Hannah and Nick’s waterfront St. Petersburg wedding featured a coastal vibe and natural table settings set against the glistening waters of Tampa Bay. The St. Pete Beach bride and groom wanted to showcase the surrounding landscape for their 95 guests by choosing minimal décor to highlight the bayside backdrop.
“Our theme and inspiration were tropical elegance. Our venue was so beautiful on its own, so we wanted a few pops of color in the florals, but aside from that, we wanted to keep it simple,” the bride shared. “We used muted colors of sage and ivory for our linens so our bright florals would pop against it. We were on the water so the bright blue water, green grass, and vibrant florals did the work for us.”
The Pinellas couple sought a seasoned wedding photographer who embodied a youthful style and a proven track record of stunning photos.
“We wanted someone with experience but also someone younger with a modern touch. Amber of Amber McWhorter Photography was recommended to us by one of Nick’s groomsmen; she photographed his wedding, and we loved the photos,” Hannah raved. “Amber was wonderful to work with from beginning to end. She was extremely responsive and answered all of our questions. She made us feel so relaxed and comfortable during both our engagement session and wedding.”
The secluded gulf-view venue lent a unique aspect to the couple’s wedding, and a last-minute transition to an all-outdoor setup ended up being a blessing in disguise.
“Our venue stood out as unique; Many guests who are from the Tampa Bay Area had never heard of it. You get the best of both worlds, waterfront views but no sand!” the bride revealed. “Due to COVID, we had to move the entire wedding outdoors, and we are so happy that we did because it gave us the opportunity to enjoy the tropical landscape.”
Hannah and Nick each revealed their standout memories from the day; the bride chose a moment during the couple’s ceremony, whereas the groom chose a favorite reception experience.
“My most memorable moment was walking down the aisle after being announced for the first time as Mr. & Mrs. Filtz, and Nick’s most memorable moment was dancing to our favorite music with all of our best friends around us!” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
Nick proposed on a trail outside of Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, catching me completely off guard. He had a celebratory lunch planned with both families after the proposal and a beautiful room booked at the Boulderado, a historical hotel in Boulder, CO. Red Rocks is a special place for the two of us; we went to an Odesza concert there together on our first trip at the beginning of our relationship.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone with experience but also someone younger with a modern touch. Amber of Amber McWhorter Photography was recommended to us by one of Nick’s groomsmen; she photographed his wedding, and we loved the photos. Amber was wonderful to work with from beginning to end. She was extremely responsive and answered all of our questions. Amber made us feel so relaxed and comfortable during both our engagement session and wedding.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Due to COVID, we decided to forgo our honeymoon to Greece for the time being and instead traveled to Asheville, North Carolina with our dog Apollo. We chose to go to Asheville because Nick was born there, and we wanted to get a taste of fall weather.
How would you describe your theme?
Our theme and inspiration were tropical elegance. Our venue was so beautiful on its own, so we wanted a few pops of color in the florals, but aside from that, we wanted to keep it simple.
What were your colors?
We used muted colors, sage and ivory, for our linens so our bright florals would pop against it. We were on the water so the bright blue water, green grass, and vibrant florals did the work for us.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
If your venue has COVID restrictions, don’t be afraid to be open-minded to recommendations such as having it outside. This wasn’t our Plan A but it worked out better than we could have ever imagined.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Tampa Bay Watch
Photographer: Amber McWhorter Photography *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Videographer: Relive your Day
Coordinator & Caterer: Milan Catering
Florist: Sam’s Club
Cake: Publix
DJ: On the Move Productions
Officiant: Cousin of the Groom
Invitations: Chelsey Hume (Sister of the Bride)
Dress Shop and Designer: La Bella Donna, Stella York
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Lulu’s
Hair & Makeup: Destiny and Light
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.
