Ellie and Steve’s wedding day is a testament to “letting the venue shine” with edited details that showcase the white-washed black-and-white patina of The Oxford Exchange. Greenery and florals are by La Vie en Rose and an adorable tiered cake is by Chocolate Pi while Everence Photography was behind the lens capturing all the moment from getting ready to the Rolls Royce get-away.
What made the wedding special and unique?
Honestly, our wedding was so special and unique because of the dancing!! One of the things I kept saying prior to the wedding was, “I really just want everyone to dance!” I have a family full of former competitive dancers (myself included), as well as a group of friends that are always down for a good dance party. I’m not lying when I tell you about 10 seconds into the first song of the night – we had a full dance floor. The floor stayed full until the very end! Dancing with all sides of the family as well as our closest friends truly was one of the best moments for me.
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
My gown was Stella York (style 6291) and I found it at Something Blue Bridal in my hometown, Bradenton FL! I have lots of amazing females in my family so I went with a crew consisting of my mom, two aunts, two grandmas, one sister, three cousins, and my best friend – between the eleven of us we were able to find the most beautiful gown in the store!! It was a nude-ish a-line (“moscato” was how it was described) with delicate beading. It had a tulle bottom and the waistline was so flattering. It truly felt like “classic glamour” meets “modern hipster,” which couldn’t have been more me. I loved it!
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
One of my favorite personal touches was our exit! Growing up, my parents would often end the day with a night-time drive through the beautiful parts of our hometown. My siblings and I would jump in the car with our dogs, blankets, and hot cocoa, and by the end of the drive, we were calmed (and maybe sometimes asleep lol). This “night-time drive” is something I’ve shared with Steve and our dog and we love it. On the night of our wedding, we left in a vintage Rolls Royce and cruised through the most beautiful parts of Tampa – Bayshore Boulevard, downtown, etc. We sipped champagne and looked at all the views. It was such a peaceful and truly glamorous end to the night. I still think back to how beautiful that drive was!
What was the most memorable part of the day?
The most memorable part of the day was when my husband and I were officially announced as Mr. & Mrs. Thomas! This started off our reception. We were preceded by our bridesmaids and groomsmen, who are truly my favorite people in the world. The DJ played a song that Steve and I have loved since the day we met (Tongue Tied by Grouplove). He had known I liked the band and had used the song as an excuse to come talk to me and eventually, ask me on a date 5+ years ago! Listening to this fun and sentimental song with my husband as we were celebrated by friends and family truly brought tears to my eyes. It was surreal.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
Steve and I are both from the same hometown. We were two years apart in school but had mutual friends. The summer before I started college, I met Steve at a mutual friend’s party. It was a Monday and we are from a small town so the list of things to do was rather short. We ended up at the bowling alley with our friends! Neither of us are avid bowlers, so we sat on a friend’s truck bed outside and talked and talked and talked (or maybe I did and he just listened). Once we left that night, I knew had a new great friend – little did I know, I had also found my husband.
We dated for five years after that – through undergrad, grad school, moving home, adopting our first pup, moving in together – we did everything together. On Valentine’s Day 2016, we spent the day at Rosa Fiorelli (a local vineyard) eating meats and cheeses and tasting wine. When we returned home, he asked me to marry him in front of the beautiful Manatee River (with our pup alongside). The rest is history!
Elizabeth & Stephen // Wedding Highlight from A Peachy Life Productions on Vimeo.
Photographer: Everence Photography // Florist: La Vie en Rose // Venue: The Oxford Exchange // Videographer: A Peachy Life Productions // DJ: Grant Hemond & Associates, Inc. // Cake: Chocolate Pi // Cocktail Music: Strings Attached // Dress: Stella York 6291 from Something Blue Bridal // Bridesmaid Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu