Amber and Alexei
“Our wedding theme was classic beauty, polished sophistication, and a hint of vintage define this style. Drawing inspiration from the luxurious buildings in the old money era, it celebrated tradition and elegance. It was a black tie event and all of our guests wore black. The focus was on honoring a rich heritage and crafting an ambiance that evoked the charm of a past era. We chose shades of black and white. I love simplicity and timeless, neutral colors.” -The Bride
Amber and Alexei’s intimate downtown Tampa wedding was a timeless celebration filled with classic white blooms and striking black attire. The couple exchanged vows on the grand staircase of a historic courthouse building, flanked by stone columns and lush flora, before dining and dancing the night away during an elegant ballroom reception overlooking the city skyline.
“Our wedding theme was classic beauty, polished sophistication, and a hint of vintage define this style. Drawing inspiration from the luxurious buildings in the old money era, it celebrated tradition and elegance. It was a black tie event and all of our guests wore black. The focus was on honoring a rich heritage and crafting an ambiance that evoked the charm of a past era,” the bride beamed. “We chose shades of black and white. I love simplicity and timeless, neutral colors.”
Although the Tampa bride, who is a wedding photographer herself, is well connected to the industry, she relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay for our reassuring guidance and vetted wedding professionals while planning a special evening for her 35 closest friends and family.
“We had an intimate ceremony with our closest family and friends. We truly value our relationships and wanted to spend quality time with each and every person so this was perfect for us. We are a simple couple and just appreciate every little thing,” the bride revealed. “Marry Me Tampa Bay was amazing and supportive through the whole process. They were always there if I had a question and put me in connections with other vendors and venues. I will always be grateful for Marry Me Tampa Bay.
The pair sought a downtown Tampa wedding venue with timeless architecture, modern amenities, and a glamorous feel for their September celebration. The iconic and backdrop of the Le Meridien Tampa hotel, with its historic charm and renowned guest experience, impressed the bride and groom from beginning to end.
“We wanted somewhere with classic, luxury, and modern vibes with a touch of vintage. The team at Le Meridien Tampa was amazing. They made me feel so special from my first inquiry email with them, to the time I walked out the door!” Amber praised. “The staff was phenomenal. Heather DiGiulio, the Catering Sales Manager, was so sweet, and her communication was above and beyond. I was blown away with how great the process was.”
With years of experience in the wedding industry as a skilled photographer, Amber used her extensive knowledge of past events to help guide her through the planning process, choosing to focus on a more personal and meaningful experience rather than letting tradition dictate the process.
“As a wedding photographer, planning my own wedding was a unique experience that allowed me to see the process from both sides of the lens. I opted for an intimate ceremony, which significantly influenced my approach. First, I focused on creating a personal and meaningful event rather than getting caught up in the traditional expectations of a larger wedding. This meant prioritizing elements that truly mattered to us, such as having close family and friends present and incorporating personal touches that reflected our relationship,” the bride detailed. “I also leveraged my industry knowledge to streamline the planning process. I knew which vendors aligned with our vision and could deliver quality while still maintaining a sense of intimacy. Additionally, I was able to anticipate potential challenges and navigate them with ease, ensuring that everything unfolded smoothly on the day. Ultimately, having an intimate ceremony allowed us to cherish each moment without the pressure of a larger crowd, making our wedding day not only beautiful but also deeply personal and memorable.”
Amber opted for a wedding content creator instead of a traditional videographer. Behind The Vows‘ documentary process with authentic video clips captured a unique narrative of the day that the bride and groom will forever treasure.
“Having Behind the Vows as my content creator for my own wedding day was amazing, especially since I opted not to get a traditional videographer. As a wedding photographer, I’m usually the one capturing moments behind the lens, but this time, it was so nice having someone who could document our day from a different, more real time perspective while I could fully experience the day. Behind The Vows took the time to understand not just the visual aspects of our wedding but also the emotions and stories behind each moment. From privately ready our vow books we wrote to each other, and the moments during the ceremony, they captured all the essence of our love story,” Amber gushed. “Gabi did her job so well that I barely even noticed they were there. She captured the laughter during the ceremony, the quiet moments of reflection before walking down the aisle, the first looks with my parents, and the joy on our friends’ and family’s faces. It was such a relief to know that someone was dedicated to documenting authentic snippets from the day. When I received the content, which was right away, I was blown away. The clips captured of us reading our vows, in particular, brought tears to my eyes. I still cry when looking back at those moments; they added a real time documentation that I will forever cherish. The videos and behind-the-scenes clips created a beautiful preservation of our wedding, capturing the energy and emotions in a way that still makes my heart swell. It was a wonderful blend of my two passions: photography and storytelling, transforming our wedding into a treasure trove of memories that we’ll cherish forever.”
While you’d never realize it by looking at the photographs, the bride’s wedding day took place after one of the most intense weather events affected Tampa Bay, but the skies cleared just in time, making for a stunning wedding day.
“Our wedding was the day after Hurricane Helene. The fact is was still able to happen was a miracle. No matter what happened, we got married, and it was the best day ever,” the bride shared.
With so many special moments from the day, it was hard to choose a favorite, but ultimately the core memories involved the bride, groom, and their families.
“The most memorable moments were intimate moments with my family members. I had a first look with my dad and brother, and exchanged gifts before the ceremony to my mother and step mother. What made it so special was that I got to spend one on one time with each of these people before the ceremony,” Amber reminisced. “Seeing my husband for the first time at the alter was unforgettable. We opted out of the first look, and waited for the ceremony. I don’t have strong opinions on doing a first look or not; I see the value in either approach. My husband walked his mom down the aisle, then walked back around to walk our dogs down the aisle (our dogs are our world), before my dad gave me away at the altar. The photo captured of them shaking hands is one of my favorites. It symbolizes something so great.”

















Why did you hire a Content Creator for your wedding day?
Having Behind the Vows as my content creator for my own wedding day was amazing, especially since I opted not to get a traditional videographer. As a wedding photographer, I’m usually the one capturing moments behind the lens, but this time, it was so nice having someone who could document our day from a different, more real time perspective while I could fully experience the day.
Behind The Vows took the time to understand not just the visual aspects of our wedding but also the emotions and stories behind each moment. From privately ready our vow books we wrote to each other, and the moments during the ceremony, they captured all the essence of our love story. Gabi did her job so well that I barely even noticed they were there. She captured the laughter during the ceremony, the quiet moments of reflection before walking down the aisle, the first looks with my parents, and the joy on our friends’ and family’s faces. It was such a relief to know that someone was dedicated to documenting authentic snippets from the day.
When I received the content, which was right away, I was blown away. The clips captured of us reading our vows, in particular, brought tears to my eyes. I still cry when looking back at those moments; they added a real time documentation that I will forever cherish. The videos and behind-the-scenes clips created a beautiful preservation of our wedding, capturing the energy and emotions in a way that still makes my heart swell. It was a wonderful blend of my two passions: photography and storytelling, transforming our wedding into a treasure trove of memories that we’ll cherish forever.


How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our wedding theme was classic beauty, polished sophistication, and a hint of vintage define this style. Drawing inspiration from the luxurious buildings in the old money era, it celebrated tradition and elegance. It was a black tie event and all of our guests wore black. The focus was on honoring a rich heritage and crafting an ambiance that evoked the charm of a past era.


The Proposal:
Alexei proposed on a private dock, with red rose pedals scattered, our dogs dressed up in tuxes, and our family secretly watching via phone. We then used those same tuxes for our dogs at the wedding. It was a full circle moment.

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted somewhere with classic, luxury, and modern vibes with a touch of vintage.
The team at Le Meridien Tampa was amazing. They made me feel so special from my first inquiry email with them, to the time I walked out the door! The staff was phenomenal. Heather DiGiulio, the Catering Sales Manager, was so sweet, and her communication was above and beyond. I was blown away with how great the process was.















Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We will be going to the Keys! I have been in Florida all my life, and I feel like it’s wrong that we both have never been there yet.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Downtown St Pete! We took a party bus and bar hopped; I wanted to be home by 1 am.



Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Sabrina with Float Flora is not only the sweetest, her florals and attention to detail are phenomenal. Charlena from Any Event Linen & Chair Rental, set up early, perfectly, and the customer service was amazing and simple, which every bride yearns for.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do whatever makes you happy, and it’ll be amazing.
