Nicole and John’s moody, modern Tampa wedding brought together a chic all-black dress code, timeless monochrome décor, and a high-energy celebration that felt more like a party than a traditional affair. Inspired by the bride’s love of minimal design and her years spent in New York City, the couple’s contemporary theme paired industrial elements with statement details such as disco balls and a checkered dance floor.

“We titled our inspiration board ‘moody modern black and white wedding.’ We wanted to incorporate the timeless elegance of a neutral palette with modern elements like disco balls and a checkered dance floor,” the bride detailed. “I lived in Manhattan for several years and was inspired by the brick industrial look. We wanted a venue that could speak for itself, and Armature did just that. When asked what my favorite color is, I will always answer black, so when it came time to pick colors, it was a no-brainer: black chairs, black tablecloths, black napkins…black everything! Not only was the decor black with whispers of white, but we asked our guests to wear all black, black-tie attire. Weddings are an incredible opportunity to dress up, and I am so grateful that all of our guests felt the same way! Every single person wore black, and the photos turned out amazing. John and I were the center of attention in our off white/pearl tux and dress. It is our day, and I wanted to make sure we both stood out.”

For Nicole and John, choosing Tampa as their wedding location was deeply personal. Nicole is a Tampa native, and after John relocated to the area seven years ago, the city quickly became a meaningful part of their love story. With 174 guests traveling to celebrate their January nuptials, the couple was excited to showcase the place where it all began.

“Tampa is our home, and where our story began, so we knew it was where we wanted to get married,” Nicole shared.

Wedding planning was a process that Nicole took seriously, interviewing several planners before choosing Katy Turchich-Martin of Coastal Coordinating.

“Planning a wedding is a very intimate process, and you will be spending a lot of time with your planner, so it was important to me that I was working with someone with whom I got along and genuinely enjoyed working with,” the bride explained. “I was a bridesmaid in a wedding Katy from Coastal Coordinating had planned, and when I saw the multi-page, minute-by-minute detailed breakdown of the day, I knew that Katy and I would get along great!”

When it came to florals, Nicole envisioned an understated, candlelit atmosphere to balance their bold color palette. White roses and minimal bud vases created a sleek and elegant look, while calla lilies added a dramatic edge inspired by a photo of bridesmaids in rainy New York.

“Save the Date Florida was recommended to me by my planner, and they were amazing,” the bride raved. “They completely nailed the vision—romantic and minimal, with lots of warm candlelight. It was exactly what I imagined.”

For their rehearsal dinner, Nicole and John chose a venue that reflected their love of cigars and matched the industrial vibe of their wedding day.

“J.C. Newman Cigar Co. was a perfect fit,” Nicole beamed. “It’s a Tampa landmark, and it gave us space to really connect with our out-of-town guests and older relatives before the big day. We ended the night with post-dinner cigars in the lounge, which felt like the perfect nightcap.”

Nicole and John infused their personalities into nearly every aspect of the day. From the custom bookshelf seating chart and matchbox favors to cocktail napkins featuring their dog, Moose, every element was intentionally chosen to reflect their unique identity.

“We utilized the décor to weave in elements of our personalities,” the bride articulated. “My love of books inspired our bookshelf seating chart, and our shared love of cigars led us to the matchbox favors. Even our beloved dog Moose made an appearance on the cocktail napkins.”

From the personalized décor to freestyle father-daughter dances and espresso martinis on the dance floor, Nicole and John made sure their wedding was a true reflection of who they are—fun, intentional, and full of love. They prioritized a dance party vibe from the start, welcoming guests with champagne before the ceremony and extending the reception for a night of nonstop music, CO2 guns, and choreographed surprises. They skipped traditional moments like a bouquet toss or formal cake cutting in favor of more time on the dance floor, where their DJ delivered a playlist packed with 2012 homecoming nostalgia.

“I loved the classic and simply stunning black and white elements that were incorporated throughout the wedding décor,” the wedding planner shared. “Two of my favorite details were the seating chart that Nicole and her dad created, and the wedding cake. The bookshelf seating chart was not only gorgeous but also sentimental. Each book was hand-wrapped and included the guest’s name and table number, with small personal touches that reflected the couple’s interests. And their vintage-style ‘Just Married’ cake was such a fun and perfect detail. Nicole and John were incredibly thoughtful about guest experience and even added a welcome celebration the night before to spend more time with loved ones. One of the most memorable moments? When they jumped on stage with CO2 guns during one of their favorite songs, they had so much fun and it was so them.”

When asked about the most unforgettable memories of the day, Nicole shared a few that were both deeply emotional and joyfully unexpected.

“A few special moments included a first look I did with the groomsmen and my father-in-law before the ceremony. It was really special,” the bride reminisced. “My dad also took the father-daughter dance seriously and wanted a choreographed routine. We started with Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder and broke into a freestyle dance to She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals, which definitely surprised everyone. John and I are criers, so skipping a first look made the ceremony extra emotional. What we didn’t expect was how emotional our guests and bridal party would be. When John and I locked eyes across the aisle, we were both overcome, and John was so overwhelmed that a snort slipped out, breaking the tension and leading to an eruption of giggles. It was the perfect moment—forever known as the snort heard round the world.”

What did you look for in a rehearsal dinner venue? 
J.C. Newman Cigar Co. was a perfect fit. It’s a Tampa landmark, and it gave us space to really connect with our out-of-town guests and older relatives before the big day. We ended the night with post-dinner cigars in the lounge, which felt like the perfect nightcap.

The Proposal: 
While the proposal was simple and intimate with the two of us by the Riverwalk, John and I share the values of deep friendship and family. After the proposal he whisked me off to American Social where he had secretly organized an engagement party flying in both of our families, and friends.

What did you look for in a wedding planner? 
Planning a wedding is a very intimate process, and you will be spending a lot of time with your planner, so it was important to me that I was working with someone with whom I got along and genuinely enjoyed working with.

I was a bridesmaid in a wedding Katy from Costal Coordinating had planned, and when I saw the multi-page, minute-by-minute detailed breakdown of the day, I knew that Katy and I would get along great!

What was your wedding floral inspiration?
Save the Date Florida was recommended to me by my planner, and they were amazing. They completely nailed the vision—romantic and minimal, with lots of warm candlelight. It was exactly what I imagined.