When You Know You're Not in Kansas Anymore . . .

Holly and Ray
St. Petersburg Woman's Club
Selected Photos by FotoBohemia

Holly and Ray were a fun couple who planned their wedding around non-stop food and activities for their guests. The couple met in Kansas while Holly was in graduate school and Ray was stationed at Ft. Riley. With this in mind, the celebration took on a light-heart "spin" focusing on Kansas in a West Coast Florida location.

They chose a glamorous combination of gold and navy with the use of different textures on head, cake, and guest tables.

The cuisine reflected both Kansas and the international food delights the coupled shared through travel. In fact, Ray's proposal came right after returning from a wedding in Kansas:

"He had a quote ready about traveling and if you can travel the world and are still in love- you should get married," recalled Holly.

Their wedding day started with getting ready at the Woman's Club. Holly worked with us and event planner, Vicki of Beachangels weddings, on the many customized features of her wedding. This included signage, a simple ceremony backdrop, collectibles, and small display items.

  

The ceremony was held in front of a large tree with a peek of Coffee Pot Bayou in the background. A simple, wispy drape with small dangling orbs was the only decor.

 

The cocktail hour and subsequent main reception were filled with many different food options. Besides hand-passed appetizers, we featured three custom Kansas cheese presentations pared with the client's selected wines. Dinner reflected a variety of cuisines including Italian, Southern, Mediterranean, and Asian.

  

Italian Caprese Skewers and Assorted Flatbread Squares

Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms

Holly chose to utilize an eclectic collection of flower vessels for her centerpieces and votive holders. They were filled with fresh loose flowers she provided. Gold chiavari chairs were rented and we hand-tied navy satin ties to each. 

 

Event Design and Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL

Planning and Coordinating: Beachangels Weddings

Foto Bohemia

DJ Ricky

Publix cakes

Lacey Vintage at the Lyceum

Dyana and Chris

Selected Photos by Ashley Hamilton Photography*

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This savvy couple had an equal amount of input into the look, feel, and format of their wedding day. Dyana and Chris embraced the vintage aspects of their ceremony/reception site: Mirror Lake Lyceum in St. Petersburg. For Dyana, there was never any doubt this historic building (a former church), complimented their expectations.

Because of Dyana's intense schedule as a nurse, Chris was her amazing "clone" in taking care of details leading up the their wedding day. He was my first contact from the very start.

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 Both spent several hours there prior to ceremony for getting ready and picture-taking with bridal party and family members. Dyana and Chris enlisted Flowers by Jenny in Trinity to provide the fresh floral elements of their celebration. This included alternating guest table centerpieces, bouquets, and lots of loose stems of white garden roses and baby's breath used in white vases (a combination of ours and the bride's) for the entry, buffet, and other accent tables. 

                                           

Ivory and lace was generously used throughout the wedding. As trends go, we had accumulated quite a bit of lace cloth pieces from past weddings in the 80s and 90s. It was great to give them a new try for a nostalgic revival.

Dyana also provided many "lacey" votive candle holders and cylinders she had acquired from a friend. Gold leaves also added sparkle to tabletops. 

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After the ceremony, the reception kicked off on the bottom floor of the Lyceum where guests picked up place cards, ate hand-passed hors d'oeuvres, and enjoyed some specialty drinks chosen by the bride and groom. 

 

  Caprese Salad Skewers


 Spicy Deep Fried Crabcakes

Meatballs with Pretzel Handles and Mini Beef Empanadas

 Salad Skewers with Gazpacho Soup Shooters

Meanwhile, upstairs, our staff along with the Lyceum crew, were busy placing pre-set guest tables in the main ballroom where the ceremony had just been held. 

Dyana and Chris provided lace overlays for each of the guest tables. Centerpieces alternated between the florist's wood trays and bell-shaped clear glass "shades" both accented with an assortment of white hydrangea, roses, and other garden-style flowers. Even though bridal party members donned chocolate brown, latte, and rose in their attire, Dyana chose to only use the darker brown in the chair ties. The guest tables were mostly ivory with a touch of gold in the charger plates and rose inside favor candy bags at each place setting. Dazzling table number holders added a vintage element.

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Two spectacular cakes graced the reception stage: a two-tiered quilted vintage wedding cake along with a special chocolate cake for Chris featuring his Alma Mater, USF. Cakes by Nomedia provided both.

                     

   

                                           

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Our tall black lantern piece towered above the main buffet table which was draped with our lace skirting (Circa 1989).

                                      

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The couple chose our Gold Medallion package which featured a marinated Mediterranean Salad, Seasonal Fresh Fruit, and our "crowdpleaser," traditional Spanish Paella.

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The end of Dyana and Chris's wedding day ended in a big way with a sparkler send-off, well captured by photographer, Ashley Hamilton. 

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Congratulations, Dyana and Chris!

Event Planning, Design, Coordinating and Catering: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL

DJ: Danny DeLeon

Photo Booth: Bliss Booths

Officiant: Katherine DeMarco