Katie and Michael's downtown St. Petersburg wedding was an elegant evening filled with neutral flora, luxurious gold accents, and an emphasis on music. Guests partook in an outdoor waterfront ceremony before retreating to the historic hotel's ballroom for dining and dancing.
“I did most of the planning and had a very specific vision, which started with my dress; it was reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s wedding dress. The long sleeves, high neck, and floral embroidery were very regal and elegant. Thus, the vision of the wedding was classic and timeless: a black tie dress code, three-piece string quartet ceremony music, white roses, and white and gold décor. We wanted to look back at the wedding pictures in 20 years and still love the concept. We wanted it to be classic and timeless as opposed to being trendy,” the bride shared. “The colors of the wedding were white and gold. We chose them because we love a neutral/minimalist aesthetic.”
The Tampa bride relied on Marry Me Tampa Bay during the planning process to provide unique ideas, answer questions, and assist with vetting her wedding vendors.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay for wedding inspo, wedding advice, and for vendor reviews,” Katie divulged. “Specifically, I loved seeing pictures and reading about other weddings at the Vinoy. This gave me a good idea of what to expect. I also loved all of the advice articles and found those very helpful for someone like me who knew nothing about wedding planning previously.”
The pair focused on the wedding day experience rather than getting caught up in the traditional expectations that can cause stress during the planning process. With the music and cuisine and the forefront, the goal was a joyous November evening with their 100 treasured guests.
“The most important element of the wedding for us was to have fun and not spend too much time with formalities,” Katie detailed. “The wedding was for our enjoyment first and foremost as opposed to appeasing everyone else. We wanted to have an unforgettable night celebrating with our family and friends with good drinks, good food, and good music.”
The couple's mutual love of electronic dance music made for an unforgettable ‘party hour' towards the end of the reception. Guests of all ages were feeling the energy of the pulsing beats and neon glow sticks.
“One of the many things that we have in common is a love for EDM music. In the last hour of the reception, the DJ was instructed to hand out the glow sticks and pump up the energy with our favorite EDM hits from artists like Tiesto, Avicii, and Zedd. Even the older crowd was on their feet, jumping to the beat of the music,” the bride beamed. “There was no better way to end the night than a rave with our closest friends and family.”
Because the wedding music and entertainment were of such high priority, the couple turned to the seasoned professionals at Grant Hemond & Associates to ensure everything felt cohesive and authentic to their personalities. Their DJ created a custom playlist based on their tastes and preferences and helped orchestrate the logistics, flowing seamlessly from ceremony to cocktail hour and then to dinner and the dance party.
“We were looking for a charismatic DJ who would get the party going but also knew the right time to keep things more chill. There were a lot of specific requests we had in regard to the music, so it was important that the DJ paid good attention to detail. We loved Grant Hemond & Associates, specifically our DJ, James,” Katie gushed. “Being the type-A person that I am, I sent him a long list of ‘do not play' songs and a very specific list of songs that I wanted him to play for pretty much every section of the evening (dinner, reception, late-night reception). James did a great job of incorporating everything we wanted. We were also very nervous about the first dance portion of the evening because we did not practice for it at all. He told us that if we were struggling to just give him a look and he would fade out of the song early. We didn’t end up needing it, but it was great to know that he would bail us out if necessary!”
Although the dancing was a core memory for the bride and groom, it was reciting their personal vows that really stood out as a favorite memory for Katie. After receiving some encouragement from her husband, Katie overcame her introversion and was so grateful for the experience of expressing their mutual love in front of the people who mattered most.
“The most memorable moment of our wedding day was when we said our personal vows at the ceremony. Mike is the extroverted person in the relationship, and this was one of his non-negotiables for the wedding. I was not as keen on the public speaking aspect of it but was willing to do it for him,” the bride reminisced. “The vows ended up being the best part of the wedding for us. They added a personal touch that I think everyone appreciated. The vows gave everyone a glimpse of why our relationship is so special to us. I was grateful that Mike pushed me out of my comfort zone because I really enjoyed sharing my love of Mike with my family and friends.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Tulum, Mexico. I wanted a tropical beach bachelorette that involved a lot of margaritas and dancing.
The Proposal:
Mike took me to lunch at Ulele. After, we took a stroll along the Riverwalk in front of Armature Works, where he proposed in front of the waterfront. Then, he took me to the rooftop bar, M. Bird, where he surprised me with our closest family and friends waiting to celebrate with us.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our “mini-moon” traveling around London, Paris, and Brussels. We chose this trip because we had never been to any of these places, and it didn’t hurt that there was a direct flight from Tampa. Our favorite part of the trip was the Christmas markets that we visited. We have a bigger honeymoon trip planned to the Maldives. The Maldives trip was put on hold because Mike’s brother is getting married in Albania.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I did most of the planning and had a very specific vision, which started with my dress; it was reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s wedding dress. The long sleeves, high neck, and floral embroidery were very regal and elegant. Thus, the vision of the wedding was classic and timeless: a black tie dress code, three-piece string quartet ceremony music, white roses, and white and gold décor. We wanted to look back at the wedding pictures in 20 years and still love the concept. We wanted it to be classic and timeless as opposed to being trendy.
What were your colors?
The colors of the wedding were white and gold. We chose them because we love a neutral/minimalist aesthetic.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We were looking for a charismatic DJ who would get the party going but also knew the right time to keep things more chill. There were a lot of specific requests we had in regard to the music, so it was important that the DJ paid good attention to detail. We loved Grant Hemond & Associates, specifically our DJ, James.
Being the type-A person that I am, I sent him a long list of ‘do not play' songs and a very specific list of songs that I wanted him to play for pretty much every section of the evening (dinner, reception, late-night reception). James did a great job of incorporating everything we wanted. We were also very nervous about the first dance portion of the evening because we did not practice for it at all. He told us that if we were struggling to just give him a look and he would fade out of the song early. We didn’t end up needing it, but it was great to know that he would bail us out if necessary!
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our wedding planner truly exceeded all of our expectations. She was there for us day and night, answering all the questions we had. We truly could not have done the wedding without her. Any problem that arose, she had it handled quickly and professionally. We did not realize there were so many little details that go into the wedding day. She made the day so seamless and organized.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Really live in the moment. It’s crazy to think you spend years planning for an event that only lasts one day. That day goes by so fast, so you really have to be present. There’s no point in worrying about every little detail because no one’s wedding day is perfect. Focus on having fun and creating memories that last a lifetime.
