Wedding

Romantic Gold and Garnet St. Pete Beach Wedding | Postcard Inn

 

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Maria and Chris' quintessential Florida inspired wedding paid homage to their alma mater and the place where they first met. We're very honored to feature Maria's wedding, as she is a staple in the Tampa Bay wedding industry and works for one of our preferred wedding venues.

“Chris and I met at our alma mater, Florida State University. We are both also die-hard FSU football fans so it was important to incorporate our school’s colors of garnet and gold into our wedding day,” the bride beamed. “The bridesmaids wore burgundy dresses and had the most beautiful bouquets with burgundy accents! The groomsmen wore FSU socks, and the war chant was played, which of course was one of the highlights of the night!”

MORE: BURGUNDY INSPIRED WEDDINGS

Couples often make the mistake of not hiring a wedding videographer, which Maria almost did herself. So with a month to go, she turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay to research the best in the area.

“Originally, we were not going to hire a videographer but about a month out I was starting to regret that decision. I franticly started researching videographers in Tampa and was immediately overwhelmed with options at very different price points. What was most important to me though was finding someone who was able to capture the raw emotion of a wedding day. After researching at least a dozen videographers, I came across Bonnie Newman Creative's work on Marry Me Tampa Bay and immediately fell in love with her videos!” the bride gushed. “I told Bonnie the reason I hired her was because each of her videos had so much emotion in them and that they all made me cry! Fast forward to receiving our video and I could not be happier with our decision to hire Bonnie! She included every highlight of the day, yet we never felt like there was a video camera in our face. We are so thankful that we have this video to turn to whenever we want to relive our wedding day!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT BONNIE NEWMAN CREATIVE | EMAIL 

To keep the bride's look relaxed and classic, Maria hired Michele Renee The Studio to help her feel beautiful and comfortable on her wedding day.

“I wanted to feel like me on my wedding day and not like someone else! I chose a comfortable dress that I was able to dance in all night long, my hair was half up half down with beach waves, and I did minimal and neutral tones makeup,” Maria explained. “Working in the wedding industry, I had worked with Michele Renee The Studio before and was always impressed with their professionalism. The girls who work for Michele Renee are all very talented and truly captured the look that I was going for to a tee! I was very impressed with their service and would highly recommend them to all brides!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHELE RENEE THE STUDIO | EMAIL 

When it came time to select a wedding DJ, the bride relied on her industry experience to select one of her favorites from Tampa Bay wedding entertainment company Grant Hemond & Associates.

“Music is a huge part of Chris and I’s lives, we met at a concert in Tallahassee and a week later attended a music festival together! We love tropical house and electronic music so it was so important for us to find a DJ who knew this style of music while also keeping the energy alive throughout the night!” the bride explained. “Eric Harding with Grant Hemond is hands down one of the best DJs I have ever seen. His personal taste in music is EDM/tropical house, so he was a perfect match for what we were looking for! The day of our wedding we couldn’t believe how spot on he was with song selections. It was as if he was playing music directly off of our personal playlists. Seeing our friends and family dance all night long to our style of music was one of the many highlights of the day!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT GRANT HEMOND & ASSOCIATES | EMAIL

Looking back on their wedding day, the most important thing to the couple was that their day be filled with fun and relaxation for their guests.

“We didn’t want to feel like we were being held to a timeline so we cut out a lot of the formalities you typically see at weddings. We did a first look and were able to do most of our photos before the ceremony. Our first look actually became one of the most special memories from our wedding day. We didn’t do formal introductions and instead were casually introduced during cocktail hour so that we could mingle with our guests,” the bride reminisced.

What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
Originally, we were not going to hire a videographer but about a month out I was starting to regret that decision. I franticly starting researching videographers in Tampa and was immediately overwhelmed with options at very different price points. What was most important to me though was finding someone who was able to capture the raw emotion of a wedding day!

I Want to learn more about Videography from Bonnie Newman Creative

Book with confidence. Bonnie Newman Creative is a trusted Marry Me Tampa Bay preferred wedding pro. Powered by ConvertKit

After researching at least a dozen videographers, I came across Bonnie Newman Creative's work on Marry Me Tampa Bay and immediately fell in love with her videos! I never questioned Bonnie’s professionalism since I knew Marry Me Tampa Bay is a very reputable source for finding vendors! I told Bonnie the reason I hired her was because each of her videos had so much emotion in them and that they all made me cry! Her response was, “That’s my goal, to make strangers cry!” Fast forward to receiving our video and I could not be happier with our decision to hire Bonnie! She included every highlight of the day, yet we never felt like there was a video camera in our face. We are so thankful that we have this video to turn to whenever we want to relive our wedding day!

White and Red Beach Themed Wedding Invitation and Custom Save the Date, Wooden Frame Sunglasses

Florida State University Men's Wedding Socks

Gold Sparkle Open Toe Strappy Wedding Shoes

Chiffon and Lace High Neck Illusion Wedding Dress

Bride Hair and Makeup Getting Ready Wedding Portrait | Tampa Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

What was your wedding beauty inspiration?
Simple, classic, and laid-back! I wanted to feel like me on my wedding day and not like someone else! I chose a comfortable dress that I was able to dance in all night long, my hair was half up half down with beach waves, and I did minimal and neutral tones makeup!

I want to learn more about hair and makeup services from Michele Renee the Studio

Book with confidence. Michele Renee the Studio is a trusted Marry Me Tampa Bay preferred wedding pro. Powered by ConvertKit

Working in the wedding industry, I had worked with Michele Renee The Studio  before and was always impressed with their professionalism. The girls that work for Michele Renee are all very talented and truly captured the look that I was going for to a tee! I was very impressed with their service and would highly recommend them to all brides!

Bride Hair and Makeup Getting Ready Wedding Portrait | Tampa Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Bride and Bridesmaids Getting Ready Portrait, Bridesmaids in Blush Pink and Floral Robes | Tampa Bay Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Bride Getting Ready Portrait Putting on Garnet and Gold Florida State University Themed Garter, Gold Sparkle Peep Toe Strappy Wedding Shoes

Bride Wedding Portrait in Lace and Chiffon High Neck Illusion Wedding Dress with Veil and Mother of the Bride | Tampa Bay Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Bride Wedding Portrait in Lace and Chiffon High Neck Illusion Wedding Dress with Veil and Mother of the Bride

Creative Bride Wedding Portrait Behind Rope Curtain

Outdoor Bride and Groom First Look Wedding Portrait

The Proposal:
Part of my Christmas gift in 2015 was the sweetest letter that Chris had wrote to me. In that letter, Chris talked about our relationship, how much I meant to him, and that he was taking me on a surprise trip for New Years! “This was it,” I thought to myself, “He’s proposing!” Over the next few days, I preceded to check off all the pre-engagement boxes: nails, hair, new outfit, check! Fast forward to New Year’s Eve, and we were on our way to the secret destination. Being the planner that I am, I kept trying to guess where we were headed, but Chris took backroads the entire way so that I wouldn’t figure it out.

A few hours of driving later and we were in St. Augustine, one of our now favorite places that we hold so close to our hearts! We checked into the cutest room at the St. George Inn and walked around town to get dinner and grab a spot to bring in the New Year. I for sure thought that he was going to propose before midnight but the clock counted down, midnight hit, and nothing! I was shocked! Maybe I was wrong, maybe he wasn’t proposing. We continued to walk around downtown St. Augustine before deciding to head back to our room. Our room had this cute little balcony with a couple of rocking chairs that overlooked downtown, so we decided to hang outside and people watch for a bit. We were listening to music and talking about us and our future when Chris got up, grabbed me close to him, and reached into his pocket. I could feel his heart beating outside of his chest and before I knew what was happening he was down on one knee asking me to spend forever with him. The next three days were absolutely magical as we bonded as a newly engaged couple in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities!

Outdoor Bride and Groom First Look Wedding Portrait

Bride and Bridesmaids Wedding Portrait, Bridesmaids in Long Burgundy Mismatched Style Dresses, Bride in High Neck Illusion and Lace Wedding Dress with, Red, Blush Pink, Greenery Organic Floral Bouquets | Tampa Bay Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Bride Wedding Portrait with Wild Organic Red, Burgundy, Blush Pink and Greenery Floral Bouquet

Bride Wedding Portrait with Wild Organic Red, Burgundy, Blush Pink and Greenery Floral Bouquet

Wedding Ceremony Wooden Welcome Sign on Table with Burgundy Red Table Runner and Gold Candle Votives

Bride and Father Walking Down the Aisle at Wedding Ceremony | Tampa Bay Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Groom Reaction to Bride Walking Down the Aisle During Wedding Ceremony

Outdoor Garden Wedding Ceremony Portrait | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Bride and Groom Wedding Ceremony Portrait

Intimate Bride and Groom Wedding Ceremony Portrait

Bride Wedding Portrait with Wild Organic Red, Burgundy, Blush Pink and Greenery Floral Bouquet

Beach Waterfront Bride Wedding Portrait with Wild Organic Red, Burgundy, Blush Pink and Greenery Floral Bouquet, Bride in Chiffon and Lowback Wedding Dress | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Beach Waterfront Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait with Wild Organic Red, Burgundy, Blush Pink and Greenery Floral Bouquet, Bride in Lace and Illusion High Neck Wedding Dress | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach | Tampa Bay Hair and Makeup Artist Michele Renee the Studio

Waterfront Beach Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Waterfront Beach Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Sunset Waterfront Beach Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Bride and Groom Wedding Portrait in Library at St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

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Wedding Reception Decor, Burgundy Linen with Wood Lasercut Name Sign and Menu

Garden Wedding Reception Decor, Burgundy Linen with Wood Lasercut Name Sign and Menu

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Chris and I met at our alma mater, Florida State University. We are both also die-hard FSU football fans so it was important to incorporate our school’s colors of garnet and gold into our wedding day. The bridesmaids wore burgundy dresses and had the most beautiful bouquets with burgundy accents! The groomsmen wore FSU socks and the war chant was played, which of course was one of the highlights of the night!

Outdoor Garden Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Round and Long Feasting Tables, White Tablecloths, Burgundy Linens, Wooden Folding Chairs with White Cushions, Gold Frame Table Number and Low Ivory, Red and Greenery Floral Bouquet Centerpiece | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Garden Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Wild Organic Red/Burgundy, Blush Pink, Ivory and Greenery Low Floral Centerpiece

Outdoor Garden Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Round Table, White Tablecloths, Burgundy Linens, Wooden Folding Chairs with White Cushions, Gold Frame Table Number and Low Ivory, Red and Greenery Floral Bouquet Centerpiece | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Outdoor Garden Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Long Feasting Table, White Tablecloths, Burgundy Linens, Wooden Folding Chairs with White Cushions, Low Floral Centerpieces | St. Petersburg Wedding Venue Postcard Inn on the Beach

Outdoor Garden, Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Long Feasting Sweetheart Table, White Tablecloth, Wooden Folding Chairs with White Cushions and Custom Lasercut Chair Signs

Outdoor Garden, Lawn Wedding Reception Decor, Long Feasting Table, White Tablecloth, Gold Candlesticks, Organic Floral Centerpieces and Burgundy Linens

Two Tier Ruffle White Cake Beaded Wedding Cake with Real Flower Ivory Rose, Red and Greenery Flower, Custom Gold Lasercut Cake Topper on Gold Sparkle Table Linen

Bride and Groom First Dance Wedding Reception Portrait | Tampa Bay DJ Grant Hemond and Associates

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
I am a firm believer that a DJ can make or break your wedding! Music is also a huge part of Chris and I’s lives. We met at a concert in Tallahassee and a week later attended a music festival together! We love tropical house and electronic music so it was so important for us to find a DJ who knew this style of music while also keeping the energy alive throughout the night!

I want to learn more about DJ/Lighting services from Grant Hemond & Associates.

Book with confidence. Grant Hemond & Associates is a trusted Marry Me Tampa Bay preferred wedding pro. Powered by ConvertKit

Working in the wedding industry, I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of great (and not so great) DJs play. Eric Harding with Grant Hemond & Associates is hands down one of the best DJs I have ever seen. His personal taste in music is EDM/tropical house, so he was a perfect match for what we were looking for! The day of our wedding we couldn’t believe how spot on he was with song selections. It was as if he was playing music directly off of our personal playlists. Seeing our friends and family dance all night long to our style of music was one of the many highlights of the day!

Outdoor Garden, Lawn Wedding Reception Decor Hanging Lanterns from Trees

Bride and Groom Reception Wedding Portrait with Dog

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! I can’t tell you how many ‘wedding nightmares’ I had leading up to the big day. There were so many things that caused me stress throughout the planning process, and I wish I could go back in time to tell that girl to calm down! On your wedding day, you will be so overcome with happy emotions that the little stresses will have seemed to float away. When you face your next wedding obstacle, remind yourself of what the day is all about! I 99% of the wedding battles are not worth it, I promise!

Ceremony and Reception Venue, Caterer: Postcard Inn
Photographer: Daybreak Photography
Videographer: Bonnie Newman Creative *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Planner: Days Remembered by ND
Florist: Couture Flowers and More
Rentals: Linens by the Sea
Cake: Publix
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates – Eric *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Minted
Dress Shop: Bacio Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro

Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pros

Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.