Elizabeth and Craig
“The 1920s inspired our theme with a modern twist, incorporating elements that reflected both of our personalities. Our love for Historic Uptown, which dates back to the 1920s, like our venue, made that era a natural source of inspiration. We even referenced old family wedding photos from that time. For our colors, we chose olive green, black, gold, and a touch of white to complete the look. Black, white, and gold were especially prominent in the 1920s, so incorporating them felt like a natural choice. When it came to selecting our primary color, I wanted something earthy that truly represented who we are. Olive green stood out as the perfect fit, inspired by our deep love of plants.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Elizabeth and Craig’s moody St. Pete wedding was a romantic blend of lush greenery, flickering candlelight, warm ambient lighting, and a rich 1920s-inspired design.
“The 1920s inspired our theme with a modern twist, incorporating elements that reflected both of our personalities. We were involved in every detail, and with so many meaningful touches, it’s hard to define our wedding with just one theme,” the bride shared. “Our love for Historic Uptown, which dates back to the 1920s, like our venue, made that era a natural source of inspiration. Another influence came when my husband began looking for tuxedos and realized he wanted something more unique than the standard groom’s look. We even referenced old family wedding photos from that time. For our colors, we chose olive green, black, gold, and a touch of white to complete the look. Color stories have always been deeply important to me, especially after working in the fashion industry as both a designer in New York City and in Color Development. Black, white, and gold were especially prominent in the 1920s, so incorporating them felt like a natural choice. When it came to selecting our primary color, I wanted something earthy that truly represented who we are. Olive green stood out as the perfect fit, inspired by our deep love of plants.”
The couple’s love for their neighborhood played a meaningful role in their wedding planning, influencing not only the location but the entire vibe of the day.
“We live right in the heart of Historic Uptown in St. Pete. We wanted to share the community we love with our friends and family, while also supporting local venues and vendors. It turned out to be a huge plus having the venue just minutes from our apartment,” the bride beamed.
From the moment they began searching for a venue, Elizabeth and Craig were drawn to a space that combined history, character, and flexibility. NOVA 535 checked every box, offering the atmosphere they envisioned and the practical features they needed.
“My husband knew of NOVA 535, and I fell in love with it upon seeing it for the first time. We both love the open loft design and warehouse feel,” the bride gushed. “Being in Florida, the ability to pivot last minute due to weather was crucial. NOVA 535 was everything we dreamed of in one venue. The main building was built in the 1920s, and we loved that you can see the history in the brick walls. The bamboo garden outdoor space was also a major selling point. The attentiveness of the entire staff confirmed we had made the right choice. They went above and beyond, and our coordinator, April, was exceptionally courteous, helpful, caring, and stress relieving throughout the entire process.”
Planning a wedding filled with meaningful details took intention and research, which the couple found on Marry Me Tampa Bay.
“We used Marry Me Tampa Bay to validate our top contender vendors,” the bride revealed. “It was such a helpful resource for solidifying those final decisions.”
Selecting the right photo and video team was one of the most important decisions for Elizabeth and Craig, especially since they wanted their unique style and atmosphere to be captured authentically.
“We were looking for someone who had an edgier, dark romantic style. It was also important to us that they were familiar with our venue. I was pretty picky about this, and it paid off! It was challenging to find a photographer and videographer who reflected our style, matched our vibe, and offered a reasonable price,” the bride explained. “Sabrina Autumn Photography was first mentioned to me by my co-workers, who had hired them for their weddings and raved about their work. After researching them, I realized that NOVA 535 also recommended them. Their talent is off the charts. After working with Sabrina for our engagement photos, we were sold. They were professional, kind, and easy to work with, just the type of people you would want to have over for dinner.”
Elizabeth and Craig exchanged vows in front of an exposed red brick wall glowing with the warmth of romantic string lights. Surrounded by 111 of their closest friends and family members, the atmosphere felt both intimate and full of love. White blooms and lush greenery softened the industrial charm of the space, creating a timeless and intimate atmosphere. The floral design was minimalist yet striking, with green foliage featured throughout the ceremony. At the reception, each table was adorned with a greenery centerpiece and an oil lamp candle, while a small succulent was placed at every guest’s seat. It was a thoughtful and personal touch that reflected the couple’s shared love of plants and candlelight, and it was the perfect detail for a winter wedding, bringing a sense of life and warmth to the season.
“My husband loves plants, and I’m a candle enthusiast,” the bride shared. “When we began receiving quotes from floral vendors, we had an ‘ah-ha’ moment. We could use traditional flowers for the ceremony, but incorporate plants and candles as reception centerpieces. It reflected who we are and made perfect wedding favors. We loved the idea of so many plants blossoming from our wedding day into the homes of our guests.”
For Elizabeth and Craig, the most important part of their wedding was creating a deeply personal and emotional experience. “Truth, beauty, freedom, and love, (and music),” the bride detailed, were the guiding themes behind every detail, from a nontraditional ceremony to writing their own vows. Their custom wedding newspaper became a standout element. “It allowed all of our guests to read our ‘coffee shop’ love story… they knew the how, now they were feeling the why.”
Music was woven throughout the day, with live strings during the ceremony and curated playlists for cocktail hour and dinner. For her bridal look, Elizabeth chose a dramatic cape instead of a traditional veil.
“I really wanted something in my look that was high fashion, different, and eye-catching, and the cape did just that,” the bride beamed. The cape added a bold fashion statement while also allowing her to transition into a second look without needing a second dress.
The culinary experience was just as thoughtful and personalized as the rest of the celebration. The couple prioritized flavor, variety, and a seamless experience for their guests and found everything they were looking for with Amici’s Catered Cuisine.
“We didn’t have a particular inspiration in mind; we both have a love of seafood and Italian, and Amici’s Catered Cuisine hit the mark on both! Out of all the catering companies, Amici’s was very professional and prompt in their communication, and above all, affordable,” the bride stated. “We also very much appreciated that we had a private tasting. We were able to enjoy the food and discuss amongst each other freely without the added pressure of someone else watching us try the food. We were so happy with our experience!”
One of the most unforgettable highlights of the day came as a complete surprise to the couple, thanks to their families’ creative and heartfelt performances.
“The most memorable moment was the surprise performances leading into the reception by our families,” the bride reminisced. “First was a lip-sync and dance to Super Trouper from Mamma Mia, performed by my mom alongside her three sisters and brother. The second was my husband’s three sisters performing a parody of the Ghostbusters theme song, Who Ya Gonna Call? Craig’s sisters. They even hired Ernie Hudson, who played Winston Zeddemore in the movie, to record a personal, loving, and fun message that played just before the performance.”
The Proposal:
Craig started the night by taking me to a romantic candlelit concert featuring a string quartet. We then made our way to Treasure Island for a beachside dinner. His plan was for us to take a stroll by the water’s edge after eating, propose, and surprise me with a picnic on the sand with champagne and chocolate strawberries. However, the weather turned windy and cold during dinner, so he decided to make a change.
When we arrived home, I went into our room to change, thinking that he wouldn’t propose that night. While I was in the room, he quickly created the most romantic candlelit picnic on our living room floor. I walked out to music and the beautiful scene. He took my hand and started dancing with me. He told me all the reasons why he loved me, then got down on one knee and proposed.
What was your wedding day bridal makeup inspiration?
My sister used Femme Akoi Beauty Studio for her wedding and had such a great experience that I knew I wanted to use them as well.
Ana Grace was incredible and went above and beyond by doing two trials for my mom and me. Her talent and creativity truly blew me away. She captured the exact look I was hoping for, and I could not be happier with the result.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo, a nature resort. We chose that location because it is tucked into the mangroves with a view of the sunset over the Everglades. It’s very private, with lots of secluded spots on the property, and of course, amazing dining and amenities. We also wanted to be able to hop in our vehicle and drive the very next morning, so the short distance to the Keys was perfect.
Where did you host your bachelor/bachelorette parties?
We decided to forego the traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties. Since we were getting married the same weekend as Valentine’s Day, we thought it would be special to have a Stag and Hen party with our wedding party plus their significant others on the night of Valentine’s Day.
We partied in downtown St. Pete, with the gals starting the night at Hawthorne Bottle Shop while the guys were at Lost & Found. The meetup was at LaLa for dinner and karaoke, then off to Enigma for the drag show, where we both got pulled onto the stage for a booty-shaking contest(lol). We then ventured to Goodnight John Boy to end the night on the disco dance floor before retiring to the new AC Marriott downtown.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
My husband knew of NOVA 535, and I fell in love with it upon seeing it for the first time. We both love the open loft design and warehouse feel. Being in Florida, the ability to pivot last minute due to weather was crucial. NOVA 535 was everything we dreamed of in one venue.
The main building was built in the 1920s, and we loved that you can see the history in the brick walls. The bamboo garden outdoor space was also a major selling point. The attentiveness of the entire staff confirmed we had made the right choice. They went above and beyond, and our coordinator, April, was exceptionally courteous, helpful, caring, and stress relieving throughout the entire process.
What did you look for in a wedding photo/video team?
We were looking for someone who had an edgier, dark romantic style. It was also important to us that they were familiar with our venue. I was pretty picky about this, and it paid off! It was challenging to find a photographer and videographer who reflected our style, matched our vibe, and offered a reasonable price.
Sabrina Autumn Photography was first mentioned to me by my co-workers, who had hired them for their weddings and raved about their work. After researching them, I realized that NOVA 535 also recommended them. Their talent is off the charts. After working with Sabrina for our engagement photos, we were sold. They were professional, kind, and easy to work with, just the type of people you would want to have over for dinner.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The 1920s inspired our theme with a modern twist, incorporating elements that reflected both of our personalities. We were involved in every detail, and with so many meaningful touches, it’s hard to define our wedding with just one theme. Our love for Historic Uptown, which dates back to the 1920s, like our venue, made that era a natural source of inspiration. Another influence came when my husband began looking for tuxedos and realized he wanted something more unique than the standard groom’s look. We even referenced old family wedding photos from that time.
What were your colors?
For our colors, we chose olive green, black, gold, and a touch of white to complete the look. Color stories have always been deeply important to me, especially after working in the fashion industry as both a designer in New York City and in Color Development. Black, white, and gold were especially prominent in the 1920s, so incorporating them felt like a natural choice. When it came to selecting our primary color, I wanted something earthy that truly represented who we are. Olive green stood out as the perfect fit, inspired by our deep love of plants.
What was your wedding menu inspiration?
We didn’t have a particular inspiration in mind; we both have a love of seafood and Italian, and Amici’s Catered Cuisine hit the mark on both!
Out of all the catering companies, Amici’s was very professional and prompt in their communication, and above all, affordable. We also very much appreciated that we had a private tasting. We were able to enjoy the food and discuss amongst each other freely without the added pressure of someone else watching us try the food. We were so happy with our experience!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our officiant was hands down the best we could have ever dreamt of for our wedding. We first found her through our venue’s preferred vendor list. During our initial FaceTime call, it became very clear that she was the right choice. She was excited to learn about our love story. After speaking with both of us, she sent us ‘homework’ to answer separately. She took the stress of writing our own ceremony away with ease. She knew all the right questions to ask in order to form our ceremony and understood that we wanted a personalized and intimate wedding that told our love story.
She brought a level of professionalism to the table that can only come from years of experience with a wide variety of weddings. Our officiant carries a broad perspective and exudes a caring aura. Not only did she craft the most romantic ceremony for us, but she was also a great resource. She helped guide us through obtaining our marriage license, its submittal, and even the name change process.
The ceremony she crafted and the way she conducted it were truly magical. We were so incredibly happy with how romantic and intimate it turned out to be. Everyone felt the love, and they all had the same thing to say: “That was my favorite wedding ceremony that I have ever attended.” They all complimented our officiant, and some even thought she was family.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make sure to take dance lessons. Our first dance was everything we imagined it could be, thanks to Arthur Murray in St. Pete. They created a dance to the song we chose, tailored and timed perfectly to the custom track they cut for us, and helped us nail it. On top of that, the lessons turned out to be great date nights leading up to the wedding. Our dance is now a memory we can recreate for the rest of our lives.
