Caitlin and Kyle’s destination Tampa Heights wedding dazzled with a breathtaking chapel ceremony filled with an abundance of natural lighting and romantic greenery-inspired reception. Wanting to share their love story for their 150 guests, the Kentucky bride and groom turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for advice and inspiration on planning their destination Florida wedding.
“As a couple who live out of state, planning a wedding included a lot of research and time online and being able to count on a local wedding publication was awesome. Marry Me Tampa Bay was such a helpful resource as we were piecing together our big day,” the bride beamed. “From learning about all of the different vendors in the area to gaining decor inspiration, Marry Me Tampa Bay helped with everything!”
Envisioning an intimate chapel ceremony that embodied the modern yet elegant ambiance they were looking for, Caitlin and Kyle fell head over heels in love with Harborside Chapel, located just over the bridge in Safety Harbor.
“We were searching for a chapel or church that would really honor our vision. However, the issue we continuously ran into was a lot of churches being too large or chapels being too small. We needed something in between that was timeless and roomy, so when we found Harborside Chapel, we were in love,” Caitlin gushed. “We could not have asked for a more perfect and breathtaking ceremony location. Part of the reason we chose Harborside was because of how naturally beautiful it was! It truly stands apart with its look and doesn’t even need additional decor. Aside from the venue, the coordinators went above and beyond to help ensure our day was magical! Jessica was truly amazing!”
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Choosing a Tampa Bay wedding photographer who is flawlessly able to capture every tear, laugh, and dance move throughout the day is a vital part of capturing any true love story. Lucky for Caitlin and Kyle, selecting Carrie Wildes Photography was a decision they would make countless times over.
“When it came to a photographer, we were told that this is where we shouldn’t cut corners,” the bride shared. “We wanted someone with a great reputation and someone we could completely trust to truly capture our big day! We had heard wonderful things about Carrie, and a lot of people from my home church had spoken very highly of her as well. After our first phone call with her and connecting right away, we knew we wanted to hire her!”
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For the bride, family is something she holds close to her heart and with so much of the day about her, she wanted to do something extra special for her mom and dad.
“It was really important to me to make sure my parents felt important on our wedding day as well,” the bride reminisced. “I came up with this really sweet scavenger hunt the morning of our wedding for my dad and me to complete together. It involved finding different clues that were special to us both. His last clue was a Coldplay pin that I used as my “something blue” on my bouquet. My dad and I love the song, Sky Full of Stars, so the pin was the Coldplay album cover, and it was also the song the bridal party walked down the aisle to! For my mom, I had her wedding dress made into a sundress that I wore to rehearsal. She was so surprised and absolutely loved it!”
The Proposal:
Kyle and I love those breakout games where you have one hour to solve clues and “escape.” Kyle had spoken with the manager beforehand and arranged for my ring to be part of our very last clue in the game. I was in the zone and hardly realized what was happening when he got down on one knee!
What did you look for in a wedding ceremony venue?
We were searching for a chapel or church that would really honor our vision. However, the issue we continuously ran into was a lot of churches being too large or chapels being too small. We needed something in between that was timeless and roomy, so when we found Harborside Chapel, we were in love. We could not have asked for a more perfect and breathtaking ceremony location. Part of the reason we chose Harborside was because of how naturally beautiful it was! It truly stands apart with its look and doesn’t even need additional decor. Aside from the venue, the coordinators went above and beyond to help ensure our day was magical! Jessica was truly amazing!
What was your theme?
We didn’t really have a specific theme for our wedding, however, we agreed that we wanted to be married in a church and keep the traditional vows. Harborside Chapel was the perfect venue to incorporate both our faith and the modern, elegant style we had envisioned!
What were your colors?
Navy and dusty blue. Kyle had mentioned he preferred to not wear black, so the guys all wore navy. With the process of elimination of colors my friends have used in their weddings, I came across the lighter blue dresses that I thought would look perfect against the navy.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
When it came to a photographer, we were told that this is where we shouldn’t cut corners. We wanted someone with a great reputation and someone we could completely trust to truly capture our big day! We had heard wonderful things about Carrie Wildes Photography, and a lot of people from my home church had spoken very highly of her as well. After our first phone call with her and connecting right away, we knew we wanted to hire her!
What did you look for in a wedding rental company?
When it came to wedding rentals, we were especially looking for Chiavari chairs and farm tables for our bridal party. We checked out A Chair Affair and saw they had tons of options to choose from. A Chair Affair did a wonderful job allowing us to make last-minute changes and constantly checking in on our order before the big day. The tables and chairs made the view of the venue extra perfect in my opinion!
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
When it came to a DJ, we wanted someone with experience! Ideally, we wanted to completely trust our DJ and not have to create a specific playlist for the whole four hours. We wanted someone who could entertain, take charge, and keep people on the dance floor all night! We hired Grant Hemond & Associates because literally every vendor could not recommend them enough! We also received mail from them shortly after our inquiry. We were extremely impressed with their promptness and willingness to answer all of our questions.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Never forget the bigger picture! Reminding myself that at the end of the day I would be married to my very best friend made everything more enjoyable. I didn’t stress over the little things. and when certain things didn’t go accordingly, it didn’t ruin the day. Remember what’s important and what your marriage represents!
Ceremony Venue: Harborside Chapel *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Reception Venue: Armature Works
Photographer: Carrie Wildes Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videography: Autumn Crest Films
Planner: Love Lee Lane
Catering: Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
Florist: Buds, Blooms & Beyond
Hair: Drybar
Makeup: Glam To Be
DJ: Grant Hemond and Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Wedding Dress and Designer: Couture Closet Boutique, Ashley & Justin Bride
Cake: Publix
Chairs/Chargers/Tables: A Chair Affair *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Transportation: Clearwater Jolley Trolley
