andrea and darren | mahaffey theatre wedding photography | st. petersburg, florida

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how it all came together …

…insight from andrea…
what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
My favorite part of my wedding day had to be the first look! You spend all day getting ready, exchanging a few texts, and finally you get to see each other. It was definitely a moment I will remember forever.
is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?
The one thing that I would have done was hired a videographer, or at least had someone tape our ceremony! I love my pictures, but I do kind of wish I could hear our vows again! Unfortunately it wasn’t in the budget, but it also isn’t a huge regret, didn’t ruin the day in any way : )
which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
1.) Photographer – Of COURSE! This is how we will remember this day forever. Of course she did a great job : )
2.) DJ – We really wanted the night to be FUN. We wanted someone who could keep the energy up in the room and everyone out on the dance floor. Brian Black with DJ by CJ did just that! Everyone that came said he was great!
3.) Catering – We used Puff N’ Stuff, and they were so professional and really managed to make the evening go so smoothly. The food was great, and exactly what I wanted.

I didn’t have a wedding planner, but had a great friend who helped with some day of details. If it wasn’t for the vendors being so professional, it could have been a mess!
what was your biggest wedding day savings? (and was it worth it?)
I didn’t get a limo for transportation to or from the venue, and I think it was totally worth it! My step dad took me in his big yukon with my mom to the venue, and it didn’t change the day at all : ) The other would be the videographer, but I think I would have at least had someone record the ceremony in hindsight.
what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
Our biggest splurge was catering. We tried a couple of other companies that were a little cheaper, but not only did Puff N’ Stuff serve great food, the coordinator was amazing and made the night run so smoothly.
what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
The best advice I received was just to relax and make it a day about what we wanted. I tried to do this, but it was very hard! There are a lot of opinions when it comes to the wedding day, but in the end I think we got exactly what we wanted.
was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?
Our original wedding photographer got pregnant about 9 months before the wedding! She was a friend from middle school, and thankfully told me right away. I knew I loved Marissa Moss’ work as well (it was a hard decision choosing between them to begin with) and immediately called her in a panic! I was so thankful that she had the date available and am so incredibly happy with the photos!!!
was there a moment during your wedding day that surprised you?
The whole day surprised me! I think I surprised others with how relaxed I was. I expected to be nervous and worried, but honestly I felt this odd calm. It was a perfect end to a year and a half of planning.
when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
I will remember seeing my husband turned around waiting for me at our first look, and I will remember seeing him at the end of the aisle, eyes full of joy! I will also remember my family and friends who came from all different places to be with us on that day! It couldn’t have been any more perfect.