A simple, timeless, elegant destination wedding was this couple had in mind when they started planning their big day in St. Petersburg. One tour of the Museum of Fine Arts was all in took for them to know it was the perfect place to support their vision, which Monika Gauthier Photograhy & Design captured to perfection. We were smitten by all the design contrasts (classic and contemporary, sleek and elegant) but also by the love these two so obviously share. They were beaming! And it was beautiful.
Nathan and Alissa first met in Blacksburg, Virginia, during a weekend tubing trip with mutual friends in the summer of 2012. They'd both been living in nearby D.C. for years but had never met; Alissa tells us that sparks flew from the very beginning: "I think we knew it was a match after that weekend. On the river, he spent most of the time teasing and torturing me — even unexpectedly pushing me down a slide at one point — and we spent the rest of the weekend talking. When we came back to D.C., he asked me out on our first official date. I think many people say opposites attract, but in our case, I think we are very similar. We are both laid back but at the same time, we're often on the same page. "
Alissa's Augusta Jones gown was just what she was looking for: simple and elegant; she added her sister's veil and blue topaz ring, and wore her grandmother's wedding band. And can we talk about that amazing all-white bouquet? Perfection.
Her grandmother also sewed beautiful dresses for the flower girls, Nathan's nieces, by hand.
Alissa was born and raised in St. Pete, and had spent many days along the waterfront and at the parks with her family while growing up. After years of weekend and holiday trips at her side, Nathan also fell in love with the city, making the the Museum's downtown location particularly meaningful to them both. Says Alissa, "I have always had a love for art, and the museum's new and modern glass conservatory with vaulted ceilings, mixed with the gallery's traditional and contemporary artwork was the perfect combination. However, we really fell in love with the venue when we saw the waterfront views and the membership garden — an intimate, outdoor but semi-enclosed space where we held our ceremony."
“My favorite memory of our wedding day was definitely our ceremony. The membership garden was incredible, Nathan's brother married us, and we wrote our own personal vows, which made it extra special. Plus, I'll never forget the look on Nathan's face when I walked down the aisle.”
Nathan's sister Christine wrote the couple a poem and read it during the ceremony. As Alissa tells us, "It was so thoughtful and another great way to incorporate our families."
The bride's mother, Sharon, helped the couple pull together their vision into a cohesive design. They went with a classic, elegant palette of creams, neutrals and metallics; crystal and gold pillar candles, gold chargers and mirrors added traditional sparkle. The star of the show: those 7-foot gold trees! Alissa told Sharon that she wanted gold trees and branches, but not the usual Manzanita type; Sharon found them at a home decor store in Tampa.
Everything turned out just as the two wished it would - with lots of fun and meaningful details and surprises. From the bride: "My dad surprised me with a song he'd written for our father-daughter dance. It was incredible. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect Florida fall day. Not to mention the food, drinks, music, décor and party were all amazing. It was incredible to have all of our friends and family in one place to wish us well."
Sounds (and looks) pretty perfect, indeed! Congratulations, Alissa and Nathan!
