Farin and Charles
SUNKEN GARDENS
“The theme was wildflower because we are both very free-spirited people who love nature. The design inspiration came from our first date to Longwood botanical gardens. We have such a colorful and wild love that the theme felt fitting to represent how our personalities have welded in our relationship. The colors were those found in a thriving garden: pink, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and of course, green. The base color was a pristine white to allow the subtle pastel colors to intensify without losing meaning.” -The Bride
FEATURING
Farin and Charles’ colorful St. Petersburg destination wedding featured a rainbow of hues in both flora and fashion as a symbolic representation of their love story, support system, and personal styles. The couple tied the knot surrounded by a lush garden landscape before dining and dancing in an elegant, al-fresco reception under a clear tent adorned with twinkling lights and suspended blooms.
“The theme was wildflower because we are both very free-spirited people who love nature. The design inspiration came from our first date to a Longwood botanical gardens. We have such a colorful and wild love that the theme felt fitting to represent how our personalities have welded in our relationship. I loved the idea of having the bridal party all having different color dresses to emphasize my unique relationship with each of them. This was also the symbolism behind the bouquets that my aunt made. My bouquet was the combination of the flowers from each of my bridesmaids, so that while I walk down the aisle, I had a piece of them with me. My unique and special relationships with my sister and best friends have shaped me into who I am today, so showing the distinction in hues was necessary to show everyone’s contribution and support of my love with Charles,” the bride shared. “The colors were those found in a thriving garden: pink, blue, purple, yellow, orange, and of course, green. The base color was a pristine white to allow the subtle pastel colors to intensify without losing meaning.”
The Philadelphia couple sought an experienced photo and video team who could artfully capture their 140-guest November celebration in an authentic way that felt natural and unobtrusive. Upon experiencing their engagement shoot with Will DeCosta at Iyrus Weddings, they knew they selected the perfect team of creatives to document their day.
“I looked for artistry and creativity in shots. We wanted to capture the natural, candid, movement-filled parts of a wedding and create an enchanting and real narrative. I looked for someone who was passionate about art and not just pushing out a product, someone who cared about the story of our lives and not just doing a job,” the bride revealed. “Our wedding planner recommended Iyrus Weddings after hearing my vision for artistry. We had an amazing engagement shoot that was everything that we could’ve wanted! Will and his team were amazing at capturing the moments and still allowing us to not feel overwhelmed from the amount of hours spent taking photos and making content. We were also able to enjoy our cocktail hour picture-free which is almost unheard of!”
The pair personalized the event experience through curated music selections and cuisine that spoke to their unique tastes and hobbies, in addition to paying homage to their families through a sentinmental display of photographs for all to admire.
“Our personalities were expressed through our food selections. Charles and I learned to cook and experience cuisines of the world together. We watch cooking shows and try new recipes frequently. Our selection of lambchops on the cocktail menu was our special touch because we enjoyed lamb together for the first time during our relationship,” Farin explained. “We also made sure to pay a tribute to love stories that came before ours, our family weddings. We had a table display of our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding photos as well as my mother’s wedding dress on display. Family is everything to us!”
With a focus on a curated playlist, the couple turned to DJ Jason Tally at Grant Hemond & Associates to keep everyone on the dance floor all night long.
“We love going to music festivals and concerts together, so our personalities shined through the music and the party! All of the genres played during cocktail hour and the reception were hand selected. I can’t go a day without hearing Rufus du Sol and Fred Again so these were easy playlists to build with our DJ, Jason. We wanted our personality and character to shine through any opportunity we could. Our first dance had so much character because we choreographed it together a month before the wedding!” the bride beamed. “I looked for a DJ who shared my passion for music and enjoyed the same genres we both like. I wanted a DJ who knew how to vibe with the energy of the guests, as well.”
Embracing the silly moments allowed Farin and Charles to truly appreciate two core memories from the day, including a slight wardrobe hiccup and their cake cutting.
“My most memorable moment was when Charles took off my garter. It was so funny because I forgot it at the hotel and my friend Riley gave me her silk scrunchy to use instead. Charles of course grabbed it with his mouth while Take It Off by Fisher blasted from the speakers and everyone screamed. Charles had his Magic Mike debut, and my friend definitely regretted giving up her scrunchy,” the bride joked. “Charles’ memorable moment was shoving copious amounts of cake in my mouth during the cake cutting. We looked like little chipmunks with delicious cake overflowing out of our mouths.”
What was your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
My wedding hair and makeup was kind of Swan Lake inspired. My hair is naturally curly so I straightened for the first time in five years. I had some ideas, but mainly let Lucy from Femme Akoi Beauty Studio take care of my hairstyle and makeup. I didn’t want my makeup to be too dramatic; just enhancing and natural.
The Proposal:
Charles proposed on a cruise we took. We were going to watch the sunset, and then he asked me to read a letter he wrote. When I finished reading, I had tears swelling in my eyes and looked down to see him on one knee.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon traveling through Costa Rica. It was the most amazing trip we have ever taken. Every day was better than the day before we didn’t want to leave. We chose Costa Rica because the dry season begins in December and that is the best time to visit. We rented a car and stayed at four different locaations (two resorts and two Airbnbs). Our trip was divided by climate and experiences; we stayed in the jungle the first half and the beach the second half. We wanted to stay at places where we could hike, experience new culture, amazing food, and great surfing spots. We ended it on a high by jumping off a cliff for paragliding! Costa Rica has it all.
Where did you host your bachelor and bachelorette parties?
We both chose Las Vegas because it is the best place to party all day and all night! The theme for my bach trip was Lucky in Love where we dressed up as playing cards and did glitz and glam for nightlife and bikinis and martinis for the day clubs.
What did you look for in a wedding photo/ video team?
I looked for artistry and creativity in shots. We wanted to capture the natural, candid, movement-filled parts of a wedding and create an enchanting and real narrative. I looked for someone who was passionate about art and not just pushing out a product, someone who cared about the story of our lives and not just doing a job.
Our wedding planner recommended Iyrus Weddings after hearing my vision for artistry. We had an amazing engagement shoot that was everything that we could’ve wanted! Will and his team were amazing at capturing the moments and still allowing us to not feel overwhelmed from the amount of hours spent taking photos and making content. We were also able to enjoy our cocktail hour picture-free which is almost unheard of!
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
The theme was wildflower because we are both very free-spirited people who love nature. The design inspiration came from our first date to a Longwood botanical gardens. We have such a colorful and wild love that the theme felt fitting to represent how our personalities have welded in our relationship.
I loved the idea of having the bridal party all having different color dresses to emphasize my unique relationship with each of them. This was also the symbolism behind the bouquets that my aunt made. My bouquet was the combination of the
flowers from each of my bridesmaids, so that while I walk down the aisle, I had a piece of them with me. My unique and special relationships with my sister and best friends have shaped me into who I am today, so showing the distinction in hues was necessary to show everyone’s contribution and support of my love with Charles.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We love going to music festivals and concerts together, so our personalities shined through the music and the party! All of the genres played during cocktail hour and the reception were hand selected. I can’t go a day without hearing Rufus du Sol and Fred Again so these were easy playlists to build with our DJ, Jason. We wanted our personality and character to shine through any opportunity we could. Our first dance had so much character because we choreographed it together a month before the wedding! I looked for a DJ who shared my passion for music and enjoyed the same genres we both like. I wanted a DJ who knew how to vibe with the energy of the guests, as well.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
The saxophone player exceeded all expectations and made the night extraordinary!! He accompanied every song of the reception while dancing and hyping everyone up. His shoes also lit up which matched the vibe perfectly!! When he started playing, I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears.
Also the gelato cart flavors were even better than when I did the taste test. Every girl always needs her sweet treat and this one slapped, hands down.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Do what you want and don’t care about what other people think. So many people told us it was our day and whatever we wanted we could have and that is so important. On the day of the wedding have fun and be in the moment because the day goes by so fast. Thankfully you will have thousands of pictures to remind you of the best moments of your life!
Also, small details don’t matter. I wanted to be as suprised when I got to the venue just as my guests were. Charles saw the venue for the first time at the rehearsal the day before. Suprise is the best element of life.
