Marissa and Trey's Ybor City wedding featured a soft palette of white and sage green with accents of gold and romantic flora. The couple exchanged vows during a traditional cathedral ceremony before enjoying regional cuisine and dancing at a historic venue in the heart of Tampa's ‘Cigar City.'
“We wanted our wedding to be fun, classic, and to have a touch of Tampa flare! It was important to us for our guests to enjoy themselves and feel welcome and also for our wedding photos to be timeless yet unique. We wanted our roots here in Tampa to also have a presence at our wedding,” the bride shared. “Our colors were white and sage green with hints of gold/champagne. I always envisioned white flowers for my wedding, and we liked how the sage complemented the white so well. Also, sage looked beautiful on all of my bridesmaids!”
The local Tampa couple wanted to pay homage to their city by reflecting the culture and history throughout their celebration. Hotel Haya was a perfect choice to host their nuptials, given the venue's historical roots and special sentiment to the bride and groom's families.
“We wanted somewhere that was at least close to hotels for out-of-town guests, to be unique and fun, have a good space for dancing, and have lots of areas for pictures! We loved the vibe/atmosphere/décor of Hotel Haya,” Marissa beamed. “We also loved that the hotel pays homage to the Cuban heritage of Tampa, as Trey is half Cuban. For me, it was a nod to my family’s Tampa lineage as my great-grandmother worked down the street from Hotel Haya in the '50s/'60s at one of the cigar factories, and my grandmother even remembers eating at the old restaurant where the hotel currently stands. Hotel Haya’s service was great! Everyone we worked with was very accommodating, and the reception went without a hitch!”
The pair embraced the local culture of the surrounding area by offering guests a menu inspired by Latin-influenced flavors. The result was a unique and memorable reception experience that their 130 guests still rave about.
“One of the biggest compliments about our wedding was the food. Our menu was comprised of traditional Cuban and Spanish foods with modern twists. Some of the unique offerings were smoked salmon arepas, pineapple guacamole, and brisket ropa vieja. We also had empanadas for a late-night snack,” Marissa detailed.
The bride turned to Tampa wedding florist Monarch Events And Design to transform the ballroom space through the use of abundant greenery and candlelight. The design team's attention to detail and creative eye resulted in a final result that was even better than Marissa dreamed.
“We were looking for a florist that was flexible, talented, understanding of budget, and who wanted to bring my vision to life. Jean King, owner, and florist at Monarch Events And Design was amazing!” the bride gushed. “She is so kind and understanding and does beautiful work! From start to finish, she was so easy to work with, and I felt so comfortable/confident knowing she was going to take care of everything. Our florals were exactly as I envisioned and more!”
The entire day was filled with special memories, from emotional firsts to the joyous energy of being surrounded by friends and family. DJ Adam from Grant Hemond & Associates kept the dance floor packed and the party going all night long, even inspiring some surprise dance moves.
“Our most memorable moments were when we first saw each other as I walked down the aisle, walking back up the aisle together after getting married, our first dance, getting a kissing photo in the middle of 7th Ave in Ybor, and dancing with all of our friends and family,” the bride reminisced. “Also, my six-year-old nephew really wowed the crowd with his dancing; we didn’t know he had those moves in him!”
The Proposal:
Trey told me we were going to Pané Rustica with his sister and brother-in-law for dinner one Friday night. He wanted to leave a little early to stop on Bayshore to fly his drone. Flying drones is a hobby of his, so I didn’t think anything of it.
Once we were on Bayshore, he gave me the drone controller and had the drone hovering right next to us. He bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him, and we got it all on tape on the drone. The passersby congratulated us, and there were lots of honks! We had a little engagement party at his parent’s house right after.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted somewhere that was at least close to hotels for out-of-town guests, to be unique and fun, have a good space for dancing, and have lots of areas for pictures! We loved the vibe/atmosphere/décor of Hotel Haya.
We also loved that the hotel pays homage to the Cuban heritage of Tampa, as Trey is half Cuban. For me, it was a nod to my family’s Tampa lineage as my great-grandmother worked down the street from Hotel Haya in the '50s/'60s at one of the cigar factories, and my grandmother even remembers eating at the old restaurant where the hotel currently stands.
Hotel Haya’s service was great! Everyone we worked with was very accommodating, and the reception went without a hitch! One of the biggest compliments about our wedding was the food. Our menu was comprised of traditional Cuban and Spanish foods with modern twists. Some of the unique offerings were smoked salmon arepas, pineapple guacamole, and brisket ropa vieja. We also had empanadas for a late-night snack.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went up to Savannah, GA for a mini-honeymoon right after the wedding. We chose it because neither of us had been, it was close, required minimal planning, and we heard from many people that it was a beautiful city with lots of charm! We are about to start planning a bigger honeymoon to Europe for next spring.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
I decided to forego a bachelorette party due to time constraints with other obligations before the wedding. Though, I did have a lovely bridesmaid brunch at Olivia and a beautiful bridal shower at Oxford Exchange.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted our wedding to be fun, classic, and to have a touch of Tampa flare! It was important to us for our guests to enjoy themselves and feel welcome and also for our wedding photos to be timeless yet unique. We wanted our roots here in Tampa to also have a presence at our wedding.
What were your colors?
Our colors were white and sage green with hints of gold/champagne. I always envisioned white flowers for my wedding, and we liked how the sage complemented the white so well. Also, sage looked beautiful on all of my bridesmaids!
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
We were looking for a florist that was flexible, talented, understanding of budget, and who wanted to bring my vision to life.
Jean King, owner, and florist at Monarch Events And Design was amazing! She is so kind and understanding and does beautiful work! From start to finish, she was so easy to work with, and I felt so comfortable/confident knowing she was going to take care of everything. Our florals were exactly as I envisioned and more!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a DJ who would be able to get everyone on the dance floor and play the music that we liked/was relevant to our guests.
Our wedding planner recommended Grant Hemond and Associates, and our DJ was Adam Hensleigh. He was awesome! He played every song we wanted and was able to read the room/transition to songs that our guests would like, he was great at transitions and bridal party intros, and he kept the party alive all night! My six-year-old nephew really wowed the crowd with his dancing; we didn’t know he had those moves in him! Multiple friends told us that our wedding was the most fun wedding they had ever been to, and they raved about how good the DJ was!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
They all did! Our photographers/videographers do outstanding work! Our photos and videos are absolutely stunning, and I have spent an egregious amount of time admiring them. Our hair and makeup team was also fabulous! She started our day off on the best foot, and she made me feel like the most beautiful version of myself!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Have fun with wedding planning! It’s easier said than done, but try not to get overwhelmed. Make lists, set goals for planning, and delegate. I’d highly recommend either a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator. Prioritize what’s most important to you. Enjoy the big day, and don’t sweat over the little things that go wrong.
