New Year, New You: 5 Beauty Tips to Prepare for Your Big Day

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Photography: Darin Crofton Photography

As you get closer to your wedding day you will probably be undergoing some sort of stress (even if it’s only a little). The final details will start to pile up and you may begin to wonder how you are going to get it all done in time. Even though the finishing touches will still need to be taken care of, don’t forget to set aside some TLC time to keep your head on straight! Here are our five favorite self care tips to utilize leading up to your wedding day!

Drink Water

We know, we know. You’re probably thinking that we sound like your mother. Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to filter out toxins and keep your skin clear! By continuously drinking water you are more likely to say “bye bye!” to the pesky blemishes that just so happen to pop up RIGHT BEFORE important days!

Hair and Makeup Trial

You’re going to need to do a trial run for your hair and makeup anyway. Why not do a practice round right before your wedding day? A little bit of pampering can do wonders to not only your skin but your mindset!

Mani/Pedi

This just goes without explanation! Having your nails done is a major confidence booster so make sure to use the hurdles that life has thrown at you as an excuse to get them done!

Stay Out of the Sun

The last thing that you’re going to want is to be burned and red in your wedding photos. We recommend for couples to stay out of the sun for at least one week prior to your wedding day. If you still want to achieve the glowy sun kissed look, opt for a spray tan!

Teeth Whitening

Your smile is going to be plastered on your face throughout the entire day (at least we hope). Getting your teeth professionally whitened (or even using Crest White Strips) a few days beforehand will help make them look as radiant as you feel!

We encourage all couples to take some time to themselves as they get closer to their wedding day. Even a little bit of self care can help you feel like your best self!

3 Ways to Incorporate Your Children Into Your Wedding

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Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa | Photography: Alexis Kline Photography

Inviting children to a wedding has been a big debate throughout the past few years. We’ve heard from numerous couples expressing both positive and negative feelings towards this idea. While some believe that the more the merrier, others fear that they might cause a distraction during significant parts of the day. But what happens if the child happens to be your own? Whether it’s with your significant other or from a previous relationship, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to want to include them. Although the standard idea of incorporating them as flower girls or ring bearers might seem like the easiest route to go, here’s three of our favorite ways to include them that can be appropriate for any age!

Customized Mocktail

Even if you don’t plan on having a bar at your wedding, coming up with an original drink that your little one loves is a great way to remind your guests that they are a part of the day! This could be a fun concoction that you both create and test out in advance or one that’s already known but with a fun twist (shout out to the Shirley Temples with not one but TWO cherries). Bonus Points: Make sure you name the drink after your child so everyone at the wedding knows who inspired it!

DIY Crafts

As you get closer to your wedding day your mind might be running a mile a minute thinking about all of the finishing touches that you still have to do. How much easier would it be if you had another pair of hands to help you make the welcome baskets and hand-written place cards? Asking your little one to help out is a great way to get the tasks done more efficiently as well as create memories.

Family Cake Topper

Just because it’s going on your wedding cake doesn’t mean it only has to be the two of you! Having a cake topper that includes your entire family reassures your little ones that this day should be just as special for them!

5 Questions to Ask Your Venue Before Saying “I Do!”

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Venue: Tampa Marriott Water Street | Photography: Corey Conroy Photography

When searching for the perfect wedding venue there’s more that comes into play than just finding one with the most Instagram worthy features. Coming from a wedding professional who has been in the industry for years, sometimes the venues that provide the best pictures are also the ones with the biggest cons (we’re looking at you $40k venue with tables and chairs from the 70’s). Although the perfect atmosphere is a bonus, we’ve made a list of the top 5 questions to ask your future venue before signing the contract!

Will I Be the Only Event This Day?

Wherever you decide to get married, you’re likely to come across one or two powerhouse venues who claim that they put on 500+ weddings a year. If that’s truly the case, then there’s a pretty good chance that they will have another one scheduled on the same day as yours.

“So what? As long as the other wedding is in a different ballroom it isn’t that big a deal.”

That might be true, but it still presents the chance that the venue’s attention to detail might be lost on your wedding day (especially if the other one is much bigger than yours). It may also create a headache for your vendors when trying to figure out set up times.

Am I Allowed to Use My Own Vendors?

Some venues require only certain vendors to be used. If your heart is set on any specific one, make sure your venue allows them to work there! If not, see what it takes in order to get them approved and on their preferred vendor list. Bonus Tip: Most venues require vendors to have a Certificate of Insurance. When searching for vendors make sure they are insured before getting involved in the proposal process!

What Else Do You Provide?

When searching for the perfect venue you may come across some that provide more than just the rental of the space itself. Certain places might include catering and other basic rentals (i.e. linen, tables, chairs, etc.) whereas others are completely inclusive with their own florals, cakes, and officiants! If your venue doesn’t provide any other services, make sure you are aware of that ahead of time so you can factor in the additional expenses!

Do You Have a Liquor License?

Usually it’s safe to assume all venues have liquor licenses, but it doesn’t hurt to ask! Some places (such as breweries) may only be allowed to serve beer and wine instead of hard alcohol.

Do You Require a Wedding Coordinator?

As the wedding industry continues to grow, many venues are starting to require couples to have day of coordinators. The reasoning behind this is because the coordinator at the venue has other operations to delegate during your wedding and might not be available at all times. If your venue does require one, make sure you find a DOC ahead of time and consider the cost of that as well!

Want more intel about the differences between the venue’s coordinator and a planner? Make sure to check out our previous blog post as to learn more!

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Wedding

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Venue: Paradise Cove | Photography: Castaldo Studio

When it comes to planning your wedding mistakes are bound to happen. No matter how big or small it is, there are so many moving parts that you will experience a hiccup at least once or twice along the way (even if you hired the BEST wedding planner).

With that being said, you do have an advantage because there have been plenty of weddings before yours and we can learn from the mistakes that those couples made (thanks for taking one for the team, guys!) Keep reading to learn three of the top mistakes that we have witnessed and ways to avoid them!

Not Having a Rain Plan

Getting married in Florida means sunshine and beaches, right? Well, not exactly… Did you know that Florida is one of the top five rainiest states in the U.S.? Although having an outdoor ceremony with the sunset in the background is ideal for some couples (and totally doable) we encourage you to have a back up plan just in case. The weather here can change in the blink of an eye which means you might have to change your ceremony location rather quickly. This means you should definitely consider the venue’s rain plan before signing the contract because there is a strong chance that you might have to use that instead!

Not Having a Good Understanding of the Area’s Yearly Events

Events happen in the Tampa Bay area almost every week. Although some are bigger than others, we recommend couples to do their research and see if anything is happening near or around your venue on the dates that you’re interested in having your wedding. If a major event is happening on the same day (such as Gasparilla) make sure your guests are aware of the traffic and parking circumstances ahead of time so they can plan their commute accordingly. We also encourage couples to avoid having their wedding during certain busy weekends such as spring break and holidays where hotel and travel prices tend to be inflated.

Trying a New Beauty Routine Right Before

There’s a pretty good chance that the few days before your wedding you are going to be stressed to the max. You may feel tempted to decompress with a little self care (which is encouraged!) but please avoid completely changing up your routine! The last thing you want is to have your skin break out or your hair appear oily in your wedding photos just because you had to try the latest TikTok trend. Instead, we recommend having a two week buffer to try out any new products and see how your body adjusts before implementing them on/around your big day!

At the end of the day, don’t forget the reasoning behind having your wedding in the first place! You and your significant other are committing a lifetime to one another around the people who you love the most. No matter what happens on your special day, that alone is worth celebrating.

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Wedding – Katie & Zach

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Katie and Zach met their senior year of high school at a scholarship weekend for Boston College. Katie’s older brother, Ben, hosted Zach during the five day program where Katie found herself spending every possible moment coming up with excuses to tag along. After an immediate connect the couple decided to make their relationship official before parting ways at the end of the event. Although they both were eager to go home and tell their loved ones their news, they knew that they were going to have a challenge due to the distance between them. Even though this hurdle could have made any other teenage couple break up, the couple decided to make the most of it by Katie flying to Boston to attend Zach’s prom and Zach meeting her ENTIRE family after only one month!

The couple continued to date all throughout college and eventually decided to tie the knot in Tampa to be closer to Katie’s parents’ home. Since guests were coming in from all across the country, Katie and Zach decided to throw a big party immediately following the rehearsal dinner the night before. This allowed the attendees an additional opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones!

Following the traditional theme of their wedding day, Katie and her bridesmaids decided to get ready at her parents’ house while Zach and his groomsmen got dressed at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The two traveled separately to Sacred Heart Catholic Church where they chose to see each other for the first time during an hour long Catholic Ceremony at 11:00 AM. Similar to Katie’s parents’ wedding, Event Design dressed up the church pews with white satin bows and designed Katie’s bouquet completely out of gardenias (which is what her mother had as well!)

After exchanging vows, the couple shuttled guests from Sacred Heart Catholic Church to the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay for the cocktail hour. During this time Katie and Zach were able to take photographs with each other and their families. Although they ended up missing the majority of their cocktail hour, the couple had the opportunity to be alone together and reflect on the morning’s events.

After the all of the sentimental moments, Katie and Zach were ready to party! The reception took place in the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay’s ballroom. Upon entering the space, all 400 of the couple’s guests were blown away by centerpieces in varying heights as well as the one on the couple’s head/family table that was made of only white roses. Along with the custom made arrangements, the tables were finished off with Event Design’s lace overlays, gold chargers, table numbers, and chiavari chairs!

Immediately following their meal, the couple had their first dance on a cherry rose dance floor with a GOBO projection of their initials displayed across. Eventually the day became even livelier when the wedding party did the classic New Orleans Umbrella Dance and Katie was able to throw away her complimentary toss bouquet (because how could she give up her real one?!)

Floral, Chairs, Uplighting, & Decor: Event Design | Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | Photography: Your Story By Us | Videography: Life’s Highlights | Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio | Cake: Hands On Sweets | Wedding Dress: Cici’s Bridal | DJ: Eric w/ Grant Hemmond and Associates

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Wedding – Rebecca & Jason

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Rebecca’s best friend (who later became her Maid of Honor) met Jason during basic training for the army. She immediately realized the similarities between the two and formally introduced them after graduation. After many years of dating, Jason decided to pop the question in the most intimate setting he could imagine – on their patio while listening to their favorite song WITH his grandmother’s ring!

While planning their wedding the couple decided that the surrounding scenery was one of the most significant parts of their day. They decided to get married at the Hyatt Regency on Clearwater Beach so that they could have views of the water during their entire celebration. Praying for good weather (and thank goodness it was perfect!), the couple decided to hold their ceremony on the hotel’s outdoor terrace. To not take away from the beautiful view, Event Design provided a drapery archway as well as chair florals to make the space appear more wedding like.

After exchanging vows and taking pictures, the couple moved their celebration to the Hyatt Regency’s indoor ballroom to hold the reception. Rebecca and Jason wanted to create a very timeless and romantic atmosphere through the use of chiavari chairs, specialty linen, and meaningful centerpieces. Before their delicious meals were served, Rebecca decided to switch into a comfy white jumpsuit so she was able to bust out her favorite dance moves later on!

Rebecca and Jason’s most cherished memory of their wedding day was being able to celebrate it with their family and friends. The couple were originally planning on getting married in April of 2020 but due to COVID they had to go through two postponements.

Following their wedding, Rebecca says that her favorite reason as to why she hired Event Design was because of how easy we were to work with. She said that we were able to “read her mind” when it came to the decor and everything turned out exactly how she envisioned. If she could give one piece of advice to any couple planning their wedding she would recommend not sweating about the little things and enjoying yourself because it goes by quickly!

Floral, Chairs, & Decor: Event Design | Venue: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa | Photography: Alexis Kline Photography

Don’t Forget to Date Your Fiancé: Our Top 5 Tampa Bay Date Ideas

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Venue: Davis Island Garden Club

Take a minute and think to yourself “when was the last time I went out on a date with my significant other?” We’re not talking about going out to grab a quick bite to eat after a long day of work or heading to the movies because your all time favorite actor has just released their latest film. We mean actually going out and doing something that will make a great memory in the times to come. Are you surprised with your answer to our original question?

Living in the Tampa Bay area gives us the opportunity to travel and do things relatively easily. We are pretty much able to make a day trip out of anywhere due to the interstates and expressways located in the heart of our city. Although we love any opportunity to make it over to the other side of the state, here are our top five date night ideas that are local to our area!

Produce Picking Farms

During season, local farms give you the ability to go inside and pick your own produce. In the spring time strawberries are the most commonly collected but certain ranches allow you to gather in season fruits and vegetables year round. Bonus Tip: Use the collected crops for that night’s dinner!

Tampa Riverwalk

There’s no better way to appreciate our area than taking in the water views at the Tampa Riverwalk. Located in downtown Tampa, this 2.6 mile trail offers plenty of activities including water taxis, parks, and museums. Starting from the north end, you can head over to Armature Works to experience local markets as well as Instagram worthy restaurants. As you make your way down south you’ll eventually arrive to the Channelside District where you can stop off at Sparkman Wharf and experience the night life that you see all of your friends post about.

Fairgrounds St. Pete

Located in the Art District, Fairgrounds St. Pete provides an immersive experience with exhibits designed by artists about Florida’s stories. These interactive displays will have you walking through rooms dedicated to strawberries for one second and the next you’re in an 80’s styled pink room dedicated to flamingos.

Epperson Lagoon

Epperson Lagoon is a MASSIVE (we’re talking 7 acres) manmade lagoon in Wesley Chapel. With the purchase of a day pass, you are able to experience the neighborhood’s crystal clear water and lively atmosphere that creates the perfect setting to lay out and soak up Florida’s sun. If you’re getting too hot feel free to take a seat at the swim up bar and have a cocktail made just for you. Still looking to enhance your experience even more? The Lagoon offers rentals of paddle boards and private cabanas for an additional cost!

Kayaking

Circling back to experiencing Florida’s natural beauty (because it’s definitely something to brag about!), is dedicating some time to go kayaking. With Weeki Wachee Springs only an hour north, you have the opportunity to view the area’s crystal clear water and see local wildlife. If the day trip isn’t in your wheelhouse, there’s also guided tours in St. Pete and Tarpon Springs which offers clear kayaks rentals and warmer water!

Don’t forget that the Tampa Bay area is constantly growing! New activities pop up every other day so if these ideas don’t interest you feel free to resort to Google and find ones that do!

3 Tips for a Great Best Man/Maid of Honor Toast

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Venue: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay (Armani’s) | Photography: Jon Montis Photography

Did your best friend just ask you to be their right hand on their wedding day? Most likely you instantly said yes only to be hit with a curve ball and find out that they want you to give a speech during the reception. What?! A toast?! You didn’t know that there was going to be public speaking involved before committing to this! Before getting in a frenzy about what you should and shouldn’t say, we’ve made a list of the 3 BEST tips for a great toast!

Write it Ahead of Time

If you take some time out of your days prior to the wedding to write out the speech ahead of time you will be able to gather your thoughts and ensure that the toast is cohesive and easy to follow. This also helps prevent you from going off on tangents and being flustered day of.

Keep Personal Scenarios Private

The main goal of a successful toast is to avoid completely embarrassing the newlyweds. Subtle jokes to poke fun are acceptable (to a degree) but if you think your friend will be upset about a remark afterwards it’s better left unsaid. Additionally, skip the inside jokes (since the majority of the guests won’t understand) and absolutely do not bring up exes!

Keep it Lighthearted

The less serious the toast is the calmer you will be! Typically these speeches are supposed to make the audience laugh and relate to. Bonus Tip: you have a glass of champagne in your hand so feel free to use it if need be ;)

Bottom line, remember that this is an opportunity for you to express your excitement for your friends and their future!

How to Make (and stick to!) Your Wedding Budget

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Photography: Corey Conroy Photography

With the holidays right around the corner it is now officially considered engagement season! During the early stages of your planning process the total cost of your special day probably crosses your mind pretty often. While there’s a ton of different factors that comes into play when figuring out the overall expense, our good friend Britny from Coastal Coordinating has broken down the FIVE best tips to creating your budget and making sure you stick to it!

  1. Have an open and honest conversation with family members (and even friends)about whether or not they would like to contribute something for the wedding. Keep in mind that it is extremely important that you are clear about what you are asking them to do. If you want them to give you the contribution so that you may be the one to place any payments and have your name on the contract so that you work with the vendor directly – say that! If you are okay with them paying the vendor directly but you make all the decisions on the contract – communicate that! OR if you want to be completely hands off and are okay with them paying and communicating with the vendor make sure you let them know that is what you would like to do! 
  2. Set Your Priorities! Talk with your partner and ask them what the top 3 things that are important to them on the day are! This gives you both the opportunity to allocate your budget and can also help your planner cater your day so you can actually experience them! Once you know what is important it allows you to cut your budget in other areas that may be less significant to you.
  3. Only order RSVP cards for those specific guests who may not be tech savvy! More and more individuals (partially because of COVID) use their phones to access menu’s at restaurants, or confirm appointments! Feel free to make your RSVP process virtual and then only order a few actual RSVP cards for grandparents or older family members.
  4. Favors! While these things can be fun or feel necessary to thank your guests for coming…more and more brides are cutting these out because they can become significantly expensive and are often untouched or left behind by guests. A new trend is for guests to be given a glass of champagne before the ceremony or right at the start of cocktail hour in addition to the bar. You can find ways to thank your guests for coming by telling them face to face, giving a “thank you” toast, or sending a thank you card when it is all over with a personal note. Bonus Tip: you can buy thank you cards in bulk from the dollar store!
  5. Guest Sign In! Most of the time you know everyone there! Well at least you should, that’s why you or your partner invited them! Sure, there may be a distant relative who you haven’t met yet but you do not have to have them sign in. Even though there are some really cute and trendy sign ins out there (pizza stones, frames, and signs for your home with your new name on it) they can cost upwards to $300 or more depending on the custom design. If you are looking for a way to slim down the cost but want to know who was there on the big day…have your photographer grab photos of you at each table! OR utilize that hashtag to see the selfies! 

When it comes to planning your wedding the overall budget will always be a significant factor. We always recommend for couples to figure out their ideal price point early on, that way they aren’t left grinding their gears later down the road. Of course, if you’re still unsure of what you should and shouldn’t spend money on, make sure to reach out to the experts in the field, such as Coastal Coordinating, and see what they can do to help you!

3 Tips for Hosting Your First Holiday Together

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Photography: Benjamin Hewitt Photography

Holidays are stressful. If you and your significant other decide to take the plunge and host your families you may feel a little overwhelmed. At first you might have been eager to show off your place but now you’re starting to second guess everything as the date gets closer. You’ve come to realize that designing that perfect tablescape is now the lowest of your worries as you think about the bigger picture. How are you going to be able to create a comfortable atmosphere for your families as well as feed them exactly what they crave?

Ask First

First and foremost, be sure everyone is on board for doing it at your house before even inviting them! Some families tend to stick to a routine and if they typically spend the holiday at someone else’s house they might feel uneasy switching it up. If you do feel eager with taking on the challenge of hosting everyone we recommend reaching out to the previous entertainer first to avoid any offended feelings.

Ask Guests to Bring Dishes

Since your families are now blended, feel free to ask each household to bring their favorite dish! Not only does this alleviate some of the pressure on you making EVERYTHING, but your guests will have the opportunity to try foods prepared differently. This also creates a great excuse to spark up some conversation between the two and share recipes!

Traditions

Traditions can be very emotional for both sides of the family. When households are set in certain ways they may feel insulted if important moments are ignored. We recommend asking each household what custom they would like to see incorporated into the day and try to implement them as best as you can!

Although you might feel exhausted at first, having any kind of excuse to bring your families together can be fun! Don’t forget to avoid sweating about the little things and enjoy your time together as a couple. Remember at the end of the day this is your family and they’re forced to love you anyway ;)