Sana and Furqan's downtown Tampa Indian wedding was a vibrant and colorful celebration filled with personalized touches that truly reflected the bride and groom's unique styles. From the deep emerald green that inspired the entire wedding décor to the boba station and live Bollywood band, every element of the June wedding was carefully curated to create a memorable experience for all.
“The design and inspiration came from wanting to contrast the beautiful brick at our venue and chose more emerald greens with hints of pink to accent,” the bride explained. “The one color we really wanted to build the wedding decoration around was a deep emerald green. After we chose that one color, the rest of the floral pinks and gold just perfectly fit our vision.”
While planning their dream wedding, the Boston couple turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay to find the perfect wedding pros to bring their vision to life.
“We found Tas Events and Design on Marry Me Tampa Bay, and I reached out to her and loved her immediately. We had an instant bond and connection, she understood what I wanted, and she delivered that and more,” Sana shared. “We were excited to have an amazing girl gang of Tampa vendors. We loved them all; absolutely the cream of the crop and the best of the best.”
For their Sangeet and Henna party, the couple sought out a location with an inviting atmosphere that allowed their 275 guests to celebrate in style, and the Hilton Tampa Downtown proved to be the perfect choice. With outstanding customer service and an unbeatable location in close proximity to their reception venue, Melissa Gordon and her staff went above and beyond to ensure that Furqan and Sana's guests had an unforgettable experience.
“The most important thing at the wedding to us was that all our guests had a great time and felt welcome. Furqan and I both have big families, and it is not every day that we are able to all gather in one place together, so we really wanted to prioritize that the wedding was memorable and enjoyable for all our loved ones,” Sana explained. “The Hilton Tampa Downtown is where all the guests stayed, and they were wonderful. We were able to have a hospitality suite for all our friends and family to gather. We had cornhole, chinese checkers, chess, poker, Keton, and code names. It was fun for all.”
Known for their mix of candid and romantic portraits, Dewitt for Love Photography captured every moment of the wedding day, leaving the bride and groom thrilled with the final result. From their ability to create stunning images to their attention to detail and easy-to-work-with personalities, the husband and wife photography team exceeded the couple's expectations.
“We looked at the quality of photos, and if they were able to capture those special moments, and we were so blessed with Dewitt for Love, they sure delivered,” the bride beamed. “Shannon and Brandon were amazing. The excellence, professionalism, and detail were on point. Absolutely a pleasure to work with, and I could not have been happier.”
The bride envisioned a wedding videographer who would document every moment of their wedding day in a personal and caring way. Shannon Kelly Films proved to be just that and more with Shannon's warm and kind demeanor, and the couple was impressed by her attention to detail in their captivating wedding highlight trailer.
“We wanted a videographer who was personal and caring and able to help capture those special moments. Shannon was an absolute delight, very personable and kind. We fell in love with her,” Sana gushed. “She took the utmost care to make sure to capture all those special bits and moments; absolutely excellent.”
The multi-day affair featured a reception at a waterfront venue in Tampa, known for its industrial vibe, large ballroom, and oversized chandeliers. Pink florals surrounded by greenery and gold accents filled the room, creating a romantic ambiance. The emerald green chargers were a standout piece, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
“From Marry Me Tampa Bay, we were able to find A Chair Affair. They were efficient and easy to work with,” the bride shared. “We rented our chargers, tables, and furniture. Everything was beautiful. The chargers were exceptionally beautiful, and they were a deep emerald green.”
Sana and Furqan's wedding celebrations were filled with unforgettable moments from a variety of entertainment, including a surprise performance by the groom, making it a night to remember.
“We were really excited about incorporating a boba station at our wedding since that is our go-to drink of choice and to include a live band at our Henna event. Ben and his band were outstanding and went above and beyond to play all our favorite Bollywood songs,” the bride beamed. “The last song the DJ played at the wedding was our family favorite, A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay. Everyone took out their phones and turned on their flashlights while we danced, and it was such a beautiful moment to end an amazing evening. Another moment, my husband sang a beautiful song for me at the Henna party. It was a surprise and most sweet and memorable.”
What did you look for in a wedding venue for your Sangeet?
The Hilton Tampa Downtown’s customer service was amazing, and the proximity to Armature Works was a big plus. They were so helpful and accommodating. Shout out to Melissa Gordon, who helped us on so many levels, as well as all of her staff.
The most important thing at the wedding to us was that all our guests had a great time and felt welcome. Furqan and I both have big families, and it is not every day that we are able to all gather in one place together, so we really wanted to prioritize that the wedding was memorable and enjoyable for all our loved ones. The Hilton Downtown Tampa is where all the guests stayed, and they were wonderful. We were able to have a hospitality suite for all our friends and family to gather; we had cornhole, Chinese Checkers, chess, poker, Keton, and code names. It was fun for all.
The Proposal:
Furqan proposed in the beautiful meadows that surround my hometown of Gainesville, Florida. It was very memorable and beautiful.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent a lovely week in Costa Rica after our wedding. We both wanted a relaxing and tropical vacation but love a good mix of adventure and relaxation. Costa Rica was stunning with its beautiful beaches, and we were able to have a blast going white water rafting and jet-skiing.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I love nature and the outdoors, and so for my bachelorette trip, my girlfriend and I drove up to Cherokee, Tennessee, for a weekend of hiking and white water rafting. We stayed in a cozy cabin in The Great Smoky Mountains and had a great time cooking and spending time outdoors.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We looked at the quality of photos and if they were able to capture those special moments, and we were so blessed with Dewitt for Love Photography; they sure delivered.
Shannon and Brandon were amazing. The excellence, professionalism, and detail were on point. Absolutely a pleasure to work with, and I could not have been happier.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The design and inspiration came from wanting to contrast the beautiful brick at our venue and chose more emerald greens with hints of pink to accent.
What were your colors?
The one color we really wanted to build the wedding decoration around was a deep emerald green. After we chose that one color, the rest of the floral pinks and gold just perfectly fit our vision.
How did your rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
From Marry Me Tampa Bay, we were able to find A Chair Affair. They were efficient and easy to work with. We rented our chargers, tables, and furniture. Everything was beautiful. The chargers were exceptionally beautiful, and they were a deep emerald green.
What did you look for in a wedding videographer?
Someone who was personal and caring, able to help capture those special moments. Shannon Kelly Films was an absolute delight, very personable and kind.
We fell in love with Shannon. She took the utmost care to make sure to capture all those special bits and moments. Absolutely excellent.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We were blessed, amazed, and overwhelmed with joy. We truly had the best of the best. Each and every one was absolutely amazing. From our wonderful wedding planner, who was cool and calm and always thinking out of the box, Jackie Ross, Tas from Tas Events and Design for an absolutely gorgeous reception, Shannon Kelly Films, Shannon and Brandon of Dewitt For Love Photography, C Minerva Looks, Solèfarms, Amy Kealy from NF transportation and the amazing Ben Parag and his band for an exhilarating evening.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Enjoy every minute of the process, and don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed, which is hard! It’s a beautiful time in life, and it is so important to cherish it.
From a more practical standpoint, I would say to definitely find yourself a wedding planner you trust with your vision and let them help you find Tampa-based vendors for your big day. Surround yourself with good people who can help make your dreams come true.
