Catrina and Joe’s destination Clearwater Beach wedding beautifully blended classic colors with elements from their respective cultures, creating a uniquely personalized celebration.

“We wanted something very elegant, simple yet beautiful, that would catch everyone’s eye,” the bride shared. “We chose white and gold colors because we wanted to keep it very simple and classy.”

The traditional ceremony was held at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, followed by a reception in the bride’s hometown at a waterfront resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. To ensure every detail of their 175-guest October event was perfectly planned, the Rochester, NY couple enlisted the expertise of planner Breezin’ Weddings.

“When I first started looking for wedding planners, I wanted someone who I could easily get along with and talk to about what we envisioned and someone who could put our vision into reality,” the bride beamed. “I visited a few venues on my own and asked for recommendations. Breezin’ Weddings was consistently the top choice. They did a phenomenal job, and the day went smoothly.”

To capture the moments, emotions, and details of their unforgettable day, Catrina and Joe wanted an experienced wedding photographer known for their timeless style and solid reputation.

“I wanted someone who would capture all the moments that would last forever. I wanted my photos to look classy and timeless,” the bride explained. “My wedding planner had highly recommended working with Lifelong Photography Studio. I came across their page prior to my wedding planner mentioning them to me and was very impressed by their photos. They were amazing to work with and made sure we were comfortable throughout the process while also having a great time.”

Decor rentals play a crucial role in enhancing the ambiance with stylish and cohesive design, ensuring every detail aligns perfectly with the couple’s vision. The bride and groom selected two local rental companies, Outside the Box Event Rentals and Kate Ryan Event Rentals, to add a special touch to their celebration.

“The ambiance of the room, the flowers, and all the details that were put into place were important. We used Outside The Box Event Rentals for the draping, linens, and extra tables. The drapes elevated the room along with the linens. We used Kate Ryan Event Rentals for the couches, accent chairs, and gold tables. You never really thought to add furniture around your dance floor area, but it truly uplifted the room and created a beautiful, elegant, and comfortable area for guests to sit in,” the bride gushed. “The white and gold furniture helped tie into my color theme, and it was simply beautiful. Hiring both rental companies enhanced the ambiance by bringing everything together. I enjoyed working with both Outside the Box and Kate Ryan! They delivered everything, and I never had to worry about anything!”

Looking back, the ceremony hosted an unforgettable moment for the bride, coupled with prepping with her parents and being announced husband and wife as they walked into the ballroom.

“The most memorable was officially being pronounced husband and wife!” Catrina reminisced. “In addition, the first look with my Dad and getting ready with my Mom were also very special to me. Our wedding entrance was the highlight of our night and went exactly as we had hoped and more!”

What was your wedding day makeup inspiration? 
I’ve never been a big makeup person. I tend to wear very light makeup, so for my wedding day, I wanted to keep it simple. I wanted a natural, but also elegant look and Monica from Femme Akoi Beauty Studio and their team did just that! She was amazing to work with. They made sure everything was done perfectly and timely. 

The Proposal:
Joe surprised me and proposed in Cancun on the beach.

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
When I first started looking for wedding planners, I wanted someone who I could easily get along with and talk to about what we envisioned and someone who could put our vision into reality. I visited a few venues on my own and asked for recommendations. Breezin’ Weddings was consistently the top choice. They did a phenomenal job, and the day went smoothly.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
I wanted someone who would capture all the moments that would last forever. I wanted my photos to look classy and timeless. My wedding planner had highly recommended working with Lifelong Photography Studio. I came across their page prior to my wedding planner mentioning them to me and was very impressed by their photos. They were amazing to work with and made sure we were comfortable throughout the process while also having a great time.

How did the rentals enhance the ambiance of your wedding? 
The ambiance of the room, the flowers, and all the details that were put into place were important. We used Outside The Box Event Rentals for the draping, linens, and extra tables. The drapes elevated the room along with the linens. We used Kate Ryan Event Rentals for the couches, accent chairs, and gold tables. You never really thought to add furniture around your dance floor area, but it truly uplifted the room and created a beautiful, elegant, and comfortable area for guests to sit in. The white and gold furniture helped tie into my color theme, and it was simply beautiful. Hiring both rental companies enhanced the ambiance by bringing everything together. I enjoyed working with both Outside the Box and Kate Ryan! They delivered everything, and I never had to worry about anything!

How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding?
We both love to dance, eat, and make sure everyone has an amazing time, no matter what. I am Egyptian and Lebanese, and Joe is Italian. We had Lebanese drummers to incorporate my culture but also made sure it would get everyone to gather together no matter where you are from, especially since we both have fun and loud family and friends.

DJ Cory of Tampa Bay DJ Company was the best! He kept everyone on the dance floor all night long and kept the crowd engaged. Cory was amazing to work with!