wine ceremony

Jessica and Alex - A Wine-lovers Wedding

Jessica and Alex - A Wine-lovers Wedding

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 Charlie - A Historic Tampa Wedding

Jen and Charlie - A Historic Tampa Wedding

This couple really loves their city of Tampa; the history, the culture, & the food all inspired their wedding. We started with a palette of sangria, ruby, & saffron. We introduced the wedding style immediately by sending save-the-date postcards printed with a Tampa cigar box motif. The aisle was lined with mason jars filled with roses, orchids, & colorful croton leaves. We incorporated Tampa touches, like the ring-bearer cigar box, & the unity wine ceremony (wherein the couple each combined a varietal of red wine creating a wine blend from which they both sipped.) During the cocktail hour, the waitstaff passed trays of Tampa favorites such as mini empanadas, deviled crabs, & bacon wrapped plantains. And as a surprise to the bride & groom (both beer lovers) we offered samples of local Cigar City Brewery beers – two brews that paired well with robust cigars. And we had to offer a Cigar Bar for the gentlemen, with cigars rolled locally in Ybor city.

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Jackie and Christie - A Gourmet Garden Wedding

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Jackie and Christie - A Gourmet Garden Wedding

Under the shady canopy of Great Oaks at the Tampa Garden Club, Jackie and Christie exchanged vows in front of their closest family and friends. The couple shared a love for great food and wine, and wanted a garden setting with both rustic and chic elements.  Since their top priority was guest experience, we set out to make sure their friends and family enjoyed amazing food and drinks, unique personal details, and great music for dancing!  With a color scheme of dove grey accented by cerulean blue and sage green, the wedding party sported coordinating tea-length dresses and suits.  Bouquets incorporated herbs and even ornamental kale, and the bride carried an heirloom photo of her grandmother tucked into her bouquet.  Mahogany chiavari chairs and an aisle lined with lanterns and potted herbs led to a trio of salvaged vintage doors adorned with eucalyptus branches to create a stunning backdrop for the ceremony, which concluded with a unique unity wine presentation. During the cocktail hour, a Farmer’s Market-inspired cart offered a mouthwatering array of fresh fruits and vegetables, and guests enjoyed a DIY Mimosa Station and sampling of local beers from Cigar City Brewery.  Reception tables were decorated with a collection of silver candelabras and lanterns along with more potted herbs, along with bottles of infused olive oils for guests to share during the meal, and table numbers made entirely of wine corks.  Live action food stations tempted guests with potato leek soup and artisan breads, shrimp and grits with assorted hot sauces (a nod to bride Christie's collection), and fresh made crepes filled with chicken, goat cheese, and roasted vegetables.  A tower of cupcakes topped with a small wedding cake featured clothespin doll toppers reflecting the couple’s likeness.  Before departing, a wheelbarrow filled with wheatgrass and seed packets offered guests keepsakes to plant at home and continue to “let love grow.”  At the end of the evening, firefighter bride Christie surprised her betrothed Jackie with a fire truck sendoff!

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