Alecia and Chris' outdoor Tampa wedding featured a woodsy ceremony nestled among towering trees followed by an ethereal reception set in a pine-clad barn beneath twinkling string lights. Rich jewel-toned blooms accented with winter greenery, including boughs of fir and pinecone accents, were paired with gold candles and black sequins for an added pop of texture.
“We wanted more of that dark, moody, earthy feeling. Our venue described it as a gothic, fairy, winter wonderland. I've always loved the dark tones and wanted us to pop against them. The bold and bright hues never felt right to me,” the bride explained. “Our colors were black, deep greens and olive, and brass/gold. I wanted drama but more old, earthy drama.”
The Clearwater couple envisioned a whimsical setting that would feel like an unexpected destination for their 100 guests. Seeking a combination of idyllic surroundings plus affordable convenience, the bride and groom were instantly smitten with Cross Creek Ranch and canceled their other venue visits to book the picturesque all-inclusive property.
“We wanted something partially outdoors that had an ethereal, woodsy feel. I almost wanted to feel like we weren't in Florida. We also wanted something all-inclusive because as much as I loved the planning process, I didn't want the loads of stress that come with it. We chose Cross Creek Ranch because of how beautiful the venue was, and they could also handle the number of people we needed without price gouging,” Alecia raved. “We had a few places lined up that we wanted to tour, but after visiting Cross Creek Ranch, we got maybe two blocks away, and I really couldn't leave without booking. They truly went above and beyond anything we could have expected.”
The saturated palette and dramatic styling created a unique setting for the celebration. By staying true to their personal styles, Alecia and Chris created an authentic vibe that was a departure from typical wedding trends.
“What made our wedding unique was the style and colors. A lot of the traditional weddings you see are very brightly colored or muted spring hues, whereas we wanted it to be the occasion of the year,” the bride beamed. “I didn't want to do what everyone else does. Even my entrance song was out of the ordinary, with a Kingdom Hearts song.”
As a professional hair and makeup artist with Michele Renee The Studio (Alecia was our editor's artist for her own wedding day!), she trusted her fellow stylists with her bride tribe's day-of beauty. She knew the importance of being pampered by a skilled team of professionals on the wedding day rather than attempting to do it all herself. She was as thrilled with the overall experience as she was with the final results.
“For my hair and makeup, I wanted bold. I normally wear quite a bit of makeup, so it was only natural that I would want something that really stood out and matched that moody dark theme. For the hair, I definitely wanted something that was up off of my face so that I wasn't constantly touching it. I almost wanted to feel like a fairy, so I wanted a very wispy, almost free-falling style. And, of course, glitter over my body and hair,” Alecia beamed. “Even though I do hair and makeup, I didn't really want the stress of having to do everything myself. I wanted the time to be pampered and be the bride. Indira did my hair, and I was and still am utterly in love with it! Erin did all my girls' makeup, as well as my mother-law, and everyone was so beautiful and confident, and that's all I wanted. I just wanted them to look and feel their best.”
The bride prioritized choosing a photographer who would put her and the groom at ease in front of the camera, as well as effortlessly capture their personalities and beauty. Having worked with many photographers over the years, she felt a special connection with Gabrielle of Lifelong Photography Studio for her warm demeanor, natural photography style, and extensive experience.
“When it came to finding a photographer, it was really important that we both felt comfortable with them. Chris and I are fairly awkward people, so I definitely wanted someone who would help us out of our shells and allow us to be goofy and still look amazing. Me being a curvy girl, I was so afraid of hating all of my photos, so I wanted a photographer who knew how to shoot my body type so that my beauty still shined through,” Alecia shared. “We specifically went with Lifelong Photography Studio because their work is beautiful. I love that it isn't overly edited, and I still feel like me. Working in the industry, I work closely with a whole bunch of different vendors, and I've always loved Gabrielle. She's so fun to be around, and I loved that I was able to feel comfortable around her.”
Alecia recalled many treasured moments from the day that it was hard to narrow it down to a single favorite, whereas Chris' fondest memory occurred while waiting (somewhat anxiously) for his bride's grand entrance.
“I had several most memorable moments. One would have to be getting ready with my girls; we had such a fun time prepping and taking Polaroids while getting ready. Also, we did a first look which was so fun. Definitely waiting to walk down the aisle and stand behind the doors was unforgettable, and trying not to cry at our first dance because It was just such a moment,” the bride reminisced. “Chris' most memorable moment was waiting for my entrance and hoping I didn't get cold feet. I guess there was a delay bringing me up, so he was waiting on me for what felt like forever.”
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted more of that dark, moody, earthy feeling. Our venue described it as a gothic, fairy, winter wonderland. I've always loved the dark tones and wanted us to pop against them. The bold and bright hues never felt right to me.
What were your colors?
Black, deep greens and olive, and brass/gold. I wanted drama but more old, earthy drama. What made our wedding unique was the style and colors. A lot of the traditional weddings you see are very brightly colored or muted spring hues, whereas we wanted it to be the occasion of the year.
The Proposal:
When it came to a proposal, neither of us are very open and outgoing people, so we really didn't want a public affair. We were sitting on the couch in our PJs one night, and Chris asked if I wanted to see something he had been working on. The Sims is my all-time favorite game, and he handed me his laptop with the Sims running. He had built my entire apartment in this game and created his Sim and mine and named mine “Alecia AlmostMurphy” and had his Sim ask for my Sim to marry him. As goofy as our relationship is, right on par, my Sim said, “No!” So after some tweaking, he lost patience and just asked me for real instead. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love how unique and fun it was.
What was your hair and makeup inspiration?
For my hair and makeup, I wanted bold. I normally wear quite a bit of makeup, so it was only natural that I would want something that really stood out and matched that moody dark theme. For the hair, I definitely wanted something that was up off of my face so that I wasn't constantly touching it. I almost wanted to feel like a fairy, so I wanted a very wispy, almost free-falling style. And, of course, glitter over my body and hair.
Even though I do hair and makeup, I didn't really want the stress of having to do everything myself. I wanted the time to be pampered and be the bride. Indira did my hair, and I was and still am utterly in love with it!
Erin of Michele Renee The Studio did all my girls' makeup, as well as my mother-law, and everyone was so beautiful and confident, and that's all I wanted. I didn't have any restrictions. I just wanted them to look and feel their best. I would 100% do it all over again with all the same people.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
It was really important that we both felt comfortable with them. Chris and I are fairly awkward people, so I definitely wanted someone who would help us out of our shells and allow us to be goofy and still look amazing. Me being a curvy girl, I was so afraid of hating all of my photos, so I wanted a photographer who knew how to shoot my body type so that my beauty still shined through.
We specifically went with Lifelong Photography Studio because their work is beautiful. I love that it isn't overly edited, and I still feel like me. Working in the industry, I work closely with a whole bunch of different vendors, and I've always loved Gabrielle. She's so fun to be around, and I loved that I was able to feel comfortable around her.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted something partially outdoors that had an ethereal, woodsy feel. I almost wanted to feel like we weren't in Florida. We also wanted something all-inclusive because as much as I loved the planning process, I didn't want the loads of stress that come with it.
We chose Cross Creek Ranch because of how beautiful the venue was, and they could also handle the number of people we needed without price gouging. We had a few places lined up that we wanted to tour, but after visiting Cross Creek Ranch, we got maybe two blocks away, and I really couldn't leave without booking. They truly went above and beyond anything we could have expected.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia. It was absolutely stunning. We wanted somewhere that was the complete opposite of Florida. It was cold and isolated, and we got to hang out in a hot tub in the middle of nowhere in 40-degree weather, overlooking absolutely everything. 10/10! I would highly recommend it.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
One of my bridesmaids hosted the bachelorette party at her house, and it was such a smart idea! It was fun and budget-friendly, and I had all of my closest friends.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do what makes you happy and don't rush. At the end of the day, this whole thing is for you guys and no one else. Enjoy it.
