Marie and Rob's downtown Tampa wedding featured an elegant evening that began with a traditional Catholic ceremony followed by dinner and dancing in a candlelit hotel ballroom along the waterfront Tampa skyline.
“The main design inspiration for our wedding was to make a large ballroom feel intimate, unique, and inclusive. We chose this design because we wanted to ensure that all our guests felt that they could be engaged in the reception experience,” the bride shared. “Our colors were sage green, white, and gold. These colors were chosen because the vision I had for our wedding included natural colors with metallic accents. Also, green has always been my favorite color.”
The local Tampa couple wanted to bring the outdoors in to create an intimate feel within their expansive ballroom space. The designers at Bruce Wayne Florals created the whimsical environment through the use of cascading greenery and a plethora of candlelight.
“When looking for a wedding florist, we were looking for someone with an open mind who was willing to listen to our vision and help bring it to life. We chose Bruce Wayne Florals because John met all of our ideas with excitement and creativity. John’s personality, flexibility, and insight helped to make our vision a reality, and it was perfect!” Marie raved. “The service Bruce Wayne Florals provided us with was excellent!”
The couple created a focal point dance floor space through decorative flora accented by sparkling disco balls and romantic candlelight. The resulting atmosphere made for a unique experience for their 200 guests.
“Elements that made our wedding unique included the decorated scaffolding surrounding the dance floor with hanging vines and disco balls and the candlelit ballroom,” Marie detailed. “Another unique element was having a live wedding painter to capture a special moment in our evening, which also added another element for our guests to watch and enjoy the painting come to life.”
To complement their traditional cathedral ceremony and Rob's handsome dress blues, Marie opted for a classic chignon with a few face-framing curls along with a more natural makeup palette courtesy of Femme Akoi Beauty Studio. She chose a chic v-nick sheath gown with chapel train, accented by neutral taupe cowl-neck chiffon dresses from Bella Bridesmaids for her bridal party.
Marie and Rob prioritized their guests' experience and wanted to ensure everyone enjoyed the reception. Having a fantastic DJ was paramount to that success, so they turned to the experts at Grant Hemond & Associates.
“We were looking for someone who truly cared about the experience we wanted to have on our wedding day. James took the time to ensure the music he played at our wedding was exactly what we wanted. The service provided by Grant Hemond exceeded our expectations!” the bride gushed.
Seeing their vision come to fruition, while also enjoying special moments with each other and their loved ones, created lasting memories for both Marie and Rob.
“The most memorable moments of our wedding day were seeing each other at the altar and having a moment alone at the hotel bar before joining our friends and family in the ballroom,” the bride reminisced. “Entering the ballroom for the first time and seeing the gorgeous atmosphere all of our vendors had worked to create for us, then dancing the night away with all of our loved ones was unforgettable.”
The Proposal:
We took a getaway trip to Dahlonega, GA to experience the changing leaves of autumn along the Appalachian Trail. The proposal occurred during a day hike while we enjoyed a scenic vista near the summit of Blood Mountain. The rest of the weekend, we got some rest and relaxation at a quaint B&B and enjoyed a nearby winery.
What was your wedding day beauty inspiration?
After I had completed my trial makeup and hair sessions with multiple companies, Femme Akoi Beauty Studio stood out because they took the time to listen to me regarding my ideas for hair and makeup on my wedding day and ensure it was what I wanted.
The hair and makeup services they provided for my wedding day were great!
What was your bridesmaid dress inspiration?
My bridesmaid dress inspiration was to choose a dress that was simple and elegant in order to accentuate each individual bridesmaid's natural beauty. I wanted the dresses to have a natural elegance to them in order to match the theme of the décor and to complement my wedding dress.
I chose to shop at Bella Bridesmaids because it was close to my home, and the variety of dresses and designers on their website was appealing.
Once we ordered the dresses, the staff at Bella Bridesmaids did a good job of communicating the ordering process and ensuring our order was accurate and timely.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Austin, Texas. I chose Austin because it provided the perfect mix of relaxation and celebration. We rented a beautiful Airbnb where we could relax by the pool, and it was in close proximity to amazing restaurants and nightlife!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon in Italy, traveling to Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Venice, and Positano. We chose Italy because it is somewhere we had both always wanted to visit, and the trip provided us with a great mix of food, art, culture, and romance.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The main design inspiration for our wedding was to make a large ballroom feel intimate, unique, and inclusive. We chose this design because we wanted to ensure that all our guests felt that they could be engaged in the reception experience.
What were your colors?
Sage green, white, and gold. These colors were chosen because the vision I had for our wedding included natural colors with metallic accents. Also, green has always been my favorite color.
What did you look for in a wedding rental company?
When choosing a wedding rental company, we wanted to ensure that the design elements we desired were fulfilled. Gabro Event Services and A Chair Affair were both recommended to us by our wedding planner, and we had a great experience as their services were wonderful. They helped us to create the atmosphere we were looking for within the ballroom, and it was perfect!
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
We were looking for someone with an open mind who was willing to listen to our vision and help bring it to life.
We chose Bruce Wayne Florals because John met all of our ideas with excitement and creativity. John’s personality, flexibility, and insight helped to make our vision a reality, and it was perfect! The service Bruce Wayne Florals provided us with was excellent!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We were looking for someone who truly cared about the experience we wanted to have on our wedding day.
We chose Grant Hemond & Associates based on a recommendation and had a fantastic experience working with them. James took the time to ensure the music he played at our wedding was exactly what we wanted. The service provided by Grant Hemond exceeded our expectations!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our planner was exceptional! Throughout the planning experience and on our wedding day, she provided us with advice, recommendations, insight, and direction.
Bruce Wayne Florals exceeded expectations by providing the perfect setting for us and our guests to enjoy themselves.
Grant Hemond & Associates provided the perfect soundscapes to keep the party going.
Our live painter was an exceptional addition to our wedding that captured the essence of our wedding in a stunning portrait.
Our cake designer worked to ensure our wedding cakes and favors were both delicious and reflective of the fun design elements we had chosen.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Find a wedding planner who will help create the day you want by assisting in locating vendors to best fit your budget and style.
