Josh and Tara’s wedding at The Poynter Institute in Saint Petersburg, Florida, was a perfect blend of elegance and unique personal touches. The day began with a heartfelt first look, not just with the groom but also a special moment between the bride and her father, creating memories to cherish. Inside the beautiful library, intimate portraits captured the couple’s love in a setting full of charm. Later, the newlyweds wandered the garden for stunning outdoor portraits, adding a touch of natural beauty to their elegant celebration. Every detail of their day was filled with joy and thoughtfully curated to reflect their one-of-a-kind love story.
The Proposal
We typically do something special for our anniversary every year and July 2022 was no different. Josh made reservations at a local restaurant that we had been wanting to try; he didn’t give any hint that something special was happening. Josh was a little quiet during dinner, and looking back, had been checking his phone more but in the moment, it seemed like he was just playing Pokémon Go. After dessert, we hustled to the St. Pete pier to catch the sunset; we missed the sunset but enjoyed the walk and Josh was taking the lead. Close to the midpoint, he pulled me over to a section that goes out near the water. Once we reached the corner, I looked over the water, and when I turned around Josh had dropped to one knee and our dogs were running over. Josh pulled a ring off of Ramsay and proposed; I was so surprised I dropped to my knees to say yes!
It took me a minute to realize, but Lola wore a bandana saying “Will you marry my daddy?” and Ramsay was wearing a handkerchief that looked like a tuxedo. Josh hired a photographer to capture the moment, and my friend Ashley was the one who brought the dogs to the pier. We took some photos and then Josh said he had one more surprise.
We walked over to Doc Ford’s and as we turned the corner, 8 more of our friends were waiting with balloons and champagne to celebrate! It was an amazing night, and Josh went above and beyond to make it special.
Wedding Day Vision
Josh pointed out that his answer was probably different than mine. In the words of Josh “A stress-free, easy day.” I’ll second his answer, and add that my vision includes stress-free and easy, and adds a day to celebrate our new journey and enjoy time with our friends and family. The goal was to have a day that was simple, elegant, and reflected who we are as a couple – incorporating our dogs, our favorite foods, and our favorite people!
Vendors
Venue: The Poynter Institute
Coordination: Shy Chic
Floral: Shy Chic
