Stephanie and Mike: Venetian Splendor on the Bay

by Amy Serrago

Stephanie and Mike met online while they were both living in Chicago, and although it took a while to set up their first date, they were immediately smitten. They dated for a while before moving to St. Petersburg, Florida where Mike had accepted a new job. It was while they were there, exploring their new home, that Mike popped the question. The pair had stopped for lunch and decided to treat themselves to some ice cream from a local shop afterwards. They were sitting on a bench, enjoying their dessert, when suddenly Mike got down on one knee and asked Stephanie to be his wife. She said yes and they started planning right away. Stephanie, a self-proclaimed “laid back bride”, already knew the Ringling Museum in nearby Sarasota was the venue of her dreams. Mike was onboard immediately, he too, loved the ornate Venetian styling of the historic home-turned-museum and of course, this sentimental couple still enjoys visiting “their bench” to reminisce about the romantic day that Mike proposed.

Stephanie was gorgeous in her lace Vera Wang gown with its delicate cap sleeves and sexy sheer back detailing. She paired it with a long veil and sparkling strappy sandals and carried a bouquet of white roses with accents of greenery and blue thistle. Mike was handsome in his traditional black tux, the perfect compliment to the mansion’s opulent styling. The couple chose not to have a wedding party to minimize planning stress. Stephanie says they “were planning the wedding within a bit of a rushed timeframe, so anything to make decision-making easier, we did.” They saved time and money by skipping formal programs and menus, instead having custom signage for the seating chart and menu placed at the entrance to the reception.

The reception’s decor was absolutely stunning. Stephanie credits her florist, Victoria for “working her magic” after Stephanie chose white and blue hydrangea and greenery as the main theme. Tables were set family style with lush floral centerpieces and plenty of glittering gold candles to create a romantic glow and gold table numbers gave the space a polished look. Stephanie and Mike’s favorite part of the day was actually a nod to their proposal. They hired “Sub Zero”, a company that custom makes ice cream, right at the reception, using liquid nitrogen. Stephanie says, “it’s much creamier ice cream and they sprayed some liquid nitrogen out on the dance floor when my dad and I danced, creating a great fog effect that our guests loved!” We love the romance of reliving part your proposal right at the wedding. Congratulations, Stephanie and Mike!