Rachel and Liam’s classic waterfront South Tampa wedding featured marina views, soft florals, and modern white reception.
The Tampa couple channeled a timeless style when selecting their colors and decor and paid homage to the waterfront Tampa Bay lifestyle.
“We wanted our day to be romantic and classic, but also have a coastal and Florida feel,” the bride shared. “We chose shades of blush, ivory, and navy.”
During the planning process, the bride turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay when searching for venues.
“We found the Westshore Yacht Club on Marry Me Tampa Bay and immediately contacted the coordinator to schedule a tour!” Rachel beamed.
The bride and groom wanted a location that offered a coastal Florida vibe with indoor and outdoor space that could accommodate their original guest list of 120. The Bay Club at Westshore Yacht Club was ideal, and although the pandemic led to postponements and changes, with a final guest list of 60, the venue made the process easy on Rachel and Liam.
“We wanted to find somewhere by the water, but not on the beach, that had an indoor space for dancing. The Bay Club is absolutely stunning. The bistro room windows highlighting the bay were gorgeous, and the modern, yet simple vibe drew us in,” the bride gushed. “From the moment we toured the venue, we knew the club was perfect for our dream wedding day! The food was incredible, the servers were great, and the bartender was excellent! Amy at the Westshore Yacht Club was so amazing! The guidance and patience she showed us trying to plan, postpone, and re-plan a wedding during COVID were truly remarkable. We could not have asked for a more perfect day.”
Rachel selected romantic blush pink gowns from Bella Bridesmaid Tampa to complement her bridal party’s styles as well as cities of residence.
“I wanted something elegant and was on the hunt for the perfect blush color. Jenny Yoo had different coordinating style options so all my girls could pick their favorite,” the bride shared. “We had a great experience at Bella Bridesmaid Tampa, and their online ordering makes it easy for out-of-town bridesmaids! They also have matching flower girl doll dresses. It was the perfect gift for my niece!”
With the bridesmaids styled in their mismatched pastel gowns, the bride relied on Femme Akoi Beauty Studio to beautify the wedding party. The glammed-up gals celebrated late into the reception and didn’t want the evening to end.
“We wanted a DJ who would engage our guests and get everyone on the dance floor.” the bride shared. “Eric from Grant Hemond & Associates was great! He took the time to get to know us and understand what we wanted for our day, and did not disappoint! Everyone had a blast! The only problem was that the last song came too soon!”
Some unexpected ceremony weather made for a truly memorable wedding day experience, especially for the groom.
“Liam’s most memorable moment from the day was seeing me burst out in laughter as I started walking down the aisle to the sound of thunder,” Rachel recalled. “This was yet another reminder that we could get through anything together.”
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
I wanted my hair to be in a simple updo to showcase the illusion back and all the pearl and lace details on my wedding gown. Pinterest definitely helped!
I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding a few years ago, and she used Femme Akoi Beauty Studio. I was so impressed with their work! Grissel and Alex were a dream team! They are true artists! They made me feel comfortable and beautiful.
What was your bridesmaid’s dress inspiration?
I wanted something elegant and was on the hunt for the perfect blush color. Jenny Yoo had different coordinating style options so all my girls could pick their favorite.
We had a great experience at Bella Bridesmaids and their online ordering makes it easy for out-of-town bridesmaids! They also have matching flower girl doll dresses. It was the perfect gift for my niece!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted to find somewhere by the water, but not on the beach, that had an indoor space for dancing.
Amy at the Westshore Yacht Club was so amazing! From the moment we toured the venue, we knew the club was perfect for our dream wedding day! The Bay Club is absolutely stunning. The bistro room windows highlighting the bay were gorgeous, and the modern, yet simple vibe drew us in.
The food was incredible, the servers were great, and the bartender was excellent! The guidance and patience Amy showed us in trying to plan, postpone, and re-plan a wedding during COVID were truly remarkable. We could not have asked for a more perfect day. Thank you, Amy, and the Westshore Yacht Club for the best day of our lives!
The Proposal:
Liam Proposed at the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park. The hike up was a lot more intense than he remembered and I had expected, but was totally worth it.
His original plan was to give his phone to someone at the top to take our photo and then transition from that to getting on one knee to propose. The one problem with that plan was that Liam forgot to turn off his phone’s auto-lock feature, so as he got down on one knee and started to pull the ring box from his pocket, the guy taking our photo unexpectedly interrupted to tell/ask him to unlock his phone, which he was, fortunately, able to do without dropping the ring. The interruption totally threw him off, causing him to forget everything he had planned on say, so all he ended up being able to blurt out to me (which I had no idea what was going on at that point) was “I love you, you’re the most amazing person I know, will you marry me?” It was perfect.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Chateau Elan Winery and Resort in Georgia. We wanted somewhere that would allow us to relax after all the planning and spend time together uninterrupted. We also love wine, and the spa was the perfect way to de-stress!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted our day to be romantic and classic, but also have a coastal and Florida feel.
What were your colors?
Blush, ivory, and navy.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a DJ who would engage our guests and get everyone on the dance floor!
Eric from Grant Hemond & Associates was great! He took the time to get to know us and understand what we wanted for our day, and did not disappoint! Everyone had a blast! The only problem was that the last song came too soon!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Rain or shine, y’all got this!
Venue and Caterer: Westshore Yacht Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Jen House Photography
Videographer: Blanton Creative
Florist: Carmen’s Flowers
Rentals: Elsa’s Wedding Decor
Cake: The Cake Girl
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates – Eric Harding *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Officiant: Weddings by Bonnie
Invitations: Minted
Transportation: Hyatt Place Shuttle
Dress: Martina Liana
Veil: Haute Bride
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka; Kate Spade
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Bella Bridesmaids – Jenny Yoo *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
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.
