Emily and Levi’s whimsical, destination Tampa wedding transformed a historic venue into an enchanting forest, where custom-built trees, lush greenery, and touches of fantasy set the stage for a truly magical celebration.

“We called our aesthetic ‘elegant fantasy.’ It was inspired by a magical forest brought to life with lush greenery and vibrant accents. Our vision pulled elements from our favorite fantasy worlds, reflecting our love for role-playing and how we met through Dungeons and Dragons,” the bride shared. “Our color palette featured shades of green for the forest with pops of orange and purple, our favorite colors. The venue was lit with a sunset-orange glow that transitioned to deep purples as the evening progressed, creating a truly magical atmosphere.”

The California couple chose Tampa for their April wedding, prioritizing convenience for the groom’s family and friends traveling from across the country. Set against the industrial charm of a historic venue, the ceremony space was transformed into a verdant haven. The couple exchanged vows in front of 117 guests beneath a wooden geometrical arch draped in cascading greenery and delicate florals, perfectly framing their moment.

To bring their vision of an elegant fantasy to life, the couple partnered with Staci Mandikas of UNIQUE Weddings + Events. The wedding planner and designer understood the couple’s dream of a woodsy, magical atmosphere that felt natural and untamed. Every detail was curated to create the illusion of an organic, growing forest, with lush greenery spilling from tables and centerpieces that appeared to sprout from the floor.

“We wanted a wedding planner who would be excited to create something truly unique. We had a big vision for a magical fantasy land, but needed someone who could bring it to life down to every last detail. Staci’s experience with both elegant and themed weddings made her the perfect choice. After seeing her work, we knew she could make our enchanted forest a reality—and she did!” the bride raved. “Her eye for design and understanding of guest experience ensured everyone had an amazing time. Throughout the planning, she guided us seamlessly, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks. On the wedding day, it felt as if you said her name, she would magically appear with the solution to any problem. Our guests told us it was one of the most fun weddings they’d ever attended. I would recommend UNIQUE Weddings + Events to any couple, whether your vision is whimsical or classic. Staci is 100% committed to making it happen while staying on budget. She truly brought her own kind of magic to our special day.”

“When coming up with the reception design for this wedding, the first thing we understood was that we needed to bring the outside in,” Staci explained. “We brought in tall, faux trees—not just against the walls, but right in the middle of the reception space. Guests had to walk around them to access their tables. The trees became part of the floor plan, and we elevated them so they towered over guests, draping them with Spanish moss and illuminating them with amber light to create warmth.”

To complete the ambiance, the couple chose rentals from A Chair Affair, Over the Top Rental Linens, and Kate Ryan Event Rentals. The design flowed seamlessly, with wicker chargers and textured glassware adding layers of elegance and fantasy. The reception design was intentional in its selection of textures and finishes, from the draped green linens to the ornate chargers that lined each place setting. Each element added depth and elegance to the fantastical setting.

“We created a lounge area with rental pieces—wooden tables for the head table, vintage colored glassware, wicker chargers, and ornate silver chargers for place settings,” Staci shared. “We also brought in barstools for additional seating and used square guest tables to break up the round tables provided by the venue.”

The couple’s wedding was a true reflection of their personalities and shared passions. Inspired by their love for fantasy and role-playing games, they crafted a magical experience that extended far beyond the ordinary. Rather than simply hosting a traditional reception, they envisioned their wedding as a “main quest,” complete with interactive “side quests” that encouraged guests to embark on mini adventures and uncover fun stories. These prompts, designed to spark conversations and new connections, were scattered throughout the celebration, inviting friends and family to participate in the journey. To bring their love of adventure and whimsy to life, they also incorporated a fantasy-inspired cake complete with a sugar dragon. The cake not only featured stunning craftsmanship but also showcased custom miniatures of the couple fighting the dragon—a perfect nod to their shared history of Dungeons and Dragons.

“The couple’s cake design most definitely deserves to be recognized!” The planner shared. “It was truly a work of art! When I saw the sketch, I knew that this wedding was going to be one for the books. I have learned through my sixteen years in business that when a couple is willing to go far with their cake design, there is no stopping their wedding design!”

Emily and Levi’s personalities were woven into every detail, creating a celebration that was inclusive for all of their guests.

“Our love for fantasy was truly the centerpiece of our wedding, but we also wanted it to feel elegant and timeless. We aimed to include nods to our nerdy interests without making anyone feel left out. Rather than trying to recreate a specific fantasy location, we chose a more ethereal, fantasy forest aesthetic that captured the magic we envisioned,” the bride revealed. “For our ceremony, we incorporated a handfasting tradition, which is considered one of the most ancient wedding rituals. Since our families come from different faith backgrounds, we decided to keep the ceremony non-religious to honor everyone. It was incredibly important to me to have a live band at the wedding. My entire family are musicians, so having live music was something that everyone really appreciated. We’re known among our friends and family for going big when it comes to costumes and decorations, so we went all out for the wedding and threw a magical extravaganza!”

Even the unexpected became part of the magic on their wedding day. When the power went out, the couple embraced the moment with joy and spontaneity, turning it into one of the most unforgettable memories of the evening.

“The most memorable moment of the night was when the entire venue suddenly went dark. A truck had crashed into a power transformer, cutting power to the whole neighborhood. Our reception was lit only by candlelight and emergency lights, but the celebration didn’t stop,” the bride reminisced. “As dinner wrapped up, the bridesmaids borrowed a tambourine from the band and started singing Beatles songs, going from table to table. Guests joined in, singing and dancing, turning what could have been a disaster into an unforgettable moment. Behind the scenes, our vendors handled everything seamlessly, and when the power finally returned, the band played on until midnight.”

What was your wedding day beauty inspiration?
I went for a more natural, ‘me but better’ makeup look. One of the main reasons we chose Michele Renee The Studio was their incredibly diverse portfolio. Our wedding party, who would be receiving services, included women from all over the world with a wide range of skin tones and unique hair and makeup needs.

Michele Renee’s portfolio featured diverse brides and weddings, which made me feel confident they could make all the bridesmaids and groomspeople look their best. They did a fantastic job—everyone felt stunning on our wedding day. They were also very flexible and happy to work in the small space of our suite while we were getting ready.

The Proposal:
I proposed to Levi. I had a whole plan to propose to him as part of a Dungeons and Dragons game, but he got COVID that week which ruined all of my plans. I ended up proposing to him while he was sick and sweaty with COVID. It may have not been the most glamorous, but I couldn’t stand not being engaged for a day longer.

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We wanted a wedding planner who would be excited to create something truly unique. We had a big vision for a magical fantasy land, but needed someone who could bring it to life down to every last detail.

Staci’s experience with both elegant and themed weddings made her the perfect choice. After seeing her work, we knew she could make our enchanted forest a reality—and she did! Her eye for design and understanding of guest experience ensured everyone had an amazing time. Throughout the planning, she guided us seamlessly, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks. On the wedding day, it felt as if you said her name, she would magically appear with the solution to any problem. Our guests told us it was one of the most fun weddings they’d ever attended. I would recommend UNIQUE Weddings + Events to any couple, whether your vision is whimsical or classic. Staci is 100% committed to making it happen while staying on budget. She truly brought her own kind of magic to our special day.”