Stephanie and Josh’s springtime Ybor City wedding centered around family vibes, personal memories, and romance. Nestled in the vibrant streets of Tampa’s historic neighborhood, the bride and groom curated an event infused with Josh’s Trinidad and Barbados heritage, Stephanie’s Miami roots, and an Italian garden-inspired design.
“The design inspiration stemmed from Josh and I’s love for our families. We would have loved to have a destination wedding in Lake Como, but we wanted to make sure both sides of our families could travel to where we would get married. His family is from Trinidad and Barbados, and mine is mainly in Miami, so we kept it close to home,” the bride explained. “He chose to wear a light blue suit, like the one his dad wore when he married. And I wanted to honor my late grandmother, whose favorite flowers were yellow orchids. Keeping all of those things in mind, we chose to incorporate a lot of white, yellow, and blue into the wedding, keeping in mind an Italian garden style and a timeless aesthetic.”
Stephanie searched for a wedding venue that effortlessly blended history with modern flair while providing an inviting space for her 92 guests. As she searched through Hotel Haya‘s real wedding features on Marry Me Tampa Bay, the natural light, captivating art installations, and prime location on 7th Avenue made the contemporary hotel the ideal choice.
“We lived in Miami at the time, but we decided to get married in Tampa because it was our first road trip as a couple and where we first told each other we loved each other! I wanted lots of bright light and airiness and closeness to other things. It is a great space with lots of light and wood flooring that feels like you are outside but with the benefit of A/C! We also had the opportunity to do our cocktail hour by the pool, so it was the perfect amount of being outside. They also had great value for food and drink packages and delicious food,” the bride beamed. “When looking for a venue, it was very helpful to see weddings that had happened at venues previously on Marry Me Tampa Bay. Hotel Haya being in Ybor was so fun leading up to the wedding and after it! Spoiler: We all ended up at Coyote Ugly after!”
Hosting the wedding and accommodations at the same venue allowed for multiple days of memories for the couple’s May celebration.
“Something we did not think of before the actual wedding weekend, it was so nice to have the majority of guests under the same roof as it felt like we could chat and hang out with every single guest during the weekend, which may not have been possible in other venues,” Stephanie explained. “We had guests get there Saturday night and met everyone at the bar as a casual welcome party, and then we had a buffet breakfast the Monday after the wedding where everyone could get some coffee and bites before they went home. It was so nice to chat about the wedding with everyone and hear their favorite memories.”
When it came to capturing their once-in-a-lifetime moments, the Miami couple wanted a photography team that could bring their memories to life. Enter Garry and Stacy Photography Co.; not only were they familiar with the venue, but their editorial style captured the couple’s vision, making the entire journey from the engagement shoot to the final gallery an unforgettable experience.
“We looked for creatives who could handle painting a cohesive image and memory of our special day! Garry and Stacy Photography Co. understood what we wanted and had worked at our venue previously. We loved working with them throughout the wedding process!” the bride gushed. “From the engagement photo shoot to the moment we received our gallery, they were so special and caring. We also felt that they never distracted us from enjoying our day.”
To keep the stress off of the couple, Stephanie and Josh understood the importance of having a meticulous and passionate wedding planner by their side.
“Photography was the most important element. We wanted memories of the whole day. We were looking for someone who would help us with every part of wedding planning. We spoke to some who put restrictions on what they would and wouldn’t help us with from the first meeting. We really wanted someone who was excited to be a part of the planning process with us,” the bride shared. “We hired Coastal Coordinating because that was the exact vibe and experience we got from Katy, the owner, and Cayla, our coordinator. Cayla was amazing, especially the day of. I can’t imagine the wedding day without her. She was resourceful and kept every ounce of stress that otherwise would have landed on me to herself so Josh and I could fully enjoy our day.”
Capturing memories was a significant aspect of the pair’s celebration, and The Gala Photobooth became a central attraction. It wasn’t just a photo booth; it was a unique experience that mirrored their vibrant personalities and commitment to making lasting memories.
“Our personalities were sprinkled in multiple parts of the wedding! We kept traditions to a minimum to start. I love photographs, so there were ample opportunities to make memories, whether in the photo booth or in the “POV” application that all guests had access to. As a guest, you never know if you’ll get a photo at the wedding or with the bride and groom, so The Gala Photobooth was a way to ensure everyone had at least one memory of our special day,” the bride revealed. “Josh’s personality and culture came out in the music. We made sure to have a DJ that could blend our Latin and Caribbean roots.”
As the evening reached its pinnacle, the newlyweds had one more surprise in store for their guests. They took to the dance floor for their final dance, creating a memory that would leave everyone enchanted.
“Our last dance, we danced to Love Story while the Sugar Sax played along, and it was the most high-energy, euphoric moment of the night!” Stephanie reminisced.
The Proposal:
Josh proposed privately at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne by the water.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I wanted lots of bright light and airiness and closeness to other things. It is a great space with lots of light and wood flooring that feels like you are outside but with the benefit of A/C! We also had the opportunity to do our cocktail hour by the pool, so it was the perfect amount of being outside. They also had great value for food and drink packages and delicious food. Hotel Haya being in Ybor was so fun leading up to the wedding and after it! Spoiler: We all ended up at Coyote Ugly after! Something we did not think of before the actual wedding weekend, it was so nice to have the majority of guests under the same roof as it felt like we could chat and hang out with every single guest during the weekend, which may not have been possible in other venues,” Stephanie explained. “We had guests get there Saturday night and met everyone at the bar as a casual welcome party, and then we had a buffet breakfast the Monday after the wedding where everyone could get some coffee and bites before they went home. It was so nice to chat about the wedding with everyone and hear their favorite memories.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Miami! It was easy for everyone to get to, and there were tons of things to do that none of my friends had ever done before.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Costa Mujeres, Mexico. We wanted an all-inclusive experience where we could take off our wedding planning hats and just relax.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Photography was the most important element. We wanted memories of the whole day. We looked for creatives who could handle painting a cohesive image and memory of our special day!
Garry and Stacy Photography Co. understood what we wanted and had worked at our venue previously. We loved working with them throughout the wedding process! From the engagement photo shoot to the moment we received our gallery, they were so special and caring. We also felt that they never distracted us from enjoying our day.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The design inspiration stemmed from Josh and I’s love for our families. We would have loved to have a destination wedding in Lake Como, but we wanted to make sure both sides of our families could travel to where we would get married. His family is from Trinidad and Barbados, and mine is mainly in Miami, so we kept it close to home.
What were your colors?
He chose to wear a light blue suit, like the one his dad wore when he married. And I wanted to honor my late grandmother, whose favorite flowers were yellow orchids. Keeping all of those things in mind, we chose to incorporate a lot of white, yellow, and blue into the wedding, keeping in mind an Italian garden style and a timeless aesthetic.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We were looking for someone who would help us with every part of wedding planning. We spoke to some who put restrictions on what they would and wouldn’t help us with from the first meeting. We really wanted someone who was excited to be a part of the planning process with us.
We hired Coastal Coordinating because that was the exact vibe and experience we got from Katy, the owner, and Cayla, our coordinator. Cayla was amazing, especially the day of. I can’t imagine the wedding day without her. She was resourceful and kept every ounce of stress that otherwise would have landed on me to herself so Josh and I could fully enjoy our day.
“Photography was the most important element. We wanted memories of the whole day. We looked for creatives who could handle painting a cohesive image and memory of our special day! We loved working with Garry and Stacy Photography Co. throughout the wedding process! From the engagement photo shoot to the moment we received our gallery, they were so special and caring. We also felt that they never distracted us from enjoying our day.”
-The Bride
How did the photo booth add to the guest experience?
As a guest, you never know if you’ll get a photo at the wedding or with the bride and groom, so The Gala Photobooth was a way to ensure everyone had at least one memory of our special day.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our florist! She went above and beyond with my requests and even surprised us with some beautiful extra arrangements on the day of the wedding!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
When considering a venue, don’t just look at the space itself. Pay attention to the catering and bar options, and make sure they fit your needs!
