Frances and Markham’s St. Pete Beach wedding was a modern-day Latin love story filled with romantic touches and Cuban style.
The South Tampa couple hosted their wedding weekend at St. Pete Beach wedding venue The Don Cesar as a “staycation” for their friends and family who live mostly in the Tampa Bay area.
“We searched for a large space to dance and a great location with plenty of activities to fill a weekend,” the bride explained. “The Don looks like a palace and is such a beautiful hotel. Everyone was very accommodating; they were open to all my unique and sometimes crazy ideas!”
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Turning to Marry Me Tampa Bay for assistance when researching vendors, the bride searched
“Marry Me Tampa Bay helped me choose vendors and get ideas,” Frances shared. “We found a majority of our vendors through a combination of Marry Me Tampa Bay, Instagram, Pinterest, friends, and word of mouth.”
The bride and groom searched for a St. Pete wedding photographer who they could easily connect and instantly clicked with Marc, owner of Marc Edwards Photographs.
“We wanted someone we could get along with, who could make us feel comfortable while shooting. We liked that we could hang and have a beer with him too,” Frances explained. “We loved his work, personality, and the results were perfection!”
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Incorporating their personalities into the wedding through every detail from colors, decor, food, and music, the couple wanted their wedding cake to tie into their modern and romantic theme.
“We wanted a cake that was simple appearing on the outside, yet bursting with unique flavor on the inside. We had orchids on the cake tiers made of sugar that looked so real,” the bride beamed. “We loved Jovana’s personality, and the cake from the Artistic Whisk was delicious! We had two very different, unique flavors coconut rum roasted pineapple and hazelnut espresso!”
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Looking back, Frances and Markham loved celebrating with their guests, especially during the Hora Loca, known as The Crazy Hour, a South American tradition.
“We had foam hats, LED light up sunglasses, whistles, maracas, and other props for the guests while a group of exotic performers, drummers, stilt-walkers, and dancers paraded through the dance floor. The energy was amazing!” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
On the top of Mount Bonell in Austin, TX.
How would you describe your theme?
Modern, romantic, Latin.
What were your colors?
Gold, green, pink, blue, and white. I really wanted to have a unique take on weddings and nothing needed to match. Even the bridesmaids had multicolor dresses!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Someone we could get along with and made us feel comfortable while shooting.
I want to learn more about Marc Edwards Photographs.
We loved Marc, of Marc Edwards Photographs, work, personality, and the results were perfection! We liked that we could hang and have a beer with him too.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
A large space to dance in a great location with plenty of activities to fill a weekend.
I want to learn more about weddings at The Don CeSar.
The Don CeSar looks like a palace, such a beautiful hotel. They were very accommodating and open to all my unique and sometimes crazy ideas!
What was your wedding dessert inspiration?
Modern and romantic. Simple appearing on the outside and bursting with unique flavor on the inside. We had orchids on the cake tiers made of sugar that looked so real.
I Want to Learn More about Desserts & Cake from The Artistic Whisk.
We loved Jovana’s personality, and the cake from the Artistic Whisk was delicious! We had two very different, unique flavors coconut rum roasted pineapple and hazelnut espresso!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
It’s your day so make it exactly how you want it!
Ceremony Venue: St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
Reception Venue and Catering: The Don CeSar Hotel *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Marc Edwards Photographs *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Life’s Highlights
Florist and Rentals: Botanica International Design and Decor Studio
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Band: Blonde/Latin Ambition by Eklectic Entertainment
Invitations: Invitation Galleria
Dress Shop and Designer: Ever After Miami – Oscar de la Renta
Makeup: Makeup by Marissa
Hair: Haute Hair Studio Tampa
Mobile Coffee Bar: Café Ala Carte
Hora Loca show: Black and Wine Events
