Calli and Brent's Tampa wedding combined timeless white flora with lush greenery, elegant formal attire, and period-specific entertainment that made guests feel like they took a step back in time.
“I have always loved classic and romantic movies, art, and design and wanted to showcase my love of simple elegance with modern flares. A few weddings that I was inspired by were John F. Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier, Kate Block and Kevin Love, and Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge,” the bride shared. “We chose black and white as our colors because I love neutrals and monochromatic schemes. My favorite color to wear is black, and my favorite color to decorate my home with is white…it just works!”
The Virginia bride frequented Marry Me Tampa Bay's platforms when researching local venues and vendors for their 150-guest destination celebration. The ample images of real weddings helped provide style direction and inspired design choices during the process.
“We often visited the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and Instagram account to get inspiration and ideas for venues and overall stylistic choices for our big day. Both pages were extremely helpful for our planning process from start to finish!” Calli beamed. “I planned every detail from start to finish with the help of Brent's commitment to timing and execution of contracts. From what flower was used on the boutonniere, to what size candle was placed under signage, to the thank you cards at each place-setting on the reception tables, to the color of the photo frames to showcase generations of the Norton/Cooper families, my attention to every little detail was palpable. After four iterations of printed PowerPoint presentations for our vendors, I felt as though every detail was perfectly stated for our big day. And with the help of our planner on the day of, it all perfectly came together and was exactly how we imagined!”
To honor their mutual faith, the bride and groom prioritized their May ceremony setting and looked for a beautiful, timeless space that also focused on the sanctity of marriage.
“We really wanted to get married in a little white church that fit our classic, romantic theme but also a place that shared our religious beliefs and values in which we could find community,” the bride articulated. “We really lucked out with Harborside Chapel and loved getting to know the congregation, Pastor Matt, and the staff that made the day feel so incredibly special.”
The pair sought a downtown Tampa reception venue for their Florida destination wedding with a balance of historic detail and modern amenities for a convenient, inclusive planning experience. With a former life as a charming bank building, The Vault's marble floors and impressive columns set the scene for a classic reception, while their attentive staff and on-site rentals and catering made for seamless planning from start to finish.
“We both wanted an indoor reception venue for the big day (since unpredictable Florida weather can be scary) that transported guests to feel like they stepped into a different time. We were hopeful that we would find a historic building that was also a ‘one-stop shop' that covered the catering, tables, and chairs, and so on to reduce the number of vendors we needed to coordinate with on the day of,” Calli detailed. “The Vault checked every box for us: historical architectural elements, high ceilings, lots of natural light, two floors, large space, great food options, and an experienced team. We are incredibly grateful for the team at The Vault; we couldn't imagine our big day without them. They made all of our wedding dreams happen.”
With a focus on guest experience, the couple envisioned an immersive reception filled with flora and music reminiscent of a bygone era. Through a mixture of live music and a skilled DJ and emcee, the evening's entertainment remained a top priority for setting the tone for the celebration.
“We incorporated our love of curating the right ‘vibes' for our loved ones by going the extra mile to perfect the music choices from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the reception. Our DJ was extremely accommodating of our long list of ‘do not play' songs and our ‘must-play' songs. I have a knack for paying attention to the tiniest of details and creating spaces that allow our friends and family to forget the stress at the door, so I ensured our guests felt transported to another time with classic oldies, a live saxophonist, and simple florals.”
While the pristine chapel setting left a lasting impression on the bride, being surrounded by their loved ones truly made the wedding day unforgettable.
“The most important elements to our big day were getting private time together as bride and groom, praying together with our friends and family, and staying on track with our day-of timeline,” Calli revealed. “The most memorable moments were saying ‘I do' at the altar in a gorgeous church, having our families meet (some for the first time), and seeing all of our loved ones under one roof.”
“We really wanted to get married in a little white church that fit our classic, romantic theme but also a place that shared our religious beliefs and values in which we could find community. We really lucked out with Harborside Chapel and loved getting to know the congregation, Pastor Matt, and the staff that made the day feel so incredibly special.”
-The Bride
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
New Orleans, Louisiana. I chose that location to lean in on the classic Gatsby vibe of the French Quarter and because I wanted to get a taste of authentic Cajun food and a big bowl of gumbo!
The Proposal:
Brent planned quite the proposal in Charleston, South Carolina, which is my favorite city. A planner helped Brent coordinate a horse-drawn carriage ride that led to a romantic and historic venue for the proposal in Stolls Alley. There was a solo violinist, a few dozen candles, beautiful white rose arrangements, and bottles of my favorite champagne waiting at the end of the perfect afternoon together. To top it all off, Brent surprised me by flying in some of my family and closest friends, who came to dinner and drinks to celebrate afterward at a historic church that was recently converted into a beautiful restaurant.
What did you look for in a wedding ceremony venue?
We really wanted to get married in a little white church that fit our classic, romantic theme but also a place that shared our religious beliefs and values in which we could find community. We really lucked out with Harborside Chapel and loved getting to know the congregation, Pastor Matt, and the staff that made the day feel so incredibly special.
What did you look for in a wedding reception venue?
We both wanted an indoor reception venue for the big day (since unpredictable Florida weather can be scary) that transported guests to feel like they stepped into a different time. We were hopeful that we would find a historic building that was also a ‘one-stop shop' that covered the catering, tables, and chairs, and so on to reduce the number of vendors we needed to coordinate with on the day of.
The Vault checked every box for us: historical architectural elements, high ceilings, lots of natural light, two floors, large space, great food options, and an experienced team. We are incredibly grateful for the team at The Vault; we couldn't imagine our big day without them. They made all of our wedding dreams happen.”
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration? I have always loved classic and romantic movies, art, and design and wanted to showcase my love of simple elegance with modern flares. A few weddings that I was inspired by were John F. Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier, Kate Block and Kevin Love, and Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge.
What were your colors? We chose black and white as our colors because I love neutrals and monochromatic schemes. My favorite color to wear is black, and my favorite color to decorate my home with is white…it just works!
“The Vault checked every box for us: historical architectural elements, high ceilings, lots of natural light, two floors, large space, great food options, and an experienced team. We are incredibly grateful for the team at The Vault; we couldn't imagine our big day without them. They made all of our wedding dreams happen.”
-The Bride
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We traveled to the Amalfi Coast, the South of France, and Monaco for our honeymoon right after our wedding. We chose these locations after we both agreed we wanted to go to Italy. After researching the offerings of each location, we found that it would be romantic and relaxing, and it was exactly that! We loved every second of it and highly recommend these destinations.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our florist, photographer, and videographer absolutely blew us away. Our florist exceeded our expectations with our florals, from the ceremony arch to the tables to the bar at the reception and every detail in between; they were stunning! Our photographer and videographer worked together incredibly to ensure every detail was captured all day. We are so grateful that we have beautiful family heirlooms to pass down digitally to the next generation of Coopers. To this day, we still talk about all three of these vendors and cannot recommend them enough.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Plan early. Vendors get booked, the town is busy, and weddings happen fast. Make sure you follow a timeline of when certain things need to be done, like booking a venue or a DJ or sending out your invitations. It's extremely helpful to be on top of it, and it takes some of the stress of planning off your plate.
