jen & blake | south tampa wedding photographer | ceremony and reception at the davis island garden club

… insight from jen …

what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
The long, slow walk with my dad down the aisle to see my groom for the first time. The look in his eyes was priceless.
is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?
No. We had almost 2 years to plan, so there was no stone left unturned.
which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
I had three “non-negotiables” when I started planning:
1. My Dress
2. Photography
3. Food & Beverage
I also have to add my wedding coordinator, Jessica, from Simply Divine Events. Words cannot express how instrumental she was in planning our flawless day.
*4. Wedding Planner & day of coordinator- Jessica, Simply Divine Events
what was your biggest wedding day savings?
Picking a venue that allowed us to bring our own alcohol and purchasing from Total Wine that allowed us to return anything unopened! We kept most of the bottles of wine though 🙂 It only gets better with age right?
what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
My dress. It was completely worth it.
what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
At the reception, sit back for a few minutes with your groom and look around the room. We took that advice, and it was incredible to see everyone important to us in one room celebrating such a special day.
was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?
The amount of time spent on invitations and collecting address. Even when you think you have all the addresses correct, invites get sent back or never delivered. They turned out beautiful and was worth it in the long run.
was there a moment during your wedding day that surprised you?
How slow the morning went and then how fast everything started happening around 2PM when vendors started showing up! The combination of emotions built up is indescribable.
My brother also had an epic, surprise speech that was both hilarious and touching.
when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
How much love we felt from our family & friends. There are all the little details that were captured by film and photos, but the feeling of pure joy inside will never be forgotten.

… how it all came together …