Bethany and Brian’s romantic South Tampa wedding featured shades of dusty rose and metallic gold, a formal church ceremony, and an elegant yacht club dinner reception.
“I would describe our wedding as classic and romantic. I wanted a simple and elegant theme, and I chose to add metallic accents for a more modern touch. We chose mauve, white, blush, greenery with pops of plum, gold, and other mixed metals. We chose those colors because they are romantic and perfect for a springtime wedding,” the bride shared. “I wanted the wedding to be beautiful but my main focus was to ensure everyone had a good time.”
The Atlanta couple visits family in the Tampa area often making the Sunshine State the perfect location to host their destination wedding. The pair hosted a traditional church ceremony, followed by an indoor/outdoor reception at one of South Tampa’s most exclusive clubs.
Enhancing their table décor with ornate gold accents, the pair chose gold-rimmed glassware, metallic gold flatware, and glass chargers with a gold rim to upgrade their look.
“Our place settings made our wedding unique. The extra rentals we secured made a huge difference in the overall look of each place setting. Between the goblets and our silverware, it elevated the vibe in the room!” the bride raved. “We rented the linens, glassware, silverware, chargers, tables, and chairs from Kate Ryan Event Rentals. They have a varied selection of items so that you can pick and choose exactly how you want the table settings to look.”
Adding to the romantic atmosphere, Bethany chose matching pastel bridesmaids’ dresses with a simple, yet elegant style, perfect for a South Tampa wedding.
“I went to the Bella Bridesmaids store to find inspiration. A bridesmaid came with me and graciously modeled multiple dress options,” the bride shared. “I picked the Jenny Yoo dress because I loved the quality of the fabric, the unique rich color, and the alternate styles. The fig color stood out as a different take on traditional pink. It was a nice timeless color for a spring wedding.”
To get her large bridal entourage wedding-ready, Bethany relied on the team at Femme Akoi Beauty Studio based on their professionalism, creativity, and excellent reputation.
“I looked for makeup artists who could enhance my look in a natural way. I wanted hairstylists who were creative but also open to ideas and suggestions. My event planner referred me to Femme Akoi Beauty Studio. I was very happy with their service,” Bethany gushed. “I had 11 bridesmaids, the mother of the groom, the mother of the bride, and myself all get our hair and makeup done. Even with a large number of people, they did such a great job in a timely manner. They even finished ahead of schedule.”
Despite a very memorable storm throwing a wrench in their original wedding reception plans, the celebration continued relatively unphased thanks to their skilled team of wedding professionals.
“It started pouring down rain during our cocktail hour, and we had to pivot some of the evening events. All of the vendors did a great job, and the party never stopped,” the bride reminisced.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Isle of Palms is a fun beach town right outside of Charleston. It was a great bachelorette choice because we could enjoy the beach and also make the quick drive to Charleston for restaurants and bars in the city.
What did you look for in a wedding hair and makeup artist?
I looked for makeup artists who could enhance my look in a natural way. I wanted hairstylists who were creative but also open to ideas and suggestions.
My event planner referred me to Femme Akoi Beauty Studio. I was very happy with their service. I had 11 bridesmaids, the mother of the groom, the mother of the bride, and myself all get our hair and makeup done. Even with a large number of people, they did such a great job in a timely manner. They even finished ahead of schedule.
What was your bridesmaid dress inspiration?
I went to the Bella Bridesmaids store to find inspiration. I liked Jenny Yoo’s dresses and was focusing on dresses that had alternate styles. A bridesmaid came with me and graciously modeled multiple dress options. I picked the Jenny Yoo dress because I loved the quality of the fabric, the unique rich color, and the alternate styles. The fig color stood out as a different take on traditional pink. It was a nice timeless color for a spring wedding.
The Proposal:
Brian and I went for a golf car ride around Davis Islands. I thought nothing of it and was dressed very casually with wet hair. We drove around the neighborhoods, then he pulled over near the water and popped the question. I was very surprised and relieved there was no hidden photographer.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Lanai and Maui, Hawaii. Neither of us had been before, and we wanted an exotic beach location. Wedding planning can be stressful so it was nice to have a relaxing honeymoon.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Classic and romantic. I wanted a simple and elegant theme, and I chose to add metallic accents for a more modern touch.
What were your colors?
Mauve, white, blush, greenery with pops of plum, gold, and other mixed metals. We chose those colors because they are romantic and perfect for a springtime wedding.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding?
Our place settings made our wedding unique. The extra rentals we secured made a huge difference in the overall look of each place setting. Between the goblets and our silverware, it elevated the vibe in the room!
We rented the linens, glassware, silverware, chargers, tables, and chairs from Kate Ryan Event Rentals. They have a varied selection of items so that you can pick and choose exactly how you want the table settings to look.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
My planner exceeded my expectations. They had to assist in planning a wedding in the most unprecedented of times due to COVID-19. We had to reschedule our wedding, and they were so gracious and understanding throughout the stressful process. They put in double the effort to make our day perfect and worth the wait.
How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding?
You can see Brian’s personality on display in the groom’s cake. It was a helmet. One side featuring Ithaca College, where he played college football. The other side depicted the Philadelphia Eagles, which is Brian’s favorite hometown team. The cake had a strawberry flavor as an homage to his late grandfather.
We included signature drinks, the Basic Bee for the bride, and Philly Special for the groom. Everyone who knows us has seen us drinking these signature drinks, a vodka soda with a splash of cranberry and an old-fashioned respectively.
We had chocolate-covered bacon as a party favor. Both of my sisters had this treat at their wedding so it is turning into a Wagner family tradition and is quite the crowd pleaser.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The wedding weekend flies by so live in the moment! Remember to not sweat the small stuff.
Ceremony Venue: Christ the King Catholic Church
Reception Venue & Caterer: Tampa Yacht and Country Club
Photographer: Justin DeMutiis Photography
Videographer: Lucky Lemon Films
Planner: Confetti Events Tampa
Florist: Florist Fire Design House
Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals*Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Elise’s Pieces
Band: Cashmere Band
Officiant: Monsignor Thomas Flanigan
Invitations: Occasions
Transportation: Clearwater Jolley Trolley
Dress Shop and Designer: LaRaines Bridal | Paloma Blanca
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Bella Bridesmaids *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro | Jenny Yoo
Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rehearsal Dinner: Hyde House *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue Rehearsal Dinner Caterer: Saltblock Catering
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.
