Rachel + Joe Step Into the Limelight | The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club | St. Petersburg, FL

“St. Pete elegance meets party of the year!” 

Joe and Rachel were set up on a blind date! Joe's Aunt Joanna and Rachel’s mom's friend Teresa work together as nurses at All Children's Hospital. They thought that they would be a good match, and they were so right! Together they enjoy boating, scuba diving, bike riding and playing with their pups. Joe proposed during a boat ride at their favorite spot, Sombrero Reef, in the Florida Keys. It is the most beautiful place and will forever mean so much to them! Joe and Rachel both have a sarcastic sense of humor and love making each other laugh.

Rachel and Joe planned a wedding that showcased to everyone their love for St. Pete. They both grew up his St. Pete and were proud to to bring out the beauty of the area at their wedding! Rachel dreamed of getting married at The Vinoy since she was in high school! It was their perfect, picturesque backdrop for their Old St. Pete style, elegant wedding featuring Florida palms. They love palm leaves incorporated them in the most elegant way! They also had a custom map of St. Pete created for their invitations as well as their menu cards. And obviously they loved their custom open bar! Another unique touch, were the custom-made tumblers guests took home, made personally by Joe! All take home goodies had a running theme, "Stolen from Rachel and Joe's Wedding”.

Overall there was an amazing party atmosphere with a wonderful and interactive band. When Joe began breaking out his amazing dance moves the party really got started! 

Their love for this city and each other was clearing SHINE-ing!!! They are true Floridians through and through!

Lead Photographers | Michael + Rebecca Zoumberos

Band | Serenade of Souls
Bridesmaid Dresses | Jenny Yoo Reese,Margot and Kayleigh dress in Mayan Blue from Bella Bridesmaids
Cake | The Vinoy
Caterer | The Vinoy
Ceremony Music String Quartet | Sunset Strings 
Ceremony Site | The Vinoy Tea Garden
Event Planner | Taylor Falcon Events
Florist | Wonderland Floral Art
Bride’s Hair + Makeup Artist | LDM Beauty
Invitations | A&P Design Co
Bridesmaids Hair + Makeup Artist | Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group
Reception Venue | The Vinoy Sunset Ballroom
Transportation | Jolley Trolley 
Wedding Gown | Rivini by Rita Vinieris Harlow Dress from Isabel O'Neil

LeeAnna + Ryan Step Into The Limelight | St. Petersburg Yacht Club | St. Petersburg, FL

Ryan and LeeAnna’s Love Story:

It all began in 2007. Ryan worked as a manager at the local Block Buster in Northeast Shopping Center.  LeeAnna would drive over and rent movies and would call Ryan “Best Friend.” Ryan likes to refer to LeeAnna as a “stalker”. 

In an unrelated circumstance, Ryan transferred stores with his new job being in south side St. Pete near Eckerd College…and at the same time LeeAnna left to start college in North Carolina. Years later in 2010, when LeeAnna’s brother Bob was a Residence Assistant at Eckerd College, he befriended an employee at Block Buster. His Block Buster friend asked if his Block Buster Manager, Ryan, could hang out with them. They took to each other quickly and Bob and Ryan became fast friends so much so that Bob decided to invite Ryan over for a feast at his family’s house.

As dinner progressed, polite conversation ensued.  When Bob and LeeAnna’s parents asked what Ryan did for a living, he said “Manager at Block Buster.” Jaw drop…look of surprise…”Are you THE Ryan?!?”

“Yes?” at this point Ryan isn’t quite sure what he might be guilty of. Amongst the shock they had to explain to him that Bob’s younger sister, LeeAnna is the one who used to call him “Best Friend.” LeeAnna, too, was away at Campbell University, so it was just a “small world” encounter.

LeeAnna came home for Spring Break in 2011 and was visiting Bob at Eckerd when she became reacquainted with Ryan. As young adults, they seemed to hit it off and began a relationship.

Full stop…screech…LeeAnna was only home a week!

So LeeAnna being LeeAnna, said, “I love you?” off handed as a response to accidentally elbowing Ryan.

After a family dinner outing, while sitting in LeeAnna’s parent’s family room, LeeAnna went into her bedroom on the other side of the wall from where Ryan was sitting on the couch and sent him a text message…breaking up with him only to return moments later and sit back on the couch right next to Ryan like nothing had happened... awkward! Basically, I am going back to college, so peace out.

The good thing is Bob and Ryan remained very good friends and their relationship blossomed and grew. 

In May of 2012, Bob and LeeAnna were graduating from college and needed a roommate for their newly built home. Well, Ryan was the perfect choice. Everyone got along great and the awkwardness quickly dissipated. Bob and Ryan were on one side of the house and LeeAnna had the master bedroom all to herself!  They all became so close that at one point LeeAnna would introduce Ryan as her other brother.

They began acting like siblings (or a couple), arguing, appreciating each other, helping each other, disagreeing, fighting, hurting each other’s feelings, and relying on each other.

Oh and in the meantime, dating other people, a lot of other people, pushing back on others when they suggested they should date. They were going to hockey games together, playing board games together, Ryan joining on family vacations, and even being there on Christmas mornings, Ryan was always watching out for LeeAnna and making sure she was safe if she drank two, er, too much. 

It was noticeable to everyone except them that they had become each other’s significant other. Even family that wasn’t around all the time would notice the obvious. Family members and neighbors would suggest to LeeAnna to date Ryan but her response was always the same, “Ryan is the perfect guy, like really perfect, just not for me.”

In the late summer of 2015, LeeAnna moved out of the house and into her Papa’s house alone and the boy’s had their house to themselves. LeeAnna started to realize how prevalent Ryan was in her life as they still continued to do things together, but now they weren’t together all of the time under the same roof. LeeAnna and Ryan began looking at each other a bit differently, but still, oblivious to what was right in front of them.

All the while, their affection was growing, undenounced to them…STILL. (hockey games, helping pack up MeMaw, movies, Disney trips, wrapping Christmas presents, teasing each other, cleaning together, coming to each other’s rescue).

Just after ringing in the New Year of 2016, LeeAnna and Ryan felt it was time to discuss the “elephant in the room”…24 hours later, Ryan said, “Are we doing this?” to which LeeAnna responded, “Yes?” and that began their Happily Ever After!

Knowing how much LeeAnna loves Jelly Rolls at Disney’s Boardwalk, he set the stage for a New Year’s Eve Proposal on December 31st, 2017.  He pulled it off and she was so surprised!

On LeeAnna + Ryan’s wedding day you could see the excitement in everyones faces as they got to celebrate their union, just as everyone noticed all along…LeeAnna + Ryan were made for one another!

Congratulations LeeAnna + Ryan, I am excited to see what the future has in store for you!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

Band | Serenade Of Souls
Bridesmaid Dresses | David’s Bridal
Ceremony Site | St. Raphael Catholic Church
Florist | Wonderland Floral Art and Gift Loft
Hair Stylist | J.Con Salon & Spa
Invitations | CZ Invitations, LLC
Reception Venue | St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Videographer | Sublime Studios
Wedding Gown | Alfred Angelo | David’s Bridal
Tuxedos | Men’s Wearhouse
Transportation | Rolls Royce | Alpha Limousine