Courtney and Alexander’s downtown St. Pete wedding was a stunning springtime celebration that incorporated a romantic color palette of purple, soft white, and metallic gold.
“Our wedding theme was light, airy, and romantic. My favorite color is purple, and I wanted plenty of beautiful plants and flowers to complement the bridal party,” the bride explained. “Our colors were mauve, green, white, and gold. I love purples and gold and thought these colors perfectly matched the feeling of Spring!”
MORE: PURPLE WEDDING INSPIRATION
While searching for her wedding vendors, Courtney visited Marry Me Tampa Bay to read vendor reviews and see their past work.
“My wedding planner recommended all of our vendors but they definitely showed up during my research on Marry Me Tampa Bay!” the bride beamed.
To accommodate their 120 wedding guests, Courtney and Alexander found The Birchwood to be the perfect aesthetic for their wedding day vision. The couple knew the chic boutique hotel overlooking the waterfront of Straub Park would make for an unforgettable wedding experience.
“We wanted an intimate, indoor setting with a classy, vintage feel. We have always loved The Birchwood and spending evenings at their rooftop bar, The Canopy, so it was kind of a no-brainer,” Courtney gushed. “I was always against using a hotel as a wedding venue, but The Birchwood is so quaint and boutique that it felt like we had the entire building to ourselves! The entire team was amazing to work with and catered to our every want and need. I truly feel like I made new friends while working with their staff.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIRCHWOOD | EMAIL
The St. Petersburg couple wanted a relaxed and effortless wedding planning experience, so they hired local wedding planners, Blue Skies Weddings and Events, to guide them through the process.
“I hired a wedding planner because I wanted to enjoy the experience and not be stressed out. Day-of services are crucial in my opinion. I didn’t have to think or worry about anything and could truly be present and mindful during that special day,” Courtney shared. “Blue Skies was amazing, and I truly feel like I have made forever friends with Heather and her team. They were always available to me when I had questions, attended any appointment with me for support, and kept my spirits high on the wedding day. I highly recommend Blue Skies.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE SKIES WEDDINGS AND EVENTS | EMAIL
From the elegant two-tiered springtime wedding cake designed by The Artistic Whisk to the guests dancing all night to the sounds of Grant Hemond & Associates the details were just as important as all of the planning that went into it. To capture all of the elements and create memorable portraits, the bride and groom hired Lifelong Photography Studio.
“We wanted light, airy, and romantic photos that didn’t look insanely edited and still looked natural and organic. Lifelong Photography Studio checked all of the boxes, had competitive pricing, and all of their photographers, especially Anna and Emily, are so sweet and care so much about providing the best experience to their clients!”
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFELONG PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO | EMAIL
To create her ideal wedding day look, Courtney worked with the Tampa hair and makeup team from Michele Renee The Studio to find the perfect style.
“I have very long hair and definitely wanted to wear it down during my wedding. Lauren from Michele Renee The Studio was able to create a beautiful curled braided look that complemented my long hair while keeping it pulled back and out of my face for the evening,” the bride beamed. “I loved my makeup and felt beautiful but still myself during my big day!”
LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHELE RENEE THE STUDIO | EMAIL
As the newlyweds look back on their special day, Courtney reminisced on how meaningful the ceremony was to her.
“With so much focus on the reception, the ceremony was something that I really hadn’t thought about during the planning process. However, it ended up being my favorite part of the evening, along with many of my guests,” the bride exclaimed. “It was incredibly intimate and thoughtful and had most people in tears. I cannot wait to relive it when I see our video!”
The Proposal
Alex proposed in Forsyth Park during a trip to Savannah, GA. After seven years of dating, you’d think I couldn’t be surprised, but I was completely caught off guard, and he even booked a surprise photographer to document the whole thing!
What were your hair and makeup inspiration?
I have very long hair and definitely wanted to wear it down during my wedding. Lauren from Michele Renee The Studio was able to create a beautiful curled braided look that complemented my long hair while keeping it pulled back and out of my face for the evening! I loved my makeup and felt beautiful but still myself during my big day!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I hired a wedding planner because I wanted to enjoy the experience and not be stressed out. The day-of services are crucial in my opinion. I didn’t have to think or worry about anything and could truly be present and mindful during that special day. Blue Skies Weddings and Events was amazing, and I truly feel like I have made forever friends with Heather and her team. They were always available to me when I had questions, attended any appointment with me for support, and kept my spirits high on the wedding day. I highly recommend Heather and her team!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted an intimate, indoor setting with a classy, vintage feel. We have always loved The Birchwood and spending evenings at their rooftop bar, The Canopy, so it was kind of a no-brainer. I was always against using a hotel as a wedding venue, but The Birchwood is so quaint and boutique that it felt like we had the entire building to ourselves! The entire team was amazing to work with and catered to our every want and need. I truly feel like I made new friends while working with their staff.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted light, airy, and romantic photos that didn’t look insanely edited and still looked natural and organic. Lifelong Photography Studio checked all of the boxes, had competitive pricing, and all of their photographers, especially Anna and Emily, are so sweet and care so much about providing the best experience to their clients!
What did you look for in a wedding bakery?
We are huge foodies, so we wanted our dessert to be special and unique. The Artistic Whisk used all clean and real ingredients and was able to create an amazing dessert bar and a beautiful cake with unique flavors: Key Lime Blueberry and Hazelnut Chocolate with Kahwa Espresso!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Grant Hemond & Associates was by far the most highly recommended vendor during our wedding planning experience. Jason was so professional and was able to cater to the diverse age range at our wedding while keeping the guests entertained and dancing all night!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Stay true to yourself and do what makes you happy! You will get so much advice from friends and family, but at the end of the day, it’s your wedding, and you should plan a day that makes you happy. Your guests will have a great time no matter what!
Ceremony, Reception Venue, and Caterer: The Birchwood *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Venue
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Pro
Videographer: Voila Cinematic
Planner: Blue Skies Weddings and Events *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Pro
Florist: Iza’s Flowers
Cake: The Artistic Whisk *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Pro
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates – Jason *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Pro
Officiant: Chuck Wise (Family Friend)
Invitations: Minted
Transportation: Revvies
Dress Designer: Allure
Bridesmaid Dres Designer: Birdy Grey
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wed Pro
Additional Wedding Vendors: Jangles Jungle, Etsy
