Jack Takes Queen

 Sabrina + Charles

"Jack Takes Queen" was the theme behind Sabrina and Charles' wedding day. When Sabrina had originally contacted us we had another wedding booked. That event ended up rescheduling to another date so when a close friend inquired again, we were able to say yes! 

They put off hiring major vendors for their late April wedding and reception due to hesitancy with the Covid virus. Consequently there were many aspects such as flowers, cake, and decor that still had to be decided.

Sabrina, the Queen, and Charles, the Jack,  were in love not only with each other, but with their Ybor City location: The Italian Club. Their ceremony was to be on the second floor with the social hour in the ground floor cafe. Then the main reception would be on the third floor.

We were thankful that Sabrina and Charles were open to many ideas surrounding their deep purple, silver, black, and ivory themed celebration. 

Fresh flowers, as it turned out, were one of the most important aspects of the wedding.

I enlisted the services of long time colleague. Carmen Gonzalez of Carmen's Flowers in Tampa. She worked with Sabrina and I to dramatize the use of fresh flowers and candlelight in a variety of ways for guest tables. Our in-house centerpieces alternated between black tall wrought iron stands with fresh greenery to short gold urns filled with blooms and greenery.

Fresh florals from the ceremony were transferred to either side of the sweetheart table during the reception. 

Selected Photos from Immaculate Visuals

Sabrina and Charles were all about traditions. 

The bride had a deep relationship with her college sorority whose members played a huge role in honoring her during a special presentation during the reception. 

Here are more images of this special celebration:

 

Guests were directed to the second floor of the Italian Club where the ceremony was to be held. We decorated a sign in table that held a card box and sign in book before guests entered the ceremony area.

 

The bride and all of her girls accessed the venue earlier in the day to take advantage of a separate wing of the club for getting ready, hair and make-up.

 

Charles and his gents had the cafe area all to themselves for preparations. 

The ceremony was held facing the windows in the second floor theater area. Surrounded by family and friends, Sabrina and Charles exchanged quirps as wells vows in light-hearted spirit.

 The reception on the third floor featured guest tables covered in black floor length linen with accents of eggplant purple in napkins and chair ties. Dabs of silver were in centerpieces and charger plates. 

Sweet Divas furnished the wedding and groom's cakes.

 

The couple offered a plated dinner to their guests that included choices of entrees ranging from Prime Rib au jus, Chicken Marsala, Salmon with a Champagne Sauce, and a Vegetarian option. 

                         

Congratulations to Sabrina and Charles!

Wicked Wedding

In a blast from the past, I thought a Halloween wedding celebration in Ybor City might raise some spirits around here this week.

Janel and Roc in many ways, were not our typical bride and groom. They planned their wedding with us almost two years in advance, attended over 10 open houses and bridal show tastings, and took the design elements of their special day to a whole new level.. Why not their wedding date was  October 31st!

 

This lengthy planning time was a plus for the couple who started out desiring an almost complete vegetarian menu. But all said and done, they added several meat and seafood items to their feast because of the many food items they sampled along the way.

 

When they couldn't decide on one color, they decided to do eight! Black was a base color used for the table cloths.  The couple  took advantage of the holiday and the historic location (a rennovated cigar factory) to give the wedding and reception a Mid-Summer's Night Dream spin. The groom and his men were dressed like gangsters. The bride wore white with a black damask touch and her maids came attired as Geisha girls.

 

Guests were encouraged to dress for the occasion and the couple provided many dress-up and make items for those less prepared.

 

Every element of Janel and Roc's wedding incorporated a fun, yet gothic element all in good taste. We applaud Limelight Photography for capturing the uniqueness of this event with their creative eye.

 

SURREAL CEREMONY
 

 

 

The second floor of the Lions Eye Institute was the backdrop for the both the wedding and reception. A smaller meeting room accommodated the 150+ guests in attendance. We are so sad that Lions Eye is no longer allowing outside events in this space.

 

 

 

 

 

THE DARK SIDE OF THE GARDEN?

 

 

 

Florist Pam Verschere of Flowers by Pam created a menagerie of  colorful bouquets and ceremony trappings fit for bride and her attendants.

 

 

 

 

 

Pam created a whimsical ceiling spray of lights and vines above the dance floor. Each guest and accent table had a different centerpiece which ranged from mossy natural plants to vibrant tall orchids and Bells of Ireland. Daisies. hydrangea, and various shades of Calla Lilies also made the mix.

 

 

DELIRIOUS DETAILS

 

 

. These items were strategically placed by our staff throughout the event. Over the course of the 24-month planning period, Janel collected a variety of signature Hallowed Eve memorbillia ranging from ceramic skeletons to a variety of gargoyles given to guests as their favors.

 

 

Each place setting a sequence of napkin colors with a picture of the bride and groom tucked inside.

 

 

 

A CAST OF CHARACTERS

 

 

 

 

Janel and Roc's celebration attracted a wide variety of characters of all ages.

 

 

 FOOD FRIGHT

 

The food was just as colorful as everything and everyone at the wedding. Our staff spent over an hour designing the a delightful cheese and fruit display featuring mini vegetable and pimpkin carvings and vibrant daisies.   

 

 

 

The event ended on a sweet note with a huge assortment of candies in all of the wedding colors.

 

 

 

 

The "ghastly" wedding cake was full of dead-heads and was topped with a special cake topper personally selected by the bride and groom.

 

 

 

MASKED AT MIDNIGHT

 

Masks were handed out to everyone at the stroke of midnight for a fine farewell to the bride and groom. We hope you enjoyed this tribute to Hallowed Matrimony!

 

 

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

Ashley Davis Allred, Kent Billiter, Christy Stalnaker Monaco, designers

 

Florist: Flowers By Pam

 

Photography: Step into The Limelight