Lisa and Justin’s downtown Lakeland wedding was a romantic rendezvous in the heart of the historic district overlooking the picturesque Lake Mirror. The bohemian color palette began with the invitation suite and was intertwined with the florals, while modern styling choices tied in the bride’s multifaceted theme.

“My wedding designer would tell you that my taste is diverse, which nicely means all over the place! We had the perfect curation of vintage, modern, and boho chic. I wanted to have a wedding that looked and felt timeless and brought in some old-world feeling that I’ve always been very fond of,” the bride shared. “We had a very moody palette composed of burgundy, tawny, champagne, and rust.”

Armed with a wealth of recommendations from trusted vendors and real-life experiences shared by other couples, the Plant City bride and groom enthusiastically dove into the planning process for the January celebration.

“My husband and I did lean into Marry Me Tampa Bay when searching what other couples felt about and also what questions to ask the vendors when making our selections,” Lisa revealed. “We browsed the homepage stories and pictures for inspiration during our planning process.”

Garry and Stacy Photography Co. captured the breathtaking backdrop of the 1920’s architecture as the couple exchanged vows on the promenade. The Lakeland-based husband and wife photo and video team provided the perfect energy by utilizing their artistic style to highlight the soft illumination of the nighttime event.

“When we were narrowing down photographers, one of the things we both agreed on was wanting someone who had a more modern eye and editorial style to capture our day,” Lisa explained. “I remember looking at the gallery link for Garry and Stacy Photography Co. when my designer sent it over and screamed in our living room, ‘This is the one!’ It sounds a little cheesy, but you can really feel the emotion in all the pictures they captured, and it was nothing like I’d ever seen before.”

As the couple considered their wedding menu, they prioritized finding a caterer that offered delicious food and exceptional service for their 50 guests.

“We went with Olympia Catering because our tasting experience was fantastic, and we had such diverse options to pick from. Mojo pork and mashed potatoes are one of our favorite combos, and theirs was killer! We also had a stuffed chicken dish which everyone raved about,” the bride beamed. “The service was spectacular. I would recommend them over and over again to anyone looking for good food and great service. They treated not only my husband and me with extreme attentiveness and care but all of our guests as well. Everyone got food quickly when it was time to eat, and plates were cleared almost instantly when a guest finished with their meal.”

Kate Ryan Event Rentals‘ wooden feasting tables, lace linens, and black-and-white dance floor added flair to the romantic lakeside reception, while the enchanting ambiance was elevated with A Chair Affair‘s gold Napoleon chairs, plates, and cutlery.

“Both Kate Ryan Event Rentals and A Chair Affair had pre-selected some items they thought would match my color scheme and wedding theme and had gorgeous sample tables set up for my appointments. I also favored those two companies because their showrooms were not overwhelming, but I was also able to see everything in person before selecting, which was huge because nothing looked like its photographs online. A Chair Affair was also a preferred vendor for my location site, which was a nice bonus because they knew the drop-off and pickup process and the city’s rules (there are a lot).”

As Lisa looked back on all the moments that stayed closest to her heart, it was the first look and the unforgettable ceremony moment shared with the two most important people in her life that really stood out.

“Our first look was incredible, it felt like time stood still, and all the stress and anticipation for the big day faded away when we ran to hug one another. I thoroughly enjoyed spending that moment with just the two of us, and it is amongst one of my favorites,” the bride reminisced. “I have a disabled son who was unable to be with us on our wedding day, and it was a very difficult void not having him there. I had a surprise planted sound bite for my husband that was my son’s voice saying. ‘Hi Justin, I love you! Mommy looks beautiful!’ and it played before I walked down the aisle. My husband is very close to my son, and he lit up when he heard it, and then we both cried of course.”

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I did not have a traditional bachelorette trip; instead, we did a wine and flower party where everyone built bouquets with an instructor.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We are looking forward to an end-of-year honeymoon, visiting Italy, Switzerland, and Ireland. They were the top three on my traveling bucket list, and my husband wanted to make the most of the long-distance travel.

The Proposal:
We were driving home from my best friend’s birthday dinner, and Justin had the ring in anticipation of proposing that evening but couldn’t find the right moment to strike. On our drive home, we had a tire blowout on the interstate that was terrifying and left us on the side of the road for hours with traffic flying by in what felt like pitch dark. I was an emotional mess when we got home from the scare on the road and immediately wanted to shower and try to collect myself. When I stepped out of the shower sopping wet in a towel, I saw Justin on one knee. It was untraditional but also incredibly perfect.

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
My wedding designer would tell you that my taste is diverse, which nicely means all over the place! We had the perfect curation of vintage, modern, and boho chic. I wanted to have a wedding that looked and felt timeless and brought in some old-world feeling that I’ve always been very fond of.

What were your colors?
We had a very moody palette composed of burgundy, tawny, champagne, and rust.

How did the decor rentals add to the ambiance?
Both Kate Ryan Event Rentals and A Chair Affair had pre-selected some items they thought would match my color scheme and wedding theme and had gorgeous sample tables set up for my appointments. I also favored those two companies because their showrooms were not overwhelming, but I was also able to see everything in person before selecting, which was huge because nothing looked like its photographs online. A Chair Affair was also a preferred vendor for my location site, which was a nice bonus because they knew the drop-off and pickup process and the city’s rules (there are a lot).

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our photographers, videographer, catering company, and designer all blew us out of the water. We genuinely loved all our vendors, but these vendors specifically were out of this world.

Our photographers captured great candid moments and did not miss any special moments of our day, and our videographer pieced together the most tear-wrenching testament to how wonderful our day was in an incredible turnaround.

Our catering company not only delivered delicious food that we received tons of compliments on, but they also were so caring for my husband and me, ensuring we had water throughout the event and making sure to bring us food during cocktail hour as we took photos, at one point one of the staff members was hand feeding me because I didn’t have free hands.

And last but certainly not least, or incredible designer pulled all the pieces together and puzzled together every thought or request we had with elevation and ensured it all felt seamless.

What advice would you give to other Lakeland couples?
I will pass along the best advice I got from my photographer Stacy, and that is to always remember the day is about you and your partner. Don’t rush through anything, and enjoy every little moment because it all goes too fast.