When it comes to stunning wedding venues, there is nothing more breathtaking than driving over the bridge to St. Pete Beach and seeing the iconic Don CeSar, which is commonly referred to as “The Pink Palace” by locals as for its bright color and historic architecture.
As part of their relaunch, wedding planner Elegant Affairs by Design created a luxurious wedding inspiration styled shoot that centered around an iconic Florida resort.
“We are in the process of re-branding our logo and website. Light tones of pinks, off white, and gold accents give our brand an elevated sophistication, and weddings dressed up in blush and gold take that romance up a notch to sweet feminine style,” Riley Gersch, owner of Elegant Affairs by Design, beamed. “I’ve always been a lover of blush, so The Don CeSar was an easy venue choice.”
With a courtyard ceremony on the steps of the historic wedding venue followed by a light and airy ballroom reception, the planner created an elevated and timeless look.
“The theme of this shoot was classic romance. With the Pink Palace as our backdrop, we couldn’t resist the unbeatable color palette pairing of blush and gold,” the planner raved. “The Don CeSar is the iconic jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast.”
To flawlessly style the real-life couple and models, Truly Forever Bridal chose a fitted mermaid style wedding dress with long lace sleeves that was paired with pearl earrings and delicate lace high heels.
“Karly and Jonathan have been married for four years. The chemistry between them is unparalleled. Their wedding was absolutely stunning, but it was not their ‘dream’ wedding. We are so happy that we could help them re-create their wedding day and help them make new memories at the venue of their dreams,” Riley gushed. “Lela with Truly Forever Bridal is as sweet as cake and an absolute pleasure to work with. She ensured Jonathan looked great as well in his Michael Kors tux.”
While the wedding ceremony beautifully highlighted the natural serenity of The Don CeSar, the reception left no detail untouched. Kate Ryan Event Rentals created an idyllic tablescape that incorporated opulent Camilla Gold Rim China and Capri Brushed Gold flatware. The romantic ambiance was enhanced with blush pink Lamour napkins and intimate candlelight.
The sweetest part of any reception is the dessert, and Tampa Bay Cake Company created a statement cake that tied in the sophisticated surroundings.
“I was inspired by the iconic pink color of the hotel. The pink marbling and sugar flowers were used to give it a more luxurious feel over a normal wedding cake,” Emily Lopez, owner of Tampa Bay Cake Company, shared. “We placed the sugar flowers in a way that gave the arrangement some movement and interest. Sugar flowers are 100% food safe and will add an artistic element to any cake.”
“Emily with Tampa Bay Cake Company always creates beautiful cakes. The marbled textured cake with handcrafted sugar flowers exceeded our expectations,” the wedding planner added.
As with any event, it’s the team of wedding professionals that brings the entire day together, and this vendor team did not disappoint.
“The entire wedding creative team took our vision of classic southern aesthetic and made it come to life,” Riley raved.
How would you describe the theme?
Classic and romance. The Don CeSar is the iconic jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast. With the Pink Palace as our backdrop, we couldn’t resist the unbeatable color pallet paring, blush, and gold.
What was your inspiration for this shoot?
The inspiration behind this shoot is the rebrand and relaunch of Elegant Affairs by Design. We are in the process of re-branding our logo and website. I’ve always been a lover of blush, so The Don CeSar was an easy venue choice. Light tones of pinks, off white, and gold accents give our brand an elevated sophistication and weddings dressed up in blush and gold take that romance up a notch to sweet feminine style.
Estimated cost for up to 150 people:
Venue: Around $20,000 | Photography: $3,250 (8 hours of coverage, wedding album, wedding day digital files, slideshow, engagement session) | Planner: $1,500-$5,000 | Rentals: $2,000-$3,500 | Lounge Furniture: $1,000 | Flowers: $2,000-$3,500 | Invitations: $500 | Bride’s Attire: $2,500-$3,500 | Groom’s Attire: $300 | Hair and Makeup: $150-$200 | Jewelry: Around $7,000 | Cake: $700-$1,000 | Shoes: $350 | Favors: $200
Venue: The Don CeSar *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Planning & Design: Elegant Affairs by Design *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Photo: Amanda Zabrocki Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Save the Date Florida *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Tampa Bay Cake Company *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Attire: Truly Forever Bridal *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Hair and Makeup: Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Jewelry: Arnold Jewelers
Table Design and Rentals: Kate Ryan Event Rentals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Lounge Furniture: Southern Chairs
Invitations: Christina Tiffany Design Co
Favors & Sweets: My Favorite Sweets Favors
Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Models: Karly and Jonathan Thompson