Kristen and Hayden's destination St. Pete Beach wedding combined a neutral palette of black and white with romantic flora for a celebration that would stand the test of time. Guests enjoyed sweeping views of the water during the rooftop ceremony and reception.
“I would describe our wedding theme as ‘Modern Meets Coastal.' We wanted the design to look modern and timeless but with a cool and casual vibe to allow everyone to feel like they're just hanging out and having a good time celebrating,” the bride shared. “Our colors were black, white, and greenery. They are timeless and clean, and you can never go wrong with black and white as trends change through the years. Black and white fits our personality the best too!”
The Utah bride had a clear vision for her nuptials, with dreams of classic white blooms accented with natural greenery for an elegant look. After considering several florist recommendations, she chose the artists at Lemon Drops Weddings & Events to bring her dream design to life.
“We looked for a wedding florist who could incorporate many types of white flowers with a lot of greenery in the bouquets and someone who could make the beautiful ceremony floral arch a wedding statement piece,” Kristen detailed. “Ultimately, I chose Lemon Drops because I knew I could fully trust them to make my ‘white florals with greenery' vision comes to life, and it was simply beautiful to walk into the ceremony and reception to see it all for the first time.”
The 120-person al fresco ceremony and reception showcased Florida's famous beach breezes and sunsets, and where the couple previously resided. One of the favorite details of the day was a decorative hedge wall display provided by Outside The Box Event Rentals, which was studded with glasses of bubbly that doubled as escort cards to direct the guests to their seats.
“From the sand unity ceremony to the rooftop reception, our wedding was unique because it was classy and formal yet fully outdoors where the guests could watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico,” the bride beamed. “Guests also really adored the champagne wall seating chart in which each champagne glass had a gold charm on the rim of the glass that listed their name and table number.”
Kristen and Hayden relied on the entertainment professionals at Grant Hemond & Associates to keep the music flowing throughout the evening. Their DJ created personalized playlists based on the bride's requests and kept the event running smoothly.
“Grant Hemond & Associates was a partner with the venue, and we were able to speak with our DJ prior to the wedding to chat about what kind of music we'd like the guests to dance to. I thought that the DJ was amazing!” Kristen raved. “I was able to send him a Spotify playlist, and he found the clean versions of each song for me. There was never a hiccup during the ceremony songs either.”
The bride and groom shared an intimate moment together before the ceremony, which made for a lasting memory for the bride, in addition to some special experiences on the dance floor.
“One of the most memorable moments was doing a first look where we exchanged letters with our private vows prior to the ceremony,” Kristen recalled. “It was also very special doing our first dance to Growing Old With You by Restless Road, and seeing Hayden dance with his mom was the sweetest.”
The Proposal:
Hayden proposed on New Year's Day during a sunset on the water in Merritt Island, Florida. On the way to dinner, he stopped at his grandparents' dock along South Tropical Trail for a sunset picture. We walked out on their dock to find a picnic set up, where he got down on one knee to propose on the water where it all began. A photographer was hiding on a different dock where he captured the sweet private moment from afar.
“We looked for a wedding florist who could incorporate many types of white flowers with a lot of greenery in the bouquets and someone who could make the beautiful ceremony floral arch a wedding statement piece.”
-The Bride
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
We looked for a wedding florist who could incorporate many types of white flowers with a lot of greenery in the bouquets and someone who could make the beautiful ceremony floral arch a wedding statement piece
Ultimately, I chose Lemon Drops Wedding & Events because I knew I could fully trust them to make my ‘white florals with greenery' vision comes to life, and it was simply beautiful to walk into the ceremony and reception to see it all for the first time.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Chicago, IL, and I chose that location because Chicago is a city I had never visited before, and it was a good middle point for friends traveling in from opposite sides of the country.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon in Los Cabos exactly two months after the wedding. We chose Cabo because we found a relaxing and pretty resort we really wanted to see, and it was only a three-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City.
How did the decor rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
We rented the champagne wall and the clear ghost infinity reception chairs from Outside the Box Event Rentals.
Guests really adored the champagne wall seating chart in which each champagne glass had a gold charm on the rim of the glass that listed their name and table number.”
How would you describe your theme/wedding inspiration?
“Modern Meets Coastal.” We wanted the design to look modern and timeless but with a cool and casual vibe to allow everyone to feel like they're just hanging out and having a good time celebrating.
What were your colors?
Black, white, and greenery. They are timeless and clean, and you can never go wrong with black and white as trends change through the years. Black and white fits our personality the best too!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
Grant Hemond & Associates was a partner with the venue, and we were able to speak with our DJ prior to the wedding to chat about what kind of music we'd like the guests to dance to. I thought that the DJ was amazing!
I was able to send him a Spotify playlist, and he found the clean versions of each song for me. There was never a hiccup during the ceremony songs either.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our photographer exceeded my expectations because not only was she the sweetest ever, but the little moments she captured, combined with her beautiful natural edits, made for countless breathtaking photos.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Pick a location and venue that best fit your personality and vibe as a couple, and then enjoy every moment of it! There's truly nothing that compares to having all of your family and friends in one place.
