Alexa and Dylan’s destination South Tampa wedding featured a palette of rich red, natural greenery, and glimmering gold, accented by romantic candlelight and lush flora to create a setting filled with decorative drama.
“I would describe our wedding theme as classic and dramatic. We landed on the drama theme because I wanted deep red as an accent color and a trumpeter to command everyone’s attention before I walked down the aisle, so you could say it was a natural fit,” the bride detailed. “Our primary color palette was neutral, and our accent colors were burgundy, light blue, and green. We chose the colors based on my preference to have a winter wedding and a deep red accent color.”
With the couple moving to Texas just two weeks before their Florida nuptials in the bride’s hometown of Tampa, they sought a seasoned wedding planner with a specialty in design. They turned to UNIQUE Weddings + Events and were instantly charmed by Staci’s vibrant personality, thorough approach, and creative attention to detail.
“Since we didn’t need a lot of help finding our vendors, we were looking specifically for someone who could design the wedding, present creative ideas, be organized and detail-oriented, and was a good personality match for us. Staci with UNIQUE Weddings + Events was all of that and much more!” Alexa raved. “From the first call, Staci matched our energy. She was fun, listened to exactly what we were looking for, and shared how she could deliver on it. She was straightforward and fast-paced. We loved that. Her service was impeccable!”
The bride and groom personalized their celebration through sentimental details that reflected each of their personalities. One special decorative element they created for the reception is now a treasured keepsake on display in their home.
“Dylan was born and raised in South Carolina. I have a Hispanic heritage. We jokingly add ‘y’all’ at the end of Spanish sayings to blend our backgrounds. We did the neon-sign trend but with a twist. Our sign said ‘festejemos y’all’ which means ‘let’s party, y’all,’” the bride detailed. “It was right in front of the band as they were on stage at the reception. It’s now hanging in our dining room.”
A plethora of candles and flower arrangements filled the celebration. The historic venue’s grand staircase featured flowers that climbed alongside the banister, while the unique seating chart display consisted of chic gold shelves adorned with blooms and candlelight that glowed through frosted name boards. The dining tables boasted arrangements of varying height, and the sweetheart table was accented by wispy branches of greenery and soft draping.
“My mother was my partner in crime throughout the entire planning process, and she loves flowers. I can’t take any credit for the florals – that was all her and our wedding planner! The floral ‘moments’ throughout the venues took my breath away. They were stunning backdrops to everyone’s photos.” the bride gushed.
With the dancing as the true focal point of the reception, the pair selected A Chair Affair‘s decorative dance floor for their 190 guests to show off their best moves throughout the evening.
“The black and white checkered dance floor from A Chair Affair complemented our classic and dramatic theme,” the bride beamed. “We also liked the idea of emphasizing the dance space with different flooring.”
Alexa recalls two stand-out moments from the big day. The first occurred during the ceremony processional when she saw her groom for the first time, and the second was surrounded by friends and family on the dance floor.
“I will never forget walking down the aisle to Dylan. I always assumed I would cry, but the exact opposite happened. I had the biggest smile on my face. It was truly the happiest moment of my life,” the bride reminisced. “]All the dancing moments, my brother lifting a guest up like the Dirty Dancing move while Time of My Life played and everyone freaking out when C’Nergy sang Pepas by Farruko. Iconic! Dancing together as we were introduced to the reception was also very memorable because we had so much energy.!”
The Proposal:
It happened on what I thought was an average “Dylan weekend visit to Tampa.” We were watching a movie at my apartment. Our dog was sitting in between us. Dylan told me these everyday moments are what he wants for the rest of his life and asked me to marry him. I cried for like three days!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I would describe our wedding theme as classic and dramatic. Family and traditions are important to us, so we chose to get married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the same location my parents and aunt and uncle were married. The ceremony venue was one of the first decisions we made, and it set the tone for the rest of the planning process.
We landed on the drama theme because I wanted deep red as an accent color and a trumpeter to command everyone’s attention before I walked down the aisle, so you could say it was a natural fit.
What were your colors?
Our primary color palette was neutral, and our accent colors were burgundy, light blue, and green. We chose the colors based on my preference to have a winter wedding and a deep red accent color.
At first, I was confused when my planner Staci put green in the color palette, but she explained it was because of the greenery we would be using in the floral arrangements. She also recommended light blue as a nice complement to the neutrals and burgundy. You can see how beautifully it complemented the overall design of our head table at the reception.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Since we didn’t need a lot of help finding our vendors, we were looking specifically for someone who could design the wedding, present creative ideas, be organized and detail-oriented, and was a good personality match for us. Staci with UNIQUE Weddings + Events was all of that and much more!
From the first call, Staci matched our energy. She was fun, listened to exactly what we were looking for, and shared how she could deliver on it. She was straightforward and fast-paced. We loved that. Her service was impeccable!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We honeymooned in Greece – Athens, Crete, and Santorini. We wanted a place with a beach for me and an adventure for Dylan.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bachelorette was Halloween weekend in Key West! Key West has a special place in my heart because of the relaxed beach vibe and my college spring breaks. Halloween weekend because my friends and I love to dress up.
“Since we didn’t need a lot of help finding our vendors, we were looking specifically for someone who could design the wedding, present creative ideas, be organized and detail-oriented, and was a good personality match for us. Staci with UNIQUE Weddings + Events was all of that and much more! She was fun, listened to exactly what we were looking for, and shared how she could deliver on it. She was straightforward and fast-paced. We loved that. Her service was impeccable!”
-The Bride
How did the decor add to the ambiance of your wedding?
The black and white checkered dance floor from A Chair Affair complemented our classic and dramatic theme. We also liked the idea of emphasizing the dance space with different flooring.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
People are still talking about how amazing the catering was. I am still dreaming about it. Our photographer and videographer did an excellent job. Our photos were fun and not forced. I didn’t really want a videographer because I didn’t want them to distract from the actual events, but our videographers were discreet and captured the perfect moments so beautifully. I am so glad we worked with them!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
A wedding is a day. A marriage is a lifetime. Make sure to spend time connecting as a couple to set yourself up for success after the wedding. Know that your wedding is going to be beautiful because your love story is beautiful. Also, brides, give your grooms fair warning about the number of photos you will be taking. Dylan was not expecting it!
