JaMia and Michael's waterfront downtown Tampa wedding combined a bold color palette of black and gold with lush tropical greenery for a chic and modern affair with a distinct Florida twist.
“We wanted a sexy, classy, and sultry wedding, which embodied a New Year's Day wedding,” the bride shared. “Our colors were black and emerald green. Black is a very classy and sexy color, and green represents happiness and wealth, so we thought a combination of the two colors was perfect to bring in the New Year.”
The local Tampa couple hosted a traditional Nigerian engagement celebration the evening before the wedding, incorporating their heritage and culture into their nuptials. The result was a joyful and lively way to ring in the new year!
“One unique aspect of our wedding was the traditional Nigerian engagement that we had the evening before the wedding on New Year's Eve. This consisted of a large ceremony in a decorative hall filled with amazing chandeliers, a large stage, a king and queen's throne, decorative cake, traditional Nigerian dress, and more. We participated in traditional Nigerian customs including wearing traditional Nigerian clothing, reading proposal letters, and, of course, dancing to Nigerian music,” the bride detailed.
For the main event, the pair turned to the creative team at FH Events to transform the event space into a chic tropical paradise for their 250+ guests. The bride and groom took center stage, exchanging vows on a pristine white raised platform accented with grand gold structures adorned with flora and foliage. Towering arrangements of ferns and philodendrons paired with romantic candles were further complemented by tropical leaves lining the border of the custom monogrammed dance floor.
“We wanted a wedding florist that was willing to be creative and think outside the box and also to be as excited as we were. We chose FH Events based on the recommendation from our planner and our meeting with them. They were willing to do whatever it took to piece together the two-day extravaganza, and they did just that,” JaMia raved. “FH Events was fantastic! The classy, sultry, and Florida vibes were achieved with the floral arrangements. The flowers and decorations exceeded our expectations.”
Glamorous gold details were threaded throughout the event décor for an added touch of elegance, from glimmering gold rimmed charger plates and flatware at the place settings to specialty gold serpentine tables with Louis Pop chairs featuring luxe emerald velvet seats. The grandiose inventory from A Chair Affair elevated the entire space and brought the color palette and vision to life.
“We wanted a company that was reliable and willing to go above and beyond what we needed, a company that was able to see our vision and bring it to life. That’s exactly what we got. In fact, we are still hearing about the wedding from guests that attended,” the bride gushed. “A Chair Affair was able to provide everything we needed and then some. The elegance of each piece truly complemented each event space and helped to complete the two-day event in utter magnificence. Our guests were completely blown away.”
Michael's favorite memory of the day involved a private moment with his bride after the reception, while the memory that stood out most to JaMia occurred just as she made her way down the ceremony aisle.
“My best memory came at the end of the wedding when my wife and I took a nice and quiet boat right back to the hotel along the Tampa River. The serenity of the water and dark night really allowed us to reflect on the entire weekend of love that we shared,” the groom reminisced.
“The best memory of my wedding was when I was escorted down the aisle by my father, and I saw my mother for the first time in my wedding dress. The look that she gave me was magical,” the bride recalled. “She simply looked at me and said, ‘Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.' She then kissed me on the cheek. It was such a genuine and beautiful moment that I will never forget.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Las Vegas, because I had never been there before. I also thought it was an awesome place for a bachelorette weekend. It was an epic weekend!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Hawaii. We love the water and have heard from many that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places to go in the United States.
The Proposal:
It was a cold and windy January day at Seaplane Basin Park near the water. The mood was set with the assistance of Bri of A.Tailor’d Experience. Balloons spelled out, “MARRY ME,” with a luxury picnic completed the day. JaMia's family and friends were present.
It was supposed to be a surprise, but JaMia will tell you that it wasn’t much of a surprise because I was acting “weird” all day. I happened to get down on one knee, and she said, “Yes.” I was elated, and so was she. The rest is history.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted a sexy, classy, and sultry wedding, which embodied a New Year's Day wedding.
What were your colors?
Our colors were black and emerald green. Black is a very classy and sexy color, and green represents happiness and wealth, so we thought a combination of the two colors was perfect to bring in the New Year.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
“We wanted a wedding florist that was willing to be creative and think outside the box and also to be as excited as we were.
We chose FH Events based on the recommendation from our planner and our meeting with them. They were willing to do whatever it took to piece together the two-day extravaganza, and they did just that.
FH Events was fantastic! The classy, sultry, and Florida vibes were achieved with the floral arrangements. The flowers and decorations exceeded our expectations.”
What did you look for in a wedding rental company?
We wanted a company that was reliable and willing to go above and beyond what we needed, a company that was able to see our vision and bring it to life. That’s exactly what we got. In fact, we are still hearing about the wedding from guests that attended.
A Chair Affair was able to provide everything we needed and then some. The elegance of each piece truly complemented each event space and helped to complete the two-day event in utter magnificence. Our guests were completely blown away.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
FH Events was fantastic! The classy, sultry and Florida vibes were achieved with the floral arrangements. The flowers and decorations exceeded our expectations.
We also had an amazing band for entertainment. The guests definitely enjoyed the band. When we see guests that attended the wedding, they continue to boast about them.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
We recommend starting the wedding planning process early. Vendors and event spaces are booked quickly.
