Do you know that there’s an awesome hotel at the International mall in Tampa? For years I had somehow missed the beautiful brick bell tower hanging out smack in the middle of Bay Street! Lo and behold the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel is a beautiful oasis in retail heaven! The hotel itself is tastefully decorated with a lovely outdoor atrium that makes you totally loose yourself in elegance. It was the perfect place for Amber & Roland to prepare for and then celebrate their sleek and elegant Navy Blue Wedding. I was pleasantly surprised to find the wedding party getting ready in their respective GIANT suites! There was plenty of room for photos and even a full kitchen. They made for the perfect backdrop for all the details and portraits I love the capture. The event coordinator, Harlee, even sent up a presentation of tequila shots to the boys! I had a blast hanging out with such a great group of guys as they teased and laughed. I made sure to capture the “She’s Mine” stickers on Roland’s shoes before I headed off to see my bride!
Amber was stunning and SO ready to get in her gorgeous gown! I loved shooting her beautiful details and fragrant bouquets. Before we knew it it was time to get her to the church! The girls piled in the limo and headed off to the Incarnation Catholic Church nearby.
The church was incredible inside! It has the most awe-inspring ceiling and I had a great time capturing it’s magnitude. Luckily the lighting was really interesting too and nice and bright! After a lovely ceremony it was time to head back to the Renaissance for a party! Their ballroom was decorated with white hydrangeas, white roses, and the rich dark navy blue. Their tall white cake was topped with an adorable custom topper that proudly showed off Roland as a firefighter! I was even blown away to see one of my very first couples in attendance! Tony and Dana got hitched back in 2008 at the Tampa Bay Watch and are related to Amber! Small world!
Everyone was all smiles all night long and there was a ton of dancing! If you are looking for a stress-free, centrally located wedding venue that is tasteful and elegant the Renaissance is perfect!
