For their purple vintage 1920’s inspired wedding, the bride and groom featured a jeweled brooch wedding bouquet, white feather wedding reception decor and tall, purple centerpieces dripping in crystals. The brick walls and wrought iron staircase at St. Pete wedding venue, NOVA 535, added to the 1920’s ambience.
Tampa Bay couple Kara and Chris hosted a two-night celebration, beginning with Catholic wedding ceremony. “We flew in Father Jose Maria from Peru (where he has taken the vow of poverty), my brother’s best friend growing up and a man who is like family to us, to marry us the night before in a private ceremony. His words were filled with passion, laughs and love, and he played a beautiful song on the guitar which he dedicated to us,” the bride shared. The following day the pair held a “backyard wedding” in their own way, at the Mahaffey Theater. “A little bit more than a year ago, Chris and I moved on our boat. It was the first time owning a boat for both of us and though the water soothes our soul, what really made us fall in love with the concept was the lifestyle,” Kara explained. “Our ceremony was located at the Mahaffey in front of the large window panes, and you could plainly see our wonderful little neighborhood, Dock 4, from our ceremony venue.”
For their St. Pete wedding reception, the couple chose a vintage, 1920’s theme because of “the beauty of the era with beautiful colors and exuberance.”
“The 1920’s was noted as exciting among other things, and we wanted our guests to enjoy a party that didn’t only revolve around us as the couple, but around us as a family and the fun loving people that add so much to our lives,” the bride shared. When it came to choosing a downtown St. Pete wedding venue, the couple were so adamant on their venue selection that they picked their wedding date based on its availability.
“Once we saw NOVA 535, there was no other choice for our reception. It offered everything we wanted: a classic bar, décor that any 1920’s era lovers would appreciate and mostly a warm feeling. At NOVA 535 you have a large party space, but you automatically feel comfortable and at home,” Kara gushed. “Then, there were those staircases! I immediately had a vision of our wonderful wedding party entering on either side and standing on the stairs as we made our entrance.”
Looking back, one the bride’s most memorable moments occurred at her wedding reception. “My new husband ended the night by singing Born to Be My Baby to me on stage. Between that, his vows and the way he gazed into my eyes during my vows, I could not imagine feeling any more love then I did that day,” Kara reminisced.
“Instead of tying a rope or lighting a candle, we mixed a pink and blue Play-Doh people cut outs. We learned in Pre-Cana that it is one of the few things that can not be separated.” – The Bride
“Marc Edwards Photography can make anyone feel comfortable. Plus the talent level is top notch!” – The Bride
The Proposal:
“My husband and I met at work and were friends for about a year before we started seeing each other. That first date happened to be on my birthday, and two years later to the day he popped the question in a limo on the way to a surprise birthday party for me across the street from our first date location. I can usually talk and talk and talk, but I was speechless all night, my smile never leaving my face.” The Bride
“Northside Florist did such a beautiful job of creating Kara’s vision!” -The Mother of the Bride
“Once we saw NOVA 535, there was no other choice for our reception. It offered everything we wanted: a classic bar, décor that any 1920’s era lovers would appreciate and mostly a warm feeling. At NOVA 535 you have a large party space, but you automatically feel comfortable and at home.” – The Bride
“Everyone told me not to expect this day to be perfect, so I didn’t, but it turns out it absolutely was. It was absolutely perfect.” – The Bride
What advice do you have for other Tampa Bay Brides:
Listen to all the advice you will get.
Let go a bit during the planning process and let your loved ones give you some special surprises.
Let other people worry about what you look like and where you need to be.
If you have a large wedding do not stress out about getting to everyone in the room. Between, you, your husband and your parents/loved ones, everyone will feel appreciated.
Dance the night away and be involved in every moment, but for at least ten minutes be that fly on the wall and look around to see all the people who love you both celebrating your marriage.
If you want to, be different. Rules were made to be broken.
