Ballroom Weddings

Jessica and Peter - A Classically Elegant Wedding at the Renaissance Vinoy

Jessica and Peter - A Classically Elegant Wedding at the Renaissance Vinoy

Jessica and Peter were married during their traditional Catholic ceremony at Christ the King Catholic Church before celebrating with 200+ of their closest friends and family at their downtown St Petersburg Vinoy reception! The overall event exuded elegance and classic details such as all white flora, silver candlesticks and lanterns, and a crisp color palette of navy and white with very soft pops of tulip pink. The event was also filled with sentimental touches, including Peter's wedding gift to Jessica - a family heirloom pearl mounted to a necklace pendant, and a touching toast shared by the father of the bride, not to mention Jessica and Peter's personalized intros for each person in their wedding party.  Guests enjoyed a variety of food stations including gourmet macaroni and cheese as well as mini sliders paired with local Cigar City beers.  After enjoying the wedding cake confection nearly too beautiful to eat, everyone danced under the stunning Chihuly chandelier at the Vinoy’s Grand Ballroom.  Guests were sent off with hand made chocolate Gator favors with gratitude from the bride and groom; a nod to their collegiate days at the University of Florida!

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.

Tara and Yusuf - A Chic Fairytale Wedding

Tara and Yusuf - A Chic Fairytale Wedding

Ever wonder what a fairytale wedding looks like? Tara and Yusuf brought the magic of Disney to life on their special day. The couple fell head-over-glass-slippers for each other while working at Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort, inspiring a fun Disney twist on a their chic, modern wedding. Everything from the stationery to the sweets received the Midas touch of gold to compliment the black, blush and ivory color scheme.  Guests kept cool with ornate fan-style programs during the outdoor Tea Garden ceremony. The bride and groom partook in a “first touch,” wherein they held hands for a quick moment together before they saw each other for the first time at the ceremony.  An interactive seating chart asked guests to match Disney song lyrics to corresponding Disney couples to find their assigned tables. The pink roses and black-eyed anemones added softness to the modern black candelabras and glossy onyx vases. Sequin touches on the linens made a statement from the sweetheart table to the cake table. Personalized touches were seen everywhere, from the bride and groom signature cocktails, to the Disney lyric cocktail napkins, to the ‘hidden mickey’ shaped butter on the tables!  It was all about the details!!  Guests were serenaded by a string quartet playing Disney songs during dinner, before the DJ pulled everyone on the dance floor for hours of partying.  Then when this sweet celebration drew to an end, guests nibbled on assorted cake pops before grabbing bottles of Starbucks frappucino and boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts on their way back to their rooms!

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.