Noelle and Dave's whimsical St. Pete wedding showcased a stunning array of personalized details that brought their 250 guests into this chapter of their love story. Incorporating a mix of bright florals and plenty of Florida citrus, the Charlotte, North Carolina couple chose to wed at the bride's childhood home.
“The view of downtown St. Pete from my parent's backyard set the scene so beautifully for our special day and with the layered lights, florals, and greenery. The ambiance was nothing short of a whimsical, romantic oasis,” the bride beamed. “The nostalgia of Noelle having grown up there was unmatched and the breathtaking sunset that we were able to witness that night was something we'll never forget,” Dave shared.
Keeping the unpredictable Florida weather in mind, Noelle and Dave reached out to a florist that not only had a creative mindset, but also a very flexible style for their destination wedding.
“From our first meeting with John Elice from Bruce Wayne Florals, I knew that he understood our vision and would be able to bring that vision to life. He is a true artist and one of the most pleasant individuals we had the opportunity to work with throughout our planning,” Noelle shared. “John's creations were masterpieces and truly shaped the spaces with luscious layers. He was able to incorporate many elements of light, which came to life as the sun set during the reception over the bay.”
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Making sure her bridesmaids felt beautiful in their own skin, the bride hired Femme Akoi Beauty Studio for their hair and makeup services.
“We found Femme Akoi Beauty Studio through our wedding planner. Not living in Florida meant we had to do all of the test runs the week of the wedding which wasn’t ideal, but it ended up working out really smoothly,” the bride explained. “As a former professional ballet dancer, I felt more comfortable doing my own makeup and actually hired Femme Akoi to do makeup for a few of my bridesmaids. The artists were extremely talented, and we loved working with them!”
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Utilizing Marry Me Tampa Bay for inspiration and ideas, and also to seek out local vendors the couple knew that hiring a professional team for wedding rentals was a must. Serving as a focal point of their reception, the dance floor from Gabro Event Services helped complete the look they were going for.
“Gabro Event Services was our go-to vendor for all the extra moving parts we needed to put on the wedding of our dreams,” the bride explained. “The team from Gabro delivered and assembled the generator for the band, perfected the uplighting, brought in all of the tables and chairs, and pieced together the black and white checkered dance floor!”
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They say the things you remember the most are the spur of the moment decisions, and for Noelle and Dave, their favorite memory was something completely unplanned.
“We decided at the last minute to have our bridal party toast on the upstairs balcony looking out over the water and the incoming guests. This was an incredible hour, as time seemed to stand still as we were surrounded by our most treasured friends and family,” the bride reminisced. “It was a truly special moment and served as the perfect buffer between the ceremony and the reception.”
The Proposal:
Dave was about to leave for a business trip, but had gotten the ring and could not hold on to it for more than 12 hours. Noelle was under the weather with a cold and he surprised her on her Philadelphia apartment stoop with a can of chicken noodle soup in one hand and the ring box in the other on a Monday night in February.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
Given that our venue wasn't traditional and we had to work Florida's unpredictable weather, we reached out to a florist that not only had a creative mindset, but also a very flexible style for their destination wedding.
From our first meeting with John Elice from Bruce Wayne Florals, I knew that he understood our vision and would be able to bring that vision to life. He is a true artist and one of the most pleasant individuals we had the opportunity to work with throughout our planning. John's creations were masterpieces and truly shaped the spaces with luscious layers. He was able to incorporate many elements of light, which came to life as the sunset during the reception over the bay.
What was your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
We found Femme Akoi Beauty Studio through our wedding planner. Not living in Florida meant we had to do all of the test runs the week of the wedding which wasn’t ideal, but it ended up working out really smoothly.
As a former professional ballet dancer, I felt more comfortable doing my own makeup and actually hired Femme Akoi to do makeup for a few of my bridesmaids. The artists were extremely talented, and we loved working with them!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The view of downtown St. Pete from my parent's backyard set the scene so beautifully for our special day and with the layered lights, florals, and greenery. The ambiance was nothing short of a whimsical romantic oasis.
What were your colors?
Blush and champagne were chosen for a background of neutrals, with the bridesmaids all able to choose their own dress style.
What did you look for in a wedding rental company?
We knew that the dance floor would be a centerpiece of the reception, and uplighting was also important.
Gabro Event Services was our go-to vendor for all the extra moving parts we needed to put on the wedding of our dreams. The team from Gabro delivered and assembled the generator for the band, perfected the uplighting, brought in all of the tables and chairs, and pieced together the black and white checkered dance floor!
Ceremony Venue: First United Methodist Church (St. Petersburg)
Photographer: Photography by Avery
Videographer: Sunshine City Films
Planner: Theresa Nicole Events
Florist: Bruce Wayne Florals *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Caterer: Parkshore Grill
Rentals: Gabro Event Services *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: Cassis Bakery
Band: DeLeon Entertainment
Officiant: The Reverend Tanner White
Invitations: Tampa Calligraphy
Transportation: Martz First Class
Dress Shop and Designer: Watters, The Sample Rack (Philadelphia, PA)
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: CC's Boutique, Bill Levkoff
Hair and Makeup: Femme Akoi Beauty Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
