Geovanna and Richard's tropical Boca Grande wedding put their guests in a vacation state of mind as they said their vows on the sandy beaches of Florida's west coast surrounded by soft, romantic colors and modern accents.
“My husband and I are both from Connecticut and live in Palmetto now. We chose this area for our wedding because this is where we are building our life together, and we wanted to give family and friends from up north a reason to vacation with us too,” the bride shared. “[Our inspiration was] an old Florida vibe was in our hearts and preferably by the beach. Our venue fit what we wanted in terms of theme and our desire to give our family and friends a true vacation feeling. It felt as though we had the island to ourselves. At every corner, I could find family and friends who flew down to share the weekend with us. It was heartwarming.”
To give their friends and family from up north a glimpse into their sunshine-filled lives together, the bride and groom chose artfully created wedding invitations for their October wedding.
“Our invitations were inspired by our desire for an old Florida feel,” the bride detailed. “A&P Design Co. was recommended by my wedding planner, and we loved the detail of their invitations.”
Keeping their 118 guests entertained throughout the day was a priority for the couple, who included a string quartet during the ceremony and cocktail hour and then transitioned into a lively evening with a combination of live music with a DJ.
“The music and food had to be good. My husband and I love music and dancing, so we brought on a saxophone player who complimented our DJ throughout the wedding from the start of the reception,” the bride explained. “As a Latina, I wanted to know if the DJ had done weddings that include Latin music in addition to the mainstream. Our DJ from Graingertainment was super well-rounded, so it worked out great for us. I wanted to know he cared about listening to and connecting with the mood of the party and keeping us on the dance floor, which he did!”
The outdoor waterfront Florida wedding featured an array of soft blushes and pinks paired with tropical greenery and elegant whites. The pink table lines and palm-filled centerpieces added to the celebration's romantic ambiance, while the clear ghost chairs provided a modern touch.
“The floral arrangements, music, lighting, food, and drinks were important,” the bride revealed. “We wanted lighting that felt romantic even on the dance floor. The floral arrangements really gave the old Florida feel.”
The bride wore a lace gown with a fit-and-flare bottom and then transitioned into a contemporary glam vibe by changing into a sheer long-sleeve top with white pants paired with bow-tie heels and a flowing floral, sheer train.
Looking back, Geovanna shared that her most unforgettable moment was seeing Richard for the first time.
“Our first look under the banyan tree was memorable because time stopped for a second,” the bride reminisced. “We had a chance to take it all in.”
“Our invitations were inspired by our desire for an old Florida feel. A&P Design Co. was recommended by my wedding planner, and we loved the detail of their invitations.”
-The Bride
The Proposal:
We were at Anna Marie Island for lunch and Richard asked if I wanted to try out my new tripod. Of course, I said yes. We were able to capture our engagement on video, just the two of us.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Miami because it's a location my friends and I have celebrated birthdays and had girl trips in the past. It felt nostalgic to go back after so many years.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
An old Florida vibe was in our hearts and preferably by the beach. Our venue fit what we wanted in terms of theme and our desire to give our family and friends a true vacation feeling. It felt as though we had the island to ourselves. At every corner, I could find family and friends who flew down to share the weekend with us. It was heartwarming.
What were your colors?
Soft, tropical colors.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our DJ, planner/florist, cinematographer, and photographer. All provided guidance where needed, gave amazing ideas, and helped make beautiful memories on our wedding day.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
The music and food had to be good. My husband and I love music and dancing, so we brought on a saxophone player who complimented our DJ throughout the wedding from the start of the reception.
As a Latina, I wanted to know if the DJ had done weddings that include Latin music in addition to the mainstream. Our DJ from Graingertainment was super well-rounded, so it worked out great for us. I wanted to know he cared about listening to and connecting with the mood of the party and keeping us on the dance floor, which he did!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
One of the things we did was ensure we had a moment alone in between the ceremony and wedding reception. Most couples mingle with the wedding party but we opted for our wedding party to enjoy the cocktail hour. This gave us ten mins to just take it all in and toast alone before joining in on the fun again.
