Darnesha and Jabaré's waterfront downtown Tampa wedding was a glamorous fete featuring an outdoor ceremony on the banks of the river followed by a formal reception filled with neutral flora, modern black decor, and rich metallic accents of gold and bronze.
“The wedding design was bronze elegance. We thought bronze looked great on our varying skin tones and wanted to incorporate classic blacks, whites, and greenery with the bronze focal color for an upscale look,” the bride beamed. “Our love for our history and family was reflected in the selection and announcement of our new last name, Foli, which means ‘there is strength in the family.'”
The Miami couple selected downtown Tampa for its proximity to their families and for its stunning waterfront views of the Hillsborough River and city skyline backdrop. They transformed their event space into an elegant setting for their 200 guests with decorative table settings from Kate Ryan Event Rentals and chic bronze and black chairs from A Chair Affair. The modern furnishings and rich details set the tone for the luxurious September celebration.
“Our event planner helped us select our event rentals, and we were very happy with the selection. We wanted a chic, upscale look, and the rentals really helped accomplish that,” Darnesha beamed.
Instead of the bride taking the groom's last name, the pair opted for a new shared last name that spoke to their ancestral roots and planned an exciting reveal of their new moniker at the reception.
“We had a last name reveal. We have heard of couples adopting a new married name, both groom and bride, but not many in the way we did it. We took African Ancestry DNA tests to determine our African ancestry and then selected a last name derived from our shared ancestral region of Africa,” the bride explained. “We ended up having a Scrabble board that our guests used to guess the name during the cocktail hour. Then we announced it together and explained the meaning at the start of the reception. We have never seen a last name reveal at a wedding, so that was also unique.”
The couple's vow exchange, led by a friend and former business colleague, will remain a cherished memory for Darnesha. Saying ‘I do' was the true embodiment of the purpose of their celebration.
“The most memorable moment was getting married at the ceremony because that was the reason why we were all there, and we really enjoyed hearing each other's vows,” the bride reminisced. “Federal Judge, the Honorable Mary Scriven, who I previously clerked for, served as our officiant. Unsurprisingly, she did an amazing job.”
The Proposal:
Jabaré and I decided to get married together prior to his formal proposal. Jabaré formally proposed with a ring at a museum, where we had planned to take photos with each other. He proposed mid-photoshoot.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
For the convenience of me and my gals, we hosted it in Miami, where I live.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Akumal, Mexico. We selected it because of my love for Mexican food, and Jabaré had not been to the country before.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The wedding design was bronze elegance. We thought bronze looked great on our varying skin tones and wanted to incorporate classic blacks, whites, and greenery with the bronze focal color for an upscale look. We included our love for R&B in our selection of our band, as well as our love for sweets with a doughnut flambé station. Our love for our history and family was reflected in the selection and announcement of our new last name, Foli, which means ‘there is strength in the family.'
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our wedding planner exceeded our expectations because she was extraordinarily organized and made sure all of our many vendors were kept abreast of the schedule. She also executed our vision perfectly and even gifted me a bridal assistant who made sure I had all I needed throughout the day. Additionally, our baker made the most perfect wedding cake for us. It was a work of art.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Use Instagram and TikTok for vendors so you have the best idea of what to expect for the work and product.
