After the excitement from a wedding day is over, many of the unnoticed amenities are gone to waste. Food is thrown away, dresses are never seen again, and DIY decor pieces are packed away in boxes. With the wedding season in full bloom, many couples are finding other ways to celebrate the huge stepping stone in their lives, while still giving back! Some small gestures, often go overlooked and aren’t seen as being beneficial, but last week, members of our team had the eye opening experience of meeting Danielle Calhoun, CEO of the Black Sheep Bride! Danielle explain her story of having the privilege of going to West Africa to help out a local orphanage in a third world country. She saw hundreds of people, women, children, elders, all trying their best to make due with what they had and find a way to put food on the plates of their families later on in the evening. As a photographer, she was able to capture the daily problems that other countries were going through and how much struggle there was. That’s what motivated her to start the Black Sheep Bride. The idea behind this website was to feature brides and venders who make selfless decisions to give back to their community and help out others in the surrounding areas. Simple gestures such as donating wedding gifts or making charitable funds an option on your registry can make a world of a difference to someone in need. Starting off as a small blog, Danielle’s ideas have flourished with more people are joining her movement everyday. With over 14,000 followers on Instagram, the Black Sheep Bride organization is something that is frequently talked about in the wedding industry by both brides and venders themselves. Thanks to Danielle’s passion and headstrong personality, we were able to see such a great movement that is only going to expand with the years to come! Interested in learning more about this organization and becoming a Black Sheep Bride yourself? Check out the Black Sheep Bride to see real life wedding stories that can inspire you to give back in a unique way on your special day!

Photography: Joel Bedford Photography

As soon as the engagement shock is over, many couples are at a loss in deciding the perfect day to get married. While there are 365 days to pick from, there are certain times of the year that should be avoided! Our friends at theknot.com helped give us some days that many brides and grooms overlook when it comes to picking the right one to say “I do”!

Holiday Weekends

These few days have both pros and cons. One benefit is that you are able to have an extra day to celebrate the occasion (plus the bonus factor that most venues cost less on Sundays). A downside to this time frame is that most hotel and airfare costs double due to the season!

Religious and Cultural Holidays

Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays (your own and those of your guests) when planning your wedding. There may even be restrictions at your house of worship as to whether or not you’re allowed to marry at these times.

Major Sporting Events

If you or you guests happen to be die hard sports fans, it may be a bad decision to pick your wedding day on the same day as a certain game. Though it may sound like a silly reason at first, many brides and grooms choose to avoid these days in fear that it may conflict with other guest’s plans. Besides, would you really want your wedding party dressed in their favorite Super Bowl attire? ;)

For more helpful tips on the do’s and don’t’s for wedding date choices, be sure to check out Wedding Dates to Avoid!

Venue: The Vinoy
Photography: Linda Agosto, Carrie Wildes
Floral Design: Event Design
Transportation: Jolley Trolley
Entertainment: Southtown Fever
Event Decor: Event Design
Day-of Coordination: Event Design

 

With the fall season back in the air people are starting to think more and more about their dream wedding! A fun twist that has been popping up is dying the bottom of the bride’s wedding gown! This subtle ombre touch allows brides to express themselves in a unique way while still keeping a traditional look! Even though there are many mixed reviews, changing the shade of the dress can tie in the wedding’s colors or even provide the couple with something blue ;) Interested in learning more about this style? Check out Elite Daily’s post to get more inspiration and see if this trend is something that appeals to you!

Brooke & T.J. were such a beautiful couple to work with! Through simple but elegant touches of champagne gold and light pink, we had the lovely opportunity to take part in putting together the timeless and classy reception design! Along with the decor, we also had the privilege of coordinating later on in evening hours. With the help from our team and the staff at The Vault in Tampa, we were able to help these two create a wedding of their dreams :)

Venue: The Vault

Photography: Carrie Wildes Photography

Makeup: Jessica Fleming

Hair: Melissa Freye from Haute Hair

Coordination: Us!

Floral Design: Us!

Decor: Us!

       

Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach

Photography: Jessica Charles Photography

Coordination: Simply Divine Events

Floral Design: Us!

Rentals and Lighting: Us!

Design: Us!

Venue: Davis Island Garden Club
Clergy: Sensational Ceremonies, Rev. Rick Lackore
Cake: K’s Custom Cakes
Desserts: Hands On Sweets
Catering: Good Food Catering
Photography: Linda Agosto, Carrie Wildes Photography
Band: Cnergy
Hair/Make-up: Collective Creations
Floral Design: Us!
Rentals and Lighting: Us!
Coordination and Design: Us!

The Holidays are a time of being surrounded by loved ones, excitement of the festivities, and an unexplainable feeling of joy. The warmth of a fire, the laughter of children playing and the food that brings the family together are all things we look forward to during this special time of year. What better way to incorporate everything we love about the holidays into your Big Day!  Many couples will be getting engaged this holiday season and potentially getting hitched in next year’s holiday season!  Check out some warm and inviting chic ideas here.

Set the tone of the wedding by applying warm amber LED uplighting to create the effect of a cozy fire. You and your guests will feel relaxed and right at home amongst each other.

 

 

Centerpieces will be the focal point of the tables which you can use to showcase the holiday theme. You can be as creative as you’d like with this; integrating pinecones, cranberries or mistletoe.

One of my favorite looks of the season right now is the glamour and romance of lace! The intricate texture of lace is best paired as an overlay to a rich satin linen.

 

Among the many time honored traditions in a wedding, one of the biggest traditions are the bouquet of flowers the bride carries as she walks down the aisle. Bouquets are a warm expression of innocence and can be used to make a major statement piece.

Friends and Family will be amazed at the details you’ve thoughtfully put together for everyone to enjoy. Create a color palette of red, white, champagne, blush or gold, maybe even have the Dj play a few Christmas Songs! I encourage you to try at least one of these tips and get creative for your big day!

For this out-of-town bride, contrast was the name of the game!  A native texan, the “Yellow Rose of Texas” stole the show and Kenzie Shores beautiful photography shows off the beauty of the contract between yellow and white – with some fun pink thrown for a gentle nod to the beauty of the Vinoy’s exterior. Love love love!

Venue: The Vinoy

Photography: Kenzie Shores Photography

Floral: Us!

Lighting: Us!

Entertainment: Phase5

Counted as one of Tampa Bay’s most in-demand event bands, Phase5 knows how to take your event from a party to an experiential event! With a huge set list available and a willingness to prepare pretty much anything your heart desires, Phase5 knows the meaning of a customized experience. Josh Walther is the “man with the plan” and is an absolute joy to work with!  Oh, and did we mention they are super talented?

Name: Josh Walther

Business Name: inspire entertainment | phase5 band

Hails from: Josh (Pensacola, FL) Inspire|phase5 (Tampa)

How long have you served the Tampa Bay Market? 7 years

How long have you been in Business?  7 years

What attracted you to the profession? ?I have been playing music my whole life.  I loved the idea of getting to pair my artistic ability with the structure of the wedding|event business.

What is your most memorable wedding and why? ?Each wedding is memorable and significant in different ways.  Last year phase5 had the chance to play for a wedding at TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville.  It was a thrill to be playing in the same venue where the PGA Golf tour is played.  The venue is beautiful.  The staff was exceptional and the crowd was amazing! Also, they have the best tiny skillet baked chocolate chip cookies on earth.

Would you say that you have an area of expertise or specialty? ?I love working with clients to plan a memorable night of music!

If you could offer one piece of advice to every bride, what would it be?  I think the best weddings are those where the bride and groom are thoughtful of their guests when choosing music for the reception.

Why do you love working with Event Design?  One of the very first weddings that we played several years ago was with Event Design at the Sandpearl!  The organization and attention to detail provided by the team made for a beautiful and stress-free night. We are still thankful for their expertise and guidance when we were so new to the industry.