Jessica and Anthony
THe Tampa Edition
“The wedding vibe was traditional and timeless, meets modern and sexy. I have always dreamed of a black-tie wedding and love all the traditional aspects of a wedding, but I wanted it to fit the venue and still feel really fun. We chose classic black and white with pops of gold and green. These colors are very us and what you’ll find in our home. We wanted to keep things very sleek and sharp.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Jessica and Anthony’s romantic downtown Tampa wedding combined a monochromatic palette with elegant formalwear and chic flora. Following a rooftop ceremony set against a vine-clad greenery wall, guests enjoyed a glamorous ballroom reception.
“The wedding vibe was traditional and timeless, meets modern and sexy. I have always dreamed of a black-tie wedding and love all the traditional aspects of a wedding, but I wanted it to fit the venue and still feel really fun,” the bride shared. “We chose classic black and white with pops of gold and green. These colors are very us and what you’ll find in our home. We wanted to keep things very sleek and sharp.”
The local bride had been a longtime reader of Marry Me Tampa Bay, relying on the plethora of real wedding posts to provide style inspiration and to research local vendors during the planning process.
“I have been following MarryMeTampa Bay since before we were engaged,” Jessica beamed. “I love seeing all of the local couples and their unique visions come to life. Seeing our vendors be featured in such incredible events helped to seal the deal.”
Jessica selected the skilled planners at Coastal Coordinating, known for their attentive service, who also assisted with her memorable proposal.
“We were looking for a planner to help with the entire process. I feel very lucky that we got to work with Coastal Coordinating before our wedding; hiring them was a no-brainer. I love that they make their brides feel like they have their full attention and commitment,” the bride raved. “Katy Martin and her team have been wonderful to work with over the years. They are truly second to none, and I can’t thank them enough for their 5-star service. Coastal Coordinating helped create our dream wedding!”
The pair prioritized their 130 guests’ experience when personalizing their March celebration, finding ways to honor their loved ones throughout the ceremony and reception. Keepsake photo strips courtesy of The Gala Photobooth allowed guests to preserve memories from the evening, and special gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen prepared them for the dance floor.
“We wanted our family and friends to feel beautiful, special, and included, and we wanted great food and even better music,” Jessica revealed. “We look up to both of our parents’ marriages and wanted to acknowledge that in some way. Pastor Brian helped us incorporate a small portion of our ceremony that recognized both of our sets of parents’ love and commitment. This was something they weren’t expecting and made it feel extra special. Anthony and I also had custom Nikes and also got our wedding party matching Nikes. We gave them to them at rehearsal and then had them waiting under their seats at the reception so they could change into them to dance.”
The floral vision set the tone for the wedding day and translated Jessica’s inspiration into reality. The artists at Monarch Events and Design brought her dream to life through long-stemmed bouquets, low aisle arrangements, and towering centerpieces.
“My inspiration was romantic white roses with little greenery and lots of candles to give that romantic, whimsical feeling. I wanted all-white flowers to complement the guests in all-black,” the bride detailed. “Jean King with Monarch Events and Design was so thoughtful about our entire process, even after the initial call. She really took the time to listen to my vision and find ways to work within our budget. After our first call, I had full trust that Jean and her team would do an outstanding job.”
“The floral inspiration for Jessica and Anthony’s wedding came from their elegant vision for their day,” Jean added. “Coastal Coordinating provided a beautiful mood board for me and my team to draw inspiration from to start planning the flowers. The theme was the perfect setting for lots of roses and hydrangeas, as well as other romantic blooms.”
The entire evening was unforgettable, but the ceremony stood out as a core memory for Jessica.
“Truly, everything about the reception was memorable!” the bride reminisced. “Walking down the aisle with my dad is something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. It was really such a special moment having my dad lift my blusher and place my and Anthony’s hands together to begin the ceremony. Exchanging our vows and officially becoming husband and wife was an emotional moment.”
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Le Blanc Los Cabos. We wanted to spend the days after our wedding relaxing somewhere tropical where we could enjoy our time as newlyweds and relive every moment of the weekend.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Fontainebleau, Miami! That is one of my favorite vacation spots. My girls were so sweet and went above and beyond to decorate and make the weekend perfect. We dressed up for dinners, had a boat day, hit some clubs, and hung out by the pool.
What was your wedding floral inspiration?
My inspiration was romantic white roses with little greenery and lots of candles to give that romantic, whimsical feeling. I wanted all-white flowers to complement the guests in all-black.
Jean King with Monarch Events and Design was so thoughtful about our entire process, even after the initial call. She really took the time to listen to my vision and find ways to work within our budget. After our first call, I had full trust that Jean and her team would do an outstanding job.
The Proposal:
Coastal Coordinating provided Anthony and me with the most beautiful picnic on the beach. Katy Martin reached out to me, claiming that they needed new marketing material, and asked if Anthony and I would be a part of an updated picnic where they would take photos and capture content. Little did I know, Anthony had been working with Coastal Coordinating to plan our engagement at the Tampa Club, located at the top of the Bank of America building.
When we arrived, Anthony dropped me off to find parking, and Katy’s team greeted me with a note from Anthony. That’s when I knew. On the balcony of the Tampa Club, Anthony was standing at the end of an aisle made out of candles and rose petals with “Marry Me” lit up and a custom ring from Ackerman Jewelers in his pocket. He had all of our closest friends and family inside watching the whole thing. Our guests enjoyed dinner and drinks and helped us celebrate our engagement. Following our time at the Tampa Club, Anthony had even more friends waiting for us at American Social to keep the night going. I am so grateful that Anthony hired Lindsey Alaine to capture one of the most special nights of our lives.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We were looking for a planner to help with the entire process. I feel very lucky that we got to work with Coastal Coordinating before our wedding; hiring them was a no-brainer. I love that they make their brides feel like they have their full attention and commitment.
Katy Martin and her team have been wonderful to work with over the years. They are truly second to none, and I can’t thank them enough for their 5-star service. Coastal Coordinating helped create our dream wedding!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The wedding vibe was traditional and timeless, meets modern and sexy. I have always dreamed of a black-tie wedding and love all the traditional aspects of a wedding, but I wanted it to fit the venue and still feel really fun.
Why did you choose to have a wedding photobooth as part of your reception?
As a guest, I often leave events without pictures because I don’t take my phone out of my bag. I wanted to give guests a spot where they could take photos throughout the cocktail hour and reception.
I love The Gala Photobooth‘s sleek look and attentive team. We loved having them there! They even worked with us to have the photo booth open during cocktail hour, closed during dinner service, and re-opened for the remainder of the night.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Anthony and I started to list who we thought exceeded our expectations and ended up naming each vendor. We truly loved them all and would not have changed a thing. And, of course, Katy Martin and the Coastal Coordinating team orchestrated a seamless day that brought each vendor together so perfectly.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Figure out what elements are important to you and stick with them. Trends come and go, but your wedding is the most special day for you, your partner, and your closest friends and family. Do what makes you happy, and it will all fall into place.