Sarah and Matt’s waterfront South Tampa wedding perfectly combined timeless tropical elegance with a subtle southern flair for a magical celebration that captured every ounce of true Florida charm.
“Our theme was very much inspired by New Orleans,” the bride shared. “Matt is from Louisiana. We lived there together for three years and absolutely loved the culture! I’m thankful we were able to find little ways to sprinkle that throughout our big day. Our reception probably reflected The Big Easy the most, when we danced in a second line with our umbrellas in hand. We also had a big band playing as our guests danced along with us, waiving their dinner napkins in celebration! It was a blast!”
Excited to incorporate their personalities into their big day, the Tampa bride and groom incorporated personal details to tell the story of how they fell in love.
“One of the main things that really connected Matt and me when we first met was dancing! It became something very special between us and inspired the choreography for our first dance,” Sarah gushed. “I think it really kind of surprised many people considering we put the entire wedding together in just eight weeks!”
To put the finishing touches on decor for her wedding day, Sarah chose Outside The Box Event Rentals.
“We rented all of our linen and tablecloths, including the one for the sweetheart table, napkins, and tulle to put around the altar from Outside the Box. What is an elegant wedding without tablecloths, napkins, and tulle?” the bride explained. “Renting from Outside the Box set the scene for our whole wedding. They were amazing to work with, and everything came in on time. I would use them again and recommend them to anyone.”
Ensuring there was a variety of great music on their special day was a high priority for the couple who hired live musicians Sunset Strings to entertain their New Orleans celebration.
“Matt and I both love music. We hired Sunset Strings because they were the best local string quartet we could find. We heard one of their songs on YouTube and knew instantly we wanted to book them,” Sarah gushed. “The first song we listened to was their version of Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors. We actually loved it so much, that it ended up being the song I walked down the aisle to!”
Looking back on her whimsical celebration, the local tv news anchor will always remember the special moments that made her day unforgettable.
“For me, having my father walk me down the aisle was really memorable. I’m his youngest daughter and the last to get married, so it was a very touching moment for both of us,” Sarah reminisced. “The father-daughter dance is another moment I’ll never forget! My dad and I both cried!”
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Matt is from Louisiana. We lived there together for three years and absolutely loved the culture! Our theme was very much inspired by New Orleans. Our reception reflected The Big Easy the most when we danced in a second line with our umbrellas in hand. We also had a big band playing as our guests danced along with us waiving their dinner napkins in celebration! It was a blast! I’m thankful we were able to find little ways to sprinkle that throughout our big day.
What were your colors?
We chose navy, champagne, blush, maroon, and other pink pastel colors because we thought they were simple and elegant.
The Proposal:
After dating for 10 years, Matt told me at the beginning of 2018 that he was going to propose before the end of the year. December 2018 was ending, and he still hadn’t asked! I figured it would happen on one of our vacations or at a family get together, but Matt chose a more intimate setting.
We were getting ready for bed on Christmas day when Matt and I started talking about how far we’ve come in our relationship. We reminisced about the fun times and challenges we’ve overcome. We somehow got on the topic of Christmas presents. That’s when Matt said, “There’s one thing I wanted for Christmas I didn’t get.” I said, “What is it? I’ll get it for you.” He said, “It’s for you to spend the rest of your life with me.” He put the ring on my finger as we were lying in bed. My head and left hand were already on his chest. It was just us. So intimate, personal, and very touching. We both cried and hugged each other as I said, “Yes!”
Why did you choose to incorporate ceremony musicians into your wedding?
Matt and I both love music. We spent more time and money lining up our 13-piece band for the reception and a string quartet for the ceremony than we did on any other wedding expense because it was that important to us.
I want to learn more about Live Wedding Entertainment.
We hired Sunset Strings because they were the best local string quartet we could find. We heard one of their songs on YouTube and knew instantly we wanted to book them. The first song we listened to was their version of Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors. We actually loved it so much, that it ended up being the song I walked down the aisle to!”
What did you look for in a wedding rental company?
“We rented all of our linen and tablecloths, including the one for the sweetheart table, napkins, and tulle to put around the altar from Outside the Box. What is an elegant wedding without tablecloths, napkins, and tulle?
I want to learn more about rentals from Outside The Box Event Rentals.
Renting from Outside the Box Event Rentals set the scene for our whole wedding. They were amazing to work with, and everything came in on time. I would use them again and recommend them to anyone.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t stress about having an expensive wedding. Find something simple you both like, enjoy all the planning, and try to get everything done for as little as possible. It’s one day, and you’ll never get that money back.
Ceremony and Reception Venue, Caterer: Westshore Yacht Club
Photographer: K&K Photography
Florist: Events in Bloom
Rentals: Outside the Box Event Rentals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Publix
Ceremony Musicians: Sunset Strings *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Band: The Headliners
Officiant: Chris Reese
Invitations: Shutterfly
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Lulu’s
Makeup: Makeup by Yatsi
Hair: Transcend Salon
