Jessica and Trenton’s Clearwater Beach wedding was a tropical vision of green, white, and gold that created a soft and elegant atmosphere during their waterfront ceremony. For a phenomenal guest experience, the bride and groom paired food stations with bottles of wine as wedding favors.
“Because of the views of the beach, I felt the decor needed a tropical feel. I didn’t like the sand and seashells thing, so I found some pictures on Pinterest called tropical elegance. I took it and ran with it!” the bride shared. “I wanted to stick with green, white, gold, and beige so nothing was too overwhelming. I thought it fit perfectly with our venue.”
MORE: TROPICAL WEDDING INSPIRATION
The high school sweethearts wanted a destination wedding venue that could accommodate their largely out-of-state guestlist for the entire weekend. After an extensive search, Jessica and Trenton fell in love with the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach for its beautiful beachfront views and location.
“I probably toured 25 different venues between Sarasota, Tampa, Clearwater, and Orlando. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach was actually the second venue I toured, and I fell in love. I loved how everything was right there: restaurants, shops, bars, and activities so guests didn’t have to leave the area,” the bride gushed. “Food was so important to me; everyone remembers the food and music.
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To find their perfect wedding photographer, the Englewood couple visited Marry Me Tampa Bay for recommendations.
“I used Marry Me Tampa Bay for recommendations on vendors. That is partly why I hired Lifelong Photography Studios, because they were on the Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding photographers list,” Jessica shared. “I looked at a ton of photographers. I wanted someone I was comfortable with and knew what I wanted. Editing was also a big thing for me. Buffy was just so awesome. She knew how to capture every little moment. On our wedding day, she was so great with the timelines, getting the best angles of me, and even helping me finish getting ready at the end. I love our pictures so much. Lifelong was with every penny. I had so many laughs/cries going through the pictures, and I’m glad I have these to cherish forever.”
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Jessica’s most joyful memories from her wedding day were shared on the dance floor with the two most important men in her life.
“The most memorable moments were probably our first dance and father-daughter dance. We have been together for six years and only danced at prom, so dancing together isn’t something we did much. We actually got dance lessons a few weeks before our wedding but decided to not do the dance routine and instead just be us and be traditional,” Jessica revealed. “My dad isn’t an emotional guy by any means so it was special to me that he got emotional in that moment of us dancing.”
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Food was so important to me. Everyone remembers the food and music. I also, of course, wanted a gorgeous venue.
I Want to Learn More about Weddings at the Hyatt Clearwater Beach.
I probably toured 25 different venues between Sarasota, Tampa, Clearwater, and Orlando. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach was actually the second venue I toured, and I fell in love but the backup weather space wasn’t ideal so we took it off the list. I still loved the venue, so I emailed the coordinators and asked if they had any other ideas. They gave me a perfect backup so we booked that day.
Everyone else was traveling from a different state. I loved how everything was right there: restaurants, shops, bars, and activities, guests didn’t have to leave the area. I first met with Danielle at the Hyatt, and she was so sweet and awesome! I didn’t want to do a buffet, but I also hate the idea of plated meals because who knows what they want to eat the months in advance?! Not every venue was willing to do stations in our budget, but the Hyatt worked with us tremendously.
The Proposal:
Trenton and I have been together since 2012 when he was a senior in high school and I was a junior. Trenton proposed Christmas Day in 2017. He gave me a present in the evening and in the box was a coffee pot for the shower. I was really confused because I never drink coffee. In the box, there was a shirt that said “Wifey” on it, and he got down on one knee and proposed. He actually even dropped the ring because he was so nervous.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I looked at a ton of photographers. I wanted someone I was comfortable with and knew what I wanted. Editing was also a big thing for me, and I wanted a photographer that could edit how I liked pictures to turn out.
I want to Learn more about Lifelong Photography Studio
Partly why I hired Lifelong Photography Studios because they were on the Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding photographers list. I talked to Buffy; her personality was just so awesome. She knew how to capture every little moment. We did our engagement pictures at Disney’s Boardwalk, and we were so comfortable with her despite the awkward poses Trent hated. I could just tell she would be wonderful to work with, and she didn’t disappoint. On our wedding day, she was so great with the timelines, getting the best angles of me, even helping me finish getting ready at the end. I love our pictures so much! Lifelong was with every penny. I loved seeing our pictures and the moments I didn’t get to witness of the boys. I had so many laughs/cries going through the pictures, and I’m glad I have these to cherish forever.
How would you describe your theme and colors?
Because of the views of the beach, I felt the decor needed a tropical feel. I didn’t like the sand and seashells thing, so I found some pictures on Pinterest that were called tropical elegance. I took it and ran with it! I wanted to stick with green, white, gold, and beige so nothing was too overwhelming. I thought it fit perfectly with our venue.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
My advice would be to first get a coordinator; they will be a lifesaver. Stop thinking that you have so much time to get everything done because it’s going to go by so fast. There were quite a few things I had forgot to do that didn’t make or break the wedding of course but I had the mindset of I’ll do it later. Be prepared and get things done as soon as you can! More expensive isn’t always better. Don’t spend more than what your budget allows it isn’t worth it. Most things we worry about are things that only we will remember or notice, not the guests. And lastly, don’t buy a dress until you are 100% sure. I can’t stress that enough. I bought four dresses because I was never 100% and was silly and bought them anyway. You need to look and feel confident. It’s your day!
Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Lifelong Photography Studios *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Videographer: Blue Hammock Studios
Planner: Janova Events
Florist: Stephanie Voth Events
Rentals: Chiavari Chic
Cake: Cakes by Nomeda
DJ: Events Done Right Tampa Bay
Dress: Bearer of the Bling Bridal
Hair: Style Hair and Makeup
Makeup: Terrie Carfagno
