Paige and Brian
The Don CeSar
“Our wedding design inspiration was a boho beach aesthetic. We love the beach and wanted a laid-back beach vibe that matched our easy-going personalities. Our colors were mostly pink and orange with lots of green accents. We wanted to lean into a tropical color scheme, and I’ve always loved warm, bright colors.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Paige and Brian’s colorful St. Pete Beach wedding was a destination celebration combining bohemian influences and beachy aesthetics with hues of shell pink, fuchsia, and marigold, for a vibrant and energetic summertime atmosphere. The pair exchanged vows in a secluded outdoor courtyard before dining and dancing with their 188 closest friends and family in a beautiful ballroom setting.
“We currently live in Philadelphia, but we chose St. Pete Beach because I grew up near Indian Rocks Beach, and we love the beach!” the bride beamed. “We are both pretty laid back and focused on designing a wedding that would be a really fun time for our guests.”
The Proposal
“We were on a trip to South America with some of our college friends, and while in Colombia, Brian proposed on a hotel rooftop in Cartagena. We danced the night away, celebrating with some of our closest friends in a place that is now so special to us!”
Hair and Makeup Inspiration
Femme Akoi Beauty Studio
“Since I don’t wear much makeup in my day-to-day life, I wanted a very natural beauty look.
I hired Femme Akoi Beauty Studio because I liked the vibe of their styling based on their social media gallery, which was very natural makeup with lots of expertise in braids and updos.”
The Honeymoon and Bach Party
“I had my bachelorette party in West Palm Beach because it was a beach location that was conveniently located and affordable! I’m sure you can see the beach theme developing.
We planned a mini-moon in Mexico right after the wedding, but had to reschedule for November. We are working on planning a bigger honeymoon trip next summer!”
The Venue
The Don CeSar
“We were looking for outdoor and indoor venue options that were big enough to accommodate our guest list of ~200 people.
We chose the Don CeSar because it fit all of our venue criteria in terms of indoor and outdoor spaces, location on the beach, ability to accommodate our guest list, plus cool vibes!”
The Design
“Our wedding design inspiration was a boho beach aesthetic. We love the beach and wanted a laid-back beach vibe that matched our easy-going personalities. Our colors were mostly pink and orange with lots of green accents. We wanted to lean into a tropical color scheme, and I’ve always loved warm, bright colors.”
The Experience
“All of the handmade touches were really important to us. We wanted people to feel the love! Fortunately, my mom is an incredible artist so she was able to make our vision come to life!
There were so many memorable moments throughout the weekend! A few that stand out include when I dressed my baby niece, McKinley, in the ‘junior bridesmaid’ dress I crocheted for her, meeting all of our friends and family on the beach after the ceremony and receiving so many hugs and smiles in the sand, sneaking a peek at the ballroom with my mom during cocktail hour to see all of her handmade creations on full display, and when Brian jumped in with the band to play Piano Man during the reception.”
The Planning
EventFull Weddings
“We looked for someone who could help guide us through the process with experience at our venue. When we found out Karen Cerboni had also gotten married at The Don CeSar, it felt meant to be!
The EventFull Wedings team was very organized and guided us through each step of the planning process. Their support along the way and in coordinating the day-of logistics were crucial!”
“I truly enjoyed working with Paige and Brian from start to finish. They had a clear vision and stayed incredibly laid-back throughout the planning—even when we had to shift their date due to the hurricanes. I have two favorite moments from their day: watching them say “I do” in the exact same spot I got married, and seeing the vibrant mix of orange and pink bridesmaids’ and mothers’ dresses. The colors were perfectly coordinated and absolutely popped against the pink backdrop of the hotel.”
-Karen Cerboni, EventFull Weddings
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
All of our vendors really came together to make our weekend amazing! Hotel Zamora hosted our rehearsal dinner, and their rooftop space was a lovely way to welcome our guests to the beach. The weather ended up being so nice, and everyone loved being outside — the food was also delicious!
The team at the Don Cesar (namely Jennifer, our coordinator) was so responsive and helpful. They made sure all of our guests were well taken care of, and people raved about the space! 10/10 reviews on the food!
We did most of the plants/centerpieces ourselves, but the bouquets and personals we got from 2Birds were so unique — their funky combinations were perfect for our vibe!
The Femme Akoi Beauty Studio team crushed it with everyone’s hair and makeup, and were so efficient on the day of, getting everyone ready well in advance of our timeline.
Avery and her photo team were incredible, making everyone feel so comfortable and at ease and capturing the weekend in such a beautiful way!
The Hit Factory Band. absolutely blew us away and made the night so much fun! They were so talented and engaging — people never left the dance floor — bride and groom included!
Our team of jewelers at Bario Neal was incredible and helped us craft custom heirloom pieces for my engagement ring and our wedding bands. They are Philly-based, but I think they have other locations and were an absolute joy to work with!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Try to enjoy every moment and don’t get caught up in the little stuff!
