Alanna and Luke
“Our theme was vintage Florida orange. We had oranges everywhere — from orange creamsicle cocktails to popsicles and truffles. Dried oranges adorned our tables and were woven throughout our stationery. We also wanted to incorporate Ybor City, so we included Cuban bread, a live cigar roller, a mention of the cigar rollers in our ceremony script, Spanish music, and even a flamenco guitarist.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Alanna and Luke’s vintage Ybor City wedding was a heartfelt celebration of citrus tones, family roots, and vintage charm, with handmade friendship bracelets and a live cigar roller bringing the past and present together in perfect harmony.
“Our theme was vintage Florida orange. Luke is from New Jersey, and all of his guests were traveling from out-of-state, so I wanted to give them a true Florida welcome,” the bride explained. “We had oranges everywhere — from orange creamsicle cocktails to popsicles and truffles. Dried oranges adorned our tables and were woven throughout our stationery. We also wanted to incorporate Ybor City, so we included Cuban bread, a live cigar roller, a mention of the cigar rollers in our ceremony script, Spanish music, and even a flamenco guitarist. We didn’t have one overarching color, but we used warm earth tones like greens, oranges, and neutrals to create a soft, cozy, and romantic feel that tied into our vintage Florida theme.”
The Orlando bride and groom held their March nuptials in Tampa to stay close to her family and showcase the charm and character of Alanna’s hometown, Ybor City.
“We love Ybor City and were so excited to share it with our friends and family from out of town,” the bride beamed. “So many people told us they had taken the streetcar to Channelside and stopped at some of our favorite places like Carmine’s and The Columbia. We also heard so many funny stories about the chickens and even a late-night tattoo at one of the parlors on 7th! As someone who grew up here, it was so special to share this huge part of my life in that way.”
The ceremony and reception were held at J.C. Newman Cigar Company, a deeply personal venue where Alanna’s grandmother once worked as a cigar roller. With 100 guests in attendance, the day felt intimate yet full of energy, set against a backdrop of rich cultural history and newly renovated charm.
“I already knew J.C. Newman would be our venue, but at one point we thought it might be too small for our large guest list. We ended up cutting our guest list to fit the venue, but before that, we considered other options. We wanted a place we could revisit anytime, somewhere we could enjoy long after the wedding. It needed to be more than just a wedding venue or a big space. We wanted it to be a staple in the community, a functioning business locals could enjoy,” the bride revealed. “My grandmother was a roller at the factory, and she was very special to me. We used to play dominoes and poker when I was a little girl. I always knew I wanted to get married there, especially after they renovated the building. My uncles were also all bakers at La Segunda across the street, so I knew I had to have their Cuban bread on our menu.”
To honor their bride’s family legacy, the pair included a live cigar roller as part of their celebration. Guests were invited to watch the rolling process, enjoy cigars in a dedicated lounge, and experience a key piece of Ybor’s heritage. The couple even wove a reference to cigar making directly into their ceremony, drawing a poignant parallel between the art of rolling and the journey of marriage.
“Rolling is such a beautiful process, and some of our guests had never seen it done in person. We are huge cigar smokers and wanted a place for guests to be able to sneak away from all the noise and enjoy themselves in smaller groups,” the bride shared. “We also had a nod to rolling in our actual ceremony script. It read, ‘Picture the anatomy of a cigar and the multi-layered process of creating the perfect one – the uniqueness of each tobacco leaf, the passion rollers have for their work, and the understanding that another will enjoy the fruits of their labor. Cigars are natural expressions of both the cigar maker and the soil from which the tobacco is grown. Much like this thriving business based on collaboration, passion, and cultivation, so is a loving marriage and the beauty of choosing to love a spouse the rest of your life.’”
An essential part of the day’s success, the couple’s planner, Amanda Biery from The Olive Tree Weddings, brought local expertise and seamless coordination that made the entire experience feel relaxed and smooth.
“We needed someone who could really take control that day,” the bride explained. “Amanda knows Ybor City inside and out, and she was so familiar with all our other vendors. Her knowledge of the area and her professionalism gave me a huge sense of confidence and trust. Amanda and her team were absolutely wonderful, and I highly recommend her for all events, especially weddings in Ybor City.”
The pair infused their wedding with personal touches that reflected their relationship, shared memories, and favorite pastimes. From hand-making over one hundred friendship bracelets with playful phrases to bringing in The Hyppo gourmet ice pops as a nod to where they first met, every detail told a story. Even their pre-wedding weekends were filled with meaning, as they spent time with loved ones crafting, laughing, and making memories long before the big day arrived.
“I definitely hopped onto the friendship bracelet train the last few years,” Alanna joked. “We had to have them at our wedding. I spent the weekends before the wedding hand-making all 125 bracelets with different sayings like ’til death’ and ‘Luke luvs Alanna.’ My husband and his friends spent some time making them with me as well. That is probably one of my favorite memories ever, just drinking wine with our friends, listening to music, and making bracelets!”
As the night wound down, one of the most unforgettable moments came when the newlyweds quietly slipped away to the rooftop for a private pause. With the soft glow of the city lights in the distance and the sounds of celebration drifting up from below, they shared a quiet memory.
“There were so many beautiful moments on the rooftop,” the bride reminisced. “Looking out at the city lights, smoking cigars, sharing a kiss, and simply taking a moment to breathe.”
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
I already knew J.C. Newman Cigar Company would be our venue, but at one point we thought it might be too small for our large guest list. We ended up cutting our guest list to fit the venue, but before that, we considered other options. We wanted a place we could revisit anytime, somewhere we could enjoy long after the wedding. It needed to be more than just a wedding venue or a big space. We wanted it to be a staple in the community, a functioning business locals could enjoy.
My grandmother was a roller at the factory, and she was very special to me. We used to play dominoes and poker when I was a little girl. I always knew I wanted to get married there, especially after they renovated the building. My uncles were also all bakers at La Segunda across the street, so I knew I had to have their Cuban bread on our menu.
The Proposal:
We met in St. Augustine in college and still have many friends there. On a visit, while they were at work (or so I thought), we wandered through town. Luke surprised me in front of the bayfront — he had hired a secret photographer and everything! Our friends were watching from balconies across the bay, and afterward, we all went beach bar hopping, singing karaoke and playing pool. It was the best night of my life.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We needed someone who could really take control that day. Amanda Biery from The Olive Tree Weddings knows Ybor City inside and out, and she was so familiar with all our other vendors. Her knowledge of the area and her professionalism gave me a huge sense of confidence and trust. Amanda and her team were absolutely wonderful, and I highly recommend her for all events, especially weddings in Ybor City.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Our theme was vintage Florida orange. We had oranges everywhere — from orange creamsicle cocktails to popsicles and truffles. Dried oranges adorned our tables and were woven throughout our stationery. We also wanted to incorporate Ybor City, so we included Cuban bread, a live cigar roller, a mention of the cigar rollers in our ceremony script, Spanish music, and even a flamenco guitarist.
Why did you choose to have a cigar roller as part of your wedding?
I wanted to honor my grandmother and her career as a cigar roller. Rolling is such a beautiful process, and some of our guests had never seen it done in person. We are huge cigar smokers and wanted a place for guests to be able to sneak away from all the noise and enjoy themselves in smaller groups. We had our roller stationed in the smoking lounge, and our guests could watch him roll, grab a cigar, and smoke at their leisure. Some of our guests stayed there the whole night, while others stopped by for a bit to watch.
We also had a nod to rolling in our actual ceremony script: “Picture the anatomy of a cigar and the multi-layered process of creating the perfect one – the uniqueness of each tobacco leaf, the passion rollers have for their work, and the understanding that another will enjoy the fruits of their labor. Cigars are natural expressions of both the cigarmaker and the soil from which the tobacco is grown. Much like this thriving business based on collaboration, passion, and cultivation, so is a loving marriage and the beauty of choosing to love a spouse the rest of your life.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
So many of our vendors were wonderful. My photographer and wedding planner were great friends, and their dynamic really helped calm us down. My florist went above and beyond—she joked that the earlier she shows up and the longer she stays at a venue, the more she accidentally ends up doing. She added beautiful touches to so many things I hadn’t even asked for. She also helped me walk down the stairs for my ceremony, and we shared a moment I’ll never forget. And my makeup artist—he was amazing. We hadn’t even done a trial, and I hired him very last minute. I was so incredibly happy with the way I looked that day, and so was everyone in my bridal party. He came in, took one look at everyone, and knew exactly what to do. He was magic!
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
I really enjoyed the dynamic between our planner and photographer. They were very good friends, and it felt like they had either worked with or spoken to all of our vendors before. It made me feel extremely at ease. I would always choose to surround myself with people who make me feel good and confident about my event.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to Paris and London for our honeymoon because we wanted a European experience. I work for Disney, so visiting Disneyland Paris was a must, and we also stayed in the theater district in London so we could catch some of the shows there.
