Winsor Event Studio's Blog Musings
Dana and Al are jet-setting professionals that have traveled the world, and have the enormous group of friends and family to show for it! They wanted a unique and memorable wedding that their guests would never forget, and what better way to showcase their new roots in Tampa than a garden wedding overlooking the iconic Bayshore Boulevard, the bay, and downtown? They paired their classic, elegant style with a little Latin flair and the result was a stunning Fall event fit for the fun and discerning palates alike!
In a setting as beautiful as an outdoor venue in Florida, you don't have to look hard for inspiration. Natural greens from area foliage and silvery-blues found in local airplants were the perfect colors for this stylized shoot, which also incorporated a pop of bright Florida orange. We set out to create a wedding concept that incorporated sustainable and environmentally-friendly elements. You CAN have an eco-conscious wedding and have it still be beautiful!
Alex and Jessica had their first date on November 22, 2011 and they had an instant connection. They elected that same date for their nuptials three years later, and wanted their wedding day to be a celebration of their love with an intimate group of their closest friends and family. Both food and wine lovers, they recalled one of their first romantic getaways together in Sarasota where they attended a food and wine pairing dinner at Michael's on East, and they knew they wanted to treat their guests to that same experience. They exchanged vows in front of the towering Wedding Oak at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens nearby, and during their ceremony they participated in a wine box ceremony where they sealed a box containing wine and love letters to be opened on their anniversary. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while enjoying live piano music in the Michael's wine shop. In a dramatic unveiling, the rolling divider doors of the wine cellar were hoisted at the end of the cocktail hour, revealing the space for dinner. Long feasting tables featuring iron candelabras and grey-washed hedgeboxes of flora were immaculately set with gold beaded glass charger plates and custom printed menus detailing the five course meal with wine pairings. Wine details appeared everywhere from the wine cork table numbers, to the wine bottle guestbook, to the bottle of wine keepsakes the couple sent home with each guest (from their favorite Napa winery, the Mayo family estate). The chef presented each course, and sommelier explained each wine pairing. It was truly an unforgettable experience for guests! Following the world class meal, guests danced and mingled before savoring the wedding cake and surprise groom's cake the bride ordered for the groom in honor of his alma mater! When the night came to an end, guests?sent off the couple under a blaze of sparklers.
Jen and Hutch were married in a gorgeous outdoor celebration at the St. Pete Women's Club on Snell Isle. Jennifer beamed as she was escorted down the grassy aisle to her groom, the two exchanging vows beneath a vine-clad arch. Surrounded by such gorgeous landscape, we closed the roads to host a private reception overlooking the Coffee Pot Bayou. Rustic vineyard details brought a Napa Valley feel to St. Petersburg, impressing guests with wine cork escort cards, wine bottle label table numbers (all from wineries the couple had visited), and a self-serve bubbly bar during the cocktail hour. Even the color palette boasted shades of champagne and rosé in details from the gowns to the garden roses. It was evident that love was the most important aspect of their special day, reflected in heartfelt details such as thank you notes tucked into the guest napkins, the unassumingly lovely wedding cake, and the bride and groom’s donation to a charity in honor of a beloved family member in leiu of favors. The dancing and celebration under a canopy of lights gently reflected across the water as the sun set. Cheers to the happy couple!
