Allie and Michael's romantic Bradenton wedding was an open-air affair that featured a courtyard ceremony adorned with white florals and greenery. The outdoor winter reception hosted 115 guests for a seated dinner under the stars, filled with rustic-inspired feasting tables that were meticulously decorated with pops of dusty blue and metallic accents.
“Our wedding theme was soft romance. Our venue had a Spanish courtyard that was beautiful. The string lights at night also made it very romantic,” the bride detailed. “Our color was dusty blue. I’ve always imagined my bridesmaids having blue dresses! We incorporated a mix of silver and gold metals into the wedding, along with the greenery and white flowers to go with our color.”
With her favorite color taking center stage in the design, Allie relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay for decor inspiration and venue recommendations.
“The florals were super important to me along with the farm tables we used. The string lights at night made the biggest difference for me from day to night it was a magical transition. I used Marry me Tampa Bay a bunch for wedding ideas, whether it was from music to bridal party advice. It had so many great articles that really helped me narrow down our venue, music, and other details we loved about our wedding,” Allie shared. “Following them on Instagram is such a perk! They feature venues, styles, and other wedding advice that was so helpful!
Hiring a wedding planner that Allie felt confident in was one of the key elements in choosing Katy Turchich-Martin, owner of Coastal Coordinating. The highly experienced wedding planner's expertise was exactly what the Tampa couple needed.
“After reading countless 5-star reviews of Katy and the Coastal Coordinating team, we decided to reach out for a quote. Katy was the best, and I could not imagine how my day would have gone without her expertise and overall knowledge of this industry,” the bride gushed. “I felt 100% confident Katy would provide the best service; it was above and beyond! She was very organized and fun to work with. I really enjoyed her team, and her connection with other vendors is amazing. If we had an idea, she knew exactly who to contact.”
Selecting entertainment that would be appropriate for everyone, the couple hired Graingertainment to keep energy levels high.
“I was looking for someone who would hype up our dance crowd but also make it comfortable for our family! Graingertainment did a great job with the variety of music they played and announcements,” Allie explained. “I enjoyed them at my wedding; the announcements were clear, and the music was great!”
Thinking about the magic of the first dance under the glowing lights brought back fond memories for Allie.
“My most memorable moment was my first dance with Michael to the song Mind Over Matter (Reprise) by Young the Giant. Our song was very special to us, and it was so magical being under the string lights dancing as husband and wife for the first time,” the bride reminisced. “Also, the bouquet toss was memorable, and I thought I really tossed my bouquet so hard, and it only went to the first row, and the girls were disappointed, so ladies, really throw those flowers during your bouquet toss!”
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
After reading countless 5-star reviews of Katy and the Coastal Coordinating team, we decided to reach out for a quote. Katy was the best, and I could not imagine how my day would have gone without her expertise and overall knowledge of this industry.
I felt 100% confident Katy would provide the best service; it was above and beyond! She was very organized and fun to work with. I really enjoyed her team, and her connection with other vendors is amazing. If we had an idea, she knew exactly who to contact.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Maui, Hawaii, for two weeks and stayed at the Four Seasons. We both love being outdoors and exploring, so we figured what better island to explore than Hawaii?! We had a blast at the resort and are already planning to go back for our 5-year wedding anniversary.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I had my bachelorette party in Miami because it was only four hours from Tampa, and there were tons of activities to do. We stayed at the Grand Beach on Miami Beach. The rooms are so spacious, ours slept up to eight, and the beach view was incredible. We had so much fun, and there was so much for us to do.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Soft romance. Our venue had a Spanish courtyard that was beautiful. The string lights at night also made it very romantic.
What were your colors?
Dusty blue. We chose this because our favorite color is blue, and I’ve always imagined my bridesmaids having blue dresses.
We incorporated a mix of silver and gold metals into the wedding, along with the greenery and white flowers to go with our color.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
I was looking for someone who would hype up our dance crowd but also make it comfortable for our family!
Graingertainment did a great job with the variety of music they played and announcements. I enjoyed them at my wedding; the announcements were clear, and the music was great!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Neenas Macarons was outstanding! She is so kind and handmakes all her Macarons. They’re so beautiful and delicious! Our videographer was one of my favorite vendors to work with. My wedding video is one of my favorite memories from the wedding day I’ll ever have.
What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
It’s okay to have a budget and stick with it! If there’s anything you can live without, cut it and save that money for your honeymoon.
