Rylee and Robert
“We would describe our wedding theme as modern antique. We wanted the theme to complement the venue’s atmosphere. We chose a mainly neutral color palette with subtle pops of burgundy. The burgundy was a beautiful touch, and it complemented the brick in Hotel Haya very well.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Rylee and Robert’s September Ybor City wedding was a modern antique celebration styled in a neutral palette with subtle pops of burgundy that played beautifully off the exposed brick of their historic hotel venue. The Largo couple welcomed 127 guests, each greeted by a handwritten letter, and swapped a traditional wedding cake for a show-stopping gelato cart.
“We incorporated our personalities into our wedding by handwriting each one of our guests a personalized note. We were both so thankful to celebrate with our closest friends and family, and we wanted each of our guests to feel the love we have for them,” the bride shared. “The most important elements of our wedding were the venue, the dress, and the bouquets. My dress and bouquet were better than I ever dreamed of. I dedicated my bouquet to my mom at the reception, and I was so glad I got to share that moment with her.”
Researching Wedding Venues
“The hardest decision for us was the venue. I wanted something all indoors so I wouldn’t have to worry about the Florida weather, and Marry Me Tampa Bay was extremely helpful during the venue search. I was able to filter out different locations and vibes based on what I was looking for. Their insight was incredibly helpful during my venue search.”
The Proposal
“Parties A’ La Carte hired Robert and me to model for an engagement-styled shoot at The Don CeSar. I got my hair and makeup done and was put in a white dress. Robert and I began taking photos around the resort until we walked down to the courtyard area. We separated so I could get a few solo shots while Robert got in position.
Once I walked out onto the beach, I saw Robert standing in the sand surrounded by dozens of pink roses. I walked to him knowing what was about to happen. I was giddy with excitement. Robert gave me a beautiful speech before getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He then surprised me with all of our closest friends and family to celebrate our engagement.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“We went to West Palm Beach for my bachelorette party. We chose this location because it was far enough to get away, but close enough so our friends didn’t have to travel very far. This was the most perfect bachelorette location, and I would 10/10 recommend it for any other brides-to-be.
We traveled to Sonoma, California, for our honeymoon. We wanted to stay within the U.S. but visit somewhere new. We had both never been to California, so we took the chance to visit multiple wineries. It was peak wine season, so we had incredible experiences. We wanted somewhere relaxing to decompress and reflect after all of the wedding festivities.”
From The Planner
“Some wedding days feel especially close to the heart, and Robert and Rylee’s was one of them. With Rylee collaborating with us on content creation through Mind Over Media Agency and Robert serving as our office manager at Parties A’ La Carte, these two have become such a special part of our everyday lives. From working side by side to helping with the proposal and celebrating their wedding day, being included in so many meaningful chapters of their story has been a true honor.
Their day came together beautifully, with thoughtful details that felt so genuinely them. One of our favorites was the personal letter waiting at each guest’s seat—a heartfelt reminder of how much they cherish the people in their lives. It wasn’t just a beautiful celebration; it was one filled with intention, gratitude, and so much love.”
—Jessica Ralph, Parties A’ La Carte
The Most Memorable Moments
“The most memorable moments were walking down the aisle and seeing all of our friends and family witness our commitment to one another. Another memorable moment was the father-daughter dance. My father wrote a song that was entirely unique to me, my family, and the love Robert and I share.”
The Planning
Parties A’ La Carte
“I wanted a wedding planner who was going to be honest with me and communicative. Parties A’ La Carte truly delivered on this. They were so insightful during the process and knew exactly how to handle my concerns. Their eye for design was incredible!
I knew I was in good hands from the very first meeting. The Parties A’ La Carte team always responded in a timely manner and never left me worried. They truly went above and beyond and made the day flow so seamlessly. We received so many compliments from our guests saying this was the best and smoothest wedding they’ve ever attended. That is due to the greatest planners and vendor team.”
The Inspiration
“We would describe our wedding theme as modern antique. We wanted the theme to complement the venue’s atmosphere, so we chose a mainly neutral color palette with subtle pops of burgundy.
As a wedding content creator, I was able to capture a few weddings prior to my own at Hotel Haya, so I got to see which color palettes complemented the venue. I wanted something timeless, so I took the neutral color palette route. After thinking it over, I decided to add some color. The burgundy complemented the exposed brick that is featured throughout the venue.”
The Venue
Hotel Haya
“We chose Ybor City because we loved Hotel Haya as a venue. It was a great location for us and our guests, and downtown Tampa is such a beautiful destination for our out-of-town guests to visit.
I was looking for a venue that was affordable, beautiful, and all indoors. Bonus points if it had a getting-ready space. Hotel Haya checked all of our boxes and was exceptional during our wedding. The hotel is so beautiful and was not short on great photo locations.”
The Dessert
Cafe Ala Carte & The Gelato Carte
“Robert and I wanted to have a wow moment at our wedding, so that’s why we decided to have Cafe Ala Carte & The Gelato Carte. We both aren’t big cake people, so this fit our personalities as well. Our guests will continue to say, ‘Remember the gelato carte at Rylee and Robert’s wedding? That was such a great touch!’”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our planners, Parties A’ La Carte, exceeded our expectations. They felt like family on our wedding day. It was such a wonderful journey creating the design and seeing everything come together. It felt like a shared accomplishment.
They eased my nerves on the wedding day, transported everything back to our room so we didn’t have to worry about anything, and were prepared with any little item you may have forgotten.
What advice would you give to other Tampa couples?
Never leave each other’s side. Do everything together on your wedding day. Hold hands often and remind each other to take every moment in. This helped us experience the entire day together and share the same memories.
Also, the wedding vendors you choose are very important. Utilize resources like Marry Me Tampa Bay to make educated decisions.
