Hawaiian Styled Wedding at the St. Pete Beach Community Center

Lucy and DJ

By far, one of our most communicative wedding couples EVER! I looked forward to the Wednesday phone calls where DJ and Lucy would share progress in their planning process or just ask me timely questions about incorporating décor ideas for their wedding.

Select Photos by Essentia Photography

This experience got me thinking about how we as wedding pros adapt to our clients' various methods of communication. Ever since I have "opened the doors" various means that include texting and Facebook messaging.  

Lucy and DJ worked as a team in planning their wedding. They had had previous experience hosting social events which made their wedding a natural collaboration. 

But a wedding was a bit different and they looked to us for advice. 

Creating a Hawaiin themed event was the natural choice since DJ was born there and the couple made annual trips there. Of course, the proposal was made there as well.

Lucy's mom, Lisa Jo, was a huge resource for acquiring special features and florals. The day of the wedding, she had everything perfectly arranged for us to access and finish placing.

Those beautiful memories of Hawaii inspired Lucy and DJ to create a pallet of details that ranged from hard to find Plumeria scattered on the guest tables to tropical features such as "messages in a bottle" and beachy signage that directed guests throughout the celebration.

Their choice of the St. Pete Beach Community Center was the perfect waterside location with views of Boca Ciega Bay. They booked room blocks at The Sirata Beach Resort. One of the most alluring benefits of hosting a ceremony and reception at SPBCC is its close proximity to many, many beachfront hotels and resorts in the area. Ultimately their "first look" photos were in a very tropical setting along the Gulf. Getting ready was comfortable in the resort's accommodations. 

I believe the familiar Hawaiian features of the entire event made Lucy and DJ feel much more at ease. 

My daughter, Christy, was a big help in guiding the couple through the design process as she had spent nearly four months living in Hawaii during my son-in-law's deployment there. A specialty drink, The Blue Hawaiian, some styling of the guest tables, and some additional props, were her ideas to get guests in the mood for this unique tropical scenario.

DJ and Lucy chose a range of blue hues, along with a pewter grey. These were found in bridal party attire, reception napkins and accent fabrics which ranged from light blue to dusty wedgewood blue.

We mixed in an assortment of silk palm leaves to line the ceremony aisle and underscore various display tables. Centerpieces were our glass cylinders filled with fresh white orchid stems. Other vivid, tropical colors dotted the décor.

 

 

 

Here are more images of Lucy and DJ's unforgettable tropical wedding day.

Our white pergola arbor was simply decorated with large silk palm leaves.

Fans for cooling off.

 

The "party" and dancing was of huge importance to Lucy and DJ and they enjoyed every minute of it.

Event Planning . Catering . Design . Coordinating: Catering by Robert /Event Concepts . FL

Fav0rs from Spice and Tea Exchange, John's Pass

Essentia Photography

DeLite Entertainment

Cake by Chantilly Cakes

Fresh Foliage by A-1 Foliage

Centerpiece Orchids and Leis by Thai-Riffic Orchids, Gulfport

Personal Wedding Flowers: Hamilton Florist

Plummerias: ABC Nursery, Largo






 

Multi-Colors Brighten the St. Pete Beach CC

Stephany and Elgin

Selected Photos by Melissa Lauren Images*

What began as a destination wedding planned on the beach, turned into something completely different for Stephany and Elgin. The couple chose St. Pete Beach for their December wedding because of ties to the area and their impending move back into the area for new jobs (and adventures).

We started communicating by phone and email. I convinced the couple that holding a beachfront wedding had its challenges (and added expenses). They could have the water backdrop and the convenience by celebrating at the St. Pete Beach Community Center.  Both Stephany and Elgin loved everything "beachy" sans "the typcial". Both settled on a spectrum of colors that included various shades of blue, green with touches of bright pink, coral, and orange.

I suggested Sunset Vistas in Treasure Island for their "base" hotel so they still had beach in their wedding weekend plans. Their outdoor ceremony took place on the community center's plaza overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. Stephany loved the idea of having a non-hotel setting for the reception. It also delighted her mom who wanted to handle all of the flowers for the wedding. She was able to arrive early and put together almost everything on site.

Even though we had been working together "long distance" for many months, we finally got to meet in person during a bridal show only three months prior to the wedding. I will never forget Stephany and Elgin's expressiveness when they finally got sample our food. They let everyone in attendance know that we were their caterer and "you need to hire them for your wedding!"

 

Getting ready at Sunset Vistas gave the bridal party a relaxing view of the ocean. 

The couple chose a more natural ceremony backdrop with tropical trees from A1 Foliage.

 

Two ceremony versions were performed including

 a handfasting ritual.

 

Social hour was held on the second level terrace overlooking the plaza and bay. We fashioned many of the couple's favorite foods into hand-passed hors d'oeuvres. These included black bean salsa in tortilla boats; caprese salad skewers; seasonal fruit brochettes; mini bbq sliders; and smoked salmon pate on cucumber rounds. A photo booth was set up for the guests' amusement.

  

Inside the main reception area, beautiful flower arrangements filled the room. Place cards were attached to potted mini succulents.

 

Tropical accents were everywhere.

 

Stephany hired our colleague, Vicki Goonan of Beachangel Weddings, to assist with the placement of  the many colorful features. Guest table decor included varied assortments of fresh flowers and blue and green mason jars with sand and candles. Stephany's mom incorporated her daughter's favorite flower, daisies, into many of the arrangements.

We loved the creative freedom of designing the food station area. All of the foliage was uplit and provided a blue and green glow around the room. We had the opportunity to incorporate our in-house sea feathers which didn't compete with the fresh flowers around the room.

 

Centerpiece of the dinner was our popular Paella with preparation an hour and a half prior to serving. The guests loved the aroma as it was being cooked.

Stephany and Elgin opted for a small wedding cake surrounded by a huge assortment of regular and mini cupcakes.

 Many thanks to Stephany and Elgin for entrusting us their beautiful wedding celebration!

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

Photography: Melissa Lauren Images

Trees, plants: A1 Foliage

Day of Coordinator/Officiant: Beachangel Weddings

DJ: ML Pros