Sara and Sean’s South Tampa wedding was a romantic spring affair featuring an intimate ceremony amidst lush lawns and stunning gardens. Their bright and cheery color palette of dusty blue, orange, yellow, blush, pink, blue, and natural greenery brought their vision to life.
“We chose a rainbow of pastel colors to keep in season because we felt the architecture of the building and garden space spoke for itself,” the bride explained. “Anything we did decor-wise was to complement the natural beauty of the space. I tried focusing on colors instead of a theme since the beautiful building is why we chose Tampa Garden Club.”
To curate her dream wedding, the bride read Marry Me Tampa Bay. She found the perfect vendors for her timeless May wedding with some help from others.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay a lot for inspiration and looked at pictures from the many blog posts from past brides and grooms,” Sara shared.
While searching for a Tampa wedding venue to accommodate their 90 guests, Sara and Sean fell in love with the Tampa Garden Club. The terrazzo floors and clean lines with floor-to-ceiling windows and the garden setting were exactly what they envisioned. The venue, located on the iconic Bayshore Boulevard, features spectacular bay views among gorgeous moss-draped oak trees and tranquil gardens.
“We looked for a modern venue that was a statement itself. The venue location is pristine, right on the bay, and the architecture of the building is breathtaking. Also, the garden space was perfect for the look of the ceremony we envisioned,” the bride gushed. “It was important that the venue allowed us to choose our catering and bar services.”
With the freedom to select from a variety of caterers, The Tampa couple hired Tampa Bay Amici’s Catered Cuisine to showcase their “foodie” palate. Sara and Sean were thrilled by the attentive service and delectable meal they experienced.
“It was really important for us to choose delicious food and have an open bar. We knew our cocktail hour and dinner needed to wow our guests, and I looked for a caterer who was both affordable and didn’t compromise on taste or menu items,” the bride explained. “We ended up choosing Amici’s because of the diet entrée feature and their willingness to work with our customizations to their packages. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all; our guests still talk about how delicious both cocktail hour and dinner were and how amazing our bartenders were at keeping the drinks flowing!
The bride and groom’s personalities were showcased through their specialty cocktails, named after their rescue dogs, and with personalized socks for the groomsmen. They wanted to show their guests who they were while throwing them the best party ever! They hired renowned Tampa DJ Graingertainment to ensure guests were in the party mood.
“I saw a post from Graingertainment on Instagram of one of their DJ’s spinning with a sax player. I immediately knew we had to go them!” the bride gushed. “While we didn’t select a sax player, they ensured our DJ was the perfect fit! DJ Eric was awesome and gave all the Vegas music vibes we asked for with custom mixes. He kept the party going, even when the bridal party came back in after our sparkler exit! We also rented uplighting from them, which set the right mood for the night.”
The couple looked timeless as the groom wore a classic black tux, while the bride wowed in a delicate corset bodice dress with a sweetheart neckline. Her flowing skirt moved like magic against the pristine Tampa Bay backdrop and the venue’s peaceful garden setting. Sara selected Femme Akoi Beauty Studio for her bridal day look.
“I wanted my bridesmaids to look fresh and glamorous, and for myself, I had many looks I envisioned! So, I made two trial appointments with Monica, and we were able to hone in on the look I wanted,” the bride revealed. “I eventually decided on glamorous waves and a deep bronze smoky eye, and they nailed everything!”
Looking back, the bride and groom remembered all their intimate moments, especially those that made up the most meaningful parts of the day. During the ceremony, Sara and Sean said personal vows and set out pictures of loved ones who had passed. They even snuck in some Buffalo Bills nation love during the reception with the Shout song.
“Our ceremony was a memorable moment! I wrote the entire ceremony script, and my husband’s younger brother officiated. As we are both sentimental, we were able to let our love shine through the passages and personal vows. It was really through the small details that we chose to express ourselves,” Sara reminisced.
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I wanted my bridesmaids to look fresh and glamorous, which Femme Akoi Beauty Studio nailed!
For myself, I had many looks I envisioned, so I made two trial appointments with Monica, where we were able to hone in on the look I wanted.
I eventually decided on glamorous waves and a deep bronze smoky eye. I absolutely loved Femme Akoi’s looks, service, and professionalism!
The Proposal:
Sean’s family was visiting Florida from Upstate New York. On the last day of their visit, our families went to our favorite winery, Keel & Curley in Plant City. I remember Sean being super nervous and gulping down two beers like he was parched, so I knew something was off.
After we all finished some delicious cheesecake, Sean wanted to walk through the grounds, and he proposed! We were all completely surprised; I guess he didn’t tell anyone his plan since he was so nervous! But he did manage to make sure it was all captured beautifully through my cousin who is a photographer.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We looked for a modern venue that was a statement itself. It was also important to us that the venue allowed us to choose our own catering and bar services.
We chose Tampa Garden Club because the location was pristine right on the bay, the architecture of the building is breathtaking, and the garden space was perfect for the look of the ceremony we envisioned.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We chose an adult-only all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominion Republic called the Excellence El Carmen. I suggest upgrading to the Excellence Club because there’s so many perks you get to enjoy, and splurge if you can! The rooftop terrace suite was amazing, and we were so well taken care of.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bachelorette weekend was in Las Vegas! I wanted the cliché, funny/cringey party since my bridesmaids are all in their early/mid-20’s, and I was the first to get married in our friend group. It was so much fun, and we all were trying to plan another trip before we even left!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I tried to focus on colors instead of a theme, opting for pastels and classic touches that elevated the space, since the beautiful building is really why we chose Tampa Garden Club.
What were your colors?
We chose a rainbow of pastel colors to keep in season because we felt the architecture of the building and garden space spoke for itself, so anything we did decor-wise was to complement the natural beauty of the space.
What did you look for in a wedding caterer?
My husband and I are definitely foodies, so we knew our cocktail hour and dinner needed to wow our guests.
It was really important for us to choose delicious food and have an open bar. We knew our cocktail hour and dinner needed to wow our guests, and I looked for a caterer who was both affordable and didn’t compromise on taste or menu items.
We ended up choosing Amici’s Catered Cuisine because of the diet entrée feature and their willingness to work with our customizations to their packages. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all; our guests still talk about how delicious both cocktail hour and dinner were, and how amazing our bartenders were at keeping the drinks flowing!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
I saw a post from Graingertainment on Instagram of one of their DJ’s spinning with a sax player and immediately knew it was the company we had to go with!
While we didn’t end up selecting a sax player to accompany our DJ, they made sure our DJ was the perfect fit for what we were looking for!
DJ Eric was awesome and gave all the Vegas music vibes we asked for with custom mixes. He kept the party going, even when the bridal party came back in after our sparkler exit! We also rented uplighting from them, which set the right mood for the night.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
My photographer was absolutely phenomenal at capturing all of the perfect moments. She made sure we were so comfortable in front of the lens because her personality is so inviting and silly at times.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Stick with your “musts.” When you look back, you’ll definitely remember the things you knew you wanted!
Also, don’t skimp on the food or drinks if you can afford it. Our guests still talk about how delicious both cocktail hour and dinner were and how amazing our bartenders were at keeping the drinks flowing!