Megan and Martin's downtown St. Pete wedding featured a carefully curated celebration that combined a tropical aesthetic with a jewel-toned color palette.
“The idea was to have a modern tropical garden wedding. Martin is originally from England, so I started with the classic English garden wedding but wanted to update the look. I previously worked as an event manager and have worked thousands of weddings, so we looked for something more unique,” the bride explained. “Our colors were emerald green, gold, and white. We chose them to fit our modern tropical theme and so that we had classic colors that would stand the test of time in photos.”
The Orlando couple fell in love with the relaxed atmosphere of downtown St. Pete and utilized Marry Me Tampa Bay to help them research their wedding pros.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay to look for vendors in the St. Pete area. It gave us some good ideas and variety to choose from,” Megan revealed.
The bride's past event experience helped guide her in finding the perfect venue for their 45-guest wedding. NOVA 535 checked off all of their boxes, including allowing outside catering, which was important to the couple.
“The first consideration we had when looking for a wedding venue was that we were allowed to use our own caterer. When we started wedding planning, I worked for Ruth's Chris Steak House and knew that we wanted to have their sizzling steak on our wedding day. The second thing we looked for was A/C for the reception. We didn't want to have to tent an area or worry about sweating in the Florida heat,” the bride explained. “NOVA 535 came as a top suggestion from our catering manager. The moment we opened the gate to the courtyard, we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. Having the bamboo background for our ceremony photos was beautiful, and the exposed brick inside was perfect.”
As the couple sought a wedding experience that was unique to their style, Megan and Martin incorporated a two-tiered cake pop display that made a stunning statement.
“I saw a picture of Sweetly Dipped Confections ombre cake pop cake on NOVA 535's Facebook page and knew that was the unique piece we were looking for,” Megan gushed. “We hired Sweetly Dipped Confections for something different. There were a lot of options for flavors, colors, decorations. Brandi was quick to answer questions and very helpful in providing options and designs that would match our theme.”
As the bride looked back on her wedding day, it was the personalized moments that brought the most cherished memories.
“Walking down the aisle to the Imperial March is a memory I will laugh at forever,” Megan reminisced. “Our dueling pianos was a great addition to our day and helped the groomsmen serenade Martin with a not-so-appropriate rendition of a Tenacious D song.”
The Proposal:
At the end of a monorail bar crawl with friends, Martin surprised me on the rooftop deck of the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort right as the Magic Kingdom fireworks show began.
How would you describe your theme?
The idea was to have a modern tropical garden wedding. Martin is originally from England, so I started with the classic English garden wedding but wanted to update the look. I previously worked as an event manager and have worked thousands of weddings, so we looked for something more unique.
What were your colors?
Emerald green, gold, and white. We chose them to fit our modern tropical theme and so that we had classic colors that would stand the test of time in photos.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We have yet to take a honeymoon due to COVID-19. We are hoping to get to Italy once the pandemic is over.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
The first consideration we had when looking for a wedding venue was that we were allowed to use our own caterer. When we started wedding planning, I worked for Ruth's Chris Steak House and knew that we wanted to have their sizzling steak on our wedding day. The second thing we looked for was A/C for the reception. We didn't want to have to tent an area or worry about sweating in the Florida heat.
NOVA 535 came as a top suggestion from our catering manager. The moment we opened the gate to the courtyard, we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. Having the bamboo background for our ceremony photos was beautiful, and the exposed brick inside was perfect. Not only was the venue gorgeous, but our coordinator, Ruby, also provided amazing service through the planning process. On our initial site visit, Ruby provided us with a custom quote on everything we would need to make it happen. She was quick to return calls, emails, and set us up for success. Stephany, our day-of coordinator, was fantastic. She helped with setup, coordinating wedding parties, and keeping everything flowing according to plan. As an event planner myself, I always look at the minor details, and they did not miss a beat.
What did you look for in a wedding bakery?
I saw a picture of Sweetly Dipped Confections ombre cake pop cake on NOVA 535's Facebook page and knew that was the unique piece we were looking for.
We hired Sweetly Dipped Confections for something different. There were a lot of options for flavors, colors, decorations. Brandi was quick to answer questions and very helpful in providing options and designs that would match our theme.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Keep your guest list smaller to those you are really close to. It made us feel like we really got to spend time with people instead of quick thank yous.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: NOVA 535 *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: LoveMate Photography
Planner: Stephany Perry Events
Florist: Orlando Flower Market
Caterer: Ruth's Chris Steak House
Cake: Sweetly Dipped Confections *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Popcorn: Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn
Band: Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos
Officiant: Brandon Gauthier
Invitations: Staples
Dress Shop and Designer: Calvet Couture Bridal (Winter Park) – Blush by Hayley Paige
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Adrianna Pappel, Lulus
Hair & Makeup: Amelia Clifton, Katie Kuches
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
