The modern downtown St. Pete wedding of Carissa and Anthony featured a green oasis adorned with delicate white flowers, blue thistles, and lush greenery. The charming ceremony, hosted at NOVA 535’s outdoor bamboo courtyard, included a handcrafted geometric arch beautifully built by the couple themselves, setting the stage for an evening of timeless elegance.
“I never really figured out a theme, but we kept calling it ‘greenery.’ I wanted it to be simple yet elegant,” the bride shared. “Our colors were navy and sage. We just love earth tones,” Carissa beamed.
Drawing inspiration from their love for travel, the bride and groom designed a wedding experience that felt like a mini-vacation for their 148 guests. The pre-wedding festivities commenced with a rehearsal dinner at a nearby brewery that echoed their unique personality and love for craft beer.
“We live in Riverview, FL, but our favorite place to be is St. Pete. We love to take day trips there for the good food, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. Most of our family is from New York and Chicago, so we wanted them to have a vacation while celebrating our wedding,” the bride shared. “We also love the beach! In St. Pete, you get the best of both beach and downtown life. It was a Thursday wedding, so we could have family stay the weekend and celebrate with us all the way until Sunday!
Opting for a weekday wedding allowed their out-of-town guests to enjoy an extended stay in the Sunshine State, turning the wedding into a four-day celebration. NOVA 535, with its romantic outdoor courtyard and spacious two-story interior, was an all-encompassing venue that allowed the festivities to flow seamlessly, an important factor for the couple.
“I wanted it to be as all-inclusive as possible. I wanted to have as many components of the wedding in one place and not have to juggle and coordinate different vendors. NOVA 535 was exactly that,” the bride gushed. “When I first walked into the courtyard, I fell in love with all the bamboo and greenery. I could instantly see our ceremony happening there. Then, when we walked in and talked with April, and she showed me all the details included in the price, it made it very easy to move forward. NOVA had so much to offer that we didn’t have to decorate too much. NOVA went above and beyond to make the day run smoothly and had the smaller details that made it unique to us! The staff was incredible, and the communication from day one until the wedding day was spot on. We could tell they know how to handle weddings and large weddings at the rehearsal.”
The reception centerpieces showcased the sage green theme, which featured gold milk glass vases brimming with beautiful greenery. These subtle yet striking elements emphasized an organic beauty.
Carissa planned an unforgettable event that felt more like a trip centered around their guests. She vividly remembers the exhilaration and pure joy that filled the venue.
“We love to entertain! We love to have friends and family together to celebrate all occasions, and we wanted our wedding to be a party! We love good dance music, and our two priorities were that everyone needed to be on the dance floor and everyone should feel like this was the best vacation ever! We feel we achieved both!” Carissa beamed. “Our guests were having so much fun dancing that when the DJ said it was the last song of the night, everyone screamed ‘Encore,’ and he played one more song for us as we exited! It was amazing!”
