Julia and Justin's rustic meets elegance Largo wedding brought their fall vision to life with gorgeous gold details, breathtaking golf course views, and an abundance of fresh florals. Looking to keep their reception laid-back and fun, the bride and groom incorporated personalized lawn games and a mouthwatering ice cream bar for their guest list of 120.
“I was going for a rustic elegant ambiance that still gave that warm yet welcoming feel. Ideally, I wanted our wedding to be beautiful, but nothing too fancy because I still wanted it to reflect who we truly are as a couple,” the bride shared. “Throughout the planning process, I looked to Marry Me Tampa Bay for lots of advice and inspiration. I always followed along through Facebook posts and Instagram stories to get a better idea of what I envisioned for my own special day.”
MORE: RUSTIC WEDDING INSPIRATION
With the St. Pete Beach ceremony venue already selected, the couple scouted out a few locations that could potentially work for their reception, and it didn't take long for a front-runner to emerge.
“The Bayou Club had exactly what we were looking for in a reception space and were flexible in the different requests we had. The indoor reception area itself was gorgeous and really had an open, airy feel to it. There was also plenty of room for vendors and the bridal party,” Julia shared. “Throughout the planning process, their service was great, and they were easy enough to work with. When the wedding came around, everything went as perfectly as I could have ever imagined!”
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A picture is worth a thousand words, but truly finding a photographer who you connect with is worth even more. For the bride and groom, Shauna and Jordon Photography had the whole package.
“We had a consultation with Shauna and Jordon Photography and before we even pulled out of the parking lot, I was emailing them to move forward with booking,” the bride gushed. “We were all so similar in our likes and dislikes, and we all just got along so quickly. Justin felt so comfortable with Jordon, which was huge because he is not a picture guy. What really sealed the deal was when I saw how emotionally invested Shauna was in her couples. As she was talking about previous weddings, I could see how much she genuinely cared. That's when I knew we had made the right choice. And of course, the pictures turned out amazing!”
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As much as their special day was about them, Julia and Justin made sure every single one of their guests had a chance to let loose and celebrate with them.
“We are both pretty laid-back individuals. For the most part, we just love to just hang out! Looking for something that was timeless and elegant was important to us because we really didn't want anything that was too over the top,” Julia explained. “Choosing The Bayou Club really showcased our personalities because we had a great mix of indoor and outdoor space. Utilizing the gorgeous views of the golf course, we included oversized lawn games and had a custom Cornhole board made. In the end, we really tried hard to make sure that our relationship and personalities didn't get lost in the overall wedding.”
The intimate moments between the bride and groom are always so heartwarming, and for the St. Pete couple, they made spending time together before greeting guests a priority.
“After our sunset portraits, we took about fifteen minutes to stroll hand and hand for a walk together. Everyone was enjoying the reception, and we got the opportunity to share a cozy moment between just the two of us,” the bride reminisced.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We knew we wanted a photographer with a light, airy, and natural feel to their photographs. It wasn't just about the pictures, we also wanted someone we could connect with, someone who took the time to get to know us as a couple rather than just clients.
We had a consultation with Shauna and Jordon Photography and before we even pulled out of the parking lot, I was emailing them to move forward with booking. At the consultation it just made sense. We were all so similar in our likes and dislikes, and we all just got along so quickly. Justin felt so comfortable with Jordon, which was huge because he is not a picture guy. What really sealed the deal was when I saw how emotionally invested Shauna was in her couples. As she was talking about previous weddings, I could see how much she genuinely cared. That's when I knew we had made the right choice. And of course, the pictures turned out amazing!
The Proposal:
Justin knows how important family is to me and that Christmas is my favorite time of year. A lot of my family are in the military, so the only time they are able to come home is during Christmas. On Christmas Day, we were at my grandma's house with my entire family. Right before everyone was getting ready to leave for the night, Justin asked if I wanted to take a picture in front of the Christmas tree. He isn't usually the picture taking type, so I jumped on this chance! I was turned around fixing my hair and when I turned back around, he was down on one knee with a ring in his hand. It all happened so fast and I briefly remember asking him, “What are you doing? Get up!” But, it was the most perfect proposal I could have ever dreamed of because my whole entire family was able to experience it with me.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We knew our ceremony venue was going to be St. John Vianney Catholic Church, so we just needed a reception space. I went to St. John's for school, and my parents were married there, so the church holds a special place in my heart. When we were looking for a reception venue, we knew we wanted an indoor and outdoor space. We also tried to find the best bang for our buck when it came to what was included.
The Bayou Club had exactly what we were looking for in a space and were flexible in the different requests we had. The indoor reception area itself was gorgeous and really had an open, airy feel to it. There was also plenty of room for vendors and the bridal party. Throughout the planning process, their service was great and they were easy enough to work with. When the wedding came around, everything went as perfectly as I could have ever imagined! Choosing The Bayou Club really showcased our personalities because we had a great mix of indoor and outdoor space. Utilizing the gorgeous views of the golf course, we included oversized lawn games and had a custom Cornhole board made. In the end, we really tried hard to make sure that our relationship and personalities didn't get lost in the overall wedding.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I was going for a rustic elegant ambiance that still gave that warm yet welcoming feel. Ideally, I wanted our wedding to be beautiful, but nothing too fancy because I still wanted it to reflect who we truly are as a couple.
What were your colors?
Maroon with blush and gold accents. I have always loved these colors together, and they worked really well together for a fall wedding.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Remember what is really important! This day is about you and your fiancé. People will try to offer their opinions throughout the planning process, which can be helpful, but ultimately you have to do what you and your partner want.
Ceremony Venue: St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Reception Venue: The Bayou Club *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Shauna and Jordon Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Imagery Wedding Films
Planner: The Apostolic Wife
Florist: The Bride's Bouquet Palm Harbor
Cake: Publix
DJ: JR Malone
Invitations and Signage: Copper Creative
Transportation: Ambassador Limo Tampa
Dress Shop: The Dressing Room
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Lulu's
Hair & Makeup: Ashlee Ann Hair and Makeup
Ceremony Music: Sunset Strings
