedding with terracotta/taupe hues, extravagant yet simple flowers, and candles for a romantic garden appeal while also adding a touch of Star Wars for my husband, who is a major fanatic!
We did not want to overdo it on table decors and centerpieces since we didn’t want to take away from the beautiful garden. So, Toni, the owner of the venue and our florist, reused our ceremony florals and placed them in simple small vases on the tables with runners, and our wedding coordinator included candles. It was very simple but extremely elegant and exactly how I wanted it. I have seen many boho vintage wedding inspos but none like ours. I may be a little biased, but it was just so beautiful. From the florals to the setting, to the tables and décor. Let alone the venue itself was just spectacular in every way.”
What were your colors?
Terracotta, taupe, ivory, and sage, I absolutely love the earthiness of these colors, and no matter what season, they stand out beautifully.
The Proposal:
Justin knew I had been wanting to go to the Sunken Gardens in St. Pete. He had planned for over a week and made sure our entire family and friends were there hidden, as well as my family from out of state through a Zoom link. He proposed by the Cactus Garden, and my entire family saw the entire thing. It was so beautiful and so much fun because everyone I loved was there, and we all spent the day just enjoying our time in the botanical gardens and celebrating an impromptu engagement party at our place that evening.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I wanted help with especially the coordination of our wedding day as I had most of our ideas of who the vendors would be. I wanted someone who not only had the experience but also loved what they were doing and could help put my vision in place.
Our venue recommended Stephany Perry Events, and thank God she did. Stephany and I clicked immediately! I loved her spunky personality, and her talent speaks for itself! She knew immediately how to implement my ideas and make them into realities while also adding her own input on things. She made things so simple and run so smoothly.
When I felt stressed about certain things, she would immediately set up a Zoom meeting and made me feel better. There is no way my day would have been as perfect as it was without her.
“We did not want to overdo it on table decors and centerpieces since we didn’t want to take away from the beautiful garden. So, Toni, the owner of the venue and our florist, reused our ceremony florals and placed them in simple small vases on the tables with runners, and our wedding coordinator included candles. It was very simple but extremely elegant and exactly how I wanted it. Toni is the most unique and creative florist I had ever seen. Her pieces are one of a kind, and I loved that about her florals; plus, she sources most of her florals from her estate, which made it simple to decide her to be our florist.”
-The Bride
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We had been looking for wedding venues with great garden scenery, but I didn’t want an open barn or botanical garden because I felt they were too public and not original. I wanted our venue to resemble us in every way and be special and unique. I love flowers, and I wanted to be surrounded by them. I wanted to smell them as I walked through the property.
Mill Pond Estate not only felt right instantly, but Toni’s vision of the estate brought a fairytale dream into an elegant reality. It was exactly what I imagined for our wedding. Outdoors, garden, a beautiful large oak tree, string lights, pebble stone walkways, I could go on and on! Their service was spectacular, and it felt very homey. I felt like the venue staff became family, and not only that, but they also made sure that our wedding was absolutely perfect. Anything we needed, including our wedding party, they made sure we had. They also took care of our pup as we celebrated all night!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our baker brought our Star Wars-inspired cake to life! It was such a statement piece. Our florist and venue owner did an exceptional job with the florals and table settings. It was just a magical day for us. Our photographer captured every moment perfectly, and she the best in her field!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Book a wedding coordinator and give yourself plenty of time to plan for your wedding so you don’t feel rushed and can deal with finances properly.
