Wedding

Romantic Greenery-Inspired South Tampa Wedding | Tampa Garden Club

 

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Jennifer and Rocky's romantic South Tampa garden wedding featured a lush outdoor ceremony and color palette of ivory, deep burgundy, dusty rose, and natural greenery.

“The themes I wanted to strive for were: romantic, modern, vintage, and fresh. I chose these themes because I felt they corresponded to who I was as a person,” the bride shared.

MORE: GARDEN WEDDING INSPIRATION

While searching for a Tampa wedding venue to accommodate their 100 guests, the bride wanted a location that offered both indoor and outdoor spaces in case of inclement weather and also wanted a space that would showcase the couple's home city.

“I wanted the venue to represent the themes I had chosen. We had a lot of guests arriving from out of state and felt that the Tampa Garden Club really captured Tampa Bay in all of its glory,” Jennifer raved. “It was a venue with an incredible view.”

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The couple considered the guest experience and wanted to ensure that they enjoyed the day from start to finish.

“We had an area that focused on providing outdoor games as a source of entertainment during cocktail hour,” the bride shared.

Jennifer and Rocky joked that their dog, Kyanu, is their “firstborn,” so they were certain to include him in their big day and also knew he would be a great source of entertainment for the children attending. After perusing Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration and local resources, the couple found FairyTail Pet Care.

“We wanted Kyanu to be a part of our special day however we struggled to find an agency who specialized in pet care for special occasions such as weddings. We found FairyTail through the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and were absolutely thrilled. Initially, our venue was hesitant about excepting pets on their premises however when we put them in contact with FairyTail, they were put to ease by their professionalism and experience in this area.”

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Jennifer sought vendors who would truly understand her wedding vision, and after meeting with Monarch Events and Designs she knew she had selected the perfect wedding florist.

“After I had my official first meeting with Jean, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this person is asking me so many questions about what I want and is truly listening to me so intently in such a nonjudgmental manner.' I felt really heard,” Jennifer beamed. “Jean and her team far exceeded our expectations and created for us an unforgettable experience.”

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Although their wedding day was nearly thwarted by a thunderstorm, in true Florida fashion, the brief rain was replaced with beautiful sunshine just in time for Jennifer and Rocky's outdoor ceremony.

“We were so nervous because it was raining on and off. We weren't sure if we would have to move the ceremony indoors, however just in the nick of time it cleared up and stopped raining and the ceremony was able to be conducted as planned in the outdoor garden area of our venue,” the bride reminisced.

Modern Tampa Wedding Invitation Stationery Set with Blush Pink Calligraphy

Off The Shoulder Lace Applique Sweetheart Ballgown Wedding Dress

The Tampa Garden Club Tampa Wedding Venue | Garden Wedding Ceremony with Draped Arbor and Greenery

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The themes I wanted to strive for were: romantic, modern, vintage, and fresh. I chose these themes because I felt they corresponded to who I was as a person.

What were your colors?
Ivory, emerald, burgundy, dusty rose, and white. I chose these colors because I felt they fit beautifully with the themes I had selected.

The Tampa Garden Club Tampa Wedding Venue | Garden Wedding Ceremony with Draped Arbor and Greenery Backdrop and White Garden Chairs

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I wanted the venue to represent the themes I had chosen. I also was preferring a venue with both an indoor and outdoor option just in case of any undesirable weather forecasts.

The Tampa Garden Club is a venue with an incredible view. We had a lot of guests arriving from out of state and felt that our venue really captured Tampa Bay in all of its glory.

Garden Wedding Ceremony with Draped Arbor and Greenery Backdrop and Gold Lanterns

Bride Walking Down The Aisle In Garden Wedding Ceremony | Off The Shoulder Lace Applique Sweetheart Ballgown Wedding Dress | White Blush Pink and Maroon Red Roses Bridal Bouquet

Bride and Groom Exchanging Vows during Garden Wedding Ceremony with Draped Arbor and Greenery Backdrop

The Proposal:
Rocky proposed in front of the Ferris wheel at ICON Park in Orlando around sunset. I was under the impression that we would be having dinner with his sister who was visiting from out-of-state. Right before he got down on one knee, Rocky gave his phone to some random guy and quietly told him to record what was about to happen. He then got down on one knee and popped the question. Later on, when we reviewed the video, we noticed that another random guy had stopped right in front of the phone camera, oblivious of what was going on and talking on his phone, while my husband was proposing. Thankfully, we were able to capture some of our special moment. My husband, later on, made a funny video highlighting the random awkward moment and now we laugh about it often.

Tampa Garden Club Tampa Wedding Venue | Bride and Groom First Kiss during Garden Wedding Ceremony with Draped Arbor and Greenery Backdrop

Bride and Groom Walking Down the Aisle | Outdoor Garden Wedding Ceremony | Groom in a Classic Black Suit Tux

Bride and Groom Wedding Portraits | Tampa Garden Club Tampa Wedding Venue | Groom in Classic Black Suit Tux | Off The Shoulder Lace Applique Sweetheart Ballgown Wedding Dress

Bride and Groom Veil Shot Portrait with Sunburst

Bride and Groom Portrait with Pet Dog of Honor | Groom in Classic Black Suit Tux | Off The Shoulder Lace Applique Sweetheart Ballgown Wedding Dress | Ivory Blush Pink and Maroon Red Roses Bridal Bouquet | FairyTail Pet Care

Why did you choose to incorporate your pet into your wedding day?
My husband and I jokingly call Kyanu our firstborn. We are dog lovers at our cores and really wanted Kyanu to share in our special day. We also planned to have several kids attend the wedding and figured that Kyanu would be a good source of entertainment for them as he is great around children. He loves receiving pets from others and licking them.

We wanted Kyanu to be a part of our special day however we struggled to find an agency who specialized in pet care for special occasions such as weddings. We found FairyTail Pet Care through the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and were absolutely thrilled. Initially, our venue was hesitant about excepting pets on their premises however when we put them in contact with FairyTail, they were put to ease by their professionalism and experience in this area.

Wedding Reception Table with White Linen Tablecloth and Clear Glass Charger Plates with Gold Rim and Gold Rimmed Glasses and Gold Chiavari Chairs | White Blush Pink and Maroon Red Roses Centerpiece with Eucalyptus Greenery

Wedding Reception with Overhead Edison String Lights Canopy | White Blush Pink and Maroon Red Roses Centerpiece with Eucalyptus Greenery and Gold Mercury Glass Votive Candles

What did you look for in a wedding florist?
Someone who was a great listener and able to help make our vision a reality. In addition, someone who focused on getting to know us at a deep level to truly understand the desired atmosphere of our special day.

I initially chose Monarch Events and Designs because the website looked very well put together and the look of the decor on her website aligned well with the themes I was trying to go for. After I had my official first meeting with Jean, I thought to myself, “Wow, this person is asking me so many questions about what I want and is truly listening to me so intently in such a nonjudgmental manner.” I felt really heard and as a result, this solidified our decision to have Jean be a part of our big day. Jean and her team far exceeded our expectations and created for us an unforgettable experience.

Wedding Reception Feasting Table with White Linen Tablecloth and Clear Glass Charger Plates with Gold Rim and Gold Rimmed Glasses | White Blush Pink and Maroon Red Roses Centerpiece Runner with Eucalyptus Greenery

Wedding Reception Table Place Setting with Clear Glass Charger Plates with Gold Rim and Gold Flatware Silverware | Classic Traditional Menu Card on Champagne Gold Satin Napkin

Four Tier Wedding Cake with Ribbed Textured Buttercream Icing and Fresh Flowers Accents of Roses and Greenery with Gold Die Cut Names Cake Topper | Wedding Cake Table with White Round Pedestal Cake Stand and Taper Candles

Wedding Sweetheart Head Table with Die Cut Bride and Groom Chair Signs | And They Lived Happily Ever After | Wedding Reception with Overhead Edison String Lights Canopy

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Stay as organized as possible. There are so many elements to your big day, and the more organized you are the less stress you will likely encounter. In addition, create a budget and stick with it to avoid excessive expenditures.

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Tampa Garden Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Emmanuel Luciano Photography
Planner: Nancy Spooner Weddings
Pet Planner: FairyTail Pet Care *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Florist: Monarch Events and Designs *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Caterer: 3 C's Catering and Spunky Spirits
Cake: Miriam's Cakes
DJ: Delite Entertainment
Rentals, Lighting, Draping: On the Move Productions
Linen Rentals: Over the Top Rental Linens *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Officiant: Sam's Notary
Invitations: Elli.com
Dress Shop and Designer: The Fancy Frock Bridal & Formal Wear Boutique
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: David's Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Salon Halo
Guitarist for Ceremony: John Demas Wedding Music




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.