Lizzy and Tanner’s classic downtown Tampa wedding focused on the meaning of their marriage first and foremost, with traditional details that made for a beautiful and timeless style.

“We wanted our marriage and our love for each other to be the focus of the day. To complement that, we wanted the design of the wedding to be elegant and timeless,” the bride shared. “The colors we chose for our wedding were dusty/mist blue, cranberry, and blush. I always knew I wanted to incorporate blue into my wedding colors, and the cranberry and blush really tied in our venues and added warmth to the color palette.”

The local couple both have a special connection to the city, having met in Tampa while working with the Tampa Bay Bucs. When it came time to begin the planning process, Lizzy turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay as the local authority for all things wedding.

“Marry Me Tampa Bay was one of my most used resources during the planning process,” the bride revealed. “It made it easy to find vendors that I knew I could trust and could bring my vision. It gave great advice on how and when to do things, and the featured weddings gave me a lot of ideas and inspiration. Every vendor that I came across, I would go and check to see if they were a preferred vendor on Marry Me Tampa Bay. Our venue, DJ, and honeymoon travel agent were found on Marry Me Tampa Bay. I also used the Marry Me Tampa Bay Facebook group as a reference to hear from current brides.”

The pair envisioned a reception venue with inviting indoor and outdoor spaces that would be a short drive from their ceremony for their 100 guests. Upon touring the Hilton Tampa Downtown, it was love at first sight.

“I knew my ceremony would be at our church, and with Florida weather, I wanted our reception to be indoors, but I love the outdoors as well and wanted to be able to incorporate that. So I was looking for a venue that had both an indoor and outdoor space. I also wanted a venue that would fit our elegant and timeless design and that would be a short drive from our church. The Hilton Tampa Downtown’s terrace, chandeliers, and location ultimately sold me on the venue. They also fit our budget, were easy to work with, and we were overall very happy with the venue,” Lizzy raved.

The bride incorporated several sentimental details throughout the wedding, including a peacock feather (in honor of her grandfather) into her bouquet, along with an artificial rose from her mother’s wedding bouquet. She attributes those meaningful touches as some of the most unique aspects of their celebration.

“I feel that our personal touches, what we went through to get to our wedding day, and the joy that everyone involved felt on that day made it unique,” Lizzy shared.

The bride sought a florist with whom she could entrust creating such a special bouquet, and elevate her vision with the detail and décor elements.

“I wanted a florist who could take my vision and make it better than I could have ever imagined, someone who cared for each bride and wedding as if it were their own, and someone who had a great personality that I would feel comfortable with. I chose Monarch Events and Design because Jean is the whole package!” Lizzy gushed. “She had everything that I was looking for in a florist and designer. She is incredibly passionate about what she does. She took my ideas and created the most beautiful wedding and was so much fun to work with. Not only was she my florist, but she also did the rentals of my chairs, chargers, linens, drapery, and vintage seating. This made planning so much easier.”

When it was time to choose their wedding entertainment, the couple wanted a lively atmosphere to create lasting memories.

“We wanted a DJ who was fun, outgoing, and would keep the party going,” Lizzy stated. “We chose Grant Hemond & Associates because it felt like everyone we talked to recommended them and had nothing but amazing things to say about the company and all of their DJs, and they were all correct. Jason was our DJ, and he was phenomenal!”

Planning a wedding doesn’t come without hiccups, and less than two weeks before their original date, the couple’s plans were altered because of the pandemic.

“Twelve days before our wedding, we had to postpone it due to COVID. COVID brides and grooms, you know the heartbreak we were feeling,” the bride recalled. “We can honestly say that all of our vendors exceeded our expectations and were so helpful and gracious with us needing to postpone the wedding. Thankfully, all of our vendors were available on our new date and made the date change effortless for us.”

As a trained dancer, the bride recollected the couple’s first dance, after months of lessons and practice, as one of her favorite memories of the day.

“The most memorable moments of our wedding were our ceremony, first dance, and the speeches,” Lizzy reminisced. “Our pastor made our ceremony so personal and relatable. It wasn’t just the standard ceremony and verbiage you find on Google. We also incorporated parts of my parent’s wedding ceremony in ours, so it was very sentimental. I am a dancer, so the first dance was something I was really looking forward to. Tanner, not so much. We took ballroom lessons and practiced a lot. Even though he was incredibly nervous, Tanner did so good, and I loved dancing with him!”

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
We stayed at a friend’s condo on Indian Shores for a weekend. I wanted a relaxing and fun beach weekend with my closest friends, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Proposal: 
On December 21st, I thought I was filming a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader Spotlight video at One Buc. In the middle of filming, the producer stopped me, and I turned around to see Tanner walking up..Very confused and slightly annoyed that he was interrupting me while I was working, I asked “What are you doing here!?” He proceeded to hand me some roses, express his love while trying not to cry, and he got down on one knee to pop the question! 

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Antigua and stayed at the Sandals resort. Originally we were going to St. Lucia, but due to COVID, we had to change islands at the last minute. Antigua was beautiful, and we could not have been happier with the resort, our excursions, and our trip. It was the perfect, relaxing honeymoon we needed after a COVID wedding!

We used Be the Tourist as our travel agent, and Kelley was the real deal! At first, we weren’t sure where we wanted to go on our honeymoon; we just knew we wanted somewhere tropical. Kelley asked us a few questions and gave us so many options with the pros and cons of each location and made selecting our destination quick and easy. With COVID, we had to change our honeymoon twice, and I didn’t have to stress about a single travel detail, because Kelley had it all sorted out before I even had time to worry. She got us an amazing upgrade, checked in to make sure we arrived at our destination safely and with no difficulties, and made sure we got home safely.

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I knew my ceremony would be at our church and with Florida weather, I knew I wanted our reception to be indoors, but I love the outdoors as well and wanted to be able to incorporate that. So I was looking for a venue that had both an indoor and outdoor space. I also wanted a venue that would fit our elegant and timeless design and that would be a short drive from our church.

The Hilton Tampa Downtown’s terrace, chandeliers, and location ultimately sold me on the venue. They also fit our budget, were easy to work with, and we were overall very happy with the venue.

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted our marriage and our love for each other to be the focus of the day. To complement that, we wanted the design of the wedding to be elegant and timeless.

What were your colors?
Dusty/mist blue, cranberry, and blush. I always knew I wanted to incorporate blue into my wedding colors, and the cranberry and blush really tied in our venues and added warmth to the color palette.

What did you look for in a wedding florist?
I wanted a florist who could take my vision and make it better than I could have ever imagined, someone who cared for each bride and wedding as if it were their own, and someone who had a great personality that I would feel comfortable with.

I chose Monarch Events and Design because Jean is the whole package! She had everything that I was looking for in a florist and designer. She is incredibly passionate about what she does. She took my ideas and created the most beautiful wedding and was so much fun to work with. Not only was she my florist, but she also did the rentals of my chairs, chargers, linens, drapery, and vintage seating. This made planning so much easier.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a DJ who was fun, outgoing, and would keep the party going.

We chose Grant Hemond & Associates because it felt like everyone we talked to recommended them and had nothing but amazing things to say about the company and all of their DJs, and they were all correct. Jason was our DJ, and he was phenomenal! 

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Hire a day-of coordinator, don’t sweat the small stuff, and remember that in the end, all that matters is the love you have for each other.

Ceremony Venue: Henderson Boulevard Church of Christ
Reception Venue & Caterer: Hilton Tampa Downtown *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Limelight Photography
Videographer: Voila Cinematic
Planner: Nancy Spooner Weddings
Florist: Monarch Events and Design *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Rentals, Draping, Chairs & Vintage Furniture: On The Move Productions
Favors & Table Numbers: WireHearts Design
Cake: Publix
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Cocktail Hour Music: Jay Singleton
Officiant: Ralph Walker
Invitations: Shutterfly
Transportation: Clearwater Jolley Trolley, Alpha Limousine
Dress Shop and Designer: Hayley Paige
Shoe Designer: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: David’s Bridal, Vera Wang
Hair & Makeup: IQ of Beauty
Rehearsal Dinner: Jackson’s Bistro
Travel Agent: Be The Tourist *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro

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.