Nathalie and Connor’s waterfront St. Petersburg wedding incorporated classic and modern elements with a timeless monochromatic palette. The bride and groom combined tropical elements through the use of greenery and lighting to accent their love of the beach.

“Our wedding was simple, modern, and clean with a tropical touch. We stuck to black and white with a touch of tropical greenery,” the bride recalled. “I love neutrals and a lot of black and white. At my house, I only grow green plants and succulents. I keep it very ‘naturey,’ only rarely having color flowers.”

The Tampa couple exchanged vows before 120 guests at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club‘s private beach gazebo beneath palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze. The winter reception was held in the ballroom overlooking Boca Ciega Bay, with panoramic waterfront views and an oversized dance floor to create a celebration of a lifetime.

“We wanted the ceremony to be on the beach, and we were both set on that. Originally, we looked into getting married at St. Pete Beach, but soon realized we wanted it to be more private. Isla Del Sol offered its own private beach, which was perfect, and also offered a lot of in-house services, which we also really loved!” the bride beamed. “We loved the beautiful private beach, large bar area, and beautiful outdoor space and reception/ballroom. The service was incredible from the very start. Melissa was such a joy to work with, and I wish I could plan another wedding with her.”

To add to the tropical setting, the couple incorporated large monstera leaves accented with white florals to frame the gazebo, which seamlessly matched the bride’s bouquet. Lush green centerpieces continued the look into the reception ballroom, along with tropical blooms, all-white linens, and silver decor accents.

Complementing her mermaid-style dress with a front and back plunging neckline, Nathalie chose a natural look for her wedding day style.

“I wanted to keep things simple and clean. I didn’t want to wear a lot of makeup, so I kept it classic with neutral and light makeup. My hair was pulled back into a sleek low bun, which is a look I love and still wear these days,” the bride gushed.

The music, location, and photographer were all elements that will forever stand out to Nathalie, but stopping to enjoy the moment and being surrounded by family was a memory that will last forever.

“The most memorable moment was finally getting to sit at our sweetheart table after the ceremony, take a breath, and look around at all of our loved ones around us,” the bride reminisced.

The Proposal:
We were spending our last days in Virginia Beach before making the move down here, and on our last trip to the Virginia Beach oceanfront, Connor popped the question! We were there having dinner, and he had planned to propose by the water.

Little did he know a storm was rolling in, so dinner turned into quick drinks, and we ran to the water while others were leaving the beach! Dark clouds covered the sky, and while I was the most confused, he surprised me when I least expected it and asked me right by the water!

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Vegas! I had never been and knew that if I was ever going to go and really experience it, it had to be with my girls! We had the best time and experienced more than I thought I could.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Sugar Beach in St Lucia. This was my husband’s big task to figure out. He planned it with the help of his agency. We’re both big beach people, so that’s all he needed to know from me. Additionally, we wanted to find the best deal for our buck and looked for the top rated all-inclusive beach resort. We loved it, and wish we could go back every year!

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding was simple, modern, and clean with a tropical touch.

What were your colors and why did you choose them?
We stuck to black and white with a touch of tropical greenery,” the bride recalled. “I love neutrals and a lot of black and white. At my house, I only grow green plants and succulents. I keep it very ‘naturey,’ only rarely having color flowers.”

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
My wedding planner was an angel! She kept me grounded from the very first day we started working together and helped me refocus whenever things got crazy. I really would have been a mess if it hadn’t been for her and all her help leading up to our big day. Our florist was another exceptional vendor! The flowers on my wedding day were beautiful and far more than I could have ever imagined. Communication with our rental company from the start was easy, and they were flexible with any decisions/changes. On the day of the wedding, they were the best with bringing the rental items and setting everything up so efficiently and just how I had envisioned it all! We had an incredible DJ who had people on the floor the entire night! We wanted this to be a celebration more than anything, and he definitely made that possible.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Planning a wedding is hard! For some like me who never even thought about what their wedding could be one day, the possibilities are endless. Just be true to yourself and make decisions based on what you want! Know that you will have many options, and don’t feel pressured to break the bank for the things you like/want. Do your research and make sure you are happy with your decisions because, at the end of the day, this day only happens once!