Outdoor, Tampa Country Club Wedding | Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club Wedding

Angell and Jared's purple and silver Tampa country club wedding was inspired by the memories they created at a local winery.

“We both enjoy the simple things in life. Our main goal was to create a beautiful, elegant setting with some personal touches while maximizing the beauty of the venue that we chose,” the bride shared. “[Our theme] was simple elegance with vineyard inspiration. The vineyard aspect reflected some formative moments in our relationship spent at Keel and Curley Winery.”

The Tampa bride and groom searched for a versatile outdoor Tampa wedding venue that offered multiple spaces and gorgeous scenery.

“It all started with, ‘There's no way I'm dragging my dress through the sand,' so the beach was off the table,” Angell joked. “We wanted to be able to have the ceremony outside, an intimate setting for the reception and grounds that offered a great backdrop for the photos. Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club was perfect for us because they checked every box on our list. They had a scenic outdoor ceremony setting that is covered so it can be used no matter the weather, the perfect room with a view for our reception and the grounds offered great scenes for our photos. The staff at Tampa Palms treated us very well. [Our wedding] couldn't have gone better!”

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Wedding photography was a top priority for the couple, who hired Tampa wedding photographer Carrie Wildes Photography.

“To us, the photographs were the biggest investment of the whole process. We knew early on that we didn't want video, so our mission was to find the perfect photographer to capture the big day. We needed a photographer who was talented, artistic and could get the most out of us,” the bride explained. “I looked at thousands of photos on Carrie Wildes Photography blog. We knew from the first meeting that we were in good hands. We fell in love with our engagement photos, and our wedding photos were just incredible. We received many compliments at how hardworking the photographers Kandice and Rachel were that night battling the rain and chill of a February evening. They offered top notch service and treated us like family.”

MORE: CARRIE WILDES PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDINGS

Although it rained throughout their wedding day, with the venue's preparation and photographer's determination, it didn't put a damper on their big day.

“Our experience with having our photos in the rain was something we'll never forget. We finally got to the point of the day where we had a few moments to ourselves for those pictures and even though it was raining, we could finally just relax,” the bride reminisced.

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
It all started with, “There's no way I'm dragging my dress through the sand,” so the beach was off the table. Going back to our rural roots, we wanted to be someplace that matched our personalities. We wanted to be able to have the ceremony outside, an intimate setting for the reception and grounds that offered a great backdrop for the photos. We also gave a lot of consideration to the weather. No one wants to plan a beautiful outdoor ceremony, only to have to settle for a conference room when it rains.

Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club was perfect for us because they checked every box on our list. They had a scenic outdoor ceremony setting that is covered so it can be used no matter the weather, the perfect room with a view for our reception and the grounds offered great scenes for our photos. As a bonus, they have hotel rooms so we could stay the night before, as well as the night of the wedding. The rooms were also very convenient for out-of-town guests. We even had our rehearsal dinner on-site. It was a one-stop shop for us. The staff at Tampa Palms treated us very well. Everyone commented on was how good the food was. [Our wedding] couldn't have gone better!

The Proposal:
Though we met in Tampa, we grew up in small towns in central Pennsylvania that were less than an hour drive apart. Since we visit home for the holidays, Jared thought getting engaged in our home state would make a memorable event. He knew I was a Penn State grad and had been a tour guide while I was in school, but wasn't too familiar with the campus, so he asked me to give him a tour during a Christmas trip home. Jared said it would, “help him learn more about a place that was special to you.” Of course there was another motive! He spoke to my parents the morning of the proposal, and they were very excited to give their blessing. Later that day, even though it was dreary and cold, I took Jared around the Penn State campus. One of the last stops was the Lion Shrine, a statue of the Nittany Lion, and popular photo spot. There was a couple there taking photos, and we asked that they take a photo of us. After a couple of photos, Jared got down on one knee and proposed!

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
To us, the photographs were the biggest investment of the whole process. We knew early on that we didn't want video, so our mission was to find the perfect photographer to capture the big day. We needed a photographer who was talented, artistic and could get the most out of us.

I looked at thousands of photos on Carrie Wildes Photography blog, so before we met them we had a good feel for their style and quality. We knew from the first meeting that we were in good hands. We fell in love with our engagement photos, and our wedding photos were just incredible. We received many compliments at how hardworking the photographers Kandice and Rachel were that night battling the rain and chill of a February evening. They offered top notch service and treated us like family. We anticipate that they'll photograph many more important events in our lives!

How would you describe your theme?
The theme seemed to be ever changing! In the end, what we ended up with was simple elegance with vineyard inspiration. The vineyard aspect reflected some formative moments in our relationship spent at Keel & Curley Winery.

What were your colors?
The main color was lavender with dusty blue, plum, and silver accents. I chose them because I fell in love with a bouquet from Pinterest and used it for inspiration for the color palette.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted an experienced professional DJ who offered not only reception music, but also ceremony music and could handle general MC duties. It was also important that the DJ be able to accommodate our requests and preferences.

Grant Hemond & Associates kept popping up on preferred and recommended vendor lists, and based on our research, it was clear they offered a wide range of services and employed professional, experienced DJs. DJ James King was very professional. and it was clear that his experience enabled him to lead us through a great evening. He remained in control and attentive to our needs. We were very impressed. We were also pleasantly surprised with the uplighting package. Lighting wasn't something we originally planned for, but it turned out to be a great choice. James worked with the photographers to ensure the lighting not only complemented the room, but wouldn't interfere with the photography.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Make sure you book your preferred vendors well in advance. Tampa Bay hosts weddings for couples from all over the world so there's a lot of demand for the best quality vendors.

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Venue
Photographer: Carrie Wildes Photography *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Florist: Events in Bloom
Caterer: Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club
Cake: Publix
DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates – James King *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Invitations: Minted
Dress Shop and Designer: CC's Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Brides by Demetrios
Hair & Makeup: Collective Creations