Real Waterfront Tampa Bay Wedding Inspiration

Waterfront, St. Petersburg Wedding | St. Petersburg Museum of History Wedding

Emily and Chris’ downtown St. Petersburg waterfront wedding focused on their love for travel and mission to live their lives together as one great adventure.

“Our theme was ‘taking flight.' We chose it based on the biplane suspended in our reception room,” the bride explained.

With guidance of St. Petersburg wedding planner Special Moments Event Planning, the bride and groom hosted a waterfront St. Petersburg wedding with a peacock blue, lavender and champagne palette.

“We looked for a planner with connections in the community and creative ideas for the big day, including clever ideas for cost savings,” Emily shared. “Tammy [of Special Moments] was full of energy and tossed out all kinds of ideas from the very first time we spoke on the phone. It was great to put the details in their hands on the big day.”

MORE: SPECIAL MOMENTS EVENT PLANNING WEDDINGS

The bride's purple and pink wildflower bouquet complemented her travel-inspired decor of globe centerpieces and National Geographic magazines.

“We looked for a [wedding florist] who could arrange gorgeous bouquets,” Emily explained. We hired Wonderland Floral Art because we loved their work at a friend's wedding. We were truly pleased with the personal flowers!”

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We looked for a planner with connections in the community and creative ideas for the big day, including clever ideas for cost savings.

Special Moments Event Planning helped us make connections and arrange details that were beyond our scope alone. Tammy was full of energy and tossed out all kinds of ideas from the very first time we spoke on the phone. It was great to put the details in their hands on the big day.

What did you look for in a wedding florist? 
We looked for someone who could arrange gorgeous bouquets. Our decor inspiration was mainly related to our theme of “taking flight.” We hired Wonderland Floral Art because we loved their work at a friend's wedding. We were truly pleased with the personal flowers provided by them. Beautiful!

How would you describe your theme?
Our theme was “taking flight.” We chose it based on the biplane suspended in our reception room. We also love to travel and want our lives together to be one great adventure.

What were your colors?
Peacock blue, lavender and champagne.

What did you look for in a wedding caterer?
We looked for delicious food!

We hired Delectables Fine Catering because their food was not only delicious, but also reasonably priced. Our guests loved the food!

What did you look for in a DJ?
We looked for a DJ known and recommended by our planner.

Craig Hemond [of Grant Hemond & Associates] was great! He played only what we wanted to hear, made sure our guests were enjoying themselves and was genuinely friendly. He also helped us select fun songs for entering the reception, tossing the bouquet, etc.

Venue: St. Petersburg Museum of History | Planner: Special Moments *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro | Photographer: Ashlee Hamon Photography | Florist: Wonderland Floral Art and Gift Loft | Caterer: Delectables Fine Catering *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro | DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro | Dress: David's Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Coralie Beatrix

Navy and Gold Waterfront, Clearwater Wedding | Yacht Sensation Wedding

Rowan and Andrew's waterfront, Clearwater wedding brought together not only the bride and groom, but also their family and friends.

“We wanted to unite pockets of friends we’d met throughout the years, but who had never met one another, to create a family we can love, support and rely on throughout our life as a married couple through one magical evening,” the bride shared.

The Kissimmee couple chose Clearwater wedding venue the Yacht Sensation to host their wide array of friends and family.

“As you know, the bride and groom have a very limited amount of time to share with their guests, so we wanted to make it worth the time, money and energy spent traveling all this way to see us, despite the fact that we couldn’t entertain them,” Rowan explained. “The Yacht Sensation, which specializes in dinner cruises, gave our guests a unique, elegant, tropical, romantic experience (and culinary delights) that they will bring up for years to come. We’ve received tons of compliments and thanks for such a magical event. It brought everyone, many of whom had never met, together and cemented relationships that will last a lifetime.”

MORE: YACHT SENSATION WEDDINGS

To complement their navy and gold color palette, the couple hired Clearwater wedding florist Apple Blossoms Floral Designs

“Though we had few flowers at our event, our florals were incredibly important to me,” the bride shared. “We shopped around a great deal, but Scott of Apple Blossoms Floral Design is not a mere arranger, he is a designer. Whereas other shops asked us to bring in photos for them to recreate, he wanted to know our heritage and our passions. He wanted to know who we were individually and as a couple and created what he called a ‘fairytale garden' theme with flowers and foliage that told our story.”

MORE: APPLE BLOSSOMS FLORAL DESIGNS WEDDINGS

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
Our biggest challenge was that all of our friends live out of town (and many live abroad), and we only get to see them every few years. As you know, the bride and groom have a very limited amount of time to share with their guests, so we wanted to make it worth the time, money and energy spent traveling all this way to see us, despite the fact that we couldn’t entertain them.

We chose the Yacht Sensation after meeting their sales manager, Wendy. She invited us on one of their dinner cruises, and we had so much fun we just had to share it with our friends and family. It was surprisingly affordable, and at the same time the most upscale, dignified venue we had encountered. We couldn’t understand why less inclusive, stylish venues cost twice the money. It just made sense. Their service was simply fantastic. We felt supported one-hundred percent of the way, and we continue to have a strong relationship with them after our big day. The entire team made us feel as if we were their personal guests. They have magnificent attention to detail, and our coordinator, our stage manager as we called her, made the colossal undertaking seem easy. Of course an event isn’t complete without good food, especially for our southern families. We spent hours poring over the Sensation’s menus, creating a culinary journey we knew everyone could enjoy. The Sensation was happy to mix and match their standard menus to fit our specifications. They gave our guests a unique, elegant, tropical, romantic experience (and culinary delights) that they will bring up for years to come. We’ve received tons of compliments and thanks for such a magical event. It brought everyone, many of whom had never met, together and cemented relationships that will last a lifetime.

What was your wedding floral inspiration?
Though we had few flowers at our event, our florals were incredibly important to me. My heritage is highly traditional Celtic, and we took the opportunity to work with Scott, our floral designer, to boldly express that in our flowers. Each selection possessed properties that my ancestors would consider magical.

We shopped around a great deal, but Scott of Apple Blossoms Floral Designs is not a mere arranger, he is a designer. Whereas other shops asked us to bring in photos for them to recreate, he wanted to know our heritage and our passions. He wanted to know who we were individually and as a couple and instantly latched onto the idea of a “fairytale garden” theme with flowers and foliage that told our story.

How would you describe your theme?
Elegant, nautical. Once we chose the Yacht Sensation, all other choices became clear. .

What were your colors?
The carpet onboard the yacht is navy and gold, and the metals are all brass and golden. My favorite attraction at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is “Enchanted Tales with Belle,” where the entire room is decorated in navy and gold. Hence, the recurring phrase throughout our wedding, “enchanted ever after.”

Venue: Yacht Sensation *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue | Photographer: Brian C. Idocks Photographics | Florist: Apple Blossoms Floral Designs *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro |  Cake: Cakes by Carolynn | Officiant: Dr. John S. Lennox | Dress: Alfred Angelo | Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal | Hair & Makeup: KyleLynn Weddings