Romantic Antique Gold and Ivory Cushion Chairs, Sweetheart Table with Dusty Rose Table Linen, Red Mr and Mrs Sign, White Draping with Blush Pink Hanging Flowers | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens

Romantic Dusty Rose and Wine Downtown St. Pete Wedding | The Birchwood

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Joelle and Abram’s downtown St. Pete wedding was a swoon-worthy affair with romantic elegance in every detail.

From the dusty rose draping from Gabro Event Services and luxurious linens from Over the Top Linen Rentals, to the sweet personal touches scattered throughout the event, the bride and groom perfectly captured the ultimate vision of sophisticated charm.

“Our theme was light and romantic for our ceremony and fun and elegant for the reception,” Joelle shared. “For me, it was really about the details! They were the most important part of making our day extra special and the real piece of the puzzle to telling our love story. We made sure our personalities were very much present and included in fun ‘his and her’ drinks, trivia, and flipbooks that our guests got to take home as party favors.”

Downtown St. Pete has always held a special place in the couple’s hearts and envisioning tying the knot surrounded by 140 of their closest friends and family somewhere they truly loved made the most sense. Thanks to guidance from Marry Me Tampa Bay, the bride and groom chose The Birchwood as their reception space for its undeniable beauty and charm.

“I researched all different venues and found Marry Me Tampa Bay had a great variety of what was in the area and helped direct me to the Birchwood. Everything about The Birchwood is absolutely amazing! There we so many aspects that made it the true front-runner when it came to choosing our reception venue,” Joelle gushed. “Something that was huge for us was the location and with so many of our guests coming from out of town, we thought being able to stay on the waterfront and have all the bars and restaurants within walking distance would be an awesome time for everyone. We also really fell in love with The Birchwood’s gorgeous Grand Ballroom because it fit perfectly with our elegant theme for the reception and was quaint enough where we wouldn’t look as though we were swallowed by the room. The staff were all phenomenal and extremely accommodating. From day one, everyone was always super polite and willing to do everything in their power to accommodate us and really help us capture our wedding day vision!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIRCHWOOD | EMAIL

Finding a St. Pete wedding photographer who had a timeless yet airy style was why Joelle and Abram narrowed down their search to Lifelong Photography Studios, and they were thrilled with their decision.

“I first connected with Lifelong Photography Studios at a wedding expo at The Birchwood. After meeting numerous other photographers, I knew pretty early on Lifelong had captured my heart. Their portfolio was right in line with the theme I was going for. I wanted a modern photographer who loved to take beautiful photographs and understood how to capture all the special moments, and that is exactly what Buffy excels at,” the bride beamed. “I just knew if we chose Lifelong, we would have beautiful memories we could hang as canvases on our wall for the rest of our lives. Buffy and Lifelong are more than phenomenal! There seriously are not enough words to describe how great they were. They exceeded our expectations, and we will use Buffy and her team to photograph everything we can for the rest of our lives!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFELONG PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS | EMAIL

Choosing wedding planner Blue Skies Wedding and Events was an easy choice after the bride read glowing reviews from Marry Me Tampa Bay and received a recommendation from her photographer.

“I was referred to Blue Skies Weddings and Events through Lifelong Photography and also read amazing reviews about them on Marry Me Tampa Bay. I really wanted to make sure I had a team that complemented each other and had experience working together,” the bride shared. “Blue Skies definitely executed my reception with such precision. Someone was there by my side to help throughout the night. From holding my room keys and letting me in my room to change and freshen up, to putting a bandaid on my blister later in the evening so I didn’t have to bend down and do it myself, they did everything! At the end of the night, they set up our room beautifully and made sure all of our personal items as well as gifts and cards made it back to the room safely so we didn’t have to worry about them at all. Everything felt so taken care of that it almost felt like all we had to do was show up, dance and enjoy!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLUE SKIES WEDDING | EMAIL

With her vendor team set, the bride realized she wanted a wedding videographer to capture their big day.

“Kemari Lyn Films is so beautifully amazing and awesome to work with. She took the time to meet us before our wedding to really get to know us so she could capture the true essence of our day,” Joelle explained. “She is beyond talented and her work is whimsical and breathtaking. Her website provides so many examples of her work and really speaks for itself. As soon as we saw her work, we knew we had to choose Kemari. I can’t say enough great things about Kemari Lyn. She is really an amazing videographer.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT KEMARI LYN FILMS | EMAIL

Putting together the pieces of their special day is magical and so finally experiencing it all come together.

“Without a doubt, marrying my very best friend in the universe was the most memorable moment,” Joelle reminisced. “I’ve waited since the day I met him six years ago to finally get to the day where he was officially my husband. And when the day finally came, no words can describe how perfect it was. I am the luckiest, most blessed woman on this Earth because I finally got to marry Abram.”

What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
It’s funny because I didn’t really know what I was looking for when I started looking, I just knew we needed one. I started searching all over the internet for videographers and to see if any of their work was on their website. I also went to a few wedding expos to try and find videographers. After mulling over tons and tons of websites and videos, I realized I wanted a videographer who was similar to our photographer. Someone who loves floral, takes beautiful outdoor videos, is artistic, and has a great eye. Plus, being able to really tell our love story through all of the details was important.

Kemari Lyn Films is so beautifully amazing and awesome to work with. She took the time to meet us before our wedding to really get to know us so she could capture the true essence of our day. She is beyond talented and her work is whimsical and breathtaking. Her website provides so many examples of her work and really speaks for itself. As soon as we saw her work, we knew we had to choose Kemari. I can’t say enough great things about Kemari Lyn. She is really an amazing videographer.

Wine Red Hexagonal Velvet Ring Box with Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

White and Dusty Rose, Wine Watercolor Roses Wedding Menu | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

The Very Lace Christian Louboutin Off-White Mesh Peep Toe Red Bottom Wedding Shoes | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

Christian Louboutin Bride and Groom Red Bottom Wedding Shoes | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios

Romantic Bride in Lace Essense of Australia Wedding Dress Hotel Balcony Portrait | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios

Romantic Religious Wedding Ceremony Decor, Wooden Cross with Flower Arrangement, Wooden Welcome Sign with Red and Blush Pink Roses, Greenery Leaves Garland | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Bridgepoint Church | Dusty Rose Draping Gabro Event Services

For the ceremony, I wanted a classic, romantic, simple feel. I brought in dusty rose draping from Gabro Event Rentals to line the back of the stage and I brought in a wooden cross with flowers on it to be the main focal point.

Romantic Religious Wedding Ceremony Decor, Dusty Rose Linen Backdrop, Wooden Cross with Red and Blush Pink Roses and Greenery Floral Arrangement, Bride and Groom Exchanging Wedding Vows | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Bridgepoint Church | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | Wedding Rental Draping Gabro Event Services

Creative Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait with Veil Blowing | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Bridgepoint Church | Dusty Rose Draping Gabro Event Services

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We were looking for someone who would capture timeless, airy, magical, beautiful photographs of our day, but also had an artistic side and would be willing to take other types of Pinterest-like photos.

I first connected with Lifelong Photography Studios at a wedding expo at the Birchwood. After meeting numerous other photographers, I knew pretty early on Lifelong had captured my heart. Their portfolio was right in line with the theme I was going for. I wanted a modern photographer who loved to take beautiful photographs and understood how to capture all the special moments and that is exactly what Buffy excels at. I just knew if we chose Lifelong, we would have beautiful memories we could hang as canvases on our wall for the rest of our lives. Buffy and Lifelong are more than phenomenal! There seriously are not enough words to describe how great they were. They exceeded our expectations and we will use Buffy and her team to photograph everything we can for the rest of our lives!

Romantic Bride in Lace Essense of Australia Wedding Dress and Groom Wedding Portrait | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Bridgepoint Church

Romantic Tampa Bride in Lace Sweetheart Strapless Neckline Essense of Australia Wedding Dress Holding Wine Red and Blush Pink Roses Floral Bouquet, Groom in Gray Suit with Red Wine Tie and Rose Boutonniere | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios

The Proposal:
It was a beautiful Saturday night when we decided to head down to St. Pete for dinner. We had dinner on Beach Drive, then had ice cream, and ended the night with a magical carriage ride around North Straub Park. I knew when we got on the carriage ride that this may be the day, but I just continued to enjoy the night. After the carriage ride, we went for a walk through North Straub Park, then all of a sudden the man of my dreams, my very best friend in the whole world, got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. We immediately went to the Canopy at The Birchwood to celebrate our new engagement with a couple of drinks!

Bridesmaids in Red Wine Matching One Shoulder Dresses, Flower Girls in Dusty Rose Dresses, Fun Wedding Party Portrait | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Bridgepoint Church

Romantic Bride and Groom St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue Balcony The Birchwood | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios

Custom Wooden Wedding Signature Cocktail Menus | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

Wine Corks with Dusty Rose and Red Roses Seating Cards | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

Ballroom Romantic Wedding Reception Decor, Round Tables with Blush Pink Linens, Silver Chiavari Chairs | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Linen Rentals

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I researched all different venues and found Marry Me Tampa Bay had a great variety of what was in the area and helped direct me to the Birchwood. We wanted a venue that was elegant and sophisticated, as well as quaint. We didn’t want a room that would swallow us up as we knew our wedding would be on the smaller side. Everything about The Birchwood is absolutely amazing. There we so many aspects that made it the true frontrunner when it came to choosing our reception venue. Something that was huge for us was the location and with so many of our guests coming from out of town, we thought being able to stay on the waterfront and have all the bars and restaurants within walking distance would be an awesome time for everyone. We also really fell in love with The Birchwood’s gorgeous Grand Ballroom because it fits perfectly with our elegant theme for the reception. The staff were all phenomenal and extremely accommodating. From day one, everyone was always super polite and willing to do everything in their power to accommodate us and really help us capture our wedding day vision!

Romantic Wedding Reception Decor, Round Tables with Dusty Rose Silk Linen, Silver Chiavari Chairs, Tall Glass Vase with Blush Pink, Wine Red Roses, Eucalyptus and Greenery Floral Centerpiece | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme was light and romantic during the day for our traditional romantic ceremony and fun and elegant for the reception. We also wanted flowers everywhere. Flowers just make me happy and everyone else too!

What were your colors?
Dusty Rose and wine because they are gorgeous together, and they are my favorite. I really liked having a mix of colors rather than just one color.

I selected the Dupioni selection from Over the Top Rental Linens in colors of blush, burgundy, and bone. We did a mock setup with my florist with different linens and those went perfectly with the theme!

Romantic Wedding Reception Decor, Dusty Rose Table Linen, Personalized Wooden Laser Cut Name Place Cards | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Over the Top Rental Linens

Romantic Wedding Reception Decor, Round Tables with Dusty Rose Silk Linen, Silver Chiavari Chairs, Tall Glass Vase with Blush Pink, Wine Red Roses, Eucalyptus and Greenery Floral Centerpiece | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens

Ballroom Romantic Wedding Reception Decor, Round Tables with Blush Pink Linens, Silver Chiavari Chairs | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I wanted a wedding planner who would listen to what I want, help make sure I was hitting all my targets, and then execute my day exactly as I envisioned. I was referred to Blue Skies Weddings and Events through Lifelong Photography and also read amazing reviews about them on Marry Me Tampa Bay. I wanted to make sure I had a team that complemented each other and had experience working together. Blue Skies definitely executed my reception with such precision. Someone was there by my side to help throughout the night. From holding my room keys and letting me in my room to change and freshen up to putting a bandaid on my blister later in the evening so I didn’t have to bend down and do it myself, they did everything. At the end of the night, they set up our room beautifully and made sure all of our personal items as well as gifts and cards made it back to the room safely so we didn’t have to worry about them at all. Everything felt so taken care of that It almost felt like all we had to do was show up, dance and enjoy!

Romantic Antique Gold and Ivory Cushion Chairs, Sweetheart Table with Dusty Rose Table Linen, Red Mr and Mrs Sign, White Draping with Blush Pink Hanging Flowers | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens

Romantic Antique Gold and Ivory Cushion Chairs, Sweetheart Table with Dusty Rose Table Linen, Red Mr and Mrs Sign, White Draping with Blush Pink Hanging Flowers | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events | St. Petersburg Hotel Wedding Venue The Birchwood | Over the Top Rental Linens

Romantic Five Tier White Wedding Cake with Blush Pink, Dusty Rose and Red Roses Cascading Flowers | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios | Tampa Bay Wedding Planner Blue Skies Weddings and Events

Custom Bride, Groom and Daughter Figurine Cake Topper | Wedding Photographer Lifelong Photography Studios

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Ask your vendors who they recommend because most will have to be working directly with one another. I figured if my vendors all recommended each other, they were going to like working with each other and that would work in everyone’s favor! Don’t be afraid to communicate what you want. If you have a planner, let them know exactly what you want, and how involved you want to be. Try and have a good understanding of the day-of schedule so you can try and be as prepared as possible. Lastly, enjoy every minute because it will be an amazing day no matter what. Trust me when I say no one will know what may not have gone exactly to plan, and you will be married at the end of the day which is all that really matters!

Ceremony Venue: 737 Events at Bridgepoint Church
Reception Venue and Caterer: The Birchwood *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studios *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Kemari Lyn Films *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Planner: Blue Skies Wedding and Events *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Iza’s Flowers, Inc.
Rentals: Gabro Event Services *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Linens: Over the Top Linen Rentals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Sweet Divas
Cookies: Sweet Doctors
DJ: Celebrations 24
Officiant: Tim Whipple
Invitations: Copper Creations
Transportation: Skyline Limousine *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Dress: Essense of Australia
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Jessica Camacho
Flipbook: Flip’n Sweet




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About the Author

Anna Coats

Marry Me Tampa Bay editor Anna Coats created Marry Me Tampa Bay in 2012 to showcase the area’s best local weddings and vendors. She has been featured as a wedding expert on the national talk show Daytime, Fox13, ABC Action News, Great Day Tampa Bay, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum).

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