Lauren and Paxton
Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club
“We were going for timeless, classic, and romantic with a modern twist. Our colors were black, white, and gold. The black and white color schemes were the most elegant and classic.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Lauren and Paxton’s classic South Tampa wedding was a timeless March celebration in black, white, and gold with a modern twist, where flowers and decor took center stage. The Tampa couple welcomed 130 guests to their elegant country club venue, where their beloved pup joined the festivities in his very own tuxedo, a cigar bar honored Paxton’s family legacy, and a dedicated dessert room stole the show.
“We had our dog with us through the ceremony and reception, and that is us to a T. We’re obviously obsessed with him. Having our dog be a part of the whole event (tuxedo included) made it special. We also had a cigar bar, which honors Paxton’s family legacy,” the bride shared.
Researching Wedding Vendors
“I was constantly looking at Marry Me Tampa Bay’s Instagram for inspiration.”
The Proposal
“Paxton took me to Curtis Hixon Park during Christmas time with all of the lights and the Christmas Village and told me we were filming a video for his business. He tricked me, and midway through the video, he proposed. We went to Rocco for dinner afterward—I was so shocked at the whole thing because it was a random Thursday afternoon, but once again, it was magical.”
The Planning
EventFull Weddings
“I wanted someone who was familiar with vendors, especially since I’m not originally from Florida. I also wanted someone who would handle the tedious tasks, but most importantly, I wanted someone who could help me with the design and aesthetic process.
Karen Cerboni of EventFull Weddings was actually recommended to us by a friend, and after meeting with her, I knew she was the perfect person for the job. I was absolutely blown away by all of Karen’s hard work and knowledge. I truly felt like we were collaborating constantly, and she had the best suggestions—from the food to decor to planning logistics. She is truly a rock star. I can’t thank her enough for making the planning process and the day itself go so smoothly.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“I hosted my bachelorette party in Vegas! I definitely wanted the quintessential bachelorette party and thought Vegas was the obvious choice. My friends and family had the best time celebrating, and we felt like VIPs the whole trip.”
“We spent our honeymoon in Thailand! It was absolutely magical. We love to travel, and we wanted to go somewhere romantic but also somewhere we could explore. We also wanted somewhere a bit different from your typical honeymoon destinations. We spent time in the city and on various islands, and I cannot recommend it enough.”
The Experience
“We had the luxury of having an extra room next to the main reception area, which we turned into a whole dessert room, and the display was absolutely gorgeous. I still think about the tablescape to this day.
I loved surprising Paxton after the garter toss with a cutout of him from his bodybuilding competition, a cutout of Igor, and a bottle-service-style sign with The Newmans on it. We played Shots, and my bridesmaids and I brought the signs out and passed out glow sticks at the same time—it was such a fun idea and a cute way to signal it was party time!
It was truly such a party and also a celebration of love. Anyone you ask will tell you they could feel the love. It was palpable.”
The Bridal Beauty
Adore Bridal
“Beauty was definitely my number one priority! Before any big event, I am always the one stressing about how I look and making sure everything is perfect, so you can imagine how that translates on the wedding day. I wanted a soft glam look. I definitely didn’t want to look like I do every day, but I also didn’t want to look unrecognizable.
Adore Bridal handled my bridesmaids and family, and they did a stunning job. Their setup was very cohesive, and their timing was also great.”
The Inspiration
“The flowers and decor—really, the overall aesthetic—were the most important. We were going for timeless, classic, and romantic with a modern twist. Our wedding planner, Karen Cerboni, helped me realize my vision and pushed me out of my comfort zone, which led to stunning results.
Our colors were black, white, and gold. I wasn’t sure what colors I wanted going into planning, and after looking through TikTok and Pinterest, I realized I wasn’t drawn to any specific color. I thought the black and white color schemes were the most elegant and classic.”
The Rentals
Kate Ryan Event Rentals
“We got reception chairs, charger plates, silverware, and an umbrella and circle bar for the cocktail hour from Kate Ryan Event Rentals. The rentals were everything! They brought together the whole aesthetic, and it would not have looked even close to the same without them. It was so worth it.”
From The Planner
“I have two favorites from Lauren and Paxton’s wedding. The first was seeing Lauren’s face when she saw the room. Lauren was very anxious during the planning process and trusted me with certain decisions she was unsure about. Seeing her face when it all came together, and the hug she gave me, was worth every email, every mood board, every phone call.
The other favorite, like Lauren’s, was the dessert table. It looked like something out of a fairytale.”
—Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings
The Most Memorable Moments
“The most memorable moments were our first look and our first dance. We almost didn’t do a first look, and I’m so glad we did. Once we saw each other, our nerves melted away, and we could focus on what mattered most—our love and happiness. It was so nice to have that private moment before the rest of the day went on.
Our first dance was another memorable moment because we were just in pure bliss. The whole room could have been on fire, and we wouldn’t have noticed. It was just such a magical moment, a magical feeling, and we will never forget that.”
The Photobooth
The Gala Photobooth
“I wanted our guests to have an interactive experience and a memento to take home with them. I love photo booths at weddings and wanted another way to capture photos of our guests and take more individual pictures with them as well.
I love The Gala Photobooth—their photos come out beautifully, and we had a dedicated attendant saving an extra copy of every photo for us.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Karen Cerboni of EventFull Weddings was there with me every step of the way. Her input and guidance were invaluable! I love her so much. She’s a boss lady, and that’s what every bride needs, especially on the day of.
Vladi of VladisAngels Makeup, my makeup artist and hair stylist, was top-notch and made me feel so beautiful. Amanda Fye Designs was also incredible. I am still obsessed with our seating chart and signage—it was exactly what I wanted and fairly priced.
Inpulse Entertainment also did a stellar job DJing and emceeing. They captured our music vibe perfectly and worked with us beforehand on small details that I appreciated. Also, the violinist for the ceremony was 1000% worth it.
What advice would you give to other Tampa couples?
Don’t worry so much about the actual venue. Focus more on what you’re going to do with the venue. If you can save on the venue space, save and use what you save towards transforming the space into what you want it to be. Flowers and decor are what truly make the biggest difference.
Don’t be nervous! Everything will work out perfectly, and even if it doesn’t, you’re so happy to be marrying the love of your life that you don’t even care.
