Amber and Will's downtown Tampa wedding combined a soft pastel palette of natural spring colors and a plethora of blooms and greenery for a timeless garden feel. After saying “I do” against the waterfront backdrop of the famed Riverwalk, the bride and groom danced the night away under a hanging flower chandelier before being sent off on a getaway boat.
“We wanted to combine traditional and modern elements in a light and airy way, which is similar to Tampa's vibe, filled with history and recent growth. We knew many relatives would be visiting Tampa either for the first time or for the first in many years. It was important to showcase what makes Tampa so special to us,” the bride beamed. “We went with blush pink, peach, white, green, and pops of blue. We wanted the day to feel like a garden party on the river and to feel timeless. When most think of timeless wedding colors, neutral colors often come to mind, but we were able to have a timeless wedding while also incorporating vibrant spring colors. You don't have to sacrifice color to have a wedding day vision that will stand the test of time.”
The Atlanta couple turned to the talented team at Wilder Mind Events to guide them from a distance while planning their 110-guest springtime celebration.
“We wanted someone who could understand our overall vision and make expert recommendations to enhance our day. We also needed someone who was going to help us understand the Tampa wedding market and be our ‘feet on the ground' since we live in Georgia. We hit the jackpot with Wilder Mind Events. Delaney Driver and her team checked all of our boxes and then some,” Amber raved. “Not only did they help us understand and execute our vision perfectly, they were problem solvers and advocates and made the wedding planning process fun.”
With an experienced wedding planner by their side, Will and Amber took their recommendations, coupled with their research from Marry Me Tampa Bay, to form a dream team of wedding pros.
“We really admire the weddings featured in Marry Me Tampa Bay. It's hard to put into words just how helpful Marry Me Tampa Bay has been to the whole process. We love that it features real weddings in the area, and we pulled a lot of the design inspiration from these featured weddings,” the bride revealed. “We relied heavily on our coordinator's preferred vendor list and Marry Me Tampa Bay. Vendors on our coordinator's preferred vendor list, who also had profiles featured on Marry Me Tampa Bay and portfolios that lined up with our vision, like Dewitt for Love Photography, immediately made it to the top of our ‘vendors to call' list.”
The Tampa-raised bride selected a sentimental location for the celebration, home to many fond memories over the course of her time in the area.
“I grew up in Tampa, and my high school rowing team practiced at Julien B. Lane Riverfront Park. We've also shared a lot of fun memories together on the Tampa Riverwalk. When it came to a location, Tampa was a no-brainer!” Amber gushed. “Our E-Boats Tampa boat sendoff was a tribute to how much we love boating and being on the water.”
The pair sought a photography team that offered a balance of organization and professionalism, along with magnetic personalities to document the wedding day through a fun and seamless approach. After their first conversation with Dewitt For Love Photography, they knew they had found their perfect match.
“We wanted editorial photos, true to color, that showcased our personalities. Given that couples spend so much time with their photographers on one of the biggest days of their lives, it was also important for us to have a team we could vibe with, who would enhance our day and build on the experience for our guests and wedding party. Dewitt for Love Photography is the perfect team,” the bride raved. “Shannon is a details queen! When we first reached out, she expertly walked us through the wedding process from the photography standpoint (and then some). At the end of our call, she sent us a nearly finished photography timeline (a year and an hour before the wedding), which was a lifesaver down the road. As for Brandon, his fun energy is contagious in the best way. If you want someone who will enhance the party, make everyone feel comfortable, and bring out those natural smiles, he's your guy. We received so many compliments from our wedding party and family about how comfortable they felt with our photographers, which was really important for us.”
The bride donned a fit-and-flare gown with a lace-accented slit and show-stopping sheer cape from Truly Forever Bridal, creating an unforgettable entrance for the waterfront ceremony.
“The butterflies in my stomach were at an all-time high just before the first look. I was excitedly nervous about everything but instantly comforted after seeing Will's reaction and getting to hug him,” Amber recalled. “I also will never forget walking down the aisle and finally seeing all the family and friends who traveled near and far. It is such a uniquely special moment that will stay with me forever.”
“The most memorable part of the wedding was walking down the aisle and seeing friends and family, the beautiful downtown skyline, and boats cruising down the river. The experience was only made better when I saw Amber walk down the aisle with her dad and brother,” Will added. “It was great seeing all the decor and our (mostly Amber’s) hard work finally pay off.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Being a bit of a “Disney adult,” the bridal crew took the bachelorette party to Disney World.
The Proposal:
In anticipation of my birthday weekend, Will made dinner reservations on the Chattahoochee River in Smyrna, Georgia, just the two of us. Hours before dinner, I, being the homebody that I am, asked Will if we could cancel dinner because I was tired and wanted to rest up before the big birthday weekend ahead.
Long story short: Will had a moment of panic and was forced to negotiate with me to get me to go to dinner. Once there, Will got down on one knee along the riverside and asked me to marry him, with a photographer and a bouquet of white roses at the ready.
What was your wedding dress inspiration?
I wanted a dress that was modern but still bridal. I tried on a few dresses that were more minimalistic, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that you only get one chance to wear a beautiful bridal gown! This dress ended up checking all of my boxes. It had a classy v-neck, lace, modern, and the slit in the front was perfection.
After striking out at a few Atlanta bridal boutiques, I was getting a little overwhelmed and realized it was time to recruit help from my best friends! My matron of honor made the appointment at Truly Forever Bridal, where we met up with my bridesmaid crew the weekend of my Tampa bridal shower. The manager, Jadyn, helped me find my dream gown. She was amazing, listened, and provided feedback while still giving me space to make my own decisions and fall in love with my gown.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted someone who could understand our overall vision and make expert recommendations to enhance our day. We also needed someone who was going to help us understand the Tampa wedding market and be our ‘feet on the ground' since we live in Georgia.
We hit the jackpot with Wilder Mind Events. Delaney Driver and her team checked all of our boxes and then some. Not only did they help us understand and execute our vision perfectly, they were problem solvers and advocates and made the wedding planning process fun.
What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted editorial photos, true to color, that showcased our personalities. Given that couples spend so much time with their photographers on one of the biggest days of their lives, it was also important for us to have a team we could vibe with, who would enhance our day and build on the experience for our guests and wedding party.
Dewitt for Love Photography is the perfect team. Shannon is a details queen! When we first reached out, she expertly walked us through the wedding process from the photography standpoint (and then some). At the end of our call, she sent us a nearly finished photography timeline (a year and an hour before the wedding), which was a lifesaver down the road. As for Brandon, his fun energy is contagious in the best way. If you want someone who will enhance the party, make everyone feel comfortable, and bring out those natural smiles, he's your guy. We received so many compliments from our wedding party and family about how comfortable they felt with our photographers, which was really important for us.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We're going to Italy, mainly the Amalfi Coast and Rome in June. Will loves relaxing on the beach, and I love exploring new countries and pasta. Italy felt like the best of both worlds.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted to combine traditional and modern elements in a light and airy way, which is similar to Tampa's vibe, filled with history and recent growth. We knew many relatives would be visiting Tampa either for the first time or for the first in many years. It was important to showcase what makes Tampa so special to us.
What were your colors?
We went with blush pink, peach, white, green, and pops of blue. We wanted the day to feel like a garden party on the river and to feel timeless. When most think of timeless wedding colors, neutral colors often come to mind, but we were able to have a timeless wedding while also incorporating vibrant spring colors. You don't have to sacrifice color to have a wedding day vision that will stand the test of time.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted someone who was going to keep guests on the dance floor all night and cater to guests of all ages.
Ben Daniele from Grant Hemond & Associates was our DJ, and he did a great job! We might be biased, but it was the best party we've ever been to. We wanted the day to feel like the celebration our love deserved, and it absolutely was. Several guests told us it was the most fun wedding they'd ever been to.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We loved our whole vendor team. Every vendor is incredibly talented and added to our “day of” experience, but we wouldn't have this great team without the connections of Wilder Mind Events. Delaney Driver helped us assemble a team of vendors that brought our vision to life, and we are so thankful for her team.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Wedding planning is such a special time but also super stressful – and that's okay! Your family may have a lot of opinions. Prioritize and advocate for each other.
