Colorful Weddings

Julia and Chris - A Plantains-and-Poppies Wedding

Julia and Chris - A Plantains-and-Poppies Wedding

Julia met Chris in Germany in August of 2011 where they were both serving in the military. They quickly became inseparable, and when it came time to plan their wedding, they decided on a destination wedding in the bride's hometown of Tampa. Both desired an eclectic feel for the wedding with a nod to the bride's Tampa roots as well as the couple's travels abroad. The Don Vicente in historic Ybor City was perfect.  The bride's favorite flowers are poppies, and with the groom in his dress blues for the wedding, the color scheme of poppy orange, lemoncello, and aqua blue was born.  Julia wanted their guests to really understand and feel the Tampa she grew up in. This inspired such details as a Cigar Bar, Cigar box centerpieces with collections of candlesticks and bottles and cans filled with colorful flowers, a Cuban cuisine menu, Florida orange marmalade favors, and even a tangelo mojito signature drink!

Jen and Alex - An Autumn Aqua and Aubergine Wedding

Jen and Alex - An Autumn Aqua and Aubergine Wedding

Jen and Alex desired a wedding filled with southern simplicity, and planned to DIY many wedding details to help maximize their budget.  Their Florida roots inspired such details as the painted blue mason jars, cut log risers, collection of bud vases and lanterns, program fans, burlap table runners, and Southern-inspired menu items. They wanted a rustic Autumn feel to the day but were drawn to shades of Aqua and Aubergine (the shade of purple was in honor of the bride's Dad who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer; she was surprised with a photo locket on her bouquet so he would be walking her down the aisle).  The couple wanted to honor their family members who could not be present with them that day, while also providing a great experience for their closest friends and family who were present.  Although a thunderstorm thwarted their outdoor ceremony plans, they did not let it ruin our day because they remembered the big picture and what was really important that day which was being with all the people they love, and marrying your best friend (all brides and grooms should have this outlook!)  The Magnolia Building's vaulted ceilings, wood floors, and stone fireplace made for a stunning backdrop for both the indoor ceremony and the reception that followed.

Blair and Jake - A Country Couture Wedding

Blair and Jake - A Country Couture Wedding

There’s no better way to say "I Do" than on a breezy autumn day with a waterfront view at Davis Island Garden Club. Blair and Jake exchanged their vows amongst family and friends in Southern style surrounded by the lush garden setting. This country couture wedding was perfectly accented with vintage-style furniture as outdoor seating where guests could lounge and enjoy a mini cigar bar.  Classic beverage dispensers offered a variety of refreshing lemonades and teas. To honor the couple’s journey, guests found their seats at tables reflecting places to which Blair and Jake had traveled. Each table was adorned with flickering votive candles surrounding lanterns or tall floral arrangements of curly willow with violet and ivory stock. String canopy lighting floated above while family and friends gathered at the food stations offering unique choices such as a salad and biscuit bar, chicken and potatoes, or brisket and mac n cheese. If guests saved room for dessert, a large wine barrel displaying a stand of assorted cupcake flavors would satisfy their sweet tooth.

Meghann and Friedel - A Homespun Garden Wedding

Meghann and Friedel - A Homespun Garden Wedding

Meghann and Friedel met when their mutual friends decided to play matchmaker and invited each of them to an FSU football game. After spending the entire weekend together, they returned to Tampa and went on their first official date a few weeks later. When Friedel proposed, he gave Meghann a gorgeous antique ring from the turn of the 20th century. Meghann, a health-minded dietitian, and Friedel, a landscape designer and small business owner, wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere for their wedding guests - like they were all among family. They chose the Davis Islands Garden Club as a gorgeous backdrop for these nature-lovers' nuptials. Meghann wanted to DIY elements of the wedding to offer a personal touch, including herb-infused olive oils at an Olive Oil Tasting Station, home-made Florida orange marmalade favor jars that doubled as escort cards, sourced vintage furnishings for a Cigar Bar area, and old family frames suspended from tree branches as an open-air photo booth space. They chose a color palette of eggplant and palm green, and incorporated such details as a Farmers Market display of local fresh produce and cheeses (as a nod to the bride's passion for healthy living), garden details like tin flower cans as vases, and vintage elements like lace overlays, mismatched china at the place settings, and mason jars down the aisle. They wanted a personal touch for their guests, to the escort cards were displayed on clotheslines along with personal pictures of the couple with each guest from over the years! The couple agree that the most memorable aspect of their wedding was exchanging their self-written vows as they committed their lives to each other forever. For future couples, they offer this advice: "make it personal, and make sure you savor every moment the day of your wedding as it goes by in a flash, so take mental pictures whenever you can so you walk away with personal snapshots of all the memories!"

Katie and Chris - A St. Petersburg Wedding with Chic, Sweet Details!

Katie and Chris - A St. Petersburg Wedding with Chic, Sweet Details!

It was a typical sunny day for Katie and Chris' nuptials overlooking the St. Petersburg harbor.  The couple exchanged vows in front of a sheer draped arch that perfectly framed the stunning waterfront view, and they sealed their union by participating in a sand ceremony that was poured into a customized keepsake frame.  Hues of plum, silver, and onyx were used throughout their décor, from the exotic bouquets filled with orchids, to the rows of swirled lollipop escort cards (a nod to the fact that the couple met while working at an amusement park).  While guests found their seats in the Mahaffey ballroom, the bride and groom snuck away for a private photo under the bright lights of the magical, empty theater.  Guest tables featured centerpieces of submerged orchids accented with an abundance of candles, as well as tall vases topped with lush floral arrangements, and the couple's monogram was emblazoned on the wall above their bountiful candy buffet.  To echo their candy theme, guests sipped on cotton candy signature drinks while dancing the night away.  The bride and groom ceremoniously cut a small wedding cake set atop a display of assorted cupcakes, giving guests yet another way to satisfy their sweet tooth.