Morgan and Ronnie’s boho-inspired Dade City wedding was set on lush green acres that brought a timeless elegance to the day. Their wedding was a mix of airy, boho greenery that was set in a modern, rustic setting which came to life with rich wood tones mixed with neutral colors.
“I always described it as a mixture of bohemian and modern with a personal twist. There were so many different designs that we loved, and I couldn’t decide on one theme, so we decided on taking all the things we loved and incorporating them into our own!” the bride beamed. “The décor was mostly neutrals with a pop of color, and that is our daily go-to for clothing and home designs. Our colors were a mixture of black, white, gold, and terracotta. We chose this color scheme as we felt it fit our personalities and gave the space the chic look it deserved.”
While planning their 125-person March affair, the Land O’ Lakes bride referred to Marry Me Tampa Bay for décor ideas and to research her wedding pros.
“I visited the Marry Me Tampa Bay site multiple times during the planning process. I loved the inspiration I could get from the blog posts and seeing real Tampa Bay weddings. I also used the site to help gather data for vendors and to connect with local businesses,” Morgan shared.
The couple searched for a versatile venue with an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception space to share their vows and celebrate their love, and selected one of Tampa Bay’s newest wedding venues, Simpson Lakes. The venue breathed a soft magic into the day with the majestic oak trees sweeping the 120-plus acres.
“We needed an outdoor ceremony space that would hold our number of guests and with a beautiful backdrop. Being Florida natives, we wanted somewhere that had water and natural beauty that wasn’t the beach. We know how hot it can be here all year round and the unpredictable weather, so we had to make sure we checked all the boxes when it came to a venue,” the bride revealed. “We knew from the moment we drove up to Simpson Lakes that it was the place we wanted to be married. The grounds make you feel like you are in your own world. The venue helped coordinate the table arrangements for the reception and also with the ceremony set up, which helped me envision the space. From the first meeting, they were so helpful and always on top of my questions whenever I asked. I can’t thank their team enough for the service they provided to us and our guests; it was exceptional.”
To showcase their personalities, Morgan and Ronnie incorporated personal touches into every part of their wedding from the décor to the dessert to their attire and selected chose a two-toned, four-tier cake with cascading flowers and gold accents.
“We are subtle but love to show out ever so often, so we wanted to incorporate this into any part of the wedding. My husband went for a sleek all-black outfit with gold accents that would give him a sophisticated look but not too over the top for his style. I chose a form-fitting wedding dress with rose gold jewelry, which is my go-to color choice in jewelry,” Morgan explained. “When looking for a bakery, we wanted someone who made beautiful cakes but also had great flavor options. Also, we wanted a cake that was different from others and gave a ‘wow’ factor for both looks and taste. I tried a few other bakeries, and none of them compared to the quality that Tampa Bay Cake Company provided. We got a sample box of multiple flavors, and they were all so good that it took us over an hour to finally decide on the cake flavor!”
Looking back, the bride pinpointed the first time she laid eyes on her soon-to-be husband and the showstopping surprises by her mother.
“There were so many memorable moments, but my favorite was walking down the aisle to see Ronnie standing at the altar waiting for me. I loved him for over eight years, so by the time I was able to walk down the aisle to become his wife, it was a very special moment,” the bride reminisced. “Also, my mother surprised us with a handful of amazing additions to our wedding, and it was what made our wedding day so special. The biggest being our vintage car and fireworks show. I can truly say I had no idea that these were happening, but they fit in so perfectly that you would think I planned them myself. When we walked out, I thought we were done for the evening, only to be shocked when the fireworks started going off. The show was amazing and lasted for what seemed like forever.”
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
When looking for a venue we were looking for three key factors: an outdoor ceremony space, an indoor reception area, and a versatile space that we could make our own for the day! We needed an outdoor ceremony space that would hold 125 guests with a beautiful backdrop. Being Florida natives, we wanted somewhere that had water and natural beauty that wasn’t the beach. We know how hot it can be here all year round and the unpredictable weather, so we had to make sure we checked all the boxes when it came to a venue.
We knew from the moment we drove up to Simpson Lakes that it was the place we wanted to be married. The grounds make you feel like you are in your own world, but the building and amenities offered to us were the deciding factors in our decision. It was one of the only venues in Tampa that had what we were looking for and wasn’t outside of our style. Other venues didn’t have all the amenities that Simpson Lakes did from the reception space, personal groom and bridal suites, cocktail patio, and multiple ceremony options; we knew we wouldn’t find anywhere else.
From the first meeting, Caroline was so helpful and always on top of my questions whenever I asked. The venue helped to coordinate the table arrangement for the reception and with the ceremony set up which helped me envision the space, and so much more. I can’t thank their team enough for the service they provided to us and our guests, it was exceptional.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I always described it as a mixture of bohemian and modern with a personal twist. There were so many different designs that we loved, and I couldn’t decide on one theme, so we decided on taking all the things we loved and incorporating them into our own!
What were your colors?
The décor was mostly neutrals with a pop of color, and that is our daily go-to for clothing and home designs. Our colors were a mixture of black, white, gold, and terracotta. We chose this color scheme as we felt it fit our personalities and gave the space the chic look it deserved.”
The Proposal:
It was the day after Thanksgiving, and we decided to go on our boat to Fort Desoto for a fishing trip. We went out a few miles offshore and were the only boat around. Ronnie set up his drone to take pictures of the boat and asked if I could take a picture with him. Thinking nothing of it, I went to the front deck and waited for him to come to meet me for the picture. When I turned to look for him, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I truly had no idea it was happening that day but so happy it did!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We took a two-week trip exploring four cities on the west coast of the United States, visiting Reno, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, and San Francisco. We knew from the get-go we wanted to be somewhere colder since we both are not huge beach people and live in sunny Florida. We chose Lake Tahoe as our focal point and after that, we took a road trip style approach to plan the rest of the trip as we wanted to see as much as we could in our time on that side of the country. It was the trip of a lifetime, and we can’t wait to make a trip back to Lake Tahoe in the summer months to try some more outdoor activities that they have!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I chose Key West as my bachelorette destination because of its endless possibilities and accessibility. Most everyone who attended drove in from Tampa, we had one Key West resident, and another flew into their airport from Washington state. I love the water and wanted to go somewhere in Florida’s winter, February, that was still warm enough for us to swim. We did a full day of exploring the Key West waters, swimming/snorkeling, and exploring an island; it was an amazing day and the highlight of our trip. Aside from the outdoor activities, Key West had great nightlife and something for us to do any time of the day.
What did you look for in a wedding bakery?
We wanted someone who made beautiful cakes but also had great flavor options for us. We wanted a cake that was different from others and gave a ‘wow’ factor for both looks and taste.
Tampa Bay Cake Company was a referral by our venue, and I had seen the company on multiple sites as a recommended vendor. They made the process so simple from the moment we started to talk. I had tried a few other bakeries and none of them compared to the quality that Tampa Bay Cake Company provided to us. We chose a sample box of multiple flavors, and they were all so good that it took us over an hour to finally decide on the cake flavor.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
In your relationship and on your wedding day, live in the moment and don’t stress about the small details. Almost everyone at your wedding won’t notice if a table is placed wrong or your colors are three slightly different shades; they will think it is beautiful regardless of the possible imperfections.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations and how?
Sea Rose Creative exceeded every expectation I had for a photographer. Katelyn was one of the best people I have ever met before and the highlight of my wedding process. She was there for me every step of the way and made sure to go the extra mile anytime she could. Ronnie and I are not photo people and never thought we would love every image captured by her as much as we do. I feel like she would have done anything in her power to make sure that our day went as smoothly as possible and that she truly cared for us. Her turnaround time was amazing, and she kept me updated through the entire process, which I know most photographers do not provide to their clients. I had heard horror stories about photographers, and she made me feel so safe with my choice. I would recommend Sea Rose Creative a million times over to anyone looking for a wedding photographer in Tampa.
Flower child florist made my floral dreams come to life and even better than I had imagined them to be! The florals were such a huge part of my design and when it came to finding the right florist who could bring my dreams to life, I knew Jordan and her team were the right fit for me based on their style and attention to detail.
Travis with Elite Sounds exceeded every expectation I had in a wedding DJ. I have been to so many events where the DJ doesn’t keep the event moving smoothly or fun and it is always a bummer. I have hired previous DJ’s so finding the right person for my wedding was very important. Travis handled so many things the day of and they all seemed effortless. From being the DJ, in charge of up lighting, our custom monogram, and our wall drapery, he never missed a beat and executed the entire event flawlessly! I will be forever grateful for Travis