Lakeland Wedding at Hollis Garden – Pink and Grey Rustic Garden Wedding
Alex and Matt are a full circle Marry Me Tampa Bay couple. Alex met her photographer, Sophan Theam Photography, through the vendor listing on my site, and then her Hillsborough State Park engagement session was featured last Spring. I loved the soft, romantic colors and florals she choose from her wedding (Yah Whole Foods Market!). The bride and groom seemed really grounded while planning their wedding, by not letting the stress interfere with the joyous occasion. Alex…what is your secret!?
Alex & Matt's Love Story:
My husband and I meet in 2008 while attending school together. We quickly became best friends. In 2011, we began dating. It just sort of happened; we were both single and hanging out everyday. At some point we realized, call it what we like, we had been dating for years. We already loved each other from our years of friendship so things moved quickly.
Matthew proposed to me early one morning in our apartment. I am always the first one up so I make the coffee, and when I opened the canister, there sat my beautiful engagement ring. Shocked, I turned around to find him on one knee, hair disheveled and in his pajamas. He is never up early in the morning, I don't think he slept at all that night. It was a beautiful rainy day. We spent the rest of the day drinking coffee and cuddling up watching movies.
Pink and Grey Rustic Lakeland Garden Wedding – Hollis Garden
Building off of their nature inspired engagement session, Alex and Matt held a pink and grey garden wedding at Lakeland wedding venue Hollis Garden.
“It was important to us to incorporate the beauty of the outdoors and for things to be small and intimate. Hollis Garden turned out to be the perfect choice,” Alex said.
The couple focused on enjoying their big day with their 50 closest family and friends and not adhering to a strict timeline.
“It was very important to us both to have a low-key wedding, so we could both enjoy all the details,” the bride explained. “We planned the wedding so there was very little to worry about on the day of. We also made sure there was lots of time to enjoy each others' company throughout the day with little private moments.”
To capture their garden wedding, the couple hired Lakeland wedding photographer Sophan Theam Photography.
“She was so friendly and warm. You could tell that for her, photography was more than a job, it's her passion,” Alex gushed. “She also had great ideas for details and locations. She went above and beyond. I couldn't be happier, and my photos are beautiful.
Reminiscing on wedding day, Alex said her most memorable moment came during her rustic, garden wedding ceremony.
“My favorite part of the wedding was the exchanging of vows. We wrote our own so it was so personal and meaningful,” the bride said. “Matthew's father also performed the ceremony which made it so much more meaningful.
“Sophan [of Sophan Theam Photography] was so friendly and warm. You could tell that for her, photography was more than a job, it's her passion. She also had great ideas for details and locations. She went above and beyond. I couldn't be happier, and my photos are beautiful.” – The Bride
“I loved my hair and makeup. I had never felt more beautiful.” – The Bride
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Don't overplan. Incorporate hours here and there for flex time, you will need it in the end.
Plan it together. Writing our ceremony together made everything so much more meaningful.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
Lakeland Wedding Venue: Hollis Garden
Lakeland Wedding Photographer: Sophan Theam Photography
Lakeland Wedding Florist: Carrollwood Florist and Whole Foods Market
Lakeland Wedding Caterer: Chef T's Garden Grill
Lakeland Wedding Cake: Frostings Etc.
Lakeland Wedding Invitations: MagnetStreet
Lakeland Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal
Lakeland Wedding Hair & Makeup: Blend True – Laura Barone
Lakeland Wedding Hair Accessory: The Yellow Peony
We are proud to have Sophan Theam Photography as a Marry Me Tampa Bay sponsor!
