Stephanie and Matthew's romantic St. Pete Beach wedding was a modern-day fairytale set against the backdrop of the famed “Pink Palace.” A curated color palette of spring-inspired pinks and soft blues harmoniously tied together elements that complemented the iconic venue.
“The overarching feel of the wedding was modern romance. We wanted to stay true to the romantic feeling of The Don CeSar and play on the beauty of the resort itself,” the bride explained. “I had my bridesmaids in very light blush, with the florals primarily being ivory and light blue. I wanted something that would work well with the exterior pink and white façade and translate to the navy and white interior ballroom. By having hints of each color play on each other in both the outdoor ceremony location and the ballroom, everything seemed seamless from start to finish.”
Stephanie found invaluable inspiration through Marry Me Tampa Bay's collection of real weddings at her venue. By exploring the designs and styles of past couples, she refined her vision and captured the exact ambiance she aimed to create.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay’s ‘real weddings’ at The Don CeSar to find past couples and gain inspiration from their designs,” the bride shared. “It helped me narrow down the exact feel that I was trying to convey.”
With most of their guests coming to Florida in the middle of March, Stephanie and Matthew provided a tropical vacation-like experience. Having their wedding at The Don CeSar allowed their guests to stay at the resort and enjoy the exquisite surroundings. Stephanie knew first-hand that The Don's team would exceed all expectations, especially for one of their own.
“We wanted something upscale and elegant with breathtaking views. It was so nice to ‘wow’ my guests in the courtyard and on the terrace without having to toes in the sand. After all, I am a lover of designer shoes and couldn’t imagine leaving them behind,” the bride beamed. “Since the majority of our wedding guests were from out-of-town, coming from a winter weather environment, it was important for us to have everyone experience the beauty of St. Pete Beach! We loved that our guests would be able to stay at the resort and feel as though they were on a tropical vacation. I may be partial to The Don CeSar since I am lucky enough to work for the resort, and I knew that the team would be able to exceed every expectation. It was extremely special to have all of my coworkers be able to be a part of my big day!”
With food being the couple's top priority, the culinary team at The Don CeSar rose to the challenge, creating a menu that showcased both local and regional specialties. From grouper bites and lobster bisque shooters representing their New England heritage to a decadent Italian pastry display for a touch of New York, the catering team expertly captured the couple's vision and provided a culinary experience that left their guests impressed.
“Food was absolutely at the top of our list. With Matt being from New York and me from Connecticut, we had high standards of what we wanted throughout the night. We tasked the culinary team at The Don to find a way to incorporate Florida cuisine with an ode to our Northern routes. The team took the challenge and ran with it! We ended up with a South Florida station featuring grouper bites and then lobster bisque shooters to represent classic New England and a full Italian pastry display for dessert for a true New York feel. They fully understood what we wanted our guests to experience,” Stephanie detailed.
From navigating complex logistical details to making crucial vendor decisions, Coastal Coordinating‘s unwavering dedication and meticulous attention to detail ensured nothing was overlooked. Their wedding planning expertise also helped the couple secure the services of DJ Grant Hemond & Associates, who brought the perfect energy and kept the party alive throughout the wedding day.
“I needed someone who was not just going to say ‘yes' to me. I needed to keep it real and be told the facts. It was nice to have someone on my side who was looking out for me through every logistical detail and vendor decision,” the bride explained. “My first vendor outside of our venue was Katy with Coastal Coordinating. I asked the team at The Don CeSar for recommendations and instantly felt connected to Katy’s personality. We had a long discovery call prior to booking, and I already felt like she knew exactly what I needed.”
Lemon Drops exceeded the bride's expectations by flawlessly executing a refined and organic floral design, with special emphasis on the chuppah florals. The enchanting atmosphere of the 100-guest courtyard ceremony was further elevated by the addition of garden hedges provided by Gabro Event Services, creating an exclusive and intimate ambiance.
“I was looking for my florals to feel refined and organic. The chuppah florals were extremely important to me, and I really wanted to make sure that they stood out to give a ‘wow’ moment,” Stephanie revealed. “I loved Lemon Drops' ability to take my Pinterest dreams work within my budget. They listened to what was most important to me and gave me suggestions on ways to save within my pricing. The ability to re-use my chuppah florals for my sweetheart table and the bridesmaid's bouquets for the head table was a huge win! I’m also highly allergic to eucalyptus, so it was an extra challenge for them to find a pretty greenery stem that wouldn’t contrast with the color scheme or make me break out in hives.”
As Stephanie stood with her father at the beginning of the aisle, a gust of wind unexpectedly lifted her veil. With a quick and spontaneous decision, she took it off, bringing a moment of amusement that perfectly matched the lively personality of the bride.
“One of the most memorable moments was when I took my veil off right at the beginning of the aisle. I was standing with my dad when the wind started picking up and took my long tulle veil straight up. I made a split decision right at the moment to reach up and pluck the veil off before we started our walk down the aisle,” the bride revealed. “It brought a moment of amusement in such a great way and had all my friends saying that it was the most ‘Stephanie' thing they had ever seen me do.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Napa, CA. I wanted to go somewhere that highlighted my favorite things, good wine, good food, and great company. Napa fully exceeded every expectation. We went in January, which is considered an “off-season,” but I would go back during that time in a heartbeat! You never felt rushed to leave, and each winery really took its time with you since they were not packed.
The Proposal:
Matt and I were indulging in lobster rolls and champagne at the Hampton Classic, “a day living my best life,” as I recall it. When we left the event, Matt suggested they take a walk on the beach. I didn’t think too much of it since we often do walks like this. Little did I know that Matt would share sweet words on this beach and pop the question! Of course, I said, “YES!”
“Who else can say that they have worked, married, played, and stayed at Florida’s ‘Pink Palace? The cherry on top is my new last name! Kassel, pronounced ‘Castle.'”
-The Bride
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
I was looking for my florals to feel refined and organic. The chuppah florals were extremely important to me, and I really wanted to make sure that they stood out to give a ‘wow’ moment.
I loved Lemon Drops' ability to take my Pinterest dreams work within my budget. They listened to what was most important to me and gave me suggestions on ways to save within my pricing. The ability to re-use my chuppah florals for my sweetheart table and the bridesmaid's bouquets for the head table was a huge win! I’m also highly allergic to eucalyptus, so it was an extra challenge for them to find a pretty greenery stem that wouldn’t contrast with the color scheme or make me break out in hives.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I needed someone who was not just going to say ‘yes' to me. I needed to keep it real and be told the facts. It was nice to have someone on my side who was looking out for me through every logistical detail and vendor decision. My first vendor outside of our venue was Katy with Coastal Coordinating. I asked the team at The Don CeSar for recommendations and instantly felt connected to Katy’s personality. We had a long discovery call prior to booking, and I already felt like she knew exactly what I needed.
My first vendor outside of The Don was Katy with Coastal Coordinating. I asked the team at The Don for recommendations and instantly felt connected to Katy’s personality. We had a long ‘discovery’ call prior to booking, and I already felt like she knew exactly what I needed.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The overarching feel of the wedding was modern romance. We wanted to stay true to the romantic feeling of The Don CeSar and play on the beauty of the resort itself.
What were your colors?
I had my bridesmaids in very light blush, with the florals primarily being ivory and light blue. I wanted something that would work well with the exterior pink and white façade and translate to the navy and white interior ballroom. By having hints of each color play on each other in both the outdoor ceremony location and the ballroom, everything seemed seamless from start to finish.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted something upscale and elegant with breathtaking views. It was so nice to ‘wow’ my guests in the courtyard and on the terrace without having to toes in the sand. After all, I am a lover of designer shoes and couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. Since the majority of our wedding guests were from out-of-town, coming from a winter weather environment, it was important for us to have everyone experience the beauty of St. Pete Beach! We loved that our guests would be able to stay at the resort and feel as though they were on a tropical vacation. I may be partial to The Don CeSar since I am lucky enough to work for the resort, and I knew that the team would be able to exceed every expectation. It was extremely special to have all of my coworkers be able to be a part of my big day!
Who else can say that they have worked, married, played, and stayed at Florida’s ‘Pink Palace? The cherry on top is my new last name! Kassel, pronounced “Castle.”
Food was absolutely at the top of our list. With Matt being from New York and me from Connecticut, we had high standards of what we wanted throughout the night. We tasked the culinary team at The Don to find a way to incorporate Florida cuisine with an ode to our Northern routes. The team took the challenge and ran with it! We ended up with a South Florida station featuring grouper bites and then lobster bisque shooters to represent classic New England and a full Italian pastry display for dessert for a true New York feel. They fully understood what we wanted our guests to experience.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
Privacy hedges from Gabro Event Services were extremely important to us to block the pool from the ceremony in the courtyard. We wanted our wedding to feel intimate even in the bustle of peak season. We are so glad that we worked the cost into our budget because even with a packed pool, it felt like we were the only ones around!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We love an ode to classic soft rock songs and asked our DJ to have fun with the playlist during dinner service and to incorporate some of our favorite artists, think Billy Joel, Elton John, and Frankie Valli. We wanted someone who would keep the party going!
Grant Hemond & Associates came highly recommended, and Adam really matched exactly what we were looking for. Adam hit the vibe right on the head and had everyone dancing in their seats, even through dinner! To also find out that he had recorded all the speeches for us was such a nice surprise.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our electric violinist was the talk of the wedding! Every single guest has mentioned to us how amazing he was and really made the ceremony and cocktail hour standout. He interacted with guests, pumped up the vibe, and set the tone for the rest of the night.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Trust your vendors! Take the time to really get to know your vendors early on so as you are leading up to your big day you aren’t stressed about if your vision is going to be executed correctly. Remember that they are the professionals and do this all the time. If they say something you want is not the best idea, listen! I ultimately told Katy what I “hoped” for everything to look like with all the décor and additional lighting that I had but at the end of the day told her to edit or change anything that she thought was not working the day of. She is the one in the space as it is coming together so I fully trusted her opinion.
