Lindsay and Claudio's downtown St. Pete wedding combined a rich palette of deep reds accented with black and metallic gold, a modern-industrial setting, and a surprise rainstorm during their rooftop ceremony.
“I would describe our wedding theme as moody, modern, yet romantic with an industrial touch. I've always gravitated towards the fall with rich, saturated colors and a cool yet soft environment. I've never been a girl who prefers light and bright weddings (although they are beautiful); I think it's the Scorpio in me! I've always gravitated to darker aesthetics, so incorporating rich burgundies, deep purples, blacks, golds, metals, tons of ambient lighting, and candles was key to achieving my goal of a moody yet romantic vibe,” the bride detailed.
The St. Petersburg bride and groom hosted a weekend-long October celebration beginning with a rooftop ceremony in the heart of downtown St. Pete that was interrupted by unexpected weather.
“The most memorable moment was when the skies opened up as soon as I started saying my vows to Claudio, in the middle of the ceremony. I remember seeing out of the corner of my eye all my guests remaining seated, so I looked at Claudio, and we laughed and knew at that moment that no matter what curveballs the planning process or the day was going to throw our way, we were getting married!” the bride revealed. “I've never heard people cheer louder for a new bride and groom!”
The Friday evening celebration was centered around food, drinks, and music and continued into the weekend with a post-wedding shuffleboard party, allowing the couple more time to connect with 100 of their closest friends and family.
“Claudio and I also host a lot at our house, and I wanted to provide my guests with a feeling of inclusion, like being invited to your best friend's house for a fun-filled, intimate dinner. At the end of the day, no one really remembers the color of the flowers or whether you had tapered candles or tea lights. They do remember the way they felt, how welcomed they were, and how much fun they had on the dance floor. We wanted our guests leaving saying, ‘that was a hell of a wedding' and not wanting for more. It's still the talk amongst our friends and family even a year later!” the bride beamed. “Besides the rain, I think having our wedding on a Friday gave us time to meet and spend time with each one of our guests. From the welcome drinks to our shuffleboard party the following day, it felt like one long party that no one wanted to end.”
Lindsay and Claudio searched for a St. Pete wedding photographer with an eye for detail and a laid-back style that captured the pair in their natural state.
“[Our priority was] candids, candids, candids! We wanted someone who could not only capture those big smiles and epic dance floor moves but inject energy into the process. No one likes awkward photos or being posed – and Shannon and Brandon were phenomenal in how they found the best shots and made our guests feel completely at ease when being photographed,” the bride gushed. “I was lucky enough to have been a bridesmaid at a wedding that Dewitt for Love shot, and seeing Shannon's photos, I knew they had that joie de vivre and passion for capturing special moments that I just hadn't seen elsewhere. From day one, meeting with Shannon, we hit it off, and I was in love with their aesthetic, vibe, and of course, energy. Their service was hands down fantastic; if I could give them 100 stars, I would!”
The couple chose to seat their guests at communal feasting tables for an intimate and social atmosphere. Natural wood farm tables flanked with rows of sleek onyx chiavari chairs courtesy of Gabro Event Services embodied the event's modern-industrial vibe.
“Most importantly, because we love food a lot and hosting dinner for friends and family, our three rows of feasting tables were a must. We wanted our guests not to feel separated, be able to meet new people across and next to them, and have them feel like they were at dinner with 100 of their closest friends,” Lindsay articulated.
To incorporate their ethnic backgrounds and passion for entertaining, the newlyweds thoughtfully curated their food and drink menus.
“I am of Italian heritage, and Claudio is Ecuadorian. We made sure to include local seafood to show the bounty of phenomenal foods we have in our own backyard. Things like ceviche, which my husband is known for making, were also featured on our menu,” the bride detailed. “Truth be told, our wedding was less about the decor and more about the experience and feeling that we wanted to give our guests. Given how much Claudio and I love to travel and share food/drink experiences with people, we wanted the best open bar with all of our favorites (i.e., Lambrusco happy hour cocktail from Mazarro's, which is a staple in our household), food that showcased the best of Florida and Ecuador, and music we know all of our guests could break it down to and did they ever!”
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Candids, candids, candids! We wanted someone who could not only capture those big smiles and epic dance floor moves but inject energy into the process. No one likes awkward photos or being posed – and Shannon and Brandon were phenomenal in how they found the best shots and made our guests feel completely at ease when being photographed,
I was lucky enough to have been a bridesmaid at a wedding that Dewitt for Love shot, and seeing Shannon's photos, I knew they had that joie de vivre and passion for capturing special moments that I just hadn't seen elsewhere. From day one, meeting with Shannon, we hit it off, and I was in love with their aesthetic, vibe, and of course, energy. Their service was hands down fantastic; if I could give them 100 stars, I would!
The Proposal:
I had planned a couple of trips back to my hometown in Northern Virginia to celebrate with my two best friends and their partners. We get to a vineyard that is near and dear to my family's heart (Breaux Vineyards), and Claudio hired a Latin band to play music in a corner of the vineyard – music that for the last seven to eight years of us being together, he has shared with me.
Unbeknownst to me, Claudio gets down on one knee and proposes. Out pops my sister, who is my best friend, who has come into town for the surprise, and we continued the momentous day with too much champagne and delicious food!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon in Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Madrid, Spain, for the food and drink, of course – and we'll be back!
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My sister hosted my bachelorette party in Savannah due to the easy drive from St. Pete, the fact that we've been there multiple times and are familiar with the city, and there were a number of things to do, see, eat, etc. It's also a great, walkable city with some of the kindest people in the south.
“The most memorable moment was when the skies opened up as soon as I started saying my vows to Claudio. I remember seeing all my guests remaining seated, so I looked at Claudio, and we laughed and knew at that moment that no matter what curveballs the day was going to throw our way, we were getting married! I've never heard people cheer louder for a new bride and groom!”
-The Bride
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I would describe our wedding theme as moody, modern, yet romantic with an industrial touch. I've always gravitated towards the fall with rich, saturated colors and a cool yet soft environment.
Claudio and I also host a lot at our house, and I wanted to provide my guests with a feeling of inclusion, like being invited to your best friend's house for a fun-filled, intimate dinner.
What were your colors?
I've never been a girl who prefers light and bright weddings (although they are beautiful); I think it's the Scorpio in me! I've always gravitated to darker aesthetics, so incorporating rich burgundies, deep purples, blacks, golds, metals, tons of ambient lighting, and candles was key to achieving my goal of a moody yet romantic vibe.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Vendors that blew away my expectations and that of our guests were, by far, Shannon and Brandon at Dewitt for Love Photography, Good Food Catering, and db Studio. Good Food worked with us to co-create a menu that was reflective of our backgrounds and showcased an incredible raw bar that my guests still rave about today! Denise of db Studio is not only a funny, kind-hearted, and honest makeup artist and human being, but her hair and makeup held up for me, my mom, and my sister, even after the skies opened up in the middle of our wedding ceremony.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The rules of advice I give to anyone getting married are: things will go wrong on your big day, don't sweat the small stuff, do what feels right for you and your partner, not what's trendy or what mom and dad think, and If you're happy, your guests will be happy.
