katie & brandon | st. petersburg wedding photographer | st. pete museum of fine art ceremony and reception

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…insight from katie…

what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
My absolute favorite moment was seeing my fiance smile as I came down the aisle with my dad. He lit up and it made me (and my dad!) both tear up. It was an incredibly special moment for all of us.
is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?
Little details here and there but it really was the most perfect day. If I could change one thing though, I would have gone with a longer reception time. It seemed like everything flew by so quickly and although we danced the whole night it just wasn’t enough!
which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
Obviously the photographer which is why I chose Marissa. She did an amazing job! Our families and our wedding party kept saying how organized and efficient she was the whole day and night. It was my best decision of the entire wedding planning process. The next two vendors I felt were most important were the DJ and the Videographer. You obviously want the DJ to be a hit with all your guests and keep the party going all night long. Our DJ definitely did an awesome job with that! A videographer was huge to me because I wanted to be able to remember every single detail – every laugh, every person, and of course I wanted to be able to watch everything all over again!
what was your biggest wedding day savings? (and was it worth it?)
I would have to say our biggest savings was the bar. We switched from glassware to acrylic and it saved us a TON of money (which you’re really needing when it comes time to pay for everything!). It was also a great decision because it we knew everyone would be dancing and jumping around, so it was nice to not have to worry about glassware breaking. My biggest recommendation to any bride and groom is to ask about everything. There is typically a way to cut the costs if you just ask!
what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
The venue. It was expensive but so, so, SO worth it. It was just so beautiful being on the water and also getting married in a museum. I think the guests really enjoyed it, too. It was absolutely worth every penny we spent on it 😉
what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
That something will go wrong. But everyone told us that it will still be perfect and amazing because no one will ever know how it was “supposed” to be besides the bride and groom. We absolutely took it to heart. You learn that you can’t really sweat the small stuff and it will still be the best day of your lives no matter what!
was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?
We seemed to encounter a lot of hidden costs and fees which was a bit stressful; especially when you’re working off a budget. It all worked out in the end, though.
was there a moment during your wedding day that surprised you?
Not really. Every moment was a special surprise 🙂
when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
That it’s true what people always say. It will be, hands down, the best day of your life. My favorite part was celebrating our special day with all of our wonderful family and friends. That is something I will never forget. I’ll also remember how beautiful and special I felt marrying the man of my dreams. I can’t wait to look back at this day forever!

…how it all came together …