Christina and Kyle's downtown St. Pete wedding was an enchanting evening filled with a rich red and pink color palette complemented by soft blues and whites. The St. Petersburg wedding centered around uniting the two families and included a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony.
“Our theme was traditional romantic. We wanted a lot of wedding traditions with bright berry colored flowers,” the bride explained. “We had berry-colored flowers, including reds, pinks, and blues with white throughout the arrangements.”
It was important to the St. Petersburg couple that both the bride's Greek heritage and the groom's family legacy were intertwined together. Seeking a highly reputable wedding planner, the couple hired Special Moments Event Planning for their experience in interfaith celebrations.
“We looked for a wedding planner who would be able to help us with every step of the wedding planning process and make the wedding weekend go smoothly,” Christina revealed. “We loved that Tammy Waterman, owner of Special Moments Event Planning, was very experienced with many years of planning weddings as well as planning Greek weddings and that she would be able to help us with all of the little details. Tammy and her team were absolutely amazing, and we could not have had the dream wedding weekend that we did without them.”
The couple revisited their high school experience by hosting their 360-guest wedding (pre-pandemic) at the same venue they had their prom at. In order to keep the energy high and the dance floor packed, Bay Kings Band provided live music.
“We wanted a band that would play fun songs that everyone could dance and sing along to,” the bride beamed. “We hired Bay Kings Band after seeing them at one of their performances at NOVA 535. They did a great job, and definitely would recommend them. They had our guests on their feet dancing all night!”
For a show-stopping look that combined glamour and natural beauty, Michele Renee The Studio created the sophisticated style Christina was seeking with old Hollywood curls.
“I wanted my hair down, but different than how I would usually do it myself. I loved the side sweep old Hollywood look. I wanted my makeup to be more of a natural look, and the Michele Renee team did an amazing job all around,” Christina gushed. “Michele Renee The Studio was recommended to me by our wedding planner. They did a beautiful job with the bridal party’s hair and make-up, and everyone looked stunning!”
While reminiscing on the details of their wedding day, the moment that truly touched Christina's heart was spending the day with her guests.
“Seeing all of our family and friends at the filled church ceremony and watching all of our guests truly enjoy themselves at our wedding reception to dinner and dancing was the most memorable!” the bride shared.
The Proposal:
Kyle and I were on a trip to Greece to visit the island Ikaria where my grandparents were born. We met up with some of my cousins, and they decided we would all take a day trip to this beautiful beach on the other side of the island. It was around sunset when my cousins told Kyle and me to grab a table at the restaurant at the top of the hill while they took one last dip in the ocean. As we were walking up to the restaurant, we stopped at this little lookout to watch the sunset for a few minutes, and when he turned around, he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and asked me to marry him. I was completely caught off guard and immediately burst into tears and, of course, said “Yes!”
What was your hair and makeup inspiration for your wedding day?
I wanted my hair down, but different than how I would usually do it myself. I loved the side sweep old Hollywood look. I wanted my makeup to be more of a natural look, and the Michele Renee team did an amazing job all around!
Michele Renee The Studio was recommended to me by our wedding planner. They did a beautiful job with the bridal party’s hair and make-up, and everyone looked stunning!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Traditional romantic. We wanted a lot of wedding traditions with bright berry colored flowers.
What were your colors?
We had berry-colored flowers, including reds, pinks, and blues with white throughout the arrangements.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We flew to Roatan, which is an island off of Honduras. We choose Roatan because we both love scuba diving and the island is known for its beautiful diving.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We looked for a wedding planner who would be able to help us with every step of the wedding planning process and make the wedding weekend go smoothly.
We loved that Tammy Waterman, owner of Special Moments Event Planning, was very experienced with many years of planning weddings as well as planning Greek weddings and that she would be able to help us with all of the little details. Tammy and her team were absolutely amazing, and we could not have had the dream wedding weekend that we did without them.
What did you look for in a wedding band?
We wanted a band that would play fun songs that everyone could dance and sing along to.
We hired Bay Kings Band after seeing them at one of their performances at NOVA 535. They did a great job, and definitely would recommend them. They had our guests on their feet dancing all night!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Definitely have a wedding planner so you don’t have to worry about little details and coordinating vendors on the wedding day! You will get the chance to fully enjoy your day without any frustrations. Also, consider buying wedding insurance to cover for unforeseen losses and give you peace of mind.
Ceremony Venue: St. Stefanos Greek Church
Reception Venue: St. Pete Coliseum
Photographer: McNeile Photography
Videographer: Movie Magic Productions
Planner: Special Moments Event Planning *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: The Bride's Bouquet
Caterer: Delectables Fine Catering
Rentals: Gabro Event Services (Chairs, Chargers, Up-Lights, Draping)
Cake: Publix
Band: Bay Kings Band *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Greek Band: Leonidas Tsantiris and his Greek Band
Officiant: Father John Stefero
Invitations: Minted
Transportation: Jolley Trolley
Dress Shop and Designer: CC’s Bridal Boutique – Maggie Sottero
Shoe Designer: Nina, New York
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Birdy Grey
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Photobooth: Boones Pro Events Rehearsal Dinner: The Birchwood *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Post Wedding Sunday Brunch: 400 Beach Restaurant
Wedding Insurance: Wedding Protector Plan Travelers Insurance *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
