South Tampa Wedding | Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club Wedding
Chelsea and Anthony's elegant South Tampa wedding reflected the couple's personalities through their unique music choices.
“Our wedding was very personalized. I didn't want to do anything that has been overdone,” the bride shared. “Instrumental piano covers of Fetty Wap's Trap Queen, Coldplay's Viva La Vida, Miley Cyrus' When I Look At You and Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are were played while our guests entered the ceremony. My bridesmaids and I walked down the aisle to a piano cover of Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do and our recessional song was Beauty and the Beast's Be Our Guest.
Although one guest couldn't attend the 300-person #thesuarezsoiree, she still left an impression during the reception.
“The groom's cake was modeled after our fur-child, Daphne, an English Bulldog. She was supposed to be the ring bearer-ess, but unfortunately (due to her skin allergies) she was not able to attend,” the bride explained.
The South Tampa couple's emerald green and gold country club wedding affair featured a floral, garden atmosphere.
“In a generation that has seemed to forget about Emily Post and wedding etiquette, I stuck with tradition while putting my twist on things,” Chelsea shared. “My decor inspiration was a romantic, overgrown garden, and I wanted tall black candelabras with vines and moss, lanterns with twinkly lights and candles and gold accents everywhere.”
The bride and groom relied on their trusted family florist to bring their enchanted vision to life.
“There wasn't any question of who we would use for a florist, Scott and Rahn at Apple Blossoms Floral Designs. My family uses them for every event,” the bride gushed. “They saw my vision and executed it perfectly. They went above and beyond, as they always do.”
MORE: APPLE BLOSSOMS FLORAL DESIGNS WEDDINGS
Looking back, one of Chelsea's most memorable moments included her brother's reaction during the “first look.”
“Julian and I are the closest in age, and he is always such a comedian, so that moment of raw emotion was very special. Also, my dad cut our first dance short to let Julian take over,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
In October 2013, after being together for three-and-a-half years, Tony proposed in Boca Grande. We were spending a relaxing weekend together, since he'd just been sworn in with Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and would soon start the crazy work schedule of a deputy. Before a romantic dinner at Temptation restaurant, we took the golf cart down to my favorite spot on the island to take a picture, Banyan Street. After the picture, Tony turned to me, got down on one knee and proposed. I was so excited I started crying, said yes and couldn't remember what he'd actually said, so I had to have him repeat it the next morning.
How would you describe your theme?
Enchanted, overgrown garden. I'm not much of a flower person, but I love vines, moss and lanterns. This screams “romance” to me, and I've always been obsessed with twinkly lights.
What were your colors?
Emerald, gold, black and white. I picked these colors because we wanted an October wedding, but I didn't want to do traditional fall colors. Also, jewel tones are the jam, ya know?
What did you look for in a wedding florist and what was your decor inspiration?
My decor inspiration was a romantic, overgrown garden, and I wanted tall black candelabras with vines and moss, lanterns with twinkly lights and candles and gold accents everywhere.
There wasn't any question of who we would use for a florist, Scott and Rahn at Apple Blossoms Floral Designs. My family uses them for every event. They saw my vision and executed it perfectly. They went above and beyond, as they always do.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Do your research on all of your vendors. Be a guest at your own wedding. Enjoy it. I didn't leave the dance floor during my reception, and I wouldn't change that.
Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church of Tampa
Reception Venue: Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club
Photographer: Ashlee Hamon Photography
Florist: Apple Blossoms Floral Designs *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Caterer: Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club
Cake: Tracy Savage
DJ: Spark Events
Officiant: Rev. Kathy Conner of First Presbyterian Church of Tampa
Invitations: Ooh La Llew Designs
Transportation: Jolley Trolley
Dress Shop and Designer: CC's Bridal Boutique – Martina Liana
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Brides by Demetrios – Dessy
Hair: Michele Renee The Studio *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Bridal Party's Makeup: Michele Renee The Studio
Bride's Makeup: CC Suarez Makeup Artistry
