Florida Weddings

For those of you still feeling a little overstuffed from yesterday’s festivities (read: me), we have just the thing to put a pep in your step this lovely Friday morning.  And for those of you who didn’t indulge in pumpkin pie for hours upon end (read: not me), you’ll love it, too.  Because when some of Florida’s finest vendors come together for a vintage meets beach photo shoot, you can’t help but get excited. Especially when that shoot includes beautiful blooms from Jennifer Aquilia Events & Floral Design, your soon-to-be new favorite cake from Raphsodic Bakery and gorgeous images from Best Photography. See them all right here.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

In need of even more inspiration?  No worries – we have you totally covered.  Check out this amazing film of the shoot from Imprint Cinema. Enjoy!

From Best Photography… This romance-filled styled shoot was put together to provide inspiration for brides who are dreaming up a beach wedding with a chic, vintage style. We chose a lavender theme and created a vintage look with soft colors of mint and peach, distressed furniture for props and plenty of sweet, old-fashioned touches. Think milk glass, french lace, distressed wood and antique crystal. My favorite element of the shoot was the groom’s outfit, curated by Brothers and Craft. He wore a vintage newsboy hat, suspenders and a bow tie with a succulent boutonniere. For the florals, we chose classic and romantic anemones, earthy seeded eucalyptus and, of course fresh, lavender. The cocktail table was set up on an antique dresser with drawers full of iced clams, sweet goat cheese with figs and lavender-infused lemonade cocktails. The sweets table consisted of a gorgeous cake by Rhapsodic Bakery, Vanilla Lavender cupcakes and delicate macaroons. And favors were little jars of lavender-infused Florida honey, a heavenly combination for a chic beach wedding. Of course the essential element to any great photo is real love — and the fact that our models are a real-life couple made the shoot so romantic. Pair true love with a gorgeous Florida sunset, and you get a dreamy wedding.

Photography: Best Photography / Photo Shoot Location: Don Cesar Beach in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida / Event Design + Planning: Jennifer Aquilia Events & Floral Design + Josh & Rachel of Best Photography / Floral Design: Jennifer Aquilia Events & Floral Design / Cinematography: Imprint Cinema / Wedding Cake + Lavender Cupcakes: Raphsodic Bakery / Macarons: Le Macaron / Invitations: Grasshoppers and Gardenias / Butterfly Release: Butterfly Impressions / Vintage Furniture Rentals: Wish Vintage Rentals / Wedding Dress: Rivini “Lisette” (Spring 2013) via Solutions Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Lejeune Hair & Makeup Artistry / Groom’s Attire: Brothers and Craft / Model Bride: Kriss Pugh / Model Groom: Aven Pitt

On a day that we stop and give thanks to all that we hold near and dear, it seems only right that we add this gorgeous St. Petersburg wedding to the list.  Because any wedding that boasts a sunny yellow color palette, a breathtaking seaside ceremony and an al fresco reception under towering palm trees is most definitely one that needs our complete and total appreciation.  The always amazing Scobey Photography was on hand to snap up all of the pretty and it’s a gallery overflowing with inspiring details and moment after moment of L.O.V.E.  See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Casey and I are from Tampa and grew up there together at the same church, and we both went to college in Nashville, Tennessee. So this weekend was not only so special to us because we were getting married, but because we were so incredibly happy just to have our entire youth group back together all in the same place at the same time. Not only that, but we got to unite our Nashville friends with our friends we have grown up with, and that was so special. Basically the inspiration from our wedding mostly came from just growing up at the beach. Casey and I have known each other since first grade and I have had a crush on him forever.

For the ceremony, our parents had made a ring bearer box that was really special because they all had a part in it. Casey’s dad burned our date into the front, my mom wrote on it, his mother put the cloth inside, and my dad put a picture of us inside the front. Our guestbook was made by Casey’s mom and it had tons of pictures in it from high school and the past six years that we have been together. I had a table set up right at the start of the aisle with an assortment of pictures of our grandparents who we have lost and his biological mother who died of a heart attack when we were in third grade. Also very special was that Casey’s father, who was also our youth minister growing up, did our ceremony. As for the reception, there was a table cloth laid out on that table that was made for me by one of the house parents at Village of Hope, the orphanage in Africa that I have worked at for the past three years during the summertime. She put it together for me as a gift for my wedding, so we used it on the table. We are both missionaries aside from our day to day jobs, and it is something very special to us. I had a map made with hearts on all the special places to us. I had little hearts on the states where we had family, one on Mexico for an orphanage I had been to, one on Ghana for another orphanage I’ve been going to, and one on Honduras for the mission trip we have been going on to build houses for the past 10 years with our church and youth group. We had a little frame that read, “In lieu of a dollar dance help us build a house in Honduras!” and if you wanted you could put money in a crate. There was a little crate with our favorite bible verse painted on it which reads “No one has ever seen God but if we love one another God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12).

Our wedding day was so special to us because the entire weekend was just full of pure love. Everyone was so happy to be together, and so many people were willing to run around for us and hug us and just be in each others’ presence. One of my flower girls’ mother prayed with me the night before the wedding after we had spent an entire day of everyone at the pool together just laughing and reuniting and so excited. The night before the wedding quite a few of my bridesmaids, from Nashville and home, stayed in the room with me, and Casey and I were both so overcome with joy at how well all of our friends immediately meshed together. That is something that is so special about our relationship and our wedding, We want to make a difference by showing people the greatest gift that we have on earth is love, and it is so easy to show it. Our wedding was bursting with energy and joy as we danced under the lanterns in the trees, wore sunglasses and ran out to sparklers!

Wedding Photography: Lacey for Scobey Photography / Wedding Venue: Postcard Inn on the Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida / Floral Design: Marsha Marie Floral / Event Coordination: Greg McIntosh / Wedding Cake: Publix / DJ: Carlos Sein / Wedding Dress: Pronovias via The White Room / Bride’s Shoes: DIY / Bride’s Hair: Sarah of Beautiful You Makeup / Bride’s Makeup: Karen Boni of Beautiful You Makeup / Groom’s Suit: JCPenney

When a wedding like this comes along, I get crazy excited.  Like stare endlessly at the breathtaking images from Divine Light Photography and press repeat (over and over) on the amazing film from Lucky Lemon Films excited.  Stunning traditional affairs can do that to a wedding obsessed lady like me.  Even better?  I know you’ll love the gorgeous St. Petersburg setting, beyond beautiful blooms from Botanica International Design Studio and uber-darling couple just as much as I do.  And that’s a serious win-win. Click here for a gallery chock-full of lovely and then stay tuned for the oh-so-fabulous film below.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lucky Lemon Films… We first met Jacqueline when she was a bridesmaid in the wedding of another of our favorite couples, Brittany and Danny. So we were super-pumped about Jacqueline and Nick’s wedding, and we were right. It was a blast. These two both have such a great sense of humor and such dedication to their friends and family. And they have SO MUCH FUN with everyone. We were especially touched when at the end of the night, the newlyweds danced a last dance to “Piano Man” as all their family and friends gathered in a circle around them. Then before the the song ended, Jacqueline and Nick broke apart and high-fived each of the guests in the circle. We really felt how much they cared about each guest being a part of their very special day! We also can’t help but adore anyone who loves 16mm film like we do, and we were so excited to shoot it on their wedding day! What can we say — we have the best job and get to hang out with the coolest people ever.

Wedding Photography: Divine Light Photography / Wedding Venue: Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Florida / Floral Design: Botanica International Design Studio / Wedding Coordination: Jennifer Widmeier / Wedding Cinematography: Lucky Lemon Films / Catering + Wedding Cake: Olympia Catering / Alcohol: Catering by Lundy’s / Wedding Invitations: Simply Put by Ashley Woodman / Calligraphy: Yellow House Calligraphy / Band + Lighting: DeLeon Entertainment / Transportation: Ambassador Limousine / Valet Service: 717 Parking Enterprises / Photo Booth: Snapshot Photobooths / Accommodations: Loews Don CeSar Hotel / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Hair + Makeup: Makeup Pro / Groom’s Tuxedo: Franks Formal Wear / Rehearsal Dinner: Postcard Inn

A dream team of Florida vendors and a drop-dead gorgeous St. Petersburg wedding – we’re kicking off your Tuesday morning in one seriously amazing way.  Think beautiful blooms from Artistry Designs Group, the perfect planning of Exquisite Events and glorious image after glorious image from K&K Photography, LLC – all wrapped up in a beautiful blending of cultures and a traditional love-fest that will take your breath away.  Ready for a morning, noon and night of pretty?  Join us in the gallery for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our wedding day was inspired by the merging of our two cultures into one — my husband is a Cuban born and raised in Florida, and I’m a German from the Midwest. We wanted to acknowledge both of our families, backgrounds and heritage and create a sense of unity throughout the entire day. We incorporated this by maintaining our wedding mantra, “joining lives, cultures and hearts.” We kept that idea in mind when we made all the decisions regarding our big day. Our first dance was a combination of salsa and waltz to music that transitioned from English to Spanish. We located our band at a work function of mine; they incorporated Spanish music into their performance as well. I created signage throughout the day at the ceremony and reception that was written in both German and Spanish. The thank you signs, the drink signs and card signs all reflected this. I added the monogram motif to every stationery item and sign that I created, which also brought a unity to all of the signage. The menu also offered food representative of both cultures. My mother, sister and I made the cookie favors; one was a replica of my dress and the other a similar design to my husband’s tuxedo. We wanted to tell our story through the details of our special day, and we wanted our guests to feel they were getting to know more about us from this event.  

Looking back, the day felt magical. We’re so fortunate to have worked with an amazingly talented photographer, K&K, and cinematographer, Tampa Wonderworks. We wanted to ensure every detail that we put into our special day was captured. Our guests commented that our wedding felt very warm and personal, which was exactly what we wanted … although it was a large wedding and in a hotel ballroom. The love we have for each other and our families was reflected throughout the day, which I know was special to our parents as well. My favorite memory of the day was my husband’s tight embrace at the church when the priest made it official. We’re so happy to begin our lives together.

Wedding Photography: K&K Photography, LLC/ Ceremony: St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida / Reception + Wedding Cake: Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida / Wedding Planning: Lisa Mohyla of Exquisite Events / Floral Design: Artistry Designs Group / Officiant: Father Gibbons of St. Paul’s Catholic Church / Wedding Cinematography: Lucky Lemon Films (Formerly Tampa Wonderworks Films) / Wedding Band: The Headliners / Wedding Dress: Saison Blanche Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Makeup: The Michele Renee Hair & Makeup Artist Group

We know you lovelies share our obsession with all things vintage, so the very second this pretty little St. Petersburg affair came our way, well… we could NOT WAIT to share it all with you.  Chock-full of retro-inspired goodness and fab DIY details, it’s a fun-filled love fest with an uber-adorable duo and a crazy awesome venue (the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club!) to boot.  Jessica Charles Photography captured all of the lovely… and the gallery?  All caps AMAZING.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My now-husband Chris and I have a surprising amount in common, and planning our wedding was maybe the simplest thing we’ve done together. We were on the same page with almost every decision, from food trucks to a DIY playlist of golden oldies. Aside from letting me do most of the crafting solo (by mutual agreement), Chris was involved in every decision and even came up with some creative solutions when I got stumped. We were on a limited budget ($5,000) and paying for everything ourselves, so DIY was definitely the name of the game.

We decided on the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club because it was a date night destination for Chris and I and it is such a cute location. We wanted to stick with local and independent vendors as much as possible, which ended up being a great choice for our budget. I worked with the chef at Fire Monkey Food Truck to develop a hearty menu that wouldn’t be too heavy for summer, would satisfy some of my vegetarian friends and satiate Chris’s army boys and Texas family. He came up with an amazing custom menu that we still get compliments on. At a local food truck rally, I tasted Whatever Pops, a gourmet popsicle vendor, and knew that with our date (May 26), I had to have popsicles for our dessert. I still made the cake and got extra dessert trays from Fresh Market, but everyone raved about having gourmet popsicles on what turned out to be a scorchingly hot night!

Our theme was a loose vintage Florida feel, and since I call Chris my “bear” and I was the mascot at my college (Gladys, the Fighting Squirrel) I designed the programs, table numbers, and cocktail descriptions to match. Our colors were navy, yellow, and green to kind of keep with the shuffleboard courts coloring and a vintage/preppy feel. I found the cutest dresses for my bridesmaids, and I was so lucky that they liked them too. I made the wrapped bottles in our colors (tip to other brides — start at the top, not the bottom); I made the burlap table runners, the aisle runner, the bunting (out of Chris’s old shirts!), invitations/save-the-dates and cocktails. Chris came up with idea of the four posts around the altar, and he made them for me himself two days before the wedding! We hung the bunting from there to set the ceremony space apart. For the favors, I wanted to keep with the Florida vintage theme and so I made a mini orange crate with real Florida oranges in a small wooden berry box with a vintage orange crate label I edited to personalize with our names and the wedding date. I also included the mason jar drinking glass, straws, packets of bug spray and packets of sunscreen.

One of the most important things to both Chris and I was to find a way to honor his combat brothers, the men of Dog Company. Chris is a Purple Heart recipient from the Iraq War as a member of the 506th Infantry Regiment. While serving in Iraq they lost a beloved leader, Sgt. David Herrera, and it meant a lot to Chris to have our wedding be a sort of reunion for the guys who were able to attend. So to honor Sgt. Herrera and all the men they served with, Chris and his groomsmen wore the “Currahee” crest instead of boutonnieres. It was a small touch but full of meaning. Following the wedding, one of Chris’s groomsmen told us that so often, he’s been to weddings where people want to make it laid-back and fun and that we should be proud that our wedding truly was laid-back and fun. I can think of no better compliment, and I’m so glad that our friends and family were able to enjoy the day, celebrate our marriage and get down to shuffling!

Wedding Photography: Jessica Charles Photography / Wedding Venue: St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club in St. Petersburg, Florida / Floral Design: Fresh Market + Sam’s Club / Catering: Fire Monkey Food Truck + Wicked ‘Wiches / Dessert: Whatever Pops / Wedding Cake: DIY by the Bride / Cake Topper: MelaboWed / Dessert Trays: Fresh Market / Wedding Invitations, Programs, Table Numbers, Cocktail Descriptions + Favors: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Playlist: DIY by the Groom / Wedding Dress: Vintage via Salvage Life / Bride’s Shoes: Nine West / Bride’s Belt: Cassie Stephens / Makeup: Lulu Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Judith March / Groom’s Vest: Men’s Wearhouse / Groomsmen’s Suspenders: JCPenney

We’re totally loving this pretty cobalt blue infused beach fete and the beautiful beachfront ceremony and reception that go right along with it. It’s full of personality and charm, with loads of gorgeous flowers, not to mention one ah-mazing looking cake! K&K Photography, LLC captured all the magical moments from the bride to be reading a letter from her groom to the beyond amazing sunset that initiated the start of their lives together. Click here for so much more!

Don’t miss this fabulous little film by Voila Cinematic:

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Eric and I had such an unexpected meeting, but we knew there was something there almost instantly. Our journey to our wedding day is that of great sacrifice and beating all the odds to be with the one you love. Fate pulled us together on the evening of May 1, 2007. We were both vacationing in South Beach when our paths crossed one night.Our initial meeting was challenging to say the least. I wanted nothing to do with Eric, especially after finding out that he was two weeks away from deploying for a year! We talked some more and quickly realized that we had a very significant connection. We didn’t know what would come of this but we knew we were falling for each other. After some last minute trips around the country, we only saw each other for a total of two weeks in the first year we were together, but that never killed our spirit. We devoted a lot of travel and phone time and spent the first 3½ years of our relationship apart until we finally found ourselves in the same city in November of 2010. When Eric was stationed in North Carolina, we discovered our favorite beach town — Outer Banks — and that is where he proposed.

Taking the time to plan our wedding was so much fun. After being at many weddings ourselves, we wanted to find a casual, yet beautiful location that would capture our spirit and let us have fun. We found the Tampa Bay Watch, in Tierra Verde, Florida, right outside of Fort DeSoto National Park, which gave us the opportunity to personalize every detail of our wedding. For our beach ceremony, our amazing wedding planner put together a beautiful setup that provided us shade from the sun but still let us enjoy the beautiful white sand and blue waters of the Gulf Coast. For the aisle, I constructed the starfish flower balls out of silk hydrangeas (which didn’t wilt in the sun) as well as the straw fans so our guests could stay cool on the hot sand. In our centerpieces, we used vintage blue mason jars that reminded us of our favorite antique shops in the Outer Banks. We filled them with my favorite flowers – blue and white hydrangeas, which reminded me of my childhood because my mother always had fresh cut hydrangeas in our kitchen in the summertime. All other aspects of our centerpieces were beach theme to match our favorite beach and where we got engaged in the Outer Banks. The white picket fence and white Adirondack chairs remind us of watching the sunset in the sand dunes. In each Adirondack chair were the table numbers along with buoys, sand dollars, star fish and blue and white sea glass to match back to our wedding colors of royal blue, Carolina blue and white. 

Just as we had sent our last boxes to Florida for the wedding, Eric and I suffered our biggest scare yet: A mere three weeks before the big day,  Eric had an unexpected seizure on a flight to California, which forced us to make an emergency landing so he could be rushed to the hospital in Denver, Colorado.  We cannot say enough about the amazing care and love we received from the flight crew, the nurses, doctor and strangers who helped us on the plane, and the outstanding ER staff at the hospital in Denver. We made it back home safe and sound, only to be side-swiped by an inattentive driver the day we got off the plane! It was an incredibly scary couple of days, to say the least, so by the time we had arrived to Florida the week of the wedding, we were so relieved to be there in good health! As I mentioned earlier, our journey to our wedding day was very stressful at times, and we were so grateful to have each other. We were so happy to have made it to our day healthy and happy, surrounded by the most supportive family & friends that anyone could ever ask for. I believe this appreciation, happiness and gratefulness for each other is truly reflected in the images that Jeff and his team took for us. There was so much raw emotion, and there was not a dry eye during our ceremony. We feel that we are the luckiest two people in the world — once you have found the one, you will do everything in your power to be together and stay together forever. And there is no greater gift than that in this world. :)

Wedding Photography: K&K Photography, LLC / Ceremony: Beach Haven in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida / Reception: Tampa Bay Watch in Tierra Verde, Florida / Event Planning: Lisa Mohyla of Exquisite Events / Wedding Cinematography: Voila Cinematic / Catering: Olympia Catering / DJ: SG Mobile DJ / Wedding Programs, Menus, Place Card Holders, Card Box, Photo Booth Prop Box, “I Do” Sign + Other Details: DIY / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Hair & Makeup + Bridesmaids’ Hair: Kara Sanchez of Fabulous Faces / Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Christine Wheaton of Femme Akoi Hair & Makeup

There’s just something about a charming outdoor soiree that gets me every.single.time and this fabulous Postcard Inn affair has my heart jumping right out of my chest.  A marriage of sweet vintage details, uber-romantic moments and a courtyard filled to the brim with sparkly lights and chandeliers, it’s whimsical perfection meets an al fresco paradise.  Thank goodness Lauren Piper Photography was on hand to capture all of the pretty, because I seriously can’t wait to spend my day in the gallery.  Join me there for more.

From Lauren Piper Photography… Finley and Jonathan chose to get married at the truly unique and beautiful Postcard Inn. They went with a whimsical, old-world theme with such things as an old typewriter, a cigar roller, an accordion player and wish lanterns. The ceremony was gorgeous, and so was the bride — her veil seemed to go on for days. The bridesmaids held bouquets of wildflowers and wore dresses in different, coordinating colors. Even with the 150 person guest list, the reception felt very intimate because the only lighting came from lanterns and lights strung throughout the trees in the courtyard. The night was filled with love, laughter and plenty of dancing. At the very end of the night, the wish lanterns were lit on the beach and released by all who attended this very special day. Upon their release, everyone was asked to say a wish for the bride and groom. It was such a wonderful experience photographing this beautiful wedding. Thank you, Fin and Jon, for allowing me to be a part of your special day!!

Wedding Photography: Lauren Piper Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Postcard Inn in St. Pete Beach, Florida / Floral Design: Redman Steele / Wedding Cinematography: Christopher Zaluski / Accordion Player: Dave Maggio (727-804-5325) / DJ: Grant Hermond and Associates / Cigar Rolling: Wallace Reyes of Gonzalez Habano Cigar Company / Rug + Dance Floor Rental: Coast to Coast Event Rentals / Wedding Dress: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija

I am just mesmerized by the fabulous Florida color and light that Gina Leigh Photography captured in these photographs.  The pinks and greens look just divine especially paired with this handsome couple!  The rest of their exquisite wedding, from the modern invitation design by Hype Group to the mason jar and moss details, has a perfect vintage meets contemporary vibe.  MMD Events outdid themselves with the elegantly organic decor!  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I knew that I wanted a wedding in downtown St. Petersburg at a location that was unique, yet classy. I’m from South Florida and my husband is from Indiana, so a lot of guests would be traveling in from out of town. We chose to have our bridal suites and guest room blocks at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, the ceremony at century-old Trinity Lutheran Church, and the reception at the Museum of Fine Arts. Our overall theme for the wedding was vintage, yet we stayed mindful of the contemporary reception location, a two-story glass conservatory within the museum that offers spectacular views of Tampa Bay. I was very involved in the planning and details of our wedding, from finding a 100+ year-old Tampa Tribune mailbox, antiquing for vintage St. Petersburg postcards, mason jars and milk crates, to ordering custom St. Petersburg cufflinks for the groomsmen. My mother passed away a few years ago, so I made sure her presence was felt by wrapping my bouquet with lace from her 1978 wedding dress and hiring a tailor to make a hair accessory for my sister, the maid of honor, with lace from her gown as well.

I am not a huge fan of floral arrangements, so my event design company sourced moss-covered manzanita branches for my centerpieces. The theme followed through with organic-style green and white bouquets and moss accents. Vintage St. Petersburg was our look, from sending custom-designed save-the-date postcards to postcard seating arrangements. Rather than having a traditional guest book, we produced postcards that guests wrote personal messages on and then dropped them into the Tampa Tribune mailbox. The seating arrangements were specified by vintage St. Petersburg postcards rather than table numbers. Hype Group is the company that developed all of our wedding designs, the save-the-date postcards, the multi-piece letterpress wedding invitations, a BP (Brooke & Pete) logo, guest book postcards, welcome letters and thank-you cards. The theme stayed consistent throughout each piece.

With the help of Judy at The Dressing Room, my dress was the focal point of the entire day. I felt like such a princess — it was the perfect dress! We hired our favorite local band, The Daniel B. Marshall Band, to play during the reception. They played everything from classic rock to rap. My husband and I danced to “You & Me” by Dave Matthews Band. We are both business owners, so that song is very meaningful to us in the sense that together we have achieved so much at such a young age. Our photographer, Gina Leigh Photography, captured each intimate moment (there were a lot of happy tears) between family and friends, and most importantly, laughter. Gina shoots with film, which is very special and is definitely seen in the quality of the final outcome. January 14, 2012 was the best day of our lives! Thank you to all who helped to make it happen.

Wedding Photography: Gina Leigh Photography / Ceremony: Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Florida / Reception: Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida / Floral + Event Design: MMD Events / Event Planning: Events by Vanessa / Wedding Cinematography: Four2Nine Productions / Catering: Olympia Catering / Wedding Invitation Design: Hype Group / Letterpress Invitations: Seaside Invitations / Band: Daniel B. Marshall Band / Wedding Dress: San Patrick via The Dressing Room / Jewelry: Certified Jewelers

This St. Petersburg pretty by Gina Leigh Photography is just the thing to make my morning feel fabulously elegant – even as I sit here in yoga pants, sans makeup. It is just beyond tasteful and timeless, and it fully motivates me to get a little more glam on this Monday morning. Maybe I’ll drink my coffee out of my prettiest mug or put on something pretty or actually wear my hair down – whatever the case, I know for certain I will be keeping the glam going in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Gina Leigh Photography…Christina is Filipino and Pete is Greek which made for an amazing blending of cultures at the wedding!  The ceremony was at a beautiful Catholic church – St. Mary’s, and the BEAUTIFUL reception was in the historic Renaissance Vinoy’s Grand Ballroom in St. Petersburg, Florida.

A few notable details included the Jimmy Choo shoes, Anne Barge dress, the incredible Chihuly blown glass sculpture chandelier in the ballroom, and the TOMS that the bridesmaids were given as a gift which they wore during the reception.

Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Catholic Church / Reception Location: Renaissance Vinoy / Wedding Planning: Events by Vanessa / Wedding Photography: Gina Leigh Photography / Flowers: Four Seasons Florals / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via Malindy Elene Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Jewelry: Adorned / Invitations: William Arthur at Beach Papery & Gifts / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston via Bella Bridesmaids / Bridesmaid Shoes: TOMS via Nordstrom

I have developed a serious crush on this charming St. Petersburg soiree by Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. and I don’t see it ending anytime soon.  But, who could blame me?  With a wedding like this one, it would be impossible not to be head over heels in love.  From the stunning orange and navy blue color palette to the amazing florals by Redman Steele Florist to the fabulous museum location, I am one smitten blogger.  Not to mention the bride’s gorgeous gown and fabulous sparkly shoes.  Yes.  Please.  Lucky for us, Lauren Pauline Photography was there to capture every amazing moment, so be sure to join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Stonehouse Events & More, Inc.… Here is a gorgeous wedding of Jennifer Tylman, the American to George Keatinge, the Aussie. It was a beautiful Catholic church ceremony followed by a reception at the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts.  The head table was lined with a mirror runner bursting of gorgeous flowers.  The theme for their wedding was Eat, Drink and Be Married, which is exactly what the guests did!

The tables were named after wineries and the name for each table was actually displayed on a bottle of wine!  The mother of the bride had so many special surprises for her daughter, every moment was even more special and it was so fun to witness each unveiling!  The lighting with the GOBO of their names was a huge surprise as well as the horse and buggy for their exit! Guests held glow sticks for the bride and groom to walk thru at the end of the night. The night was full of LOVE and the perfect day to begin the rest of their lives together!

Wedding Planner: Cindy Stonehouse of Stonehouse Events & More, Inc. / Wedding Photography: Lauren Pauline Photography / Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Raphael Catholic Church / Wedding Reception Location: Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg / Horse Carriage: St. Petersburg Carriages (Formerly Surrey’s at the Pier) / Lighting: Bay Stage / Catering + Wedding Cake: Olympia Bakery / Floral Design: Redman Steele Florist / Ceremony Music: Praise Band / Cocktail Hour: Meredith Coffman, Harpist / Band: Synchronicity / Transportation: Ambassador Limo / Hair : J. Con Salon / Bride’s Hair: NaNash / Make-up Artist: Shirley George / Stationery: Not From a Box / Valet: Courtesy Valet

Could we get any more luxe and glam than this St. Petersburg wedding?  First of all, that dress just makes me reconsider every dress decision I’e ever made in my life and the flower arrangements and decor by Artisty Designs Group is just wow, wow, wow.  I’ve been muttering that word over and over again as I drool over each and every dreamy image by K&K Photography, LLC.  Click here to see even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… I knew that I wanted to get married at home since I am somewhat of a traditionalist, so we chose Tampa/St.Petersburg, FL, where I grew up. We looked at several venues, but as soon as we walked into the Grand Ballroom at the Vinoy we knew that’s where we wanted our wedding. It has so much character, history, and elegance. The Chihuly chandelier helped, too. We also wanted to get married outside since we were getting married in Florida, so the Tea Garden at the Vinoy was the perfect setting for the ceremony.

I chose Barb/Artistry Designs because she understood my vision from our very first conversation. She asked me to use some words to describe what I had in mind. I told her I wanted a romantic, glamorous wedding. I love flowers and knew I wanted a lot of beautiful flowers everywhere, and candles and lighting to add to the romance. I also liked Barb because she had the beautiful centerpiece holders, that were very different from the traditional candelabra or vases that all the other florists were showing me.

The dress was exactly what I had dreamt of.  And it really was inspiration for a lot of the decor at the wedding – white flowers everywhere, with intricate details – romantic and glamorous (Again!). The table linens were even selected because they looked somewhat like the dress. I also wore my mother’s veil and the beautiful diamond broach on my bouquet was my grandmother’s.

We wanted the wedding to reflect our personalities as a couple, so we were very particular about the food and picking out what we wanted and liked. Including some of our favorites, like sushi, sliders, chicken parm (on a stick), edamame dumplings and not to mention 2 of our favorite desserts: red velvet cake and French macaroons!

Wedding Photography: Jeff Kathrein of K&K Photography, LLC / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Renaissance Vinoy Resort / Floral Design & Decor: Barbara Oehlerking of Artisty Designs Group / Cinematography: Bryan & Tracee Coward of Tampa Wonderworks Films / String Quartet: Eric Nordstrom of Bella Musica / Officiant: Cantor Moshe Friedler / Entertainment: Atlanta Party Band via East Coast Entertainment / Wedding Invitations: Encore Studios / Wedding Program & Reception Menu: The Bride / Rehearsal Dinner Place Cards & Table Numbers: Amy Willoughby of Not From A Box, Inc / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Makeup: Christine Wheaton of Femme Akoi / Wedding Dress: Christos / French Macaroons: Chocolate Pi / Wedding Cake Artist: Renaissance Vinoy Resort / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren Black Label

Chic, modern with a touch of whimsy ~ that’s what Abby and Michael were going for with their wedding at NOVA 535 in St. Petersburg, Florida. That’s precisely what they got. And ~ who better record it than Amy Pezzicara at Pezz Photo!

Abby and Michael originally got their inspiration from the Delano Hotel in Miami. They then set about transforming their own venue, NOVA 535, into their own rendition of an uber-sophisticated, modern celebration!

from Abby … Michael and I both like to add our own flavor to most everything we do, so when we started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to have a unique twist throughout the details. We kept coming back to the idea of having an elegant, modern party with some whimsy. Having lived in Miami for some time, I immediately thought of the Delano Hotel, as inspiration for whimsical elegance: the lobby décor is stark yet warm with white draperies hanging from the ceiling to the wood floor; the hotel restaurant, Blue Door, has white leather backed chairs and banquettes surrounding white table clothed tables; and the back courtyard is filled with lush greenery and candlelight. Using these elements, we were able to plan an elegant modern wedding with slight unexpected variations to the wedding norms.

After we found our location, NOVA 535, an art gallery and event space in St. Petersburg, we knew we had to have ceiling-to-floor white draperies hanging throughout.

I quickly decided that I wanted my bridesmaids to wear white, so as not to distract from our all white decor. At the same time, I wanted each of my bridesmaids to display her individuality so I asked that they each wear a different style dress. Finding a variety of white bridesmaid dresses proved far more difficult than I expected, but with the help of The Dressing Room, we found Coren Moore dresses. My original plan was to wear red shoes under my dress, but once I actually found my dress (Augusta Jones), it didn’t lend itself to such a distraction. Instead, I asked each bridesmaid to wear a different color shoe. We took the individuality yet another step further and had each bridesmaid carry a different bouquet made up of white flowers, so one carried tulips, one carried orchids, one carried roses, one carried calla lilies, and one lilies. The same flowers were used as different boutonnières for each groomsman. At the reception, the tables were covered with one of two tablecloth options: white fringe or white pintucked satin. There were also five variations of centerpieces made up of a single type of flower, tracking either the flowers in my bouquet (gardenias) or those used in the bridesmaids’ bouquets. Finally, for favors, we had white chocolate lollipops made with our names, Abby and Michael, and our wedding date.

See more of Abby and Michael’s gorgeous wedding on the Pezz Photo website {click featured weddings}!

Photographer: Amy Pezzicara, Pezz Photo / Wedding Gown: Augusta Jones / Wedding Consultant: Alluring Events / Ceremony/Reception Site: NOVA 535 / Caterer: The Wine Cellar / Florist: Botanica International / Ceremony/Cocktail Music: The IBEX Company / Specialty Décor: conceptBAIT / Reception Entertainment: DeLeon Entertainment / Transportation: AllStar Limo/ Stylists: Colours by Linny / Bridesmaids Dresses: The Dressing Room, Coren Moore/ Favors: White chocolate pops by Debbie’s Chocolate Delight / Confectioner: Publix Amy Riggs/Susan Moriarity 1313 South Dale Mabry Highway Tampa, FL

And for more of Amy’s work, take a look at this Vintage Florida Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty!