April and Tyler
“What made the most sense was choosing a vibe that fit us best as a couple, so we threw a rave! We love music, dancing, and sharing experiences with our friends, so why not do that on our special day? Our colors were simple and timeless: white, green, and a touch of rose gold.”
—The Bride
FEATURING
April and Tyler’s timeless St. Pete wedding welcomed 120 guests to NOVA 535 for a February celebration that paired classic white and green details with a modern, high-energy atmosphere. The bride and groom transformed their historic wedding venue with lush greenery, elegant florals, and subtle touches of rose gold, creating a sophisticated backdrop that blended timeless style with a high-energy party atmosphere.
“After working with more than 200 couples, I wanted to do something a little different for my own wedding,” the bride, who is also a wedding Event Sales Manager, shared. “As a St. Petersburg native, sharing the city and its energy with our closest friends and family was incredibly important to us. What mattered most was spending time with our guests and throwing a party we would never forget, so we built the energy throughout the night, beginning with a romantic indoor ceremony featuring Tyler’s dogs, followed by an extended cocktail hour with a live guitarist and plenty of time to mingle. We incorporated details that reflected both of us, from custom pet-inspired touches and pizza boxes handed out during cocktail hour to my sister’s guest DJ set. After speeches, we invited everyone into ‘Club Choura,’ where interactive food stations, a surprise saxophone player, nonstop dancing, and smoke blasters turned the reception into one unforgettable celebration.”
Researching Wedding Vendors
“I used vendors with whom I’ve cultivated relationships over the past six years. Many of them feel like family at this point, and I felt incredibly supported and at ease working with them.
I used Marry Me Tampa Bay for recommendations on my wedding dress and first-dance lessons! Marry Me Tampa Bay is an incredible community of wedding vendors and true pros in the business. I reached out for recommendations on a dress boutique and first-dance lessons, and both turned out amazing! I often refer couples I work with to MMTB because they have recommendations in every vendor category. Anna and her team are always willing to help.”
The Proposal
“Tyler surprised me with a dockside exclusive chef’s table at Bon Appétit in Dunedin. We had a private waiter and a three-course meal. Just as the sun was setting, Tyler stood up, and as soon as his knee touched the ground, bagpipes started blaring just a few feet away from us! Apparently, every Friday night, a group of bagpipe players serenades the sun as it goes down. I think he still heard me say yes.
He then surprised me with an after-party with all of my friends and even flew my best friend down from NYC as a surprise! It was an incredible night filled with family, friends, and love.”
The Photography and Videography
Iyrus Weddings
“I wanted Will from Iyrus Weddings to be my photographer and videographer before the ring was even on my finger! I had admired Will’s work from previous weddings at NOVA 535. He’s extremely personable and laid-back, yet professional and talented. He directs you throughout the day on how to stand and move, but also lets you and your partner feel comfortable and enjoy the moment. He didn’t miss a thing on our special day, and now we have all those memories to look back on. His work is truly invaluable.”
The Dress
Truly Forever Bridal
“Truly Forever Bridal provided a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. We had a private room, a great sales associate, and endless dresses to try. I also had the alterations done in-house, which was super convenient.”
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“A common theme you’ll see is my love of electronic dance music, so my bachelorette party had to be in Vegas so I could see multiple DJs! We rented a private house with a pool, which was so nice because we could all be together. We saw Two Friends at a nightclub, Zedd at a pool party, and went to a drag brunch, so we really took advantage of everything Vegas had to offer!
We took a 12-day cruise on Virgin Voyages for our honeymoon! We wanted something that was easy: just book and go! We visited Aruba, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and even made it all the way down to Cartagena, Colombia. It was so nice to escape and enjoy some quality time together. We ate, drank, and explored new places together.”
The Venue
NOVA 535
“Being the Event Sales Manager at NOVA 535, I’m quite familiar with other venues in the area, but nothing really compares to NOVA. It’s incredibly versatile in terms of layout, design, and tailoring it to your vision. Plus, I have quite the Type A personality, so having a little ‘control’ over the venue didn’t hurt!
NOVA 535 makes the planning incredibly easy because they handle so much: tables, chairs, linens, beverages, bar staff, glassware, lighting, uplighting, other AV needs, and guide you through the rest, like catering and vendor selection. It’s truly a one-stop shop, which is a huge weight lifted when planning a wedding with so many moving parts.”
The Pet Planning
FairyTail Pet Care
“As a cat person, I was honestly a bit wary of dating someone who had dogs. But it wasn’t long before I fell in love with the pups (and Tyler), and now I couldn’t imagine our special day without them. They’ve been there through so many special moments in our relationship, so it made sense to have them there for our biggest milestone yet.
Once you invite everyone you love and trust to your wedding, who’s left to care for your pets? FairyTail Pet Care handles everything, from pickup and photo posing to the ceremony, taking them home, and putting them to bed. It’s truly full service and takes away so much stress.”
From NOVA 535
“As kind, patient, professional, and attentive as April Sherwin, our NOVA 535 sales manager, always is, she was acutely reminded of how our bridal clients must feel while sitting in their own planning seats.
Aside from her still-glowing, beautiful, just-married aura, April is now even kinder and more patient with our clients. Having gone through the wedding planning process herself, she experienced every detail firsthand and is better for it. We were honored and delighted to host her wedding here at NOVA 535. Congratulations to April and Tyler, and bravo to Team NOVA for making all of her wedding dreams come true!”
—Michael Scott Novilla, Owner of NOVA 535
The Design
“After working on more than 200 weddings, I’ve seen just about every theme, trend, and design. What made the most sense was choosing a vibe that fit us best as a couple, so we threw a rave! We love music, dancing, and sharing experiences with our friends, so why not do that on our special day? Our colors were simple and timeless: white, green, and a touch of rose gold.”
The Caterer
Elite Events Catering
“Catering was really important, and I wanted the food to be more than just sustenance. I wanted it to be an experience that contributed to the night’s essence. We chose to move away from the traditional approach and make it more interactive, so we opted for stations rather than a plated or buffet meal. It allowed guests to move around and choose from different options.
I came to Elite Events Catering with some pretty crazy ideas! From our very first meeting, Terri listened to my ideas and helped me execute exactly what I envisioned. We came up with creative hors d’oeuvres like custom pizza boxes representing my time in NYC, Pittsburgh-themed pierogies, and cigar spring rolls with burnt edges served in cigar boxes. I felt completely at ease knowing Elite Events would handle everything from start to finish. They are extremely professional and polite and felt like family by the end.”
The DJ
Grant Hemond & Associates
“Music was extremely important for our wedding. I grew up a dancer, and both Tyler and I love going to live music concerts. For us, music equals energy and sets the vibe for the entire night. It was really important to me that there be a buildup throughout the event. I needed someone who understood our vision while remaining flexible and professional.
I needed a DJ who could meet my high expectations, and Ben Daniel from Grant Hemond & Associates was the guy for the job! From our first call, Ben embraced my crazy Excel spreadsheet, which basically outlined a playlist for the entire night from start to finish. He understood the assignment of throwing a rave and brought so much energy.”
From The Photographer
“This wedding was an absolute blast to be part of. The couple brought incredible energy from the moment we arrived, and their guests kept it going all night long. Between the EDM music, cryo cannons, and packed dance floor, the reception felt more like a music festival than a wedding. The atmosphere was fun, authentic, and completely true to who they are as a couple. We loved every minute of it.”
—Will DeCosta, Iyrus Weddings
Most Memorable Moment
“The most memorable moment was when my coworker surprised us with a live saxophone player! It was something I really wanted at the last minute, but the person I contacted wasn’t available, so I let it slide among the million other things on my to-do list. But midway through the reception, he appeared on the staircase and lit up the dance floor! It really added to the night’s energy and got everyone moving.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
They say doctors make the worst patients, but I don’t think event planners make the easiest wedding clients either! My day-of coordinators, Kim and Courtney from Perfectly Paired Weddings and Events, went above and beyond to help bring my vision to life. After our meeting, they basically ripped my 15-tab spreadsheet out of my hands and said they had it from there. That’s when I knew I had hired the right girls for the job! I had so many specific requests on the wedding day, and they didn’t miss a single thing. I felt completely at ease knowing they were checking and double-checking everything so I could actually be the bride and shine.
What advice would you give to other St. Pete couples?
After experiencing the other side of wedding planning and going through the day as a bride, what mattered most to me was spending quality time with our guests. There likely won’t be another moment in your lifetime when all of the people you love so much are in the exact same room at the exact same time. It didn’t matter what color the linens were or whether every detail was perfect. My advice is to keep the big picture in mind and not sweat the small stuff.
