Catering By Robert . Event Concepts : 07/01/2017

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Eternal Love Knows No Bounds

Ebony and Jelani
* Selected Photos By Alfred Dixon, Shyne Photography

After 30 years in the wedding business, I felt I could predict everything that would transpire the day of a wedding. I was wrong. This particular event involved a very special celebration at a private home venue where the bride, groom, their family, and close friends spent four days immersed in wedding splendor.

It was raining everywhere within a mile of their location most of the day.
It was seasonably hot and muggy - Felt like 110 degrees.
More guests showed up than expected.

Under normal circumstances, this might have been a series of things that
might make any couple extremely nervous.
Not Ebony and Jelanie.

They took everything in stride and this was all the assurance myself and my staff needed to move forward to the challenges of this August day.

As we found out later when reviewing pictures we took of the day's happenings, a heart had formed in the clouds above the estate.

Ebony, the bride, was a seasoned wedding designer from Atlanta, marrying her sweetheart, Jelani, during a full destination wedding here in Tampa Bay. I respected Ebony's experience in the wedding industry which made me a little nervous at first.

Here in Florida, we aren't as event savvy as Atlanta. It was refreshing to know that Ebony recognized this and was willing to work with me one - on -one to incorporate some forward-thinking design ideas from her personal experiences in Atlanta.

The week of the wedding, Ebony brought a ton of centerpiece items, accent table accents, and ceremony décor with her via the trek from Atlanta.

It was understood that a lot of detail needed to be implemented in the set up of the ceremony and reception. While Ebony had wanted her and her family/friends to be more involved, she trusted our staff to take over the construction of centerpieces, ceremony components, and prayers to ensure the afternoon summer rain held off.

With rain on the horizon, we had to reset the ceremony seating set up several times before Ebony declared that no chairs were needed and the wedding needed to move forward with everyone just standing.

Her venue was Villa Adriana, and her focus for the ceremony was facing the back of the mansion. Thankfully, her plans for a 50-person reception was focused indoors with a casual social hour under partially covered areas facing the pool. Her dj set up was protected under an elevated pavilion within an ear-shot for the ceremony, social hour, and subsequent "party time" around the pool.

Ebony took advantage of the bridal suit master bedroom for she and her female bridal party members to get ready.

Jay and his guys situated themselves in another area of the large house for their wedding preparations.

Several hours before the ceremony, Ebony and Jay did a balloon release on the pool deck to recognize loved ones who could not be there to share their joyful day.

The wedding party consisted of more than half of the anticipated guests in attendance. Everyone wore white with many beautiful interpretations of gown designs and attire.

Here are some beautiful details of Ebony and Jay's gorgeous wedding day:

Ebony designed a variety of guest tables ranging from a 24-person bridal party table in the center of the indoor family room, to a family table in the adjoining formal dining room. She utilized a variety of ivory, gold, and blush décor components with different sheens and textures. Centerpieces ranged from tall to small with candles a major focus.