Your wedding dress will more than likely be the most expensive article of clothing you ever buy, so it’s important to become an informed shopper. The price of your Tampa Bay bridal gown is often directly associated with the quality and craftsmanship of the dress. The last thing any Tampa Bay bride wants on her wedding day is a wardrobe malfunction!

I’ve heard horror stories of brides having to be stapled in their dress because of a rip or tear in the low quality fabric. I’ve even been in a wedding in which the “warehouse bridesmaid dress” had a faulty hem giving the impression that the bridesmaid had tucked part of her gown into her underwear! 

Tampa Bay bridal shop Malindy Elene Bridal provides insight on why bridal gowns are priced differently and what perks you receive for upping your wedding dress budget.

Anne Barge “Ryan” with Ivy and Aster Sash 

Here at Malindy Elene, we know that our wedding dresses range higher in price than most other bridal boutiques in Tampa. Many Tampa brides (and grooms and father’s of the bride) ask me, “Why?” So I am here to explain! The easiest way to think about it is Who, What and Where.

Who: All of the wedding dress designers we carry in our store are couture. This means that each wedding dress is made by the designer: drawings sketched out perfectly, fabrics are hand-selected, the dress is mocked-up, samples are chosen, and in addition to everything else, the designer selects certain creations to be included in their line.

Another perk is that each wedding gown can have custom changes made to it! If you want to change the neckline, add sleeves, swap beadwork, etc., it can all be done! Some designers will even let you completely change the fabric or take the top of one dress and the bottom of the other and create your own gown! You can wear the custom gown of your dreams that is on trend with exactly what you see in the latest bridal magazine, while also receiving advice and recommendations from the wedding dress designer on what will look good!

Think The Devil Wears Prada or the gowns you see on the red carpet. Each gown is perfected just for you! In fact, if you want a sketch done by the designer who made your gown, we can typically get one!

What: It begins with the types of fabrics used in a wedding dress: silk, silk blends and polyester fabrics. Silk and silk blends are going to be the best quality  but also the highest in price.

All of the crystals you see on our couture dresses, included our wedding gowns, are Swarovski crystals. Many brides know that name but for those that don’t, it is a very high-end crystal. We also use freshwater pearls and each piece of crystal or pearl is hand sewn onto the gown. The time it takes to create the dress in that manner,increases the price also! However, the quality you are getting with that kind of detail work and features is what makes your wedding gown unlike any other dress you will wear!

On the flip side, gowns that retail for less are probably  made out of polyester fabrics that will fade, be hard to alter or tear easily on your wedding day. The crystals will be clear or plastic beads that are often glued or pressed on via a machine onto the gown. This typically means that the beading will fall off easily or get ruined easily.

Where: Many wedding gowns are made in bulk quantities in China. However, 96% of our gowns are made in the proud U.S. of A! We are happy to say that, although fabric is imported from all over the world, the majority of our gowns are constructed here!

As in any industry, having products made in America will increase the price but at Malindy Elene Bridal, we take pride in American made products and love that we get to support them! Also remember, that thanks to each dress being made specifically for each bride, our dresses will take a bit longer to come in! Plan between 6 to 7 months for your wedding dress to arrive.

Another aspect of the “Where” also includes the bridal shop that you purchase from. A true bridal boutique setting means that you will have the store to yourself and won’t be pushing past other brides to try on the same gown. You will have a stylist to work with you throughout your search, and you will be able to see and touch every gown we have in the store. After you “say yes to the dress” we will guide you through the rest of the process: from accessories, to bridesmaids, to alterations, we will be with you every step of the way. You are never just another bride at our boutique and we want you to feel that way!

Megan Bubalo began managing Malindy Elene previously located on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg and shortly after the prior owner gave Megan her business with the hopes of growing the company.  Recently, Megan moved the company to it’s new South Tampa location.  Megan’s knowledge of the bridal gown industry, studies in fashion and hand selecting each bridal gown in her store during trips to New York Market, give you the personal experience all bride’s dream of.  Megan has kept the sweet moments in tact of the old Malindy Elene: you still can sip champagne while having the entire store to enjoy with only your family and friends and you can customize ANY dress in the store to make it your own.  She has expanded their bridal selection and also includes accessories, veils, bridesmaid dresses and even Spanx!

Almost everything in the store is 100% silk and made somewhere in America, keeping the quality the highest in Tampa. Come see designers you would see on the red carpet at Malindy Elene: Reem Acra, Badgley Mischka, Anne Barge, Nicole Miller and more!

Megan’s favorite thing about being in bridal? The relationships. At her boutique, you are not a number. “We know every girl by name and talk with them throughout the entire shopping and planning process! We love being a part of their wedding day and realize this is not just a dress to our brides, it is THE dress.” says Megan.

The post Expert Advice: The Difference Between a $700 Wedding Dress and $2,000 Wedding Dress – Malindy Elene Bridal appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

On Sunday, May 19, 2013 stylist Danielle McFarland will be holding complimentary styling sessions at the Alma Vidovic Bridal Trunk Show at the Don Me Now Styling & Clothing Lounge in Hyde Park Village.

Vidovic, a Tampa Bay bridal designer, has lent her talents to HSN fashion shows for top celebrity designers such as DKNY, Reem Acra, Badgley Mischka, Vince Camuto, Giuliana Rancic, Fern Mallis, Iman, Twiggy, Mariah Carey, and many more.

The 2013 bridal collection named Floriography is a a ten piece bridal collection inspired by blooming flowers and symbolic storytelling. This wedding dress collection features light chiffon, organza, tulle and luxurious satins in crisp white, ivory, cream, beige, and even blush pink.

The first 10 brides will receive goodie bags; all brides will receive a 10% discount on gowns and accessories for this day only.

Reserve your appointment by calling 727-637-2602 or emailing info@almavidovic.com.

Leilani - $2,300

Alma Vidovic Bridal Dress Trunk Show
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Don Me Now Styling and Clothing Lounge
1627 West Snow Circle Tampa, FL 33606

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Shana and Ben met one cold Atlanta evening at the World of Beer while Ben was visiting his parents for the holidays.

“We bonded over sharing that we were both Auburn alumni graduating the same year. It was love at first sight,” Shana said.

One year later the pair found themselves going back to where it all started, visiting Ben’s parents in Atlanta for Christmas. From there they headed to Knoxville, TN to meet the rest of Ben’s family. It was at his Papa’s house that Ben proposed.

“After gathering his thoughts he came out and asked me if I would continue to love him for the rest of my  life and marry him. I said ‘yes’!” Shana reminisced.

Elegant Winter Wonderland St. Petersburg, Fl Wedding - Renaissance Vinoy

Shana and Ben searched for a St. Pete wedding venue that would also provide a vacation-like atmosphere.

“After looking at several locations we fell in love with the Renaissance Vinoy Grand Ballroom. It had such a classic elegance and the chandelier was a piece of art,” Shana said. “The Vinoy was the perfect choice as I have memories of spending much time there as a child.”

The St. Petersburg bride chose eggplant, cream and silver for her elegant ballroom wedding.

“The walls were splashed in purple lighting with our monogram as the backdrop behind our feasting table. We wanted our wedding to have a romantic feel full of crystals and lace,” Shana shared. ”We paid close attention to each detail, even the napkins and invitations were monogrammed.”

To bring her wedding vision to a reality, Shana worked with St. Petersburg wedding florist Northside Florist.

“I chose Northside Florist after visiting over a handful of florists in the Tampa Bay area. They are very flexible, personable, and will put in the time to make your vision a reality. Kathy completely understood my vision and assured me that she would take care of everything,” Shana said.

Looking back, Shana said that one of the most surprising moments of the night came not from the bride or groom, but from her father.

“My dad appeared on stage and sung Play that Funky Music. Our friends and family absolutely loved it!” Shana said.

What advice do you have for other Tampa Bay Brides?
Take your time, research vendors, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Everything will be perfect on your wedding so take it all in and enjoy the ride!

St. Petersburg Wedding Ceremony: St. Mary’s Catholic Church
St. Petersburg Wedding Reception Venue: Renaissance Vinoy
St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer: Limelight Photography
St. Petersburg Wedding Planner: Weddings by Georgia
St. Petersburg Wedding Florist: Northside Florist
St. Petersburg Wedding Videographer: Voila Cinematic - Associate Film
St. Petersburg Wedding Lighting, Draping, Design Elements: IM Events
St. Petersburg Wedding Cake: Alessi Bakery
St. Petersburg Wedding Chair Rentals: Signature Events by Design
St. Petersburg Wedding Linen Rentals: BBJ Linen
St. Petersburg Wedding Photo booth Rental: Foto Box
St. Petersburg Wedding Band: South Town Fever
St. Petersburg Wedding Invitations: URBANcoast
St. Petersburg Wedding Makeup: Lindsay Does Makeup
St. Petersburg Wedding Koozies: Denny Kollmeyer Products

We are proud to have Northside Florist as a Marry Me Tampa Bay sponsor!

The post Purple Elegant Winter Wonderland St. Petersburg, Fl Wedding – Renaissance Vinoy appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

Kara and Michael met 10 years ago as students at St. Pete Catholic High School. He was tall and loud, while she was petite and quiet. After being sat next to each other during a class and with the help of a mutual friend, the pair began dating and have been together ever since.

In November 2011, on their 8-year anniversary, Michael proposed.

Purple, Grey & Ivory Modern Downtown St. Pete Wedding – NOVA 535 Unique Event Space

Kara had actually stumbled upon her downtown St. Pete wedding venue years before she was even engaged.

“One day, I was out driving in the neighborhood when I spotted NOVA 535. It caught my attention for two reasons. I am a sucker for brick buildings and the fact that it was advertised as an art lounge. I further researched it online when I got home. I loved what I saw! The building has a very industrial feeling with exposed beams in the ceiling, brick walls, and wood floors. Not to mention the awesome artwork they always have on display. So, I told myself that one day, if Michael ever proposes, we should get married there!” the bride explained.

Once they were engaged, Kara and Michael decided they wanted to get married in their hometown and the bride still couldn’t get NOVA 535 out of her mind. Although, the couple had moved away from the Tampa Bay area and Kara wouldn’t have an opportunity to visit St. Pete during the wedding planning stages, so she relied on the opinion of her parents who toured the modern venue.

“My parents were very impressed. That sealed the deal. We booked the venue and set the date,” Kara said.

The pair planned a purple, grey and ivory wedding with a baby’s breath bouquet and centerpieces and purple hydrangeas.

“I am a simple girl. Since the venue was already aesthetically appealing, I just had to enhance it with a little bit of simple elegance,” the bride explained.

During the wedding reception Kara and Michael entertained their wedding guests by playing the “Newlywed Shoe Game.” Their DJ questions such as “Who is grumpier in the morning?,” Who steals the covers?” and “Who was most nervous about the big day?”

Looking back, Kara reminisced that one of her most memorable moments came before the wedding ceremony when she got to talk to Michael, without actually seeing him.

“When I first heard him approaching the door, I got butterflies in my stomach! His voice was so calm. That was just what I needed to hear to calm my nerves. His ability to calm me down is one of the many reasons why I married him!” Kara gushed.

Moments right before the ceremony, as I was holding on to my dad’s arm, my heart started beating out of my chest! As I took my first step down the staircase, I let go of all my stresses. From that moment on, I just wanted to enjoy my wedding day with my soon to be husband. I realized there was no need to worry about the little things anymore. - The Bride

We were especially impressed with James and Elaine Photography! Their talent, turn around time, and quality of the professional prints exceeded our expectations. They are such a fun yet professional couple! - The Bride

The groom’s stepsister painted a picture of the bride and groom, taken from one of their engagement photos.

St. Petersburg Wedding Venue: NOVA 535 Unique Event Space
St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer: James and Elaine Photography
St. Petersburg Wedding Officiant: A Florida Wedding Ceremony - Michael DiPrisco
St. Petersburg Wedding Florist: The Flower Centre of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Wedding Caterer: Affordable Catering
St. Petersburg Wedding Cake: Cakes by Carolynn
St. Petersburg Wedding Rentals: Rent All City
St. Petersburg Wedding DJ: NOVA 535′s DJ Jaey Babylatin
St. Petersburg Wedding Hair: Natasha at The Shoppe
St. Petersburg Wedding Makeup: El Shaddai Makeup and Hair Designs - Yara

We are proud to have NOVA 535 Unique Event Space as a Marry Me Tampa Bay sponsor!

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Your Tampa Bay wedding is your big day and no matter how great the food was or how pretty the flowers looked, if you hire the wrong DJ or MC that will be what you guests remember. This is the person who will basically run the show for a majority of the night. No bride wants the dance floor cleared because her DJ doesn’t understand your guests tastes, or worse yet, stops the music entirely because of a equipment malfunction.

Sure your cousin’s friend has an iPod and some nice speakers, but that’s not going to make him a true wedding DJ. Does he understand the flow of wedding reception or when to announce the first dance or cake cutting?

Tampa Bay wedding DJ Jacob Smeaton of Music on the Move DJ’s explains why you shouldn’t hire the DJ from Craigslist and why you should look for a professional.

First, I know it can be difficult finding the best entertainment possible; especially on a budget. There are a lot of DJ’s out there and it may appear that they offer the same thing for less; but this is usually not the case. Please keep in mind that there can be some major differences between DJ entertainment services. Over the years, I have heard all sorts of horror stories about clients choosing the wrong entertainment.

A few being: DJ’s not showing up on time, not showing up at all, double booking themselves, not getting the DJ they thought they hired, their DJ & lighting set up are an unsightly mess, old lousy distorted/crackling sound system equipment, no back up equipment when there was a malfunction, cheap dance lighting or no dance lighting, effects lighting sitting on the ground or on top of speakers, poor microphone skills, not able to properly sequence the event, getting drunk at the event, hitting on guests, non-edited music, poor music library/selection, not able to “read” the crowd and pick good music, dressed inappropriately, hard to get a hold of, not very professional, didn’t deliver as promised, etc…

Don’t be a statistic! Again, I understand that price can be an issue. However, in my experience, those who go with the lowest price, usually regret it afterwards. When I speak with an inquiring bride, I try to educate them on what a difference a professional DJ can make if they choose us. However, some bride’s only want to hear the price quote and move on to the next DJ on their list. They then hire the DJ that was probably only $200 cheaper but find out too late that they made a huge mistake.

Wedding DJ Pricing:

Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability, and personality. A full-service disc jockey will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your event; but it may appear that you are only paying for “4 hours.” Consultations, music purchasing, music editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education, and other various business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.

Even though on paper it may seem like the “cheap” DJ is offering the same as the more expensive DJ, if you dig a little deeper and ask the right questions, you’ll usually find that it is night vs. day.

Example: Both DJ’s offer a sound system, wireless microphone, dance lighting, and music. However, the cheap DJ has probably spent about $1,000 total on all of his old used equipment, while the other DJ has spent $15,000+ on his equipment. You will see a difference and hear a difference in quality. This doesn’t even touch upon experience, talent, training, back up equipment, music library, licensing, insurance, etc. Keep in mind that more than 90% of the DJ’s in this industry only do this as a part-time job.

Is your veggie platter more important than your wedding entertainment? Let’s say you have 100 guests and the veggie platter costs $7.50 per person. That is $750. Yet you only budget $450 for your DJ. Are your guests going to remember the veggie platter or your entertainment? When you are spending thousands of dollars on a once-in-a-lifetime event, doesn’t it make sense to budget a few more dollars and go that extra mile researching to hire a true professional wedding entertainer that will ensure a fun and memorable event your family and friends will remember for years to come? Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Good entertainment is not cheap and cheap entertainment is rarely good!

Wedding DJ Statistics:

Martha Stewart says, “The entertainment you choose for your wedding or party is responsible for 80% of the events success and the memories you will have for the rest of your life.” During wedding planning, brides said their highest priority was their dress, followed by the reception site, caterer, photographer, DJ, & then videographer. This means that the wedding entertainment was among the least of their priorities. However, within one week after their wedding, 78% of brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!

Another statistic says that “85% of bride’s, after their wedding, wish they spent more time researching and more money on their entertainment.” That translates into 85% percent of bride’s not happy with their entertainment and regret not going the extra mile. When asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding was the entertainment.

Make sure to do your research, check out online reviews, and ask for references. Don’t let the cheapest price be your overall deciding factor. Make sure you hire an experienced, full-time, licensed, insured, DJ that specializes in weddings!

Jacob Smeaton (Owner/DJ), a Tampa native, is a 2nd generation DJ entertainer. He comes from a musical family where his father founded Music On The Move DJ’s in 1995. He has a brother who is one of his top DJ’s and another brother who is a well known music remixer/producer in California. Jacob has been DJ’ing and MC’ing at weddings and other special events in the Tampa Bay and surrounding area since 1997 and has graduated with honors from USF.

Jacob is consistently referred by previous wedding clients to their friends and family and by top event professionals because of his professionalism and attention to detail. Moreover, people love his fun personality and ability to motivate guests to get out of their seats and have the time of their lives!

Due to Jacob’s passion and experience, he has grown Music On The Move DJ’s into Florida’s #1 rated, award-winning DJ entertainment service with thousands of happy and satisfied clients! When Jacob is not preparing or working an event, he is a dedicated father who loves spending time with his wife and two kids.

The post Don’t Let Your Veggie Platter Be More Important Than Your Entertainment – DJ Advice from Music on the Move DJ’s appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

It’s always interesting to see what the “norm” is for wedding planning. Below is a great infographic from online wedding invitation site Wedding Paper Divas.

I was surprised how few brides hired a wedding planner (I would have gone crazy without mine) and that a majority of brides considered eloping!

I sided with most brides by sending a magnet Save-the-Date and choosing blue as my wedding color.

The post Wedding Infographic: How Do You Compare to Other’s Brides Wedding Planning? appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

Amanda and Mike met in middle school and were immediately drawn to each other. However, the timing between the pair didn’t work until years later after graduation.

As their relationship progressed and when it came time to pop the question, Mike threw the Tampa Bay bride off by scheduling a faux photo session.

Amanda, a wedding photographer herself, was under the impression she was shooting an engagement session at St. Petersburg’s Sunken Garden, but when she arrived she saw a sign saying “Amanda, I love you because…”

“I followed signs threw the garden with sweet words from Mike. When I got to the end the last sign said ‘Will you…’ and when I turned around he was on one knee holding a ring and said “Marry me?” Amanda reminisced.

Hot Pink, Orange & Yellow Ybor City -Tampa Wedding

While planning a wedding can be stressful, nothing can test a bride’s nerves more than having the wedding venue cancel three weeks out.

Amanda’s first wedding location was in Lakeland, but she changed her mind after visting a private residence in Tampa Bay.

“We really wanted to rent a house that we could go back to after the wedding. We wanted our friends and family to be able to continue the party in a safe place without worrying about driving home. While I was searching for a house, I came across a beautiful mansion in Tampa. It was much too expensive for us to just rent, but after touring it we decided it would be an amazing place for a wedding and we could stay the entire weekend. We canceled our original venue and got to work on the new one,” Amanda explained. “Then, three weeks before the wedding I received a call from the home owner notifying me they had been issued a cease and desist on all venues on their property! Then invitations had been sent out and the vendors were booked. Everything was in place and I was about to leave for a mini-vacation. I spent a day in shock, staring at the wall.”

But as one door closed on the wedding of her dreams, another opened.

“We started looking into the Don Vicente. I had originally looked at the hotel, but it was booked. It is unbelievably beautiful and they happened to have just had another bride cancel! Right away we booked it and it was smooth sailing from then on,” Amanda said.

To decorate her Ybor City wedding venue, Amanda chose a sunset color palate of hot pink, orange and yellow.

“I choose this because I didn’t want to obsess about the small details of color. I didn’t want to freak out when something came in the wrong shade of color. Which it did, many times,” the bride explained.

When it came to hiring a Tampa wedding photographer, Amanda, one herself, had high standards of who would capture her big day and chose Ware House Studios.

“I was blown away by them. Not only are they the nicest people you will ever meet, their talent is extraordinary,” Amanda gushed. “I felt like they were in control even when I knew everything was running so far behind. They never seem stressed or worried about getting the shots. The entire day was flawless.”

Reflecting on her wedding day, Amanda said that her most memorable moment of the day occurred during the first look.

“We were a little worried about seeing each other before the ceremony, but it was perfect and I would recommend it for anyone. You get to talk, to tell each other how great they look,” the bride said. “When I was walking down the aisle I was so nervous and focused on not tripping I would have missed his reaction to seeing me.”

When our son saw me for the first time, I will never forget the look on his face. He was just talking about this or that and I could see on his face the second he registered what he was seeing. He said “Mommy, you look better than amazing,” and everyone in the room burst into tears. – The Bride

I am 110% happy with my wedding pictures. How many people can say that? – The Bride on Tampa wedding photographer Warehouse Studios.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Enjoy the process! You spend countless hours planning one day. Enjoy every step of the planning. Even when things go wrong or get stressful, enjoy journey because the day comes and goes so quickly.

Choose your wedding party carefully! Our wedding party was unbelievably devoted. It made everything so awesome. They were willing to help with anything, go anywhere, and do anything we needed. We had so much fun with our wedding party the few months before the wedding. Things wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Tampa Wedding Venue: The Don Vicente De Ybor Historic Inn
Tampa Wedding Photographer: Ware House Studios
Tampa Wedding Coordinator: Special Moments
Tampa Wedding Florist: DJ’s Clearwater-Largo Florist
Tampa Wedding Caterer: Chives Catering
Tampa Wedding Cake: Chantilly Cakes

We are proud to have Ware House Studios as a Marry Me Tampa Bay sponsor!

The post Hot Pink, Orange & Yellow Ybor City -Tampa Wedding appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

Goodwill is holding its popular wedding dress sale Friday, May 17, 2013 at the Oldsmar store and Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Wesley Chapel location. The wedding gala will feature hundred of wedding gowns, with shoes and accessories starting at just $6.99! Preview the bridal gown styles before you go.

Before you turn up your nose to a Goodwill bridal gown, know that Tampa Bay bridal shops, CC’s Boutique, Athena’s Bridal Boutique, Diana’s Bridal, Olga’s Bridal & Boutique and designer Priscilla of Boston have all donated wedding dresses so you won’t be stuck with an out-of-style gown. The event will also feature bridesmaid gowns and Mother-of-the-Bride dresses.

A few words of wisdom. Some brides have been known to get there at midnight to wait in line. Also, be prepared to change in the aisles, so wear a bathing suit or tight fitting clothes!

Proceeds from the wedding gala benefit Goodwill-Suncoast’s training programs for people with developmental disabilities in Tampa Bay, Lakeland and Ocala.

Through Monday take a bonus 10% off sitewide!Use code MYSTYLE at checkout.

The post Tampa Bay Goodwill Wedding Dress Sale – May 17-18, 2013 appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

The Simple Weddings and NOVA 535 Unique Event Space bridal show will be held Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 2-6 p.m. at the St. Petersburg wedding venue located in downtown St. Pete, Fl.

Tampa Bay brides can view the modern wedding venue which boasts original 1920’s exposed red brick walls, hardwood floors, high-tech lighting, and custom wrought iron staircases.

“Even if your wedding isn’t going to be at NOVA, this is an opportunity to come out and meet some of the area’s best wedding vendors”, says Jeff Copeland, owner of Simple Weddings and co-host of the event, “The fact that they’re all in this amazing venue in downtown St. Pete on a Sunday afternoon just makes it convenient to come out and see them all at the same time!”

Door prizes will be awarded to brides who attend, including a rumored honeymoon giveaway.

Sunday, May 5, 2013
2 p.m. – 6 p.m
NOVA 535 Unique Event Space
535 Dr. Martin Luther King St N, St. Petersburg, FL

For more St. Petersburg bridal show tips, read this great advice article: Maximizing Your Tampa Bridal Show Experience.

The post St. Petersburg Bridal Show at NOVA 535 Unique Event Space – Sunday, May 5, 2013 appeared first on MarryMeTampaBay.

Lisa and Richard met at a volleyball match in the spring of 2011 while attending Western Michigan University. While both fell fast for one another, Lisa was headed to Europe for two months while Richard was finishing his Ph.D and moving to Tampa Bay, so began their long distance relationship.

“Over those two months we chatted on the phone every day, even though it cost us both an arm and a leg while I was in Europe,” Lisa said. ”When a package arrived for me in Spain that contained a mixed CD from Richard, I knew without a doubt that this man was someone I could spend the rest of my life with. As soon as I came home from Europe I was flying down from my hometown in Michigan to see Richard in Tampa as often as I could manage.”

On one of those trips to Tampa Bay, while visiting Richard on his birthday, Lisa received the surprise of a lifetime.

“The night before his birthday we had decided to go out to dinner for what I thought was a birthday celebration. After dinner, Richard said he wanted to take a walk on the beach and have some wine, at this point it was almost midnight. A few hundred feet up the beach, he stopped and asked if I trusted him. I warily said yes, and he took out a blindfold, and blindfolded me,” Lisa said.

While most girlfriends may have gotten suspicious at this point, Lisa was completely clueless as to what would come next.

“As he walked me away from the ocean he asked if I remembered what he told me he wanted for his birthday. I said yes, and explained, ‘You said you wanted me for your birthday.’ He said, yes, I was right but that there was more to it. He told me since it was after midnight, that he’d finally tell me what he wanted for his birthday.

He explained that it wasn’t just him on the beach and that his immediate family was here, along with my immediate family (he had them flown down from Michigan that morning). He took the blindfold off giving me just enough time to confirm that my family was in fact, on the beach in Florida at midnight, before he dropped to his knee and asked me to marry him.

I remember the words not coming out of my mouth even though I was desperately trying to scream “Yes!’ I managed to half choke out, ‘Of course!’ before throwing my arms around him. I was so overwhelmed and trying to comprehend everything that happened that I didn’t even look at the ring until my mom asked me if I had seen it. It was perfect,” Lisa reminisced.

The bride-to-be soon relocated to the Tampa Bay area and began planning her St. Petersburg wedding.

Purple, Modern St. Petersburg Wedding – NOVA 535 Unique Event Space

Lisa and Richard wanted a modern, non-traditional wedding and looked for a St. Pete wedding venue that would set that tone. The pair chose downtown St. Petersburg location NOVA 535 Unique Event Space.

“Once we saw NOVA we fell in love and there was no competition. It was unexpected, modern, and definitely not your traditional hotel ball oom,” Lisa explained. “The venue itself is beautiful — the bar, the uplighting, the exposed brick, it definitely creates an atmosphere that people remember and talk about.”

The bride selected royal purple and black, her favorite colors, with aqua accents for her modern wedding.

“The bridesmaid dresses were black. I had always thought that black bridesmaid dresses were really classy and elegant and a little untraditional,” Lisa said. “Our flowers were purple, with aqua accents, our cake was purple and aqua (no traditional white here), the uplighting was purple and the general backdrop of black tablecloths made it a really bold color scheme.”

The couple decided to hold an intimate St. Petersburg wedding ceremony with only immediate families and closes friends attending, while having a larger wedding reception celebration.

“It meant a lot to me to marry Richard in front of only the most important people in our lives. It was much more intimate and personal that way. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it,” Lisa shared.

The wedding reception music was influenced by Richard’s Lebanese heritage, and the couple needed a DJ who could incorporate Arabic music while still keeping the dance floor packed.

“NOVA’s DJ was incredible,” Lisa gushed. “It takes a lot to mix Arabic and American music and make it sound good! Even my husband’s family was impressed.”

Looking back, one of Lisa’s most memorable moments came after her wedding ceremony.

“Richard and I went upstairs and had a private moment together right after the ceremony. Away from everyone we let the fact that we were married set in. It was easily one of my favorite moments; neither of us could stop smiling,” the bride shared.

We wrote to each other a lot while I was in Europe, and even while I was in Michigan. Richard is an incredible writer, and we chose to both write our own vows. I couldn’t have imagined our ceremony any other way. – The Bride

I painted the ceremony backdrop for our wedding. It’s a combination of poems by Pablo Neruda that my husband and I selected. We selected lines that meant a lot to us, lines that resonated with our relationship. – The Bride

I can’t say anything but great things about Caroline [of Caroline Allen Photography]. She was outstanding. I’m still head-over-heels in love with our pictures. – The Bride

We get so many compliments on our video that [Brandon Hilliard Films] shot. It makes me cry every time I watch it, and we were SO happy that we hired him for the wedding. – The Bride

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Don’t be afraid to shop around for all of your vendors – just because you fall in love with a vendor’s website, doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind when you find them not as great in real life. There are so many wonderful vendors in the Tampa area, you’re bound to find one that shares your vision. I felt a little guilty to change my mind or tell someone “no”, but it’s OK!

Be specific with your vendors. Even if you think they “get” your vision – be overly specific about what you want. I asked for a solid royal purple bouquet for my wedding – which translated to “as long as it’s all purple it’s ok.” I ended up with a lavender and royal purple bouquet on the day of. No real harm done, but I wished I would have been more specific. Don’t be afraid to double check, and to go over what you want in detail.

Remember that as long as you are married to my best friend at the end of the day, it is going to be the best day ever, no matter what else happens. The rest is just details.

St. Petersburg Wedding Venue: NOVA 535 Unique Event Space
St. Petersburg Wedding Photographer: Caroline Allen Photography
St. Petersburg Wedding Videographer: Brandon Hilliard Films
St. Petersburg Wedding Florist Delma’s, The Flower Booth
St. Petersburg Wedding Caterer: Affordable Catering
St. Petersburg Wedding Cake: Betty Cakes
St. Petersburg Wedding Officiant: Jason Sowell
St. Petersburg Wedding DJ: NOVA 535′s DJ Jaey
St. Petersburg Bridesmaid Dresses: Etsy - Handmade and Inspired by the Sea by CoralieBeatrix 
St. Petersburg Groomsmen Tuxedos: Jos. A Bank
Groom’s Shoes: Converse

We are proud to have NOVA 535 Unique Event Space as a Marry Me Tampa Bay sponsor!

Through Monday take a bonus 10% off sitewide!Use code MYSTYLE at checkout.

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