Amanda and Derek’s downtown Tampa wedding was a timeless vision of ivory, blush, and sage that created the perfect blend of romance and individuality for the couple’s wedding day.
“We wanted a very timeless, classic, romantic theme for our wedding, very neutral colors, and a lot of candles. The crystal candelabras were my biggest focus,” Amanda shared. “We chose ivory, blush, and sage for our colors. We felt it was a classic look that complimented the venue, our vibe, and time of year! Plus it went really well with all the candles!”
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The pair relied on real wedding features from Marry Me Tampa Bay to help envision their perfect wedding day.
“Amanda looked through the Marry Me Tampa Bay blog when picking venues and themes,” the groom shared. “She used previous weddings posted on the blog for inspiration about what things looked best in each venue to help her piece together her vision for our wedding!”
The Tampa couple sought an elegant reception venue that could accommodate their 180 guests and allowed them to incorporate their own ideas into the planning process.
“I wanted a unique space that we could make our own! The ceremony was at my high school alma mater, The Academy of the Holy Names, which was really special to me, and the reception was at The Vault which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony space, an outdoor courtyard, and a cool bank vault for a photo booth,” the bride revealed. “The Vault was super attentive to all of our inquiries and suggestions especially when it came to the menu! Chef Cody let us go off-menu for everything and made us several Cuban inspired appetizers to pay homage to my heritage and Tampa roots.”
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As Amanda imagined her perfect wedding day, she knew she could trust Breezin’ Weddings to provide a stress-free planning experience.
“We definitely needed a patient, Type-A, and well-connected wedding planner. Jessie with Breezin’ Weddings was all those things and more,” Amanda gushed. “I knew Jessie personally for most of my life, so when I spoke with her about what services she offered as a wedding planner, it was a no brainer! She was always available, gave honest feedback, and kept me calm and sane during the entire wedding planning process!”
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While they invested hours of planning, there was one issue that Amanda and Derek did not agree on for their wedding day.
“We are very much a house divided. I went to the University of Florida and Derek went to the University of Georgia, bitter rivals,” the bride joked. “For our wedding favors, we had cake dough jars with a house divided tag with both of our school logos on them! They were placed at each place setting and from what we hear most got eaten even before dinner!
Looking back, the bride and groom reminisced on how special it was to share their first dance in front of their friends and family.
“Our first dance was the most memorable moment. We were able to finally take it all in,” the bride reminisced. “All of the planning, stress, and every little detail finally came together perfectly while looking at each other and taking in all of our loved ones.”
The Proposal:
We were leaving for London and Paris that following week for Amanda’s 30th birthday (where everyone was definitely assuming I would propose), and I told Amanda I had a business happy hour she needed to accompany me to at the University of Tampa. As we pulled up, I was in full panic mode as we saw the crowds of teenagers there taking pictures for prom! I walked Amanda over to the park that overlooks the Hillsborough River and pulled out a book full of pictures by which I poured my heart out about our relationship and love, and then got down on one knee and asked Amanda to marry me!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted a very timeless, classic, romantic theme for our wedding. We wanted very neutral colors and a lot of candles. The crystal candelabras were my biggest focus!
What were your colors?
We chose ivory, blush, and sage for our colors. We felt it was a classic look that complimented the venue, our vibe, and time of year! Plus it went really well with all the candles!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
When it came to the wedding venue, I wanted a unique space that we could make our own! The ceremony was at my high school alma mater, The Academy of the Holy Names, which was really special to me, and the reception was at The Vault which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony space, an outdoor courtyard, and a cool bank vault for a photo booth!
The Vault was super attentive to all of our inquiries and suggestions; especially when it came to the menu! Chef Cody let us go off-menu for everything and made us several Cuban inspired appetizers to pay homage to my heritage and Tampa roots.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We definitely needed a patient, Type-A, and well-connected wedding planner. Jessie Soplinski with Breezin’ Weddings was all those things and more!
I knew Jessie personally for most of my life, so when I spoke with her about what services she offered as a wedding planner, it was a no brainer! She was always available, gave honest feedback, and kept me calm and sane during the entire wedding planning process!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
I would definitely encourage Tampa Bay couples to use a wedding planner! There are so many vendor options it can be so overwhelming to vet them all!
Ceremony Venue: Academy of the Holy Names
Reception Venue, Caterer and Rentals: The Vault *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Ailyn La Torre Photography
Videographer: Voila Cinematic
Planner: Breezin’ Weddings *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Events in Bloom
Rentals: Linens by the Sea
Cake: Elise’s Pieces
Entertainment: Inpulse Entertainment
Officiant: Fr. Felipe Gonzalez
Invitations: IBA Paper Goods
Transportation: Ambassador Limo
Dress Shop and Designer: Malindy Elene Bridal
Bridesmaid Dress Shop: Show Me Your Mumu
Hair: Rachel Artistry
Makeup: Logan Ambrester
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.
