Katelynn and Taylor's waterfront Tampa Bay wedding combined chic décor with coastal nods to the couple's mutual love of boating. The result was a unique celebration showcasing Tampa's charm with curated decor pieces and an elegant style.
“Our wedding theme was a relaxed yet refined coastal chic style. My favorite color is blue, and I wanted to incorporate it in a tasteful way. Taylor is a Captain and certified diver, and we both love the water but we really didn't want a typical blue and white stripe nautical-themed wedding,” the bride explained. “Our overall color scheme was a mix of navy blues, lighter blues, sand, soft blushes, brushed gold, light grays, rustic woods, and shades white. We wanted a timeless look.”
The Tampa bride and groom selected a non-traditional timeline for their big day, opting for pre-ceremony cocktails, music, and exchanging of their vows at a historic South Tampa venue before transporting their 85 guests to the waters of Tampa Bay for dinner and dancing aboard a well-appointed yacht.
“We went with a slightly different wedding schedule than the typical wedding. Guests would only be at the venue for a short time for our ceremony so we decided to host a welcome bar an hour beforehand for them to enjoy the house and mingle. It certainly set the first impressions with amazing craft cocktails for our guests while they listened to live music before being ushered into the ballroom for our beautiful ceremony,”Katelynn shared. “Following the ceremony guests were whisked over to the Yacht Starship where they were greeted by more live music and an open bar for a second cocktail and appetizer hour to watch the sunset from the waters of downtown Tampa. Upon disembarking, guests went below deck for dinner and toasts and then ventured back up to the top deck where our amazing DJ kept the party going until docking. Every guest raved about how much fun they had at our wedding and for that, we are forever grateful for everyone who helped make our day so special and perfect!”
When selecting a meaningful reception venue, Katelynn and Taylor chose an event space that was as unique as it was sentimental.
“We envisioned a venue in the heart of Tampa with a water aspect. The Yacht StarShip is like family to us! I worked there throughout college, and Taylor is a Captain on the yachts. We thought it would be a great way to give our guests the best experience,” the bride beamed. “The Yacht Starship includes an event planner, catering, bar services, and even DJ entertainment which was amazing!”
Channeling her years of experience in the special event rentals market, the bride relied on her mother and fellow business owner of Kate Ryan Event Rentals to artfully design the festivities and seamlessly incorporate their renowned inventory into the decor.
“My mom made our wedding unforgettable! My family and I own Kate Ryan Event Rentalsand do hundreds of weddings a year, so it was no easy task to create a wedding that looked and felt like it was our own. Since we have quite the selection of rentals, my mom helped to take Taylor's and my style and create the perfect ambiance from the rentals to the florals, artwork, and beyond to truly create a one-of-a-kind wedding for us!We had so much fun curating the perfect look from our vast inventory for our own wedding day!” Katelynn gushed.
The pair prioritized the importance of finding a photography team that embodied a classic style while also being a pleasure to work with throughout the day.
“We wanted a photographer who provided a timeless look and style that was light and airy,” the bride explained. “We loved Lifelong Photography Studio‘s attention to detail. Gaby is not only an amazing photographer, but she is such a complete joy to be around. She went above and beyond on our wedding day capturing every detail, and we are forever grateful for her and the owner/photographer, Buffy,for not only making our wedding photos perfect but our engagement photos as well!”
When asked to pinpoint the most memorable moments of the day, Katelynn reflected upon the entire celebration and the sentiment it entailed.
“The whole experience [was memorable]. We spent so long planning and when the day finally came, everything worked out perfectly and we had the best day ever with our family and friends,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
We were in Italy on the island of Capri. We went up the chair lift to the top of Monte Solaro where Taylor proposed. We had seen this location on a tv show and had always wanted to go.
How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding?
“My mom worked with The Messy Painter to design a custom watercolor crest which included my love for the color blue, Taylor's role as a ship captain, and our combined love for our beloved dog Kona. The patterns and colors that were incorporated into the invitation suite were subsequently incorporated throughout our wedding including in our cake design by Hands on Sweets. We had custom flags made to place on the Yacht StarShip top deck as well as Kona socks for the groom, custom napkins made for the bar, and many other small details.”
“My family and I own Kate Ryan Event Rentals and do hundreds of weddings a year, so it was no easy task to create a wedding that looked and felt like it was our own. Since we have quite the selection of rentals, my mom helped to take Taylor's and my style and create the perfect ambiance from the rentals to the florals, artwork, and beyond to truly create a one-of-a-kind wedding for us! We had so much fun curating the perfect look from our vast inventory for our own wedding day!”
-The Bride
Florist Fire really outdid herself with all of our flowers, especially our ceremony arch and my ahhmazing bouquet! We always love working with Gayle, the owner, and especially loved seeing her smiling face on the day of my very own wedding.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Palm Beach. With everyone’s busy schedules, I wanted to get everyone in place at once so we had the bachelorette weekend the same weekend that Taylor's mom hosted a bridal shower for me at her home in Palm Beach.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We didn’t go on a honeymoon, rather a small getaway to Fort Lauderdale. Before the wedding, we bought a house which was more important to us than spending money on a honeymoon. Maybe in a few years, we will do something big!
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted a photographer who provided a timeless look and style that was light and airy.
We loved Lifelong Photography Studio‘s attention to detail. Gaby is not only an amazing photographer she is such a complete joy to be around. She went above and beyond on our wedding day capturing every detail, and we are forever grateful for her and owner/photographer, Buffy, for not only making our wedding photos perfect but our engagement photos as well.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme turned out to be a relaxed yet refined coastal chic style. My favorite color is blue, and I wanted to incorporate it in a tasteful way.
Taylor is a captain and certified diver, and we both love the water but we really didn't want a typical blue and white stripe nautical-themed wedding.
What were your colors?
Our overall color scheme was a mix of navy blues, lighter blues, sand, soft blushes, brushed gold, light grays, rustic woods, and shades white. We wanted a timeless look.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We envisioned a venue in the heart of Tampa with a water aspect.
The Yacht StarShip is like family to us! I worked there throughout college and Taylor is a captain on the yachts. We thought it would be a great way to give our guests the best experience.
The Yacht StarShip includes an event planner, catering, bar services, and even DJ entertainment which was amazing!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
To do what makes you happy. Don’t give in to anything you don’t want to do even if it means it’s “tradition.”Hire and surround yourself with people and companies that you trust. You only have one shot to make the day yours so don't work with or take advice from people who you feel may not give you what you want. It's your day, so above all enjoy it!
