Mara and Brian’s vibrant Mexican-inspired St. Petersburg wedding was a heartfelt celebration that beautifully honored their culture. With a bright orange and pink color palette setting the scene, the day was filled with joyful touches such as authentic cuisine and a lively wedding piñata brimming with surprises from their guests, making it a truly unforgettable fiesta.

“Brian and I chose a Mexican-themed wedding because we knew our Mexican families made up about 50% of the guest list, and we wanted to fully immerse ourselves in our culture on our special day. I wanted the colors, the liveliness, and the beauty of what Mexico means to us. Plus, who doesn’t love Mexican food?” the bride beamed. “Most of the decorations featured shades of pink and orange. We incorporated those into our table runners, place cards, flowers, the ribbons on my bouquet, and even my makeup. During my makeup trial, I used pinks and purples on my eyes. When Brian and I saw our flowers displayed ahead of time, I immediately knew I’d be changing my makeup to match.”

“Brian let my imagination run wild with the decorations. He’d come along with me to pick them out, and even if he didn’t always see the vision, he trusted the process. I’ve always loved color, and I felt that pinks and oranges would be the most vibrant, so we included them in our flowers and table settings,” the bride added. “He didn’t mind as long as everything matched in some way. On the day of our wedding, we couldn’t help but gasp at how everything complemented each other. It all came together just as we had hoped!”

 The Tampa couple first turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration, with a vision of creating a wedding that honored their culture.

“When we first began planning, we turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration to help kick-start our ideas,” Mara shared. “We made a conscious effort not to get overwhelmed by everything online, as we wanted to avoid being swayed in any one direction. It was important to Brian and me that our wedding truly reflected us.”

Mara and Brian wanted a local venue that captured their cultural essence, and everything fell into place when they discovered Red Mesa Events. With its brick-lined ballroom, elevated Mexican cuisine, and full-service event staff, they knew it was the perfect venue for their February celebration.

“Brian and I were set on having a Mexican-themed wedding to incorporate our heritage. We knew right away that a barn wedding wasn’t for us and were looking for something with more of a Spanish flair. The venues that matched that vibe were mostly in Miami, and that was just a bit too far for us. We were looking for a wedding venue that felt both familial and intimate,” the bride revealed. “The stunning rooftop view and the intimate feel of the ballroom won us over. It fit our needs perfectly. With our guest count being low, the space was just the right size. I also appreciated that they had a list of select vendors they exclusively worked with, which made the planning process feel less overwhelming. There are so many vendors in Tampa, and having a designated list made things so much easier. If Red Mesa Events trusted them, we felt we could, too. On the wedding day, the service was phenomenal. We’d dined at the restaurant a few times before, so we already knew the food was delicious and the service top-notch. The fact that it was a Mexican restaurant that matched our vibe made it the perfect choice.”

In their search for a St. Pete wedding photographer who could expertly capture their personalities with creativity and skill, the pair chose Sabrina Autumn Photography. Impressed by Sabrina’s talent, they entrusted her to capture both their engagement photos and their wedding day memories.

“We wanted someone who could capture our true selves and let us be creative with the photos. We were immediately drawn to the stunning images Sabrina Autumn Photography captured of other couples,” the bride gushed. “From the beginning, we felt Sabrina understood our vision for both our engagement photos and wedding. Our engagement photos were taken at Bok Tower Gardens, and Sabrina captured the Mexican/Spanish style we were aiming for. There are a few shots of Brian and me sitting on a blanket, playing Loteria (Mexican Bingo), and holding Jarritos. Sabrina embraced the idea, and those particular shots turned out beautifully.”

“Throughout our wedding planning, there were times when Brian and I were exhausted from making decisions, but Sabrina stepped in and made creative choices that truly reflected who we are. We had complete confidence in her on the wedding day, even with the rain. It rained for most of the day, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves or capturing beautiful photos,” the bride stated. “Our family portraits turned out beautifully, and some of the candid, funny shots she took are among my favorites. She managed to capture us as we truly are, which isn’t easy to find in a wedding photographer. We wanted our day to be peaceful, and Sabrina brought that calm energy throughout the entire day.”

The bride looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder gown featuring a corset bodice and layers of soft tulle adorned with elegant details, paying homage to her favorite childhood movie.

“My dress truly reflected my personality. As a child, I watched Jim Henson’s Labyrinth every day without fail, and my favorite scene was always the ballroom scene with David Bowie. I wanted my dress to capture that same essence with big, puffy sleeves and plenty of sparkle,” Mara detailed. “Finding the dress felt like fate. The dress was whimsical and fairy-like, quite different from our wedding theme, but I couldn’t resist. It was sparkly, the sleeves were ethereal, and the transparent front added a feminine touch. I couldn’t imagine wearing anything else.”

Incorporating special desserts into the celebration was important to newlyweds, as was having family and friends create some of the wedding decorations, adding a personal touch to their day.

“Maybe it’s the sweet tooth in us, but the desserts were a big priority,” the bride joked. “We wanted Mexican Pan Dulce, Mexican Paletas, a Mexican-themed cake—basically the whole nine yards. What made our wedding even more unique were the decorations, many of which were DIY projects crafted by the people closest to me. Our place cards were handwritten by my friend Stephanie, who put so much time into them, and they turned out beautifully. My sister, Ruth, wrapped our wedding piñata in white, and it was adorable. We loved shaking out the surprises our guests had tucked inside.”

“When we first arrived the morning of the wedding, the first thing we walked into was a bridesmaid removing all the confetti off of a piñata and replacing it with a different color. The extent to which Mara and Brian, their party, and Truly Yours Event Planning went to make this wedding’s ‘Mexican theme’ come to life was so awesome! I loved how all of the family and guests wore such colorful outfits!” Sabrina Massmann, owner of Sabrina Autumn Photography, raved.

Among all the memories from their wedding day, two moments will forever be highlighted for the newlyweds.

“The most memorable moment for us was our first look. It felt like the world stopped for a few minutes, just like in the movies. That memory will always stay with us,” the bride reminisced. “Another unforgettable moment was when Brian went to grab my garter and suddenly pulled out a Spider-Man mask. It had everyone laughing. Family and friends still bring it up!”

“Because of the rain, their first look ended up being inside the bedroom she got ready in, and the moment was so beautiful to watch. The moment Brian saw Mara, it was pure euphoria!” the photographer beamed. “When Brian came out with a Spider-Man mask, that was the moment they both were able to let go and just dance and have fun. It was epic to be a spectator for!” 

The Proposal:
I had no idea Brian was proposing until I sensed it the night before. We were going to take Christmas-themed family pictures with our dog Lilo. My sister, Ruth, had plans to take our pictures. We got to the proposal spot, the sun was blinding, our dog was not cooperating, and I saw my mom and dad in the corner of my eye. It was the perfect surprise! 

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who could capture our true selves and let us be creative with the photos. We were immediately drawn to the stunning images Sabrina Autumn Photography captured of other couples. From the beginning, we felt Sabrina understood our vision for both our engagement photos and wedding. Our engagement photos were taken at Bok Tower Gardens, and Sabrina captured the Mexican/Spanish style we were aiming for. There are a few shots of Brian and me sitting on a blanket, playing Loteria (Mexican Bingo), and holding Jarritos. Sabrina embraced the idea, and those particular shots turned out beautifully.

Throughout our wedding planning, there were times when Brian and I were exhausted from making decisions, but Sabrina stepped in and made creative choices that truly reflected who we are. We had complete confidence in her on the wedding day, even with the rain. It rained for most of the day, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying ourselves or capturing beautiful photos,” the bride stated. “Our family portraits turned out beautifully, and some of the candid, funny shots she took are among my favorites. She managed to capture us as we truly are, which isn’t easy to find in a wedding photographer. We wanted our day to be peaceful, and Sabrina brought that calm energy throughout the entire day.

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Brian and I were set on having a Mexican-themed wedding to incorporate our heritage. We knew right away that a barn wedding wasn’t for us and were looking for something with more of a Spanish flair. The venues that matched that vibe were mostly in Miami, and that was just a bit too far for us. We were looking for a wedding venue that felt both familial and intimate.

The stunning rooftop view and the intimate feel of the ballroom won us over. It fit our needs perfectly. With our guest count being low, the space was just the right size. I also appreciated that they had a list of select vendors they exclusively worked with, which made the planning process feel less overwhelming. There are so many vendors in Tampa, and having a designated list made things so much easier. If Red Mesa Events trusted them, we felt we could too. On the wedding day, the service was phenomenal. We’d dined at the restaurant a few times before, so we already knew the food was delicious and the service top-notch. The fact that it was a Mexican restaurant that matched our vibe made it the perfect choice.