Kaci and Melvin’s destination Clearwater Beach wedding was a whimsical affair featuring enchanting flora in a rainbow of colors, romantic candlelight, and a stunning sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
“The wedding vibe was ‘floral-garden.’ We wanted to have lots of colors, lots of flowers, and lots of greenery,” the bride beamed. “With such a large bridal party, we felt it would be overpowering to have them all in the same color. We decided on a variety of colors to match our variety of florals: dusty blue, olive green, burnt orange, dusty rose, and maroon.”
The Austin-based bride utilized Marry Me Tampa Bay as a reputable planning resource while researching wedding professionals for their 300-guest Indian-fusion celebration.
“Not actually living in the Tampa Bay Area made websites like Marry Me Tampa Bay crucial to us, so we could compare vendors and ensure we were choosing ones that aligned with what we were looking for,” the bride shared. “Make sure you talk to people who have been involved in weddings in the area! Personalized recommendations are great, but when those aren’t possible, sites like Marry Me Tampa Bay are crucial.”
While planning from a distance, Kaci turned to Katy at Coastal Coordinating to help facilitate the process and keep everything streamlined and stress-free. Throughout the months leading up to the big day, the wedding planning team was attentive and accommodating, allowing the couple to truly enjoy their big day.
“We wanted someone with a lot of experience in the Tampa Bay Area since they would be our eyes and ears on the ground. We also wanted a group large enough to handle our requests but small enough to have a personal level of service. Katy and Coastal Coordinating made the whole process so much easier for us,” the bride beamed. “From our first planning meetings to allowing us to send packages to their office to coordinating on the actual wedding day, they really made sure to take the stress off our shoulders.”
With a large guest list in mind, the couple sought a wedding venue that offered an ideal balance of ample event spaces, convenient amenities, and picturesque surroundings. The Hilton Clearwater Beach checked all the boxes and then some, impressing the bride and groom with their impeccable service and attention to detail.
“The first two criteria we looked for were size and location. We wanted to be in the central Florida area, and we needed a venue that was large enough to potentially accommodate 400+ people. That narrowed things down initially, and from there, we started comparing things like aesthetics, specific location, and cost,” Kaci explained. “The Hilton Clearwater Beach hit everything we were looking for great location, specifically on the beach, multiple venue options (outdoor, ballroom, etc.), and full service for food and bar. Their service was exceptional, and our guests really noticed. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we felt taken care of.”
With an option to host an oceanfront wedding with the iconic beach backdrop without requiring guests to set foot in the sand, the setting was truly unique. The flexibility of the space allowed Kaci to incorporate garden-inspired flora without hosting a traditional beach ceremony venue.
“We wanted a beach wedding but didn’t want our actual ceremony in the sand. This allowed us to have the lush, floral theme for our ceremony but then have our cocktail hour next to the beach at sunset. It let our guests enjoy the waterfront location without having to compromise on the rest of our decorations,” the bride added.
Clear Chiavari chairs from A Chair Affair provided a modern accent to the ballroom reception space, while the team at Graingertainment set the tone for the perfect party with energetic music and cold sparkler fountains during the couple’s dance floor moment.
Given their garden-inspired wedding vision, the bride wanted a floral designer who could make her dream a reality and achieve a lush floral atmosphere. The creative experts at Lemon Drops Weddings & Events transformed the space into a dreamy setting filled with colorful blooms and whimsical greenery.
“We needed a florist willing to accommodate our vision and someone who had a history of previous weddings in the style we were looking for,” Kaci detailed. “The number one thing that drew us to Lemon Drops was their attitude. For all of our requests and our discussion about what things could look like, they never said ‘no;’ instead, they were happy to put their heads together and figure out how to make things happen. We loved working with them and would recommend them in a heartbeat.”
“The couple’s floral vision was to bring the garden vibe inside the venue and transform a regular ballroom into an outside oasis. We achieved this by honing in on what would really make this room pop. Kaci really wanted a lovely spectrum of colors to consist of white, lavenders, light blues, and light peach/pinks. We added in a bolder yellow and pink to help provide contrast and give a really nice pop against the white drapes and flowing greenery. The main goal was to make sure that no matter where you looked in the room, you felt fully immersed in a lush garden,” Kristine Campbell of Lemon Drops Weddings & Events explained. “We absolutely loved the greenery on the draping. It provided such a different feel from a traditional ballroom. We have done a lot of draping in the past, but this truly was something individual and different. Our other favorite part was the aisle. She wanted to feel like she was walking on water, inspired by Crazy Rich Asians’ wedding scene, and it was fun to flex different creative avenues before we landed on the final product. We had to be creative in replicating the scene since an actual aisle of water was not possible in the hotel. The abundance of flowers mixed with the mirrored reflection really created a show-stopping walkway for the couple.”
Kaci orchestrated an elaborate surprise for Melvin to enjoy on the day of the wedding, with a nod to their relationship history that was incorporated into his wedding attire.
“I planned a surprise for Melvin involving his tux jacket. He had gotten his tux delivered, but I secretly ordered an exact replica and took it to a tailor. I had him sew a collage of pictures of the two of us into the inner lining. This almost fell apart when Melvin wanted to get his jacket tailored; I had to take both of them in without him knowing! But it was worth it when his groomsmen surprised him with the personalized jacket in his hotel room while he was getting ready,” the bride reminisced.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
We needed a florist willing to accommodate our vision and someone who had a history of previous weddings in the style we were looking for. The number one thing that drew us to Lemon Drops Weddings & Events was their attitude. For all of our requests and our discussion about what things could look like, they never said ‘no;’ instead, they were happy to put their heads together and figure out how to make things happen. We loved working with them and would recommend them in a heartbeat.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
The bachelorette party was at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. This lets us be on the beach with all our girls and was a convenient location for everyone. The bachelor party was in Scottsdale, AZ!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
The Maldives. It was a dream location for both of us and actually exceeded our expectations. It also has perfect weather in February.
The Proposal:
We went up to my family reunion in Ohio. My mother was one of 17 kids, so the remaining siblings do a reunion every year at a state park up there. We had picked out a ring earlier, but I didn’t know Melvin had bought it and packed it for the trip. He proposed in the cabin when we were alone, and I was able to share the news with my whole family afterward.
From the Florist:
Kaci and Melvin’s floral vision was to really bring the garden vibe inside the venue and transform a regular ballroom into an outside oasis. We achieved this by honing in on what would really make this room pop. That ended up being a fully draped ballroom with added greenery and pops of flowers around the perimeter.
This theme continued down the aisle for the arch and the blanket of flowers that surrounded the sweetheart table. All the flowers were light spring tones. Kaci really wanted a lovely spectrum of colors to consist of white, lavenders, light blues, and light peach/pinks. We added in a bolder yellow and pink to help provide contrast and give a really nice pop against the white drapes and flowing greenery. The main goal was to make sure that no matter where you looked in the room, you felt fully immersed in a lush garden.
We absolutely loved the greenery on the draping. It provided such a different feel from a traditional ballroom. We have done a lot of draping in the past, but this truly was something individual and different. Our other favorite part was the aisle. She wanted to feel like she was walking on water, inspired by Crazy Rich Asians‘ wedding scene, and it was fun to flex different creative avenues before we landed on the final product. We had to be creative in replicating the scene since an actual aisle of water was not possible in the hotel. The abundance of flowers mixed with the mirrored reflection really created a show-stopping walkway for the couple. This was such an imaginative and unique wedding to help design and carry through. We were truly honored to be such a part of this wonderful wedding design process.” – Kristine Campbell, Lemon Drops Wedding & Events
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
The first two criteria we looked for were size and location. We wanted to be in the central Florida area, and we needed a venue that was large enough to potentially accommodate 400+ people. That narrowed things down initially, and from there, we started comparing things like aesthetics, specific location, and cost.
The Hilton Clearwater Beach hit everything we were looking for: great location, specifically on the beach, multiple venue options (outdoor, ballroom, etc.), and full service for food and bar. Their service was exceptional, and our guests really noticed. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we felt taken care of.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone with a lot of experience in the Tampa Bay Area since they would be our eyes and ears on the ground. We also wanted a group large enough to handle our requests but small enough to have a personal level of service.
Katy and Coastal Coordinating made the whole process so much easier for us. From our first planning meetings to allowing us to send packages to their office to coordinating on the actual wedding day, they really made sure to take the stress off our shoulders.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The wedding vibe was ‘floral-garden.’ We wanted to have lots of colors, lots of flowers, and lots of greenery.
What were your colors?
With such a large bridal party, we felt it would be overpowering to have them all in the same color. We decided on a variety of colors to match our variety of florals: dusty blue, olive green, burnt orange, dusty rose, and maroon.
How did the rentals enhance the ambiance of your event?
We selected our clear chiavari chairs from A Chair Affair, and they were a great fit for our overall vibe.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
One thing that drew us to Graingertainment was their being from Lakeland, where Melvin is from. We felt they had great reviews and a variety of DJs and services that would be able to handle a larger wedding.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All of our vendors were fantastic; we’d be hard-pressed to single any of them out, but the Hilton Clearwater Beach’s service needed to be on point in order to bring everything together, and they delivered.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make sure you talk to people who have been involved in weddings in the area! Personalized recommendations are great, but when those aren’t possible, sites like Marry Me Tampa Bay are crucial.
