Laryn and Chris
Hyde Park United Methodist Church & Hotel FLor
“Our venue highly influenced the wedding design. Since Hotel Flor has a very 1920’s vintage feel, we went with a black, white, and gold theme. My mom was also very involved in the design process since I wasn’t always able to be local. I definitely couldn’t have done all of this without her. Together with our florist, we came up with the reception decor.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Laryn and Chris’ elegant downtown Tampa wedding was a vintage-inspired fete filled with classic white flora, luxurious candlelight, and sparkling gold details. The local bride and groom exchanged traditional vows in a cathedral ceremony before hosting their 280 guests in a historic Florida hotel ballroom celebration.
“My family is from Tampa, and Chris’ is from Chicago, so there’s really no other scenario where we would be able to have all these friends and family in the same place. That’s what truly made it feel so magical and special. Walking across the dance floor and dancing with all my favorite people from so many different stages of my life was a feeling like no other,” the bride reminisced. “My sister, brother-in-law, and father all delivered extremely beautiful and well-thought-out speeches. They were all so moving and meant the world to me. It was also very wonderful to have my mother-in-law read a prayer written by Chris’s aunt, Bishop Tracey Malone, at the start of our reception. It meant the world to us to have her there in some capacity, since she was unable to travel to Florida for the wedding. The whole day was amazing, and while it felt like it flew by, it was one I will never forget.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“We went to Key West for my bachelorette party! It was the best. I really wanted to go somewhere warm where we could all get some sun, but we would still be able to go out. Key West ended up being the perfect destination! We had great food, went snorkeling, and even had a pajama party with a hibachi chef who came to our Airbnb.
We ended up going to Costa Rica for our honeymoon! We wanted to go somewhere tropical but with a lot of wildlife and hiking. We had an incredible time!”
The Bridal Beauty
Adore Bridal
“I really love makeup and a full glam look, so I was very excited to work with Adore Bridal. I wanted a very old-school glamor look, so I went with Hollywood waves for hair. I also love a bold lip, so we went with something very pink and bright. We had a great time during our makeup and hair trial!
I was a bridesmaid in my best friend’s wedding about a year before our wedding, and she used Adore Bridal. I had such a wonderful experience with them that I messaged them the week afterward and booked them for my wedding too. They are great! Not only are they very skilled, but they are all so friendly and nice! Genuinely had a great experience with them.”
The Proposal
“Chris did a great job setting up the proposal. We are both doctors, and he had a 24-hour shift on Friday. He had contacted one of my best friends, Claudia, and asked her to see a Broadway show with me on Saturday. Obviously, I didn’t know this at the time. Once that was confirmed and we had bought tickets for a Saturday matinee, he coordinated with both of our immediate families to fly to Brooklyn, where we had lived for two years. He had Claudia tell me we were having dinner in Brooklyn after the show and told me that he had to stay late after his 24-hour shift, so he probably wouldn’t be able to meet us in the city. Little did I know that he was actually rushing home to our apartment to pack a bag for us and getting dressed to come to the city.
He then surprised me under the Brooklyn Bridge and asked me to marry him, surrounded by our out-of-town family. He set up an after-party at a family member’s Brooklyn condo and had his cousin, who is a professional chef, cook a beautiful meal for everyone. He made a fusion of Cuban food and Chicago classics to represent the two of us. It was amazing and so thoughtful.”
From The Planner
“My favorite part of Laryn and Chris’ wedding day was the amazing floral design, complete with gorgeous trees and crystal candelabras. The room sparkled like a fairytale. I really enjoyed watching the couple arrive at the hotel after the ceremony in the bright red convertible. This was a fun and unique twist to the traditional vintage car or limousine we see so often.”
-Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings
The Venue
Hotel Flor
“I really wanted a unique venue, but something still very central to Tampa. We had a lot of out-of-town guests since my husband is from Chicago, so a hotel seemed like the simplest way to make sure there were accommodations nearby.
I definitely fell in love with Hotel Flor the first time I saw it. The venue is really beautiful, and it could accommodate a large number of guests, which was amazing. Once we knew that, it was a very easy decision to make. We had a very good experience with Hotel Flor. Everyone who works there is very friendly and professional.”
The Inspiration
“Our venue highly influenced the wedding design. Since Hotel Flor has a very 1920’s vintage feel, we went with a black, white, and gold theme. My mom was also very involved in the design process since I wasn’t always able to be local. I definitely couldn’t have done all of this without her. Together with our florist, we came up with the reception decor.
We added small personal touches like the drink stirrers with our dog’s photo and the cigar roller really made the day our own. It was really important to us that our vows came from the heart and were personal, and we wanted to make sure we had the best possible people to not only capture the day but also take photos and videos that felt authentic to us and our friends and family. We also love to dance so a great band was very necessary!”
The Planning
EventFull Weddings
“We were looking for a planner more for the coordination on the day of. We just needed someone very organized and with experience since we were having a large wedding.
Karen Cerboni from EventFull Weddings was recommended by a family friend. Coincidentally, she and my mom went to high school together! She was amazing! Karen was very organized, a great communicator, and a great problem solver. I’m extremely happy with Karen and her team at EventFull Weddings!”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We were really lucky to have the same photographer, Laurel Hinton of Laurel Hinton Photography, for the day of our proposal, the engagement, and the wedding! It was really cool to have that continuity and to make a relationship with our photographer. Additionally, our videographer from Voila Cinematic did a lovely job.
I would like to acknowledge how awesome our Pastor Clarke Campbell-Evans was. We were supposed to have Chris’s aunt, Bishop Tracey Malone, officiate the service, but she ended up being unable to travel to Florida due to health reasons. We found out about a month or two before the wedding, and Pastor Clarke was thankfully available to do the service. He was very helpful, kind, and a great addition to the day. He even helped me set up a surprise video of Bishop Malone blessing our marriage for the end of our ceremony, which made the day extra special.
I also have to say Maynier Garcia of MG Home Decor really created an incredible, beautiful space. He truly has an incredible eye for design and is so creative! Additionally, I got my dress at The White Magnolia Bridal Collection and used their in-house seamstress, Natasha, who was amazing. She did a beautiful job and really helped me feel amazing on the big day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa couples?
The planning process is very stressful, but at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is that you’re marrying your person! When the day comes, just try to take a pause every once in a while and really take in the moment because it flies by.
