Kathleen and Joe were married this past weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida...barely dodging the hurricane that had passed through the previous week. And thank goodness, because they planned out a massive, all day party for their wedding, with nearly 200 guests arriving from all corners of the country!
The couple kept things traditional and decided to go without a first look, and even got ready at two separate hotels. Kathleen and her bridesmaids enjoyed one of the spacious suites at The Birchwood, while the guys prepped for the big day just a few blocks away at the Hampton Inn and Suites St. Petersburg.
Once everyone was ready to go, the bridal parties were shuttled separately to St. Mary Our Lady of Grace church just a short distance away in St. Pete. A traditional Catholic mass was held as Kathleen and Joe said their 'I Do's.
After formal family photos were taken inside of the church, it was time to really get the party started! The entire wedding party loaded onto a trolley, which they had already stocked with plenty of drinks (and snacks!!). Kathleen and Joe had picked out a number of murals and locations around St. Petersburg where they wanted to take photos, and so we quickly got the whirlwind session started while the guests headed back to the Birchwood for cocktail hour.
Once the photos and video were out of the way, the bridal party hightailed it back to the venue to catch the final bit of cocktail hour and mingle with their guests. Shortly thereafter, the reception space was opened and everyone was treated to an epic first dance with a wall of cold sparklers filling the room with glowing light!
While dinner was served, we snuck Kathleen and Joe outside for some nighttime couples portraits and a few moments for them to breathe. They popped a bottle of champagne under a banyan tree, danced under the glow of a lit up mural, and shared an intimate moment together on a quiet side street...
The party continued well into the evening, and when it was time to leave the reception space, a private party was awaiting the remaining guests at the hotel's rooftop bar! And then just when it seemed like there just couldn't be any more party to be had, a mariachi band arrived to lead everyone through the park across the street and out to a bar where the night finally drew to a close. This was definitely one for the books, and we feel so fortunate to have been asked to capture it all!
Photo + Video: Mars and the Moon Films
Coordinator: Coastal Coordinating
Hair and Makeup: Olivia Poppy Salon
Ceremony: St. Mary Our Lady of Grace
Reception Venue: The Birchwood
Florist: Green Bench Flowers
Transportation: Star Trolley
