Modern Downtown St. Pete Wedding | Museum of Fine Arts Wedding
Alayna and Ian's modern downtown St. Pete wedding featured elegant touches and romantic floral details to complement their blush, navy and gold color palette.
“Our theme was modern elegance. I wanted something timeless, and I love the idea of incorporating old and new,” the bride shared. “We had many rustic elements such as lanterns and string lights, while also including modern touches such as the lighting and venue.
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The bride, a Louisana native who now resides in St. Petersburg, chose to incorporate the New Orleanian traditional “second line” dance as the couple exited their ceremony.
With a focus on feeling relaxed on her wedding day, the bride searched for a Tampa Bay wedding photographer who could make the bride and groom feel at ease.
“Being photographed was not natural for us, but Kristen Marie Photography made us feel so comfortable,” Alayna shared. “Kristen was very patient and understanding of our nerves and really worked with us to make us laugh. Her calm nature and patience helped make us feel at ease and made for some wonderful photos! She and her team were very detail oriented, making sure my dress was perfect for every shot.”
MORE: KRISTEN MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDINGS
Envisioning florals that could capture her theme and complement their venue, Alayna hired St. Petersburg wedding floris Wonderland Floral Art.
“We wanted a florist who could really take our vision and make it the best it could be,” the bride explained. “It's hard to explain what you envision in your head, or what you see on Pinterest and twist it to your own, but Cassie at Wonderland Floral Art knew exactly what I was going for. She took the words right out of my mouth when meeting with her. She was wonderful!”
Looking back, the bride's most memorable moment was a sweet surprise during the wedding reception.
“The mother/son dance was great! My mother in law is from Puerto Rico so she taught Ian salsa, and they surprised everyone! Towards the end of the song, their whole family joined; it was the perfect way to get the night started,” Alayna reminisced.
The Proposal:
Ian and I arrived to the quaint, beautiful town of Rosemary Beach in the panhandle of Florida for a nice Labor Day getaway. I fell in love with Rosemary about two years earlier and knew it would be a special place for me one day. The first night there I had suggested a walk to the white sand beaches before dinner as the setting was just so picturesque. The sunset was amazing, and Ian had envisioned asking a stranger to take our photo as he drop to one knee and propose…and that is exactly what happened! A wonderful lady asked us if she could take a photo for us, and he proposed with the most perfect sunset as the background. I cried, and the stranger taking our photo cried. It was the best moment of our lives!
How would you describe your theme?
Modern elegance. I love the idea of incorporating old and new. We had many rustic elements such as lanterns and string lights, while also including modern touches such as the lighting and venue.
What were your colors?
Blush, navy and gold. I wanted something timeless, but modern. The bridesmaids looked very elegant in the blush gowns and the groom and groomsmen were stylish and sophisticated in their navy ensembles.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
Someone who could really take our vision and make it the best it could be. It's hard to explain what you envision in your head, or what you see on Pinterest and twist it to your own, but Cassie at Wonderland Floral Art knew exactly what I was going for. She took the words right out of my mouth when meeting with her. She was wonderful!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who we would feel comfortable with; being photographed is not natural for us.
Kristen Marie Photography was very patient and understanding of our nerves and really worked with us to make us laugh. Kristen's calm nature and patience helped make us feel at ease and made for some wonderful photos! She and her team were very detail oriented, making sure my dress was perfect for every shot.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Personally, I think the music can make or break the reception. Being from New Orleans, dancing is in our blood, and trying to incorporate that type of atmosphere can be tricky. We really wanted someone who understood the overall concept of our night, which was to get as much dancing in as possible!
Eric from Grant Hemond & Associates was absolutely outstanding. We spoke with him the week of our wedding to explain the type of music we wanted and how to create that party atmosphere. He had great suggestions and recommendations for the down times and really listened to our likes and dislikes.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Use resources like Marry Me Tampa Bay and the reviews from other brides to make sure that you are getting the best for the biggest day of your life!
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete
Photographer: Kristen Marie Photography *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Planner: Vicki Tylman
Florist: Wonderland Floral Art
Caterer and Cake: Olympia Catering *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates – Eric *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Officiant: Rev. Rick Lackore
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Transportation: Pure Limousines
Dress Shop and Designer: MaeMe (New Orleans) – Stella York
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Pearls Place (New Orleans) – Alfred Sung
Hair: Lauren Westmoreland
Makeup: Katrina Lima
