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

Formal Red and Black "Color-Scape" at Powel Crosley Estate

Samantha and Greg

Samantha was not our typical bride. Coming from an accounting background, she approached her own wedding with a very specific, calculated plan that turned out beautifully because she allowed her wedding day to be free of super-charged expectations or drama.

She chose a red, black and white color palette that encompassed many vintage aspects that ranged from dramatic flower girl outfits embellished in tulle to extremely simple, elegant black gowns for her attendants. A friend, Debbie, provided all of the red roses and centerpiece components for her entire wedding, and Samantha allowed us much creative expression in decorating her head table, buffet, and accessory tables.

Samantha chose to have her ceremony facing the back facade of the mansion with pre-set guest tables located on the lawn along the Sarasota Bay shoreline. This enabled her to make her grand entrance from the second floor down the stairs lined with our black wrought iron lanterns.

Vicki Goonan of Beachangels, assisted with rehearsal and ceremony elements in placing the bride's runner and florist red petals with our varying height glass cylinders along the aisleway.

The rented mahogany wood chiavalri chairs from All Event Rentals, were transferred from ceremony to reception as guests enjoyed social hour within the mansion.

Debbie, her florist provided budding fresh red rose centerpieces that sat atop a runner trio red and black runners. Scattered petals aligned the tables that also had color-coordinated red napkins.

A sign in table welcomed guests as they arrive for the ceremony. Samantha and her mom designed a card box with a complimentary  white and black damask print . Later this table served as the table assignment station for guests to find their seats for the main reception.

                                        

There were many small details that made a big impact on the reception including a bride and groom's sign that we hung on the backs of their chairs. 

The social hour was held in the pavilion area. Guests enjoyed our custom Smokey Cheddar Cheese spread with fresh fruit, vegetables and "dippers."

Meanwhile during post-wedding pictures, things were transitioning into "reception mode." Our favorite dj, Eladio of DeLite Entertainment, was handily positioned in the terrace area for both the ceremony and reception.

As ceremony chairs were placed around guest tables, the main reception started taking shape.

As evening turning into night, lighting provided by Affairs in the Air. created an abundance of light for the "ceremony-turned-dance-floor" area at the back of the mansion.

Our in-house black candle holders and red hurricane shades created a lovely illuminated walk-way for guests at the end of the celebration.