Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Wedding – Kimber & Nick

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Kimber and Nick met at a bar in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois. They began dating and eventually took their first vacation at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa Bay. They immediately fell in love with the hotel and after Nick gave a heartfelt proposal a few years later they knew that they had to come back to Tampa, Florida to exchange their vows.

After much discussion Kimber and Nick decided that they wanted to go with a modern theme that included blue and white hues. They decided to focus a portion of their attention to the ceremony space by including drapery and hanging blue delphinium flowers from the top. They also had two large arrangements on either side of the aisle that accented the sweetheart table when it was placed between them after the ceremony was over.

For the remainder of the reception space, the couple decided to include soft touches such as uplights, lilies, and blue table runners. Looking back on her day, Kimber says she is happy she put so much attention to the details and was able to get exactly what she envisioned. Though she claims that marrying Nick was the best part of her wedding, we think that our help with executing the decor came in a close second ;)

If Kimber could give any piece of advice to couples who are planning their wedding she would recommend finding vendors who stay in contact with you throughout the whole process. With planning a destination wedding, she was extremely comfortable with the constant communication between everyone on the Event Design team. Kimber is thankful that we took the time to discuss her entire vision and provide a variety of different options in order to achieve her dream decor. “(Event Design) helped us create the most beautiful set up and make our design dream a reality! (They) handled everything and communicated with our other vendors to make the day go flawless!!”

Venue: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | Photographer: Carrie Wildes

I’m Engaged! Which Vendors do I Hire First?

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Ceremony Venue: Bell Shoals Baptist Church | Reception Venue: The Regent

You just became engaged and can finally start the planning process for one of your most memorable days! Once a set budget is in mind, you might ask yourself where to start and which vendors should you reach out to first? While every single one of them is important in making a smooth and painless wedding day, there are a few that we recommend going to immediately to ensure availability!

Venue

We highly encourage couples to decide on a wedding location before they even pursue other venders. Once a date is chosen, you will be able to get a better idea on availability of other venders and if the facility is within their area of travel. Additionally, certain venues only allow the use of their preferred venders which could limit the ones to choose from.

Planner/Coordinator

Planners and coordinators are under utilized gems inside the wedding industry! It might not seem like it at first, but planning everything out and sticking to a schedule is a full time job! Having someone there to map out every detail and create a timeline can alleviate unnecessary stress and make everything run much more smoothly.

Photographer

There’s an art to taking the perfect photograph so if you’re in love with someone’s work don’t hesitate to reach out to see their availability! Photographers (especially well known ones) can fill up fast and chances are if you found the best one on Instagram, other couples have too!

Decor/Floral

The possibilities are endless when it comes to the decor and floral aspect of a wedding! We encourage speaking with a company early on to see how much it would cost to recreate absolutely everything that you envision. Once that’s figured out, you will then have the opportunity to decide on what you really want/need as well as get a better idea on how much money you’ll have to spend on other things.

Planning your wedding may seem overwhelming at first, (trust us, we know) but once you have your core vendors figured out everything else will come together more easily. Remember, it’s never too early to reach out to these individuals, especially the ones that you have your heart set on!

How to Live Stream Your Wedding

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Photography: Carrie Wildes

Live streaming your wedding is a great way to connect with friends and family who aren’t able to physically attend. With demands on people’s time sometimes making a physical appearance challenging, you are still able to have all of your loved ones with you on your special day through the use of webcasting. Some great platforms that couples have utilized during the pandemic (as well as life in general) are Zoom, Skype, and Facebook. Though in theory using these social media platforms seem simple and easy, there are some hurdles to consider if you and your significant other decide to go this route.

Internet Connection

Make sure your venue has a STRONG internet connection (we’re talking speeds that are faster than Paul Walker was in Tokyo Drift). If the wifi is poor, there is likely to be a lot of lag time which will prevent the virtual attendees from seeing things happen in real time. Bad connection can also create a glitchy stream and there may be a chance that the video itself will be lost completely.

Assign Someone in Charge

The last thing that you want to be thinking about on your big day is who is going to press the “live” button right before the ceremony starts. Having someone you trust in charge of stabilizing the device, pressing record, and making sure that there is an audio connection will prevent the headaches of trying to figure out the logistics day of.

Test Everything Out

We highly encourage couples to test out their live stream prior to their wedding day. Doing so will make you aware of any additional materials you made need to invest in to make the most successful video possible (i.e. tripod, microphone, etc.).

Charge Your Devices

Make sure that whatever device you plan to stream your wedding on is fully charged! These videos can use up a lot of its energy source and even if you only intend on having a 30 minute video the battery life can go quickly!

While the demand for live stream platforms continues to increase we hope these tips are helpful in creating the most successful video production. With everything being said, our biggest advice is to keep things simple and don’t forget to say cheese!

5 Tips for an Epic Engagement Shoot

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Photography: Limelight Photography | Location: Craig Park

Engagement photographs are the perfect way to get comfortable in front of the camera as well as allow your photographer to learn more about you and your significant other’s personalities before the wedding day. The days leading up to these photographs may seem a little stressful, but our friends at Limelight Photography have given us some tips and tricks to get the best engagement shots

Personalize It!

Pick a location or setting that involves something that you and your significant other like to do together. Some examples of this could be going to the beach, cooking in your house, or even walks in the park! If you pick an atmosphere that is meaningful to you and your fiancé you’re more likely to be comfortable in front of the camera so your photographer can capture genuine happiness!

Use Props

Having items that are important to the ambiance that you are trying to recreate is vital! Imagine having a picnic blanket laid out on the beach to make the setting appear more like a date or bikes to ride on for shots in the park. Even smaller elements like champagne and glasses to use for a toast can take your pictures up to a whole new level.

Hire a Hair & Makeup Artist

Having someone else in charge of doing your hair and makeup will give you one less thing to stress out about. Doing this is also a great time for you to test out your wedding day hair and makeup stylist to see what you do and don’t like – that way there aren’t any surprises later on down the line!

Hire a Professional to Assist Pets

What’s better for an engagement shoot than to include your animals! Taking photographs with the entire family is an awesome way to have all of your loved ones in a single image. Keep in mind that pets most likely won’t be in every single image taken so make sure you hire a professional (or have someone in charge) of holding and entertaining your pet when they aren’t in photographs.

Avoid The Sun

It is recommended to avoid the sun at least one week prior to your engagement shots. You are spending good money for these images and the last thing you would want seen is a bad sunburn or unwanted tan lines!

Of course, the number one tip is to relax and have fun! You should never feel forced to do anything and if there’s something that you aren’t comfortable with let your photographer know!

3 Things to Know Before Your Hair & Makeup Trial

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Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

Okay, you are only a few months away from your wedding day. You have a gorgeous venue, the perfect dress, and all of the other venders sorted out. You think you’re ahead of the game, but you’re starting to second guess yourself. Is there something, even the smallest thing, that you’re missing?

Well, have you scheduled a trial run for both your hair and makeup? But wait, why would you add an “unnecessary” expense to your wedding budget? It sounds silly, I know, but think of the peace of mind you’ll have if you’re able to see how everything looks ahead of time! So scheduling an appointment for a test run sounds easy enough, right? Well yes, but sometimes brides aren’t sure what is necessary to bring/do for their consultations. Here are our top three tips of things to know for both during and leading up to your trials!

Have Your Accessories Ready

Plan on wearing a veil during your ceremony? Maybe reusing a timeless head band that your mother wore during hers? Make sure you bring these items to all of your trials, that way the stylists know exactly how to incorporate them into your hair designs. This will even give you a full perspective of exactly how everything will look as opposed to just assuming.

Bring Inspirational Photographs

Although these stylists know how to work their magic, they are not mind readers. There are hundreds of different designs you can do with both your hair and makeup and having a clear idea of what you envision ahead of time will avoid stress on the both of you.

Have Clean Hair and With No Products

Some people might assume that if you’re spending money for someone to do your hair the least that they could do is wash it, right? True. BUT we like to encourage brides to wash their hair the night before so it has the opportunity to regain some of its natural oils which will work in your favor! Additionally, put as little products on your face as possible (ideally none at all) since makeup tends to stick better that way.

Remember, these are only trials so if they do something that you don’t love be sure to be vocal about it! One of the worst things you can do is settle on something just because it looks “fine”. These are pictures and memories that are going to last a lifetime so make sure that you’re completely comfortable with how everything looks so there are no regrets later on down the road!

Kapok Special Events Wedding – Dior & Bobby

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Dior and Bobby approached Event Design in the summer with a dream of a Beauty and the Beast styled wedding for the following year. Since they were already planning on having their ceremony at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, they decided to hold their reception somewhere close to the Tarpon Springs area which led them straight to the Kapok Special Events Center. If you’re new to the Clearwater area, this venue has a pretty long history (being once considered a top restaurant in the Tampa Bay area as well as an Inn), but in present day is commonly known for having a Kapok Tree located directly in front of the building. Having floor to ceiling windows exposing a lush and well maintained garden, the couple decided that this would be a great place to hold an outdoorsy themed wedding which is commonly seen in the Beauty and the Beast movie.

With both a ceremony and a reception venue decided on, Dior and Bobby were ready to bring their theme to life. Similar to the famous film, the wedding colors were going to be navy blue, gold, red, and touches of greenery (ivy in particular). With family members, including the band itself, flying in from Greece, the couple’s original 350 guest count wedding grew to 422 in a matter of months. With that being said, the two felt the pressure of making an even bigger impression on their attendees and did not want to skimp on the details to make the wedding even more memorable. Including their already contracted decor elements of gold chiavari chairs, navy and red linen, chargers, and lush centerpieces, Dior and Bobby immediately decided to include a monogrammed GOBO of their initials to be projected onto the dance floor.

Of everything that Dior and Bobby wanted included in their wedding day, the two most significant things were the sweetheart table and the bridal bouquet. To achieve a classic Beauty and the Beast styled wedding, Event Design used candelabras on their table, as well as the iconic single rose inside a dome vase. For the bridal bouquet, we decided on an all rose arrangement and accented each stem with diamond pins to bring out the red hue even more.

The day of the wedding Event Design received a call from Bobby’s mother saying that as a surprise to the couple she wanted to extend the wedding an additional hour and a half. The wedding that was once supposed to end at 1:30 AM had now been extended to 3:00 AM (at the earliest) and from the pictures that we received from their photographer the wedding extension did not go unappreciated!

Ceremony Venue: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral | Reception Venue: Kapok Special Events Center | Photography: K&K Photography | Decor & Floral: Event Design | Cake: Hands on Sweets

There’s a Flower Shortage. Now What?

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Photography: Joyelan.com | Venue: Tampa Garden Club Wedding

Have you noticed over the past few months that the prices of flowers have drastically increased? Whether you’ve purchased an arrangement from a local florist or ran into a grocery store to buy some stems to liven up your house, you’ve probably became aware that pricing is not what it used to be. This may leave you wondering why there is a sudden increase that seemed to happen overnight. Unfortunately, the price surge didn’t necessarily happen “overnight”, but instead has been building up since 2020 and has just now exploded.

To make a long story short, there is a major flower shortage throughout all of the United States. What caused that shortage you may ask? Well, there are a few major reasons that we’ve discussed down below.

Weather/Natural Disasters

One of the biggest struggles that all wholesalers have been experiencing is terrible growing conditions. A lot of the States in the US (and especially Florida) import their flowers from other regions. Many areas have been experiencing heavy rainfalls and flooding which has then caused rot, mold, and bug attracting bacteria.

COVID-19

With the rise of stress caused by the pandemic the need for flowers has also gone to an all time high. Even the smallest “sorry I can’t be with you” arrangements were sent out more frequently which created a surplus demand of flowers.

Closed Ports

In mid 2021 we are still feeling the repercussions of the pandemic which includes many ports being closed. Since we get a large majority of our flowers elsewhere, those areas are still having a hard time making deliveries due to shut downs and newly implemented regulations.

Farmer Strikes

Believe it or not, many farmers from other countries are going on strike due to tax reforms. Even the growers who aren’t taking part in the disagreement are having issues getting to their fields as well as shipping their products due to roadway blockades. Due to the difficulties in other regions, many wholesalers are having delayed orders which may not arrive to their facility until weeks later.

Okay, I understand the shortage, but what does this mean for my wedding planning process?

Florist cannot recommend enough to continue to go about your wedding planning! Just because we are experiencing some difficulties, doesn’t mean that we are unable to help you with your special day. One thing that we do ask is for you not to get your heart set on a certain flower because we are unable to guarantee its availability (especially if it’s outside of its normal growing season). Instead, we can work with an ideal color scheme and flower suggestions such as “I really love ranunculuses but I’d be equally as happy if they needed to be substituted with a similar flower such as a garden rose”.

Our company strives on customer service and loves to be as transparent with you as possible. We hope that these examples of flower shortages helps resolve some unanswered questions and prevent unnecessary stress later on down the road!

Top 10 First Dance Songs of 2021

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Venue: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | Photography: Your Story By Us

The first official dance as husband and wife. This is something that many couples cherish forever, but are clueless when deciding what the song should be. To prevent the headache and allow your mind to focus on something else (like how to dance without stepping on your partner’s toes) we’ve come up with a list of the top 10 first dance songs of 2021! Yes, some of these songs may seem overplayed, but that’s because they know how to get you in your feels. Sometimes the biggest ear worms make for the most memorable moments, including your first dance!

  1. Perfect – Ed Sheeran
  2. All of Me – John Legend
  3. Speechless – Dan + Shay
  4. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
  5. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
  6. Stay With Me – Sam Smith
  7. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston (an oldie but a goodie!)
  8. If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
  9. This I Promise You – *NSYNC
  10. Better Together – Jack Johnson

Still not feeling any of these songs? (we won’t be offended) Check out these Spotify Playlists for some more inspiration!

Venue 650 Wedding – Caitlin & Brandon

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Caitlin came to Event Design with a dream of getting married outside of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area and instead moving closer to Orlando. After much discussion with her (then) fiancé, Brandon, they decided on renting out an old newspaper printing house in Winter Haven. Venue 650 gave them the industrial vibe that they both were envisioning while still allowing plenty of opportunity to dress up the space with drapery and candle lights!

As soon as they confirmed their date, they decided to reach out to Event Design to get the decor details sorted out. Both Caitlin and Brandon had a vision of a natural theme with greenery, white flowers, and gold accents. Being extremely organized, Caitlin already had prepared HUNDREDS of photographs and inspirational boards of exactly what she wanted. With being over a year out, everything seemed to be going according to plan but then… COVID hit.

Everything seemed to have come crashing down and while still dreaming of having a spring wedding, Caitlin and Brandon decided to privately tie the knot anyway and celebrate with their friends and family later on in the summer at Venue 650.

This wedding was extremely special to Event Design because we had the opportunity to not only help design the space, but to coordinate the big day as well! Venue 650 is every couple and decor company’s dream space while providing a blank slate to work from but still including timeless pieces such as exposed beams and white brick walls. Event Design’s elegant touches such as drapery and custom made farm sweetheart table helped enhance the atmosphere even more. All of the other decor aspects were finished off by including specialty linen, florals, centerpieces, chargers, and furniture to create a memorable atmosphere that the guests (including Caitlin and Brandon) are still talking about!

Venue: Venue 650 | Photography: J Canelas Photography | Videography: J&S Media | Decor/Furniture/Floral: Us! | Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Wedding Dress Shopping

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Photography: Benjamin Hewitt Photography

You just got engaged! Now what? Many brides immediate answer is to go dress shopping, of course! While having the perfect dress is obviously a BIG deal, there are many things that newly engaged couples don’t consider when picking out the gown for their big day!

Not Having a Set Wedding Date or Location

Having a wedding date and location is a necessity before you can even consider finding a dress! Even though you may have a style in mind, there are so many elements that can change the actual design. For example, if you were to get married in the summer in Florida (preferably in the Tampa Bay area ?) you may be too hot to be wearing a long sleeved dress. If you were to decide on a beach wedding, you would likely find sand underneath your fabric if you were to choose a train. Once a date and venue is set you will have a better idea of what is the most practical during the time of year and location of your wedding.

Getting Overwhelmed by the Different Styles

Did you know there are over a hundred different styles of wedding dresses? With trends constantly changing new designs come into the market every single day. Just like deciding on your hair and makeup, it is strongly encouraged to browse different designs online to see which ones appeal to you the most. This will prevent you feeling bombarded when you do go to a salon and give you a more set idea of what you’re envisioning!

Not Bringing the Proper Undergarments to Any Fitting

Getting closer to deciding on the perfect dress? Make sure to bring the undergarments that you plan on wearing to your wedding that way you know what works and what doesn’t. This will prevent you from scrambling day of trying to figure out how to hide a bra strap or panty lines.

Not Having a Set Budget in Mind for Your Dress

One of the most devastating stories that we hear from time to time is that someone found their dream dress just to see that it is completely out of their budget. To avoid the heartbreak, many salons recommend having a set budget prior to going in store to shop. This also allows the bride to be focused on exactly what is within her means as opposed to getting attached to styles that she isn’t able to afford.

Lastly, remember to have fun! Wedding dress shopping is something that can be done with friends and family members to make the experience even more enjoyable. So sit down, pop a bottle of champagne, and remember that this is leading up to one of the most memorable days!