The Rialto Theatre provided a beautiful historic backdrop and blank canvas for Alexandria and Eric’s industrial Tampa wedding. It was important for this couple to weave their love of family throughout their day- from details they contributed and the traditions in their ceremony, to the Irish and Filipino-inspired dishes on their menu and family-style dining at their reception. They did an incredible job of carrying out their vision in a way that really allowed their guests to feel “at home.”

We absolutely love the design of their day with a mix of rustic and industrial touches that were executed in a truly unique way. Lifting the centerpieces off the table on wood planks created not only an interesting visual, but made for a clever way to provide more space at the table for their family-style dining while still highlighting the gorgeous centerpieces. We know we can always count on Bourbon and Blush Events to think outside of the box when designing for their clients! We hope you enjoy, and definitely make sure you catch the beautiful details on their reception tables captured by The Hons!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Our wedding planner, Jennifer Buono, of Bourbon and Blush, was by far the most integral person involved in the planning of our wedding! While we worked with so many amazing vendors, Jennifer’s ability to plan, prepare, and coordinate each and every detail was incredible. She managed vendor relationships, looping us in when necessary and tackling items and challenges as they arose. Her upfront planning, her attention to detail, and her preparation made the planning process, and most importantly, the wedding day … an enjoyable and stress-free experience! We couldn’t have been more pleased!

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

We learned very quickly that we needed to find vendors who we simply “clicked” with. My husband and I have two very different personalities, but our main priorities are always the same: communication, transparency, and follow-through. Those key traits were absolutely imperative in each of our vendors. We were so very fortunate to have worked with vendors who exhibited those traits!

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

It was incredibly important for our wedding to exhibit our family-centric approach to life. Our family and our family of friends have helped us become who we are and succeed in life and in our relationship! We chose to highlight a unique menu of Irish and Filipino-inspired dishes as a way to pay homage to our loved ones. We opted for family-style service for our dinner, which brought our loved ones together and emphasized the sharing, laughter, and memory-making we value most! Inspired by Eric’s Jewish heritage, we had a gorgeous chuppah made of reclaimed wood that had a character we loved so much. And we ultimately chose a wedding venue inspired by our love for our neighborhood. We own a home in the same neighborhood, built during the same time as our venue, Rialto Theatre. The charm, character, and history of the Theatre really inspired us to bring that to life and use simplistic décor so the venue’s brick walls, bones, and features could truly be the star! 

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

Our favorite thing about the wedding itself was probably the amazing food by Salt Block Catering Company. They created the most beautiful menu inspired by our Irish, Filipino, and Jewish families. They presented the food on wooden family style boards atop wire baskets that ran the course of the long family tables. It was such a special way to bring our love for our family and food together!

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Without a doubt, the best piece of advice I would share is to hire a wedding planner… and do so early on. I’m a self-admitted planner and organizer by nature, so I hadn’t imagined hiring a planner to begin with. Very early on, I realized the importance of that decision. Our planner, Jennifer Buono of Bourbon and Blush, took us on as clients with about six months left in the planning. She completely shifted the momentum of our planning the moment we first met with her. She handled so many things from vendor meetings, to communication, to the day-of timeline, setup, breakdown, etc. and the list goes on and on!!! I can’t imagine how stressful our planning (or especially the wedding) would have been had we not had that support. Beyond the obvious, she ensured our vendor communication was streamlined, our bridal parties and guests knew where to go and what to do, and that everything at the venue and with the vendors were all in the loop. We were never worried that something would be forgotten. I was able to focus on the wedding day – and truly enjoyed it – because everything was being managed by Jennifer.

A second piece of advice that I would share was a gem that two separate couples shared with us just before our wedding day. They encouraged us to “stay together” during the reception as much as we could. We’d be tempted to split up, divide and conquer; to visit more people in less time if we split up, but we’d miss out on experiencing the day together. We were so thankful we took that advice seriously! Eric and I made it a point to stick together as much as we could. And when we didn’t, we quickly reunited and continued the celebration together. Because of that tip, we enjoyed the same experience on our wedding day – and made memories together that will last forever!

We absolutely love this advice! Thank you Alexandria and Eric for sharing your day with us.

VENDORS WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN…

Planning + Design: Bourbon and Blush Events // Photography + Videography: The Hons // Venue: Rialto Theatre // Wedding Dress: Malindy Elene // Floral Design: Inna Olimpiyuk Events // Wedding Cake: Hands on Sweets // Calligraphy + Stationery Design: Blush Design Studio // Hair + Makeup: Femme Akoi // Place Settings: Ever After Vintage Weddings // Chair and Table Rentals: A Chair Affair // Farm Tables + Decor: Wish Vintage Rentals // Catering: Saltblock Catering Co // Linens: Kate Ryan Linens