Stefania and Jared’s outdoor Tampa Bay wedding embraced the natural woodland surroundings with greenery-focused florals, a neutral palette of white and green hues, and warm wood tables and chairs under an open-air sailcloth tent.

“The theme of our wedding was inspired by fairytales. We went with a very elegant theme with bright, neutral colors and even had a horse and carriage for the bridal entrance,” the groom shared. “We went with greens, browns, whites, and light pinks as we felt they best represented us as a couple.”

The Canadian couple visits Tampa annually and wanted to host their destination wedding in the Sunshine State. They were immediately taken with the atmosphere at Mill Pond Estate and knew it would be perfect for their 80-guest May soiree.

“The things that were important to us were the size of the venue, the location, the ability to include our dog, the flexibility to have our vision come to life, and, of course, cost. It was very unique for us as it was the first outdoor wedding in our family and the first wedding outside of Canada. I would recommend Mill Pond Estate, 10/10!” Jared raved. “We found Mill Pond Estate on Marry Me Tampa Bay! It was beautiful in pictures, and then when we met the owner, Toni Miller, in person and saw the place for ourselves, we instantly fell in love.”

“Stefania and Jared wanted to complement the natural beauty of the Estate, so we went with a very naturalistic garden style for their florals,” Toni Miller, owner and floral designer of Mill Pond Estate, added. “We used a ton of greenery with small pops of peaches and blushes for some added color. The addition of the horse-drawn carriage added a touch of whimsy and fairytale.”

The bride and groom focused their attention on the overall guest experience, carefully selecting the setting and offerings that all would enjoy. They also included their dog in the festivities, as she has a fan club all her own!

“The most important elements were definitely the food, alcohol selection, location/vibes of our venue and even the inclusion of our dog since she’s a celebrity dog,” Stefania detailed.

The expert culinary team at Elite Events Catering created a delectable menu for the evening, offering a variety of global-inspired items from Italian pasta to Asian and Jamaican hors d’eouvres to a Moroccan-style vegetarian entree. Crowd favorites such as filet mignon and mini donuts rounded out the evening’s selections.

“We looked for a caterer that had a variety of foods we wanted to have at our wedding. Elite Events Catering‘s service and food were amazing, and the pricing was great!” the groom beamed.

The special relationships during the celebration are what Stefania attributes to her favorite memories of the day, from exchanging vows with the groom to being surrounded by friends and family on the dance floor.

“The most memorable moments were our dog being our flower girl, saying “I do,” and partying with friends and family,” the bride reminisced. “It was such a memorable day!”

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I had a surprise trip to New York City with all my girls, and we had a great time. 

The Proposal:
We went on a hike up the mountain with our dog, and when we got to the top, Jared proposed.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Italy and Greece as Stef is Italian and it was nice to explore her country. Greece is a beautiful place and perfect for romance. 

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The theme of our wedding was inspired by fairytales. We went with a very elegant theme with bright, neutral colors and even had a horse and carriage for the bridal entrance.

What were your colors?
We went with greens, browns, whites, and light pinks as we felt they best represented us as a couple. 

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Go with your gut, and don’t put too much pressure on it. The day will turn out exactly how you imagine.