Michelle and Mike
“Our theme was a speakeasy vibe, inspired by The Great Gatsby. When we first met, Mike asked for my number under the guise of a bourbon tasting party—only for me to later find out it was a men-only event, and he just wanted an excuse to talk to me. We both love a good cocktail and a well-themed party, so we leaned into that with a mix of class, glam, and a touch of sparkle. The décor featured black, white, and gold, while the bridesmaids wore stunning green-blue gem-colored dresses to complement the look.” -The Bride
Michelle and Mike’s 1920’s inspired downtown St. Pete wedding blended vintage elegance with a lively speakeasy atmosphere, featuring a classic black and white color palette, gold accents, and sophisticated florals reminiscent of the Gatsby era.
“Our theme was a speakeasy vibe, inspired by The Great Gatsby,” the bride shared. “When we first met, Mike asked for my number under the guise of a bourbon tasting party—only for me to later find out it was a men-only event, and he just wanted an excuse to talk to me. We both love a good cocktail and a well-themed party, so we leaned into that with a mix of class, glam, and a touch of sparkle. The décor featured black, white, and gold, while the bridesmaids wore stunning green-blue gem-colored dresses to complement the look.”
The local bride and groom chose St. Petersburg for their February wedding to celebrate in a place that holds special meaning to them. Prioritizing both faith and fun, Michelle and Mike exchanged vows with a traditional Catholic ceremony surrounded by 130 of their closest family and friends before celebrating with a lively reception at NOVA 535.
“Faith was very important to us, so having our ceremony at Saint Mary’s Church was central. A great dance party came in second,” the bride beamed. “We wanted a venue that fit our speakeasy theme, with dim lighting, plenty of space for dancing, and a location close to our ceremony downtown. NOVA 535 was the perfect fit, offering a customizable wedding package that met our needs. April, our wedding coordinator, was incredible—she became like family to me, and I would highly recommend her!”
NOVA 535 reception perfectly captured Michelle and Mike’s speakeasy-inspired vision. The venue’s original 1920s clay brick walls, Brazilian hardwood floors, and soaring 16-foot ceilings with exposed rafters set the stage for a night of glamour. Romantic lighting enhanced the space, with a glowing curtain of string lights serving as the sweetheart table backdrop and uplighting that added to the moody, vintage ambiance. Black linens and gold accents created a refined aesthetic, while tall white floral centerpieces added a timeless touch. A champagne tower paid homage to 1920s luxury, and each table featured cards adorned with classic Roaring Twenties phrases. Guests enjoyed dinner by Olympia Catering a lively photo booth, capturing fun and playful moments, making the night as unforgettable as it was stylish.
“Our wedding was unique because we’re unique people!” the bride beamed. “We wanted the reception to be a fun party that everyone could enjoy since we love getting together with friends. We also added a photo booth so guests could show off funny faces and be silly, just like us.”
The bride wanted a wedding photographer who could bring creativity and originality to her wedding photos, steering away from the typical posed approach, and found exactly that with Iyrus Weddings.
“When searching for a wedding photographer, I looked for creativity—not the same basic poses I often see from other photographers. As soon as I saw Iyrus Weddings style online, I knew I wanted to hire him,” the bride gushed. “Our photographer did an amazing job, was personable the entire time, and made the whole process easy. He was very easygoing and helped my wedding day go by smoothly.”
“Some of my favorite moments were during the reception,” Will DeCosta, owner of Iyrus Weddings reavealed. “I absolutely love the vibe of NOVA 535, and it truly shines through in the photos. Capturing Michelle and Michael just being themselves was incredible; they’re both so photogenic and were an absolute joy to shoot. Their energy and aura made for some of my favorite shots. I also loved shooting Michelle’s getting-ready moments at their home; incorporating personal details from their space added such a meaningful touch to their big day.”
Among the many unforgettable parts of their wedding day, the couple’s first dance stood out as a perfect blend of preparation, spontaneity, and joy.
“The most memorable moment of the night was our first dance. We had taken private dance lessons leading up to the day and had everything perfectly planned. But as soon as we stepped on stage, I completely forgot what I was doing and gave my husband a blank look. He quickly took the lead, and we just went with it, having fun and making the moment our own,” the bride reminisced.










The Proposal:
Mike and I met on a friend’s yacht during an Easter Sunday, so it’s always special when we go out on it. Mike is an engineer and likes to take his time planning thoroughly. So I was shocked when only a few weeks after we went ring shopping that he proposed at the bow of our friend’s yacht on Memorial Day. It was special with all of our friends there, and we were able to spend the rest of the day celebrating. He did almost drop the ring in the ocean when a small wake hit the boat, and he was down on one knee.







What did you look for in a wedding photo and video team?
When searching for a wedding photographer, I looked for creativity—not the same basic poses I often see from other photographers. As soon as I saw Iyrus Weddings style online, I knew I wanted to hire him. Our photographer did an amazing job, was personable the entire time, and made the whole process easy. He was very easygoing and helped my wedding day go by smoothly.




Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We originally planned on going to Croatia but I got burnt out in planning mode, so my husband surprised me by planning a trip to St John’s and St Thomas! No planning needed on my part, which was the best!
Where did you host your bachelorette party? I went to the Bahamas for my bachelorette weekend as I wanted to go to the water park in Atlantis and swim with the animals. My husband went to Key West with his guy friends to bar hop and enjoy the weather.



How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme was a speakeasy vibe, inspired by The Great Gatsby. When we first met, Mike asked for my number under the guise of a bourbon tasting party—only for me to later find out it was a men-only event, and he just wanted an excuse to talk to me. We both love a good cocktail and a well-themed party, so we leaned into that with a mix of class, glam, and a touch of sparkle.




What did you look for in a wedding reception venue?
We wanted a venue that fit our speakeasy theme, with dim lighting, plenty of space for dancing, and a location close to our ceremony downtown. NOVA 535 was the perfect fit, offering a customizable wedding package that met our needs. April, our wedding coordinator, was incredible—she became like family to me, and I would highly recommend her!




Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Carters Florist, did an amazing job on my flowers. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted even though I had a vision. and they made it all happen!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Don’t listen to other people’s expectations about what they think you should do for your big day. Make it whatever you want it to be!
