Just a stone’s throw from the heart of downtown Tampa, Hotel Haya seamlessly blends the historic charm of old Ybor City with contemporary sophistication. During the Tie the Knot Ybor wedding show, attendees experienced a fusion of timeless elegance with the vibrant spirit of a revitalized neighborhood, promising an unforgettable wedding planning event unlike anything else in the state.

“The theme was muted pastels. I wanted the design for Tie the Knot to be modern, clean, and neutral to really let the colors of the flowers pop in the ballroom,” Amanda Biery, the owner and lead wedding planner of The Olive Tree Weddings, shared. “With vibrant colors being super trendy right now, I thought doing the opposite of vibrant would be perfect and would just go so well with Hotel Haya’s atmosphere.”

“I am obsessed with the potted plants instead of the traditional arch or draping at ceremonies. I asked Arms of Persephone Floral Design about the design and colors, and she was on board and nailed the vision perfectly. The different textures and dimensions of the pots and flowers were the main reason behind the theme, the colors, and the style of the whole shoot.”

The Tampa wedding planner utilized the varying spaces at the historic hotel. The ceremony took place against the original exposed brick walls and preserved artwork of the Valencia Foyer, while the Valencia Ballroom set the stage for the spring-inspired reception.

“Hotel Haya is hands down one of my favorite venues in the Tampa Bay area. Every space is unique and different from the last. The staff, the food, the drinks, you name it, and they are top-notch,” the planner gushed. “I love the history of the hotel as well as the exposed brick in the ballroom and foyer.”

Cocktail hour featured a festive photo opportunity with a greenery wall surrounded by white florals and a neon sign. A violinist entertained guests as they sipped spicey margaritas and enjoyed the passed hors d’oeuvres provided by the hotel’s restaurant Flor Fina, while Fairytail Pet Care partnered with the Humane Society to bring adoptable puppies.

“I wanted something unique, fun, and different than what others were doing. I did the opposite because I didn’t want to do whatever everyone expects to see,” the wedding planner revealed. “We did bistro lighting above the dance floor, and it was such a huge hit and turned out even more beautiful than I could have imagined! I told DJ Cory that I wanted a wow factor, something new that hadn’t been done before. I wanted Hotel Haya to be not only beautiful but also fun. We had live music, a bomb DJ, food and drinks, and of course, gelato. Gelato is life!”

Elevated rentals created a lounge setting in the ballroom, which uniquely paired a refined velvet settee with a casual rattan chair. The sweetheart table backdrop featured a stunning all-while floral statement wall with a chic neon sign. To tie in the floral theme, Femme Akoi Beauty Studio incorporated blue flowers into the bride’s hair, which was complemented by a floral appliqued veil reminiscent of vintage flower patterns.

“I loved that everything was cohesive but different throughout the hotel. The sweetheart table had a different design, as well as the long tables from the ovals and even the ceremony space,” the wedding planner shared. “It was all the same theme but showed that you can switch things up to be different but also the same! Long tables are different than oval tables, so having a different centerpiece design for those was so fun to see come to life.”

What were your colors and theme?
The theme was muted pastels. I wanted the design for Tie the Knot to be modern, clean, and neutral to really let the colors of the flowers pop in the ballroom. With vibrant colors being super trendy right now, I thought doing the opposite of vibrant would be perfect and would just go so well with Hotel Haya’s atmosphere.