Michelle and Ryan’s elegant, rustic, Brooksville wedding featured an outdoor wedding ceremony adorned with a chandelier and altar dripping in rhinestones and vintage barn reception.
“My personality permeated every detail, as I love all things southern, floral, feminine, vintage and sparkly!” the bride gushed. “Our colors were matte navy, rose gold and blush pinks to complement our theme, ‘I love you to the moon and back.‘ I chose sparkly rose gold to represent the stars and the matte navy blue because it best emulated the night sky.”
Instead of a typical beach wedding ceremony, the Clearwater couple married just north of Tampa at a rustic, Brooksville wedding venue.
“Having the wedding in Brooksville meant that I could spend my last few days as a single woman on my grandma and grandpa’s property sipping sweet tea on the porch and snapping photos of my bridesmaids and I in front of my Poppy’s barn that I had spent countless hours playing in as a kid,” Michelle reminisced. “I’m a southern girl through and through, and the idea of an outdoor ceremony under a tall oak tree and a giant red barn lined with chandeliers was my dream come true!”
The bride and groom’s New Year’s Day wedding focused on family and personal touches.
“The most important elements of our wedding included our handwritten vows,” Michelle shared. “We also decided to make a PB&J sandwich – a family favorite – with Ryan’s children to symbolize the uniting of us as a family, rather than a traditional unity candle during our ceremony. My grandpa, our officiant, wrote the most beautiful blessing for the four of us and recited it during the ceremony.”
One of the bride’s most memorable moments was an unexpected wardrobe malfunction at the start of the ceremony.
“I’ll never forget walking down the aisle and my veil falling off! I hadn’t turned the corner yet, and only a few guests noticed.” Michelle revealed.
The Proposal:
Ryan took me to a local beach where we shared dinner and a long walk together three months prior for our first date. I wore cutoff shorts and his old fishing shirt. We had revisited the spot numerous times because, we frequently caught the sunset and enjoyed a bottle of wine together there so I really wasn’t very suspicious. After bawling my way through a homemade scrapbook Ryan gave me of our last few months together, he got down on one knee and gave me the ring of my dreams. We hadn’t even discussed rings, but he took it upon himself to call Pinterest and have a representative look up any pins I had posted of rings over the years. He nailed the design, cut, color, everything! The proposal was private and intimate, yet somehow he managed to videotape the entire moment on his phone, which was strategically propped up and turned on, while I was crying my way through the scrapbook he made.
How would you describe your theme?
My personality permeated every detail, as I love all things southern, floral, feminine, vintage, and sparkly! The idea behind our theme was two-fold. “I love you to the moon and back,” was a regular saying between the two of us throughout dating. When an unexpected rainfall at the end of our engagement shoot left us with the most enchanting, starstruck photo of the two of us together under the night sky, the theme was solidified.
What were your colors?
Matte navy, rose gold and blush pinks to complement our theme. I chose sparkly rose gold to represent the stars and the matte navy blue because it best emulated the night sky. Blush pinks were chosen for a feminine touch, as they complemented the rose gold nicely; not to mention, I just love pink!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
The biggest piece of advice I would give to local brides is to select your venue with certainty. It dictates nearly every other detail of your wedding, even the style of your dress. Pick one that best fits your personality. The venue as well as your photographer are in my opinion, the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to your big day.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Saxon Manor – The Shabby Chic Barn
Photographer: Tiffany McClure Photography
Florist: Westover’s Flowers
Caterer: Saxon Manor – The Shabby Chic Barn
DJ: Good Vibes Entertainment
Officiant: Dr. & Rev. Tom Marshall (Bride’s grandfather)
Invitations: Zazzle.com
Dress Shop: Brides by Demetrios
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Rent the Runway – Badgley Mischka
Hair: Hannah Armstrong
Makeup: Makeup by Emily Ann
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