Katie and Shane’s rustic Tampa Bay wedding featured an elegant evening on a private Thonotosassa estate. Whimsical and romantic details created the ideal aesthetic to set the tone for romance while a champagne wall greeted guests before they were seated for the outdoor ceremony.
“Our theme was a rustic romance with a splash of the party. We chose this theme because it represents everything we envisioned for our big day and encapsulates who we are as a couple,” the bride beamed. “Our wedding colors were navy blue, peach, rose gold, and maroon. They brought our rustic and romantic vibe to life, and they looked beautiful with the other colors at the venue. There were lots of brown woods and green trees on the property.”
The couple planned for a 150-guest Tampa Bay destination wedding and fell in love with the spaciousness of the Mision Lago Estate, which provided room for both wedding parties to prepare, as well as relax for the big day.
“We looked for a space that was already fabulous that we could personalize and make our own. When the large wooden gates opened, and we could see the vineyard and multiple event spaces, we immediately knew we wanted to get married there,” the bride gushed. “We also loved that the venue had Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani! From the time we arrived to the time we left, Karin, the Director of Sales and Events, provided us with an exceptional experience. She was flexible and worked with us to customize our special day. We worked with Massimo, the Executive Chef, and he was so great. He made our tasting fun and worked with us to create the perfect menu. Getting married on a private estate that we could customize and make our own was wonderfully unique. Also having a celebrity chef added to the uniqueness of our experience. The entire staff at the venue worked as a team to ensure we had a first-class experience.”
Since the South Florida bride envisioned bold bridesmaid dresses, she selected Bella Bridesmaids for their ability to assist her entire bridal party at convenient locations. Katie’s long blond hair flowed down her deep v-neck wedding gown, which featured long illusion lace sleeves and a flattering a-line tulle skirt.
“I have to shout out Bella Bridesmaids’ West Palm Beach staff for the bridesmaid’s dress inspo! Ten minutes after I met the manager of that store, she basically called out that I had a bold, edgy personality and that we should go bold and mix it up. Of course, I was immediately all in, and we worked together to create the dress palette. Another plus was letting the girls pick their dress style so they could add some of their own personality to it and feel super comfortable on the day of my wedding,” Katie raved. “My wedding planner referred us to Bella Bridesmaids because of the array of options and the fact that they had stores in all the different locations my girls were located in. I had a great experience from the get-go. The staff at Bella Bridesmaids stayed on top of everything throughout the whole process.”
As Katie looked back on all of the magical moments, it was her first dance in the rustic ballroom that brought the sweetest smiles.
“Shane says watching me walk down the aisle is a memory he will never forget, and I say our first dance will stick with me always,” the bride reminisced. “We were thrilled that our dream of enjoying our experience came true; getting ready, walking down the aisle, dancing, and celebrating with our families and friends was our number one memory.”
What was your bridesmaids’ dress inspiration?
I have to shout out Bella Bridesmaids’ West Palm Beach staff for the bridesmaid’s dress inspo! Ten minutes after I met the manager of that store, she basically called out that I had a bold, edgy personality and that we should go bold and mix it up. Of course, I was immediately all in, and we worked together to create the dress palette. Another plus was letting the girls pick their dress style so they could add some of their own personality to it and feel super comfortable on the day of my wedding!
My wedding planner, Alexa, referred us to Bella Bridesmaids because of the array of options and the fact that they had stores in all the different locations my girls were located in. I had a great experience from the get-go. Being in the middle of COVID we hit a few snags as many brides did with dress delays, designers going out of business, etc. The staff at Bella Bridesmaids stayed on top of everything throughout the whole process.
The Proposal:
We love to go to the spa, so Shane thought it would be a great place to propose as I would not expect it. We were on a cruise that crossed over the New Year, and the only appointment they had was at 8:30 pm on December 31st. Of course, that disrupted our dinner timing and getting ready for the New Year’s Eve party. Although I was not upset, I was visibly concerned about fitting in a spa appointment. Shane persisted, and at the end, he got down on one knee and heard me say, “What are you doing? Get up!” Then it hit me, and for the first time in my entire life, I was speechless.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Unfortunately, COVID put our honeymoon to Costa Rica on pause for the time being. Instead, we took a trip to Blowing Rock, N.C., and enjoyed hiking, great food, and spending our first week together as a married couple.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme was a rustic romance with a splash of the party. We chose this theme because it represents everything we envisioned for our big day and encapsulates who we are as a couple.
What were your colors?
Navy blue, peach, rose gold, maroon. They brought our rustic and romantic vibe to life, and they looked beautiful with the other colors we knew we’d have at the venue. There were lots of brown woods and green trees on the property.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We looked for a space that was already fabulous that we could personalize and make our own. We wanted our wedding to be a time where all of the people we loved could come together and celebrate. We also wanted plenty of room for our wedding parties to arrive early and be comfortable while we got ready. The guy’s space had a pool table and bar, and the ladies had plenty of room to socialize and get glammed up.
When the large wooden gates opened and we could see the vineyard and multiple event spaces, we immediately knew we wanted to get married there. We also loved that the venue had Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani! From the time we arrived to the time we left, Karin Bearnarth, the Director of Sales and Events, provided us with an exceptional experience. She was flexible and worked with us to customize our special day. She made the process of securing a venue easy and enjoyable. We worked with Massimo, the Executive Chef, and he was so great. He made our tasting fun and worked with us to create the perfect menu. He was present during our wedding and made sure all of the guests were taken care of. Getting married on a private estate that we could customize and make our own was wonderfully unique. Also having a celebrity chef added to the uniqueness of our experience. The entire staff at the venue worked as a team to ensure we had a first-class experience.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
The single greatest piece of advice is to do what you want to do and don’t be influenced by everyone around you. Secondly and maybe just as important, get a wedding planner.
Ceremony Venue, Reception Venue, and Caterer: Mision Lago Estate *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Foto Bohemia
Videographer: The Locke Agency
Planner: Alexa Kritis Events
Florist: Golden Petal Designs
Linens: Over the Top Rental Linens *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Rentals: On The Move Productions, Traditions Rentals, Fancy That Specialty Linens, Studio Festive
Cake: Publix
DJ and Photo Booth: Meister Productions
Officiant: It’s Official
Invitations: Minted
Dress: Lovely Bride
Shoe Designer: Davids Bridal
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Bella Bridesmaids – Theia and Jenny Woo *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Hair & Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Ceremony Music: Sunset Strings
Wedding Weekend Accommodations: Sparkman House
Rehearsal Dinner, Bridal Brunch: Chef Rosana Rivera
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
