Rachael + Dominic Step Into The Limelight | Italian Club | Tampa, FL

Rachael and Dominic met in 2013 while they were in their college marching band. They were in band together for two years prior to dating… and now, 8 years later, they’re married!

Because we just HAVE to share it, here’s how Rachael tells their engagement story: 

“Dominic rented out a movie theater for the movie The Eternals. He told me that we were going to a theater in St. Pete for comfortable chairs. He asked me after we got into the theater before the movie started. My sister and parents were hiding behind the seats to surprise me.”

Rachael loves that Dominic is determined and straight forward. He will always be there when she needs him and be the support system that she can depend on. Dominic loves Rachael's passion for animals and love of life. 

Throughout their wedding day, you could spot many birds, as birding is something that both Rachael and Dominic like to do together. From the details on their cake and their table signs, to their guest book, they tied in their mutual love for wildlife! 

Their entire day was beautiful, set in the beautiful Italian Club, decorated with perfect touches of pinks and blues, and lots of celebrating in the form of dancing, drinking coffee from their coffee bar + eating gelato! Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Raia!

Lead Photographer | Tara Zimmerman
Associate Photographer | Steven McCarthy

Band | Bay Kings Band
Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie
Cake | The Cake Girl
Caterer | Amici’s Catered Cuisine
Ceremony Site | Italian Club of Tampa
Event Planner | LemonDrops
Florist | LemonDrops
Hair Stylist | Femme Akoi
Invitations | Minted
Make-up Artist | Femme Akoi
Reception Venue | Italian Club of Tampa 
Wedding Gown | CC’s Bridal Boutique

Alyssa + Luke Step Into The Limelight | SUNKEN GARDENS | ST. PETERSBURG, FL

Meet the sweetest couple…
Alyssa & Luke made us smile and cry our eyes out on their wedding day 🥰 Just being able to witness the way they looked at each other, melted our hearts completely.
Alyssa & Luke met in undergrad as interns at a mental health hospital (I believe it was LOVE at first sight for Alyssa).
After dating and getting to know each other Luke proposed to Alyssa on a private felucca ride on the Nile in Cairo at sunset, perfectly romantic!
Their wedding day was pure joy and absolutely stunning in every way. From the bright and vivid flowers to the one-of-a-kind custom wedding cake filled with sugar flowers, to the thoughtful table numbers with descriptions of unique and elegant flowers… everything had a purpose.
Just the simple fact that we could feel the love between these two… made our hearts full!
We wish both Alyssa & Luke a lifetime of happiness and many more adventures together. Cheers to a beautiful couple!

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Steven McCarthy

Cake | The Cake Girl
Caterer | Puff n’ Stuff
Ceremony Site | Sunken Gardens
DJ | Grant Hemond & Associates | James 
Event Planner | Ignite Your Occasion | Pamela Carfi
Florist | Wonderland Floral
Hair Stylist | Destiny and Light
Make-up Artist | Destiny and Light
Officiant | Weddings & Wellness | Rev. Scott Lortz
Reception Venue | Sunken Gardens
Rentals | Rent ALL City

Maddie + Alex Step Into The Limelight | Yacht Starship IV | St. Petersburg, FL

A little bit of sparkle, a little bit of pineapples!

Madeleine and Alex met at the University of Arizona Law School, Fall 2015. Madeleine was taking graduation pictures in a national park near where they lived inTucson,AZ (Saguaro National Park).They were out in this beautiful field of yellow flowers & Alex said he wanted to take a few more pictures ... the rest is history (There’s pictures on their website that Alex’s roommate took!). Also, fun fact, Madeleine almost turned back around before they got to “the spot” because they saw a rattlesnake.Alex is a wildlife biologist & was very excited... snakes are Madeline’s #1 fear so she was petrified.

In their own words....

Alex: “I love how adventurous Maddie is. I love how driven she is to go get what she wants. I love how fun and silly she can be. Most of all, I love how she makes me better.”

Maddie: “Alex is one of the smartest and kindest people I know. I love his ambition and how he pushes me to try new things. He is my best friend, he makes me really happy, and he makes me want to be a better person.”

Together they like to play board games, watch movies, and they LOVE to travel. They also love dogs—they have a 2 year old Alaskan Klee Kai named Bandit.

Their wedding day was wedding plan #3!!! Their original wedding/location was in Tucson, Arizona in a beautiful historic hotel/garden in the desert.Then, COVID happened and Madeleine'’s parents moved to Florida.With neither her parents, nor them living in AZ, it didn’t make sense to have the wedding in Arizona anymore... especially because Alex’s family also lives in Florida.

SO, they went with the Yacht Starship because (1) They love boats and (2) They wanted something totally different than what they were doing before. A clean slate.☺ So instead of desert garden, they did an upscale tropical glam vibe.A little bit of sparkle, a little bit of pineapples.

Madeleine actually found her dress in 2011... can you believe that! She saw it in a magazine when she was 18 and said “that’s my wedding dress!” Amazingly enough, her bridal salon (Schaffers in Phoenix,AZ) was able to get a hold of it out of the Lazaro vault in NewYork.As soon as she tried it on, she knew it was the one.Also, she saw it the day she tried it on a in a random episode of “Say Yes to the Dress!” that was on that night... it’s a small world. Madeleine’sMadeleine bracelet is her mother’s, it was a wedding gift to her. It was the first gift her dad got her mom after they were married. ALSO, the diamond in her wedding ring is actually her mom’s too. 33 years of good marriage karma :) Her pearls belong to her grandmother.

Mostly, Madeline and Alex were really excited to be surrounded by the people they love most in the world as they got married. Madeleine also loves her dress (obviously) and the pineapple theme carried through the guys’ socks and cufflinks all the way to the centerpieces! Everyone at the wedding felt happy, special, loved, and celebratory!

Lead Photographer | Rebecca Zoumberos
Associate Photographer | Michael Zoumberos

Bridesmaid Dresses | Alfred Sung at Dessy
Cake | The Cake Girl
Caterer | Yacht Starship IV
Ceremony Site | Yacht Starship IV
DJ | Yacht Starship IV
Florist | 2Birds Events
Hair Stylist | Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group | Maria
Invitations | Paperless Post
Make-up Artist | Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group
Reception Venue | Yacht Starship IV
Wedding Gown | Lazaro Bridal Salon | Schaffer’s