Cassandra and Michael's South Tampa wedding featured a morning ceremony amidst lush gardens, followed by a delicious brunch reception including live music, lawn games, and a tower of specialty donuts.
The Bradenton couple chose a soft color palette of watery blue and green shades paired with rustic wood elements and gold accents for their daytime celebration.
“Our theme centered around brunch. We both wanted our wedding to have a light and fun feel. Donuts are one of my favorites, so a custom donut tower was designed to share with our guests,” the bride beamed. “We kept all the flowers white so other aspects of the wedding would pop. We choose light green, teals, and golds to illustrate our vision.”
MORE: BRUNCH WEDDING INSPIRATION
The pair paid homage to their relationship with personal details from the specialty dinnerware that the bride purchased as holiday keepsakes to the groom's cake and cornhole boards that reflected their favorite college football teams.
While searching for a wedding venue, Cassandra and Michael were immediately drawn to the sentiment of South Tampa, only a few blocks from where the bride used to live when she and Mike began dating. They wanted a beautiful outdoor backdrop for their ceremony, along with indoor space to keep their 130 guests cool and comfortable in the Florida heat, while also providing a stylish rain plan if needed.
“We wanted something that could be both outside and inside. Florida weather can be a bit tricky. We were able to have an outside ceremony and a wonderful reception indoors,” Cassandra gushed. “The Tampa Garden Club provided a magical backdrop with their natural surroundings which only enhanced our colors. It gave us everything we needed. Ample parking, beautiful venue space, and the great location were all instrumental in our decision.”
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The bride and groom provided a memorable experience for their guests when it came to their menu and entertainment for their daytime affair, which allowed them to savor an intimate dinner together where they could reminisce about the entire day.
“Having a morning wedding made our wedding unique. It gave a chance for us to enjoy our wedding day from morning to night,” the bride shared.
While planning their celebration from the nearby city of Bradenton, the couple turned to the Winsor Event Studio team to help guide them through the wedding planning process and bring their vision to life.
“We needed someone who lived in the Tampa area as we were both no longer in Tampa and had jobs that would keep us away from some of the much-needed details. We used Christi Winsor of Winsor Event Studio because my best friend and my brother used her services for their weddings. Her attention to detail, caring attitude, and overall professionalism is why we picked her. I would recommend her to everyone,” Cassandra raved.
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To complement her brunch wedding, the bride chose a sweetheart cut ballgown for a traditional look.
“I had pinned lots of dresses that I felt would go well for a daytime wedding. After trying on a few I realized I wanted it to have a clean, classic look to the dress. It had pockets which was an awesome addition to the dress!” Cassandra beamed. “I went to a few different shops but ended up at Truly Forever Bridal Tampa because they had an amazing variety of dresses. The experience was fantastic. The shop was very organized, and the entire team helped every step of the way. We were also able to get my husband's tuxedo through them as well as additional accessories.
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Cassandra credits a special moment following their ceremony as the most memorable of the day, but added that Mike's reaction to the surprise groom's cake from Alessi Bakery was equally memorable.
“One of the things I remember most is after we said I do, and we turned around to see everyone's joy and happiness for us. I will never forget that moment,” the bride reminisced. “Also when Mike went to cut the groom's cake which was a Georgia Bulldog cake, he said to me ‘What did you do?' and was shocked to see the cake was actually Florida Gator orange and blue on the inside.”
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What did you look for in a wedding dress boutique?
I had pinned lots of dresses that I felt would go well for a daytime wedding. After trying on a few I realized I wanted it to have a clean, classic look to the dress. It had pockets which was an awesome addition to the dress!
I went to a few different shops but ended up at Truly Forever Bridal Tampa because they had an amazing variety of dresses. The experience was fantastic. The shop was very organized, and the entire team helped every step of the way. We were also able to get my husband's tuxedo through them as well as additional accessories.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted something that could be both outside and inside. Florida weather can be a bit tricky. We were able to have an outside ceremony and a wonderful reception indoors.
We felt the Tampa Garden Club gave us everything we needed. Ample parking, beautiful venue space, and the great location were all instrumental in our decision. It provided a magical backdrop with their natural surroundings which only enhanced it.
The Proposal:
Mike proposed on my birthday on a cruise in the Caribbean.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We decided to go to St. Augustine as it is one of our favorite vacation places. It coincided with the Florida/Georgia football game, so we were able to spend time in one of our favorite cities watching our favorite sport.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We needed someone who lived in the Tampa area as we were both no longer in Tampa and had jobs that would keep us away from some of the much-needed details.
We used Christi Winsor of Winsor Event Studio because my best friend and my brother used her services for their weddings. Her attention to detail, caring attitude, and overall professionalism is why we picked her. I would recommend her to everyone.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme centered around brunch. We both wanted our wedding to have a light and fun feel. Donuts are one of my favorites, so a custom donut tower was designed to share with our guests. We kept all the flowers white so other aspects of the wedding would pop.
What were your colors?
We choose light green, teals, and golds to illustrate our vision.
What sweets did you include in your wedding day?
I didn’t want a traditional wedding cake. So our main desserts were the various donuts from Nicola’s all arranged from the custom Donut tower from Conshy Upcycle.
We went with Alessi Bakery for the Groom's cake! They are family friends and worked with Montilio’s of Boston to come up with the perfect color and flavor combination of Gator orange and blue on the inside, and the outside featured Mike’s Georgia Bulldog logo.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Friends of ours suggested we go out to dinner that night, just the two of us, so we could cherish that day and talk about all the fun things that happened. With all the hustle and bustle of family, friends, and the wedding, you can lose sight of what the day is about. So take a few moments for just yourselves after you say I do because that is why you are getting married; for each other.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Tampa Garden Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Andy Martin Photography
Planner: Winsor Event Studio *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Florist: Oneco Florist
Caterer: The Columbia Restaurant Group
Rentals: Elite Events & Rentals
Linens: Connie Duglin Specialty Linens
Cake: Montilio's Bakery, Boston, Massachusetts in collaboration with Alessi Bakery *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Donuts: Nicola's Donuts
Band: Total Entertainment by Matt Winter
Officiant: Derek Norton
Specialty Tableware: Fortessa Tableware Solutions
Stationery: Minted
Transportation: Sun Coach Transport
Dress Shop and Designer: Truly Forever Bridal Tampa – Private Collection *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Hair: Ro Style Salon
Makeup: Faces by Carly
Donut Tower: Conshy Upcycle, Phil Gatkiewicz Designer, Pennsylvania
Wedding Rings: June Simmons Designs
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.
