Nicole and Piotr’s rustic Tampa Bay wedding featured a lakefront ceremony, romantic pink roses, chalkboard signage handmade by the bride, and a dinner reception inside a charming barn.
“I had wedding ideas on my Pinterest board long before I even met my husband!” the bride joked. “I have always loved the shabby chic, romantic style. The wedding decor is a direct reflection of both of us. Piotr is calm and laid back, and I’m creative and bubbly. It suits both our personalities and feels a little homey to me too. Our colors were navy and mauve. I loved the color combination, and when I saw the flower ideas with the dresses, I knew it was a perfect match! I made the signs for most of the décor; it’s always been a side hobby of mine and it made the day even more personal.”
Due to the pandemic, the couple cut their original 125-person guest list to 65, but they shared that it also made them truly appreciative of celebrating with their family and friends in any capacity.
“COVID made our wedding a different experience than expected, but it made us more grateful than ever to be able to hold a wedding at all,” the bride revealed.
Instead of a traditional ballgown, Nicole wanted a vintage style lace wedding gown befitting of her rustic-romantic wedding style.
“I was out shopping one day and noticed Truly Forever Bridal. I wasn’t ready to look yet, but it looked so beautiful so I figured I would just make an appointment. The day of my appointment was Halloween weekend, and we had the store all to ourselves. Rebekah of Truly Forever had my favorite style of music on, and she and my mom bonded over Downton Abbey; it was all seamless and easy. She made me feel relaxed and didn’t rush me or try to change my opinion on any dress I tried on. It was a great day, and I am so happy I noticed the shop and decided to make an appointment. I feel like it was all meant to be!” the bride raved.
The Dunedin couple sought a wedding photo and video team who they would truly enjoy working with as they documented their special day. Nicole and Piotr were thrilled with the way Bonnie Newman Creative captured the emotion of the day as well as their true selves.
“I wanted to make sure we found a team who was cohesive and easygoing. I saw a video of Bonnie Newman Creative‘s work on YouTube and an Instagram from one of Marry Me Tampa Bay’s articles/videos and fell in love with their work. I never had a professional session before, but after reading reviews of ‘Team Bon Jon’ I knew they would be the best choice for us. That, and the fact that all of their work made me cry, and I wanted that for my wedding!” Nicole beamed. “The team at Bonnie Newman Creative was amazing! They were down-to-earth, professional, had so much patience, and made sure to capture the best part of our relationship. Bonnie and Jon exceeded all expectations. The sheer quality of their photos and videos and their work ethic was amazing. Bonnie’s videos were more than I could ever expect. I love that they captured who we were and didn’t change it to the point we wouldn’t recognize ourselves. They were easy to contact and stayed open to any and all questions we had!”
Nicole says she will never forget the feeling of walking down the aisle to exchange vows with Piotr, but another memorable moment included a resident mule who decided to make his presence known during the ceremony!
“Walking down the aisle was the best moment for me, seeing my future husband and knowing that I was getting ready to marry the love of my life,” the bride reminisced. “My husband’s vows (which I plan on framing) were very memorable, and my vows, which the friendly venue donkey decided to interrupt, ended up being one of the greatest moments.”
What was your wedding dress inspiration?
I was out shopping one day and noticed Truly Forever Bridal. I wasn’t ready to look yet, but it looked so beautiful so I figured I would just make an appointment. The day of my appointment was Halloween weekend, and we had the store all to ourselves. Rebekah of Truly Forever had my favorite style of music on, and she and my mom bonded over Downton Abbey; it was all seamless and easy. She made me feel relaxed and didn’t rush me or try to change my opinion on any dress I tried on.
My dress was a surprise for me! I knew I wanted a lace look but wasn’t set on a style. I always loved more of a vintage style instead of a full ballgown style, that just doesn’t suit me. So I tried on about 10-15 dresses, and once I tried on this dress, it spoke to me, and I knew it was the dress I was looking for. It was a great day, and I am so happy I noticed the shop and decided to make an appointment. I feel like it was all meant to be!
The Proposal:
The proposal was a complete shock. We were in New York, visiting my family and going to my cousin’s wedding. We had extra time to be tourists. After spending the day in Central Park, we took a Lyft over to the Brooklyn Bridge. It took twice as long, and when we finally arrived we were walking along the cityscape reminiscing about how we always come back to a bridge, causeway, or beach when we are having a heart-to-heart or just need to get out and enjoy the day.
So I started to turn and walk away, then Piotr said, “I hope this bridge and this moment will hold a special place in your heart like the others,” and he got down on one knee. I almost fainted. I screamed and asked him if he was kidding! Then I jumped and screamed again, and the entire nearby basketball court stopped and went silent and then clapped while we hugged and cried. I was shaking with joy! It was the best moment ever.
What did you look for in a wedding photo/video team?
I wanted to make sure we found a team that was cohesive and easygoing. I saw a video of Bonnie Newman Creative‘s work on YouTube and an Instagram from one of Marry Me Tampa Bay’s articles/videos and fell in love with their work. I never had a professional session before, but after reading reviews of ‘Team Bon Jon’ I knew they would be the best choice for us. That, and the fact that all of their work made me cry, and I wanted that for my wedding!
The team at Bonnie Newman Creative was amazing! They were down-to-earth, professional, had so much patience, and made sure to capture the best part of our relationship. Bonnie and Jon exceeded all expectations. The sheer quality of their photos and videos and their work ethic was amazing. Bonnie’s videos were more than I could ever expect. I love that they captured who we were and didn’t change it to the point we wouldn’t recognize ourselves. They were easy to contact and stayed open to any and all questions we had! They answered every question, covered every concern, and made our wedding look like a dream! I knew they were great from what I saw, but working with them on a personal level was so easy, in a very uneasy/hectic time!
What did you look for in a wedding bartending company?
We wanted to make sure we had a friendly team of people there to make sure our friends and family had the best time possible!
Spunky Spirits was amazing. They made everything quick and easy. We provided the alcohol, and they took care of everything else!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I had wedding ideas on my Pinterest board long before I even met my husband (haha!) I have always loved the shabby chic, romantic style. The wedding decor is a direct reflection of both of us. Piotr is calm and laid back, and I’m creative and bubbly. We wanted that to show with our decor and colors for the wedding. It suits both our personalities and feels a little homey to me too. I made the signs for most of the décor; it’s always been a side hobby of mine and it made the day even more personal.
What were your colors?
Navy and mauve. I loved the color combination, and when I saw the flower ideas with the dresses, I knew it was a perfect match! It went perfectly with our shabby chic theme.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bridesmaids hosted it at a hotel on Clearwater Beach. It was low-key, due to COVID restrictions. We made the best of it and spent the day in the pool and enjoying celebrating the special day together!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We had an all-inclusive package with Sandals, St. Lucia. We wanted to go somewhere quiet, all-inclusive, and new. Sandals made everything perfect.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Take a walk around during the wedding and take it all in, and take as many mental pictures as possible. The day flies by quicker than anyone can describe. It will be magical, and it will be the best day ever.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Barn at Crescent Lake
Photographer and Videographer: Bonnie Newman Creative *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Florist: Northside Florist
Caterer: Affordable Catering
Cake: Publix
Pastries: Felice’s Italian Pork Store & Deli
Bartending: Spunky Spirits *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
DJ: Events Done Right
Officiant: Neal Brown
Invitations: Zola
Dress: Truly Forever Bridal *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Shoe Designer: Betsey Johnson
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Destiny and Light
Rehearsal Dinner: Bahama Breeze
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.
