Kelsey and Steve
The Don CeSar
“Our wedding design was inspired by the soft, romantic colors of the sky and sea at St. Pete Beach. We chose a palette of light blue (one of our mutual favorite colors), blush pink, and ivory to create an airy, elegant feel that complemented the beautiful backdrop of the Don CeSar. The goal was to bring out the venue’s timeless charm while keeping everything light, romantic, and welcoming.”
—The Bride
FEATURING
Kelsey and Steve’s timeless St. Pete Beach wedding was a romantic affair, filled with flora in soft shades of blush pink and dusty blue, befitting the cotton-candy hues of a Florida summer sunset. The Wesley Chapel bride and groom exchanged vows against the backdrop of the historic ‘Pink Palace’ before hosting their 107 guests in an elegant ballroom reception.
“Our most memorable moments include getting ready with our wedding party, the anticipation of the big day, and all the excitement shared with the people who mean the most to us. Our first look was incredibly special and intimate, and we’re so glad we chose to do it. Walking down the aisle and experiencing the ceremony felt surreal—something we’d seen in movies and at other weddings, but living that moment ourselves was exhilarating and unforgettable,” the bride reminisced. “We treasure the photos and sweet moments we shared with our girl, Sammi, which made the day even more meaningful. To top it all off, our last song, Take Me Home, Country Roads, with our friends and family singing along, was the perfect ending to a truly unforgettable day and night.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“For my bachelorette party, we went to Rosemary Beach, Florida. I wanted something relaxing, charming, and fun, and since Christmas is my favorite holiday, we decided to celebrate in December. We enjoyed holiday markets, shopping, bonfires on the beach, and delicious meals, all while staying in a beautiful and cozy Airbnb with my closest girlfriends, my mom, aunts, and in-laws. It was such a perfect and memorable weekend that I’ll never forget.
We began our honeymoon in London for a few nights before setting off on a two-week cruise through Norway and Iceland. As Florida residents, we wanted to skip the cliché of a tropical getaway and instead experience something completely different; something relaxing but also full of adventure! We had the most amazing time exploring breathtaking scenery, enjoying perfect weather, and creating unforgettable memories together. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision.”
The Proposal
“Our engagement took place on Valentine’s Day. Steve took me out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and I had a sneaking suspicion he might propose during dinner, but that wasn’t the case! When we arrived home, we were greeted by a very excited Sammi. As I turned around, Steve was down on one knee and popped the question. He wanted Sammi to be part of the proposal, which made the moment even more special and personal to us.”
The Pet
FairyTail Pet Care
“Incorporating our sweet Sammi girl into our wedding was a must—it was actually the first thing on our list when we started planning.
I’ve always been a big fan of FairyTail Pet Care, from seeing them on Shark Tank to working with them on a wedding marketing segment at a previous job. We couldn’t wait to hire them, and they truly exceeded every expectation. They are wonderful people and absolute pros at what they do. They were so organized, covered every detail well in advance, and even arranged a meet-and-greet to ensure Sammi’s day went smoothly. They took care of our girl as if she were their own, and as overprotective dog parents, we completely trusted them. Sammi held such a special place on our big day, and we couldn’t have done it without FairyTail Pet Care.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“We used Marry Me Tampa Bay during our planning process, and it was extremely helpful and informative! Their vendor and venue directory made it easy for us to find trusted local professionals in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Using Marry Me Tampa Bay allowed us to narrow our options to professionals with experience in local venues and beach settings. That gave us peace of mind that our vision could be executed well.”
The Planning
Parties A’ La Carte
“We looked for a wedding planner who could understand our vision and bring it to life while keeping it as stress-free as possible. We also really needed someone who could understand us, our likes, dislikes, etc., and help narrow things down because both of us can be very indecisive at times!
Parties A’ La Carte was such an easy choice for us. From the very start and throughout the whole planning process, they were professional, organized, super detail-oriented, and so knowledgeable. They guided us through every decision and detail, which made everything so much easier and way less stressful. On our wedding day, they were amazing, everything ran perfectly, and we didn’t have to worry about anything. We were able to relax and really enjoy every single moment.”
The Inspiration
“Our wedding design was inspired by the soft, romantic colors of the sky and sea at St. Pete Beach. We chose a palette of light blue (one of our mutual favorite colors), blush pink, and ivory to create an airy, elegant feel that complemented the beautiful backdrop of the Don CeSar. The goal was to bring out the venue’s timeless charm while keeping everything light, romantic, and welcoming.
We wanted our wedding to feel personal and true to who we are; simple yet fun, and full of love. The soft colors and beach setting reflected our laid-back personalities, while all the little details, like our favorite songs and the cozy candlelight, made the day feel intimate and special. It was important to us that our guests could simply relax, enjoy themselves, and share in the joy of the celebration with us.
The whole day was such a perfect representation of what we had envisioned for our wedding; our vision was not only met but truly exceeded. It reflected us in every way: our story, our people, and everything that makes our love so special. Every detail came together so naturally, creating a day that felt authentic, meaningful, and completely ‘us’.”
From The Planner
“Kelsey and Steve’s wedding at the Don CeSar was truly enchanting! One of our favorite details was the embroidered napkins at the head table—these custom details brought wedding branding to the next level! Additionally, we loved the inclusion of the candy table. We always do our best to incorporate cohesive decor elements that maintain a sense of luxury throughout the design. The candy table was a great example that cohesion with your color palette can be executed with any design element!”
—Jessica Ralph, Parties A’ La Carte
From The Florist
“Designing for Kelsey and Steve at the iconic Don CeSar was a truly memorable experience. From our first conversation, their vision for a lush, modern, and romantic celebration felt sincere and intentional, and it was an honor to help bring it to life. We created a soft, airy palette of ultra blush, pink, soft blue, and white blooms, including hydrangeas, roses, spray roses, fragrant garden roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, and delphinium, with natural hydrangea foliage adding depth and movement throughout the design.
Incorporating Kelsey’s love for peonies was one of my favorite parts of the process; we placed them where they would make the strongest impact, and her bouquet of full, fragrant peonies became a standout piece that felt true to her style. Seeing their floral story come together in such a timeless setting is something I will not forget. I am grateful to have been part of their wedding day, and equally grateful for the talent and dedication of my team, whose craftsmanship helped shape every detail.”
—John Elice, Bruce Wayne Florals
The Flowers
Bruce Wayne Florals
“We wanted someone who could create a timeless, romantic, and elegant look with flowers. It was important to us that they were creative, organized, and easy to work with, so everything from the bouquets to the ceremony flowers would feel natural and beautiful.
From our very first phone call with Bruce Wayne Florals, they were so friendly, organized, and really took the time to understand us and our vision. We gave them a few ‘must-have’ flowers and let them do their thing, and honestly, they blew us away. At our mock-up trial, the florals were even more beautiful than we imagined! From the bouquets to our ceremony arch, everything was perfect and fit the elegant, romantic vibe we were going for.”
The Chairs
Fiesta Solutions Event Rentals
The Photo Booth
The Gala Photobooth
“A photobooth was a must for us because we love capturing memories that we can cherish for years to come. The Gala Photobooth was exactly what we were looking for: organized, easy to work with, and so accommodating. Their service was fantastic throughout the wedding, and we got our photos back quickly afterward. It was such a fun addition, and our guests loved it!”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We can’t express enough how amazing and perfect our wedding was. It truly felt as if our vendors had known us for years because each one completely understood our vision and tailored every detail to reflect us and our personalities. It was, without a doubt, the best day of our lives, and it’s a day we’ll love to relive and cherish for the rest of our lives.
Every single vendor we chose for our wedding not only met but far exceeded our expectations. Each one went above and beyond to make our day absolutely perfect. We are truly grateful for every vendor who played such an important role in bringing our vision to life. Their talent, hard work, and dedication made our celebration unforgettable. Our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible team of professionals who helped make it all possible.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do your research and make sure your vendors truly mesh with you. Choose people who take the time to get to know you, understand your vision, and bring it to life. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want; this is your day!
If your budget allows, splurge on a great wedding planner. Having someone to handle every detail and take away the stress allows you to be fully present and soak in every moment. After months (and sometimes years) of planning, the day flies by faster than you can imagine, and the last thing you want is to spend it worrying. Enjoy every second; you’ve earned it!
