Katie and Patrick's backyard St. Petersburg wedding celebrated their whirlwind romance with vibrant red and pink florals, energetic live music, and a literal whirlwind of a day, in the form of a heavy rainstorm, bringing their 115 guests together for an unforgettable April evening.
“I wanted our wedding day to feel like a fairy tale because when I first started dating my husband he told me he wanted to ‘give me the fairytale,' and he truly has done that,” the bride beamed. “I chose reds and pinks because I love warm and bright colors, and I thought it would be bold and romantic and a color scheme that was rarely seen.”
The St. Pete bride utilized Marry Me Tampa Bay to find real wedding inspiration and follow local wedding vendors whose work she favored.
“I loved reading stories about real couples' weddings and would follow vendors' accounts that they used when I loved something they did. It helped me to see photos from their day and to read about their experiences so I could get a real understanding of the feel of their weddings,” the bride related.
Katie sought a wedding photography team that specialized in natural, candid images, but it was equally important that their personalities vibed so they would enjoy spending the wedding day together. Little did the couple know how crucial it would be to have a seasoned and dependable photography team who could stay calm and flexible as events unfolded.
“I chose our photographer based on their edits and style. I was looking for someone who had light and airy photos but who also captured the personality of the people and didn’t make them look too posed,” the bride explained. “I chose Dewitt For Love because I knew them from other events, and I liked hanging out with them. I wanted to have fun with my photographer and wanted everyone to feel comfortable while being photographed. We had a lot of curveballs at our wedding; basically, nothing went as planned, and I thought they did a great job rolling with the punches.”
The bride chose to wed in her parents' backyard and prioritized flowers as a key part of her wedding decor, opting for a statement piece focal tree as the ceremony backdrop and florals lining the aisle.
“The dress and the flowers were the most important. I wanted both of those to make a huge statement and planned almost everything else around those. I wanted someone who could do a large statement piece because I had big dreams for the large oak tree in my parents' backyard,” the bride detailed. “I chose Lemon Drops because I saw a styled shoot they did on Instagram where they had this amazing cascading tree piece. Their service was awesome. Melanie is very confident and takes charge which was necessary for the planning process and really helped everything come together in the end.”
Although the wedding was originally to take place in the backyard of the bride's parents' home, unfavorable weather forced the celebration indoors and ended up making for a unique wedding ceremony.
“The thunderstorm made our day unforgettable and unlike any wedding our guests had attended before. Our day was a testament to being creative on the fly and rolling with the punches,” the bride recalled. “It was so intimate because it became an indoor ceremony where the guests literally had to move furniture out of the way to make an aisle for the bridal party to walk down. By the time we were getting married, everyone was cheering for us as we walked to our places, and they were cheering at the end. It was so fun, and the guests were so invested by the end because at one point I know everyone was wondering if the wedding would actually happen and how it was going to come together. It was completely chaotic and beautiful, and we wouldn’t change a thing about it.”
Despite the day unfolding differently than she imagined, Katie maintains that exchanging vows after such anticipation was truly an unforgettable experience.
“The most memorable moment was when we finally tied the knot, hours late and after everyone had gotten rained on. Our outdoor ceremony turned into a house party where we got married in my parents' dining room, and it was nothing like we planned but ended up being so much more fun that way,” the bride reminisced.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I wanted our wedding day to feel like a fairy tale because when I first started dating my husband he told me he wanted to “give me the fairy tale” and he truly has done that.
What were your colors?
I chose reds and pinks because I love warm and bright colors and thought it would be bold and romantic and a color scheme that was more rarely seen.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
The dress and the flowers were the most important. I wanted both of those to make a huge statement and planned almost everything else around those. I wanted someone who could do a large statement piece because I had big dreams for the large oak tree in my parents' backyard.
I chose Lemon Drops because I saw a styled shoot they did on Instagram where they had this amazing cascading tree piece. Their service was awesome. Melanie is very confident and takes charge which was necessary for the planning process and really helped everything come together in the end.
The Proposal:
Patrick proposed at Gratzzi, our favorite restaurant in St. Pete and the same place we decided we would get married when we were on our third date. He bought the ring three months into our dating from the Rock Shop which we would walk past every night when we lived downtown. We had a whirlwind romance and got engaged after nine months of being together. Everyone thought we were crazy, and we totally are but we are so happy, and I’m so glad he chose me.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I chose our photographer based on their edits and style. I was looking for someone who had light and airy photos but who also captured the personality of the people and didn’t make them look too posed.
I chose Dewitt For Love because I knew them from other events, and I liked hanging out with them. I wanted to have fun with my photographer and wanted everyone to feel comfortable while being photographed. We had a lot of curveballs at our wedding; basically, nothing went as planned, and I thought they did a great job rolling with the punches.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
The bachelorette was originally going to be in Napa but then there were the fires that burned down a bunch of the vineyards and that was no longer an option. Then it was going to be in Austin but the same week we were scheduled to go they had the giant blizzard that shut the whole city down. Literally 24 hours before we were supposed to leave for Austin my matrons of honor re-planned the whole trip and chose Savannah where we ultimately had a great time. I have the best friends, and they stuck with me through every plan change and all still ended up coming to the party.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We honeymooned in Nassau, Bahamas at Atlantis, and we stayed at the Cove there. We chose it because Patrick had never been and he loves fish (and I love a great casino). It was magical.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
The vendors who saved the day for us and made the day unforgettable were Tipsy Trotter and our officiant, Jason Sowell. When it rained on our wedding day and the outdoor ceremony and reception wasn’t an option anymore, Tipsy Trotter abandoned the cocktail bar truck and set up a full bar on the island in my parents kitchen. I was in another room hiding and could hear the whole house coming alive and the party starting.
By the time I walked down the aisle, everyone had a drink in their hand and the energy was electric. People were having a great time and it’s all because Tipsy Trotter was so flexible and creative and made the party happen despite a torrential downpour and zero instructions about a plan B.
Our officiant, Jason Sowell, was very calm and took charge in coming up with a plan to make our ceremony happen inside when the rain wouldn’t stop. He kept checking on me to make sure I was doing ok and calmed my husband’s nerves too. Then once we came up with a plan he got everyone into place, made the plan come together, and had such beautiful things to say for the ceremony. He was unflappable and his energy dictated how everyone else reacted. I really regard him as a friend and will never forget how fatherly he was to me on my wedding day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Have fun with your wedding and the planning process. It does not have to be stressful, you are just planning the biggest party of your life!
