Paige and Frank's romantic downtown St. Pete destination wedding mixed soft peaches and pinks and added orange fruits in the florals for a pop of color to enhance their elegant theme.
“Our wedding theme was classic and romantic. Frank is very classic in his style and taste, and I am more fun and eclectic,” the bride shared. “We chose peaches, pinks, and orange for our wedding florals. The girls wore a terracotta color to complement the florals. My favorite touch was the orange kumquats in the bouquet, boutonnieres, and arrangements.”
With both of their parents in Tampa Bay, the Cincinnati couple knew it was the perfect location for their March destination wedding and turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration and venue recommendations.
“I love the real weddings featured on the Marry Me Tampa Bay Instagram account. I got a lot of inspiration for florals and décor from it!” the bride beamed. “We found our venue through Marry Me Tampa Bay. It was during COVID, so Frank's parents toured the hotel, and we saw it over FaceTime.”
The menu was a priority when selecting a venue for their 80 guests, and with its ample wine selection and dedicated catering kitchen, The Birchwood was their top choice.
“We thought that The Birchwood fit our theme so well with the beautiful ballroom and breathtaking views. We loved it right away! We are foodies and love wine, so picking a venue with a big wine selection and restaurant-quality menu was very important. The Birchwood fit the bill for both. They have a large selection of wine, and we were able to customize our bar and wine selection for the reception. The food was delicious and artisan, and the service was excellent,” Paige detailed. “The communication with The Birchwood coordinator, Grace, was amazing. She was very patient in answering our many questions and worked well with our wedding planner in making sure the day went flawlessly.”
The bride and groom selected a wedding photographer who specializes in romantic and timeless images, as well as skillfully navigating portraits with their children.
“Amanda Zabrocki Photography was so easy to work with, and Amanda came prepared with a wedding timeline,” the bride shared. “She was able to get all of the important photos that we requested, and she worked really well with our kids, despite them being less than cooperative!”
The photographer captured the elegance and grace of the wedding, including the bride's fitted dress with bow detail. Paige choose an elegant updo to show off her dress, while her soft makeup brought out her natural radiance.
“Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup gave me exactly what I requested, and they also provided us a schedule for the day. They did a great job making everyone feel beautiful, and my daughters loved their updos and the light makeup!” Paige gushed.
Looking back, including their children throughout the day made for unforgettable family moments.
“The ceremony was very special and memorable. Our next-door neighbor and close friend was the officiant. Frank and I each said vows to our children prior to our wedding vows, and including our children in the ceremony made it more meaningful for our kids and our guests. At the reception, the six of us were introduced to the song, We Are Family, and danced together, which was such a special moment,” Paige reminisced.
What were your hair and makeup inspiration?
Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup gave me exactly what I requested for my bridal hair and makeup. They provided me and my girls with a schedule for the day and did a great job making everyone feel beautiful. My 9- and 11-year-old daughters loved their updos and the light makeup!
The Proposal:
Frank proposed at our home in January. He cut his finger badly when cooking the engagement dinner, so he went to Urgent Care for stitches while I finished cooking and took care of the kids. Later that night, he popped the question after pretending to cut his finger again on a wine opener. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting a proposal that night!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
Amanda Zabrocki Photography was so easy to work with, and Amanda came prepared with a wedding timeline. She was able to get all of the important photos that we requested, and she worked really well with our kids, despite them being less than cooperative!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We thought that The Birchwood fit our theme so well with the beautiful ballroom and breathtaking views. We loved it right away! We are foodies and love wine, so picking a venue with a big wine selection and restaurant-quality menu was very important. The Birchwood fit the bill for both. They have a large selection of wine, and we were able to customize our bar and wine selection for the reception. The food was delicious and artisan, and the service was excellent
The communication with The Birchwood coordinator, Grace, was amazing. She was very patient in answering our many questions and worked well with our wedding planner in making sure the day went flawlessly.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
We used linens, both tablecloths, and napkins, along with chargers and silverware from Outside the Box Rentals. Outsourcing the linens and tableware allowed me to have more touches of gold which worked well with the wedding colors.
What was your theme?
Classic and romantic. We thought that The Birchwood fit our theme so well with the beautiful ballroom and breathtaking views. Frank is very classic in his style and taste, and I am more fun and eclectic, so we went classic in décor but added orange kumquats in the florals for an unexpected pop of color.
What were your colors?
We chose peaches, pinks, and orange for our wedding florals. The girls wore a terracotta color to complement the florals.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Our honeymoon was at Scrub Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands. It was recommended by Frank's friend. It was a perfect week of beaches and total relaxation.
What vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All of our vendors were amazing! I can't say enough about our wedding planner. She is the most organized person I have ever met. The gelato cart was an unexpected dessert treat, and everyone loved it! Our florist did an excellent job at delivering the type of flowers and arrangements that I asked for.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Plan early, and don't be afraid to be flexible! Our initial plan was to have the wedding ceremony outside of our venue at North Straub Park. Unfortunately, there was a reggae festival scheduled nearby that weekend which limited our ability to have an outdoor ceremony. We moved the ceremony inside, and it was so beautiful at the Birchwood. They did a great job draping the space, so it felt separate from the reception.
My other advice is to invest in a day-of-coordinator. Ours took care of the details so I could enjoy myself on the wedding day.
