cupcakes

Amanda and Brian - A Celebration in Historic Ybor City

Amanda and Brian - A Celebration in Historic Ybor City

Brian and Amanda share Tampa roots (they went to the same PreK class and grew up only a quarter mile down the street from each other) so they knew they wanted to get married in the city they grew up in and loved. They began planning their nuptials for their 300 closest friends and family in historic Ybor City, known for the area's former life as a cigar capital of the US.  The bride wanted to make sure the wedding was above all else FUN, and she didn't want anything too theme-y, but rather wanted classic elements and to embrace the feel of the city.  

Katie and Greg - A Barista's Brunch Wedding

Who doesn't love brunch?! Katy & Greg’s wedding is full of amazing coffee-themed details in honor of their morning nuptials and Greg's former life as a barista! Guests were greeted with a coffee station with assorted vintage mugs and gourmet coffees to sip on before the ceremony.  Katy and Greg exchanged vows in front of the white gazebo and instead of a unity candle, they had a plaque with a little lock that was engraved with their names and wedding date. They placed the lock on the plaque and locked it together - such a great unity ceremony alternative. It was a gorgeous day for photos and an outdoor reception set at one enormous communal table under the sprawling oak trees. The table was dressed with coffee sack runners and hedge box centerpieces along with candles nestled in coffee bean vessels.  Guests enjoyed a mimosa and bloody mary bar, yogurt station and donuts as everyone played corn hole and jenga on the lawn. Their favor was different flavors of coffee beans for their guests to put in favor bags that said "Katy & Greg the perfect blend”. They ate brunch family style and after mingling with friends and family, and having some to die for cupcakes (how cute are the mini donut topped cupcakes?!), and then the newlyweds departed through a tunnel of eco-friendly confetti and on to a boat for their grand exit.

                                                   Love their special His and Hers mugs!

                          The groom wore a boutonniere of mini succulents and blue thistle

            The couple's pocket-style invitation featured preppy navy, grey, and white with pops of bright green

      Guests selected their choice of vintage coffee mugs for a cup of coffee before the ceremony

                                                        A vintage windowpane made for a lovely program display

                    Pictures of special family members who were not present were displayed at the ceremony

            The bride and groom secured an engraved lock onto a keepsake display as a unique unity ceremony

                                                   Bridesmaids wore mismatched navy cocktail dresses

The bride's bouquet featured hydrangea, roses, renunculus, peonies, & tulips in shades of ivory, peach, and citron

                          Guests enjoyed a Bloody Mary Bar and a Mimosa Bar during the brunch reception

                        The spread included gourmet donuts among an assortment of breakfast favorites

                               Guests dined at one large table that snaked across the lawn under the tress

   Hedgeboxes filled with assorted flowers like renunculus, blue thistle, and waxflower were accented with citrus

The couple ceremoniously cut a small cake before serving assorted gourmet cupcakes for dessert

             Guests took home bags of specialty coffee beans as favors from the bride and groom

                                            The happy couple took a moment to enjoy their waterfront views

Vendors who made this day amazing include:

Venue:  Davis Islands Garden Club

Photographer:  Carrie Wildes Photography

Floral Design:  Belle Fleur

Entertainment:  DJ Cory, Grant Hemond & Associates

Catering:  Good Food Catering

Event Rentals:  Coast to Coast Event Rentals

Specialty Furniture Rentals:  WISH Vintage Rentals

Linens:  Connie Duglin Linen

Cupcakes:  Sugardarlings Cupcakes

Donuts:  SoHo Donut Company

Hair & Makeup:  Destiny & Light Hair & Makeup

Videography:  Randall Productions

Transportation:  Suncoach Transport

Send-off:  Tampa Water Taxi

Accommodations:  Tampa Marriott Waterside

TRENDSETTING - An Eco-Chic Styled Shoot

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!

Brittany and Elliott - A Navy and Coral Nautical Wedding

Brittany and Elliott - A Navy and Coral Nautical Wedding

When Elliott told Brittany that they would be engaged by the end of the year, and the months passed by and suddenly it was December 31st, Brittany was starting to wonder if it was actually going to happen!  She even joked with Elliott, "You know what today is?  It's the last day of the year!" hoping to get a read on him, but he didn't take the bait and he ended up just going fishing with his friends that day like it was any other weekend.  Little did she know that Elliott was thinking about waiting until the year had passed and proposing on January 1st, just to throw her off!  But he decided not to wait any longer, and he proposed as they headed out for a New Year's Eve party so that Brittany could show off her gorgeous new engagement ring to all of her friends and family she would see that night!

The couple chose their venue for the waterfront views that would be perfect for their nautical nuptials, since they love fishing and boating together.  This style direction, along with their coral, navy, and gold color scheme, inspired maritime details such as gold lanterns for décor, rope wrapped cans and jars, painted bottles, anchor stir sticks, and rope knot table numbers.  Most of the decorations were DIY projects, including the flag ribbon boutonnieres, chevron table runners, and the ribbon curtain backdrop for the gazebo.  And what better favor to give guests than custom koozies!?  Each koozie held a mason jar for guests to use at the bar throughout the evening, and they were displayed in rows escort card flags affixed to drinking straws as a fun twist for guests finding their seats!  

Paolette and Josh - A Romantic Peruvian Wedding

Paolette and Josh - A Romantic Peruvian Wedding

Five years after Paolette and Josh felt the lightning strike of love when their paths crossed at a bar one night, they declared their love for each other in front of friends and family at the Davis Islands Garden Club. The bride's color palette of pink and black was accented with pops of yellow, a color that is auspicious in the Peruvian culture.  We also incorporated other cultural elements as a nod to her heritage, such as Peruvian lilies in the floral arrangements, boxed alfajores cookies for favors, and traditions like cake charms for the bridesmaids to pull out of the cake, as well as La Hora Loca (The Crazy Hour) where guests dress in costume and dance to fast-paced festive music for the last hour of the evening.  The couple wanted a fun experience for all of their guests; even their dog stood in as the ring bearer!  They also incorporated some whimsical and romantic elements, such as rows of candles along the veranda wall, storybook love quotes as table names, and heartfelt personal vows exchanged during the ceremony.  Paolette said "The most memorable part of our wedding was when my husband and I said our vows to each other. We wrote our own vows and hearing him say his vows made my day, as he is normally not that verbally expressive." 

Your dream wedding is within reach...