jacqueline & joseph | christ the king catholic church ceremony and rusty pelican wedding reception photography | south tampa wedding photographer

…insights from jacqueline…

how would you describe your wedding to someone who was not there? what were some of your inspirations? how did you envision the wedding prior to your special day?

I’d say that the theme of our wedding centered around unity and family. We chose to pursue a very elegant, romantic and sophisticated look. Being an older bride, having the right dress (with the appropriate coverage needed for the sacrament of marriage taking place in a Church) was a paramount concern. I seriously loved my dress. We are an interracial couple and family, and we wanted the inclusion we truly live out everyday to be evident in our marriage celebration. Joseph’s children were in our wedding party, which was tremendously important to us. Considerable thought and prayer went into the readings and music selections at our mass. We always planned on a black and white wedding to articulate the very formal and thoughtful process we underwent in preparation for our marriage, and ultimately added fuchsia for a pop of color.

is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?

There are so many details that we thought through (probably over thought), I wish I kept my focus on enjoying the planning process more. I will say, though, that all of my meticulous planning paid off!

which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?

Joseph and I definitely wanted high quality artwork by way of pictures and a wedding album. Joseph was adamant that he wanted cinematography, and I was concerned that this would be out of our budget. Given that these two pieces were the only relics to “have and to hold” after the wedding, we were very picky for these vendors. My dress was extremely important to me, as was the reception venue.

what was your biggest wedding day savings?

Joseph and I elected not to hand out wedding favors, as well as a few other detail-oriented projects. Instead, we focused our time and resources on the fundamentals that were so important to us. Hands down, my biggest “wow, what a great savings” moment was when I purchased my wedding veil. I ended up paying $30 for my veil which was originally priced at $249 – thank you David’s Bridal clearance sale!

what was your biggest wedding day splurge?

Wedding day photography, cinematography, and our reception venue were our biggest financial commitments. But…you get way you pay for. These were all high priority, so it makes complete sense that you stack your resources in these areas. My sister introduced me to Marissa’s work, and I knew we had to capitalize on her talents. Marissa ended up pointing me in Scott Patterson’s direction (Life’s Highlights), and even though we had to re-work the budget – it was totally worth it!!

what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding?

To limit your involvement of others’ opinions to those who matter most, and ultimately, both Joseph and I signed off on all decisions. It was our wedding day, and although there are many people in our lives who mean the world to us, this day was about us, our preferences, our needs, etc. Although, this didn’t completely extricate us from unsolicited suggestions and ideas, we still enjoyed others’ enthusiasm and kept things positive. We made a couple of concessions, but for the most part, everything went exactly how we hoped. The ability to persevere and roll with the punches is mandatory!! We had to contend with construction at my residence (where the ladies were getting ready), our Church, AND at the Rusty Pelican.

was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?

As I just mentioned, there were a lot of unforeseen issues related to construction. We made due with what we had, and I do not regret going with these options despite the major renovations. Also, our original wedding consultant at the Rusty Pelican resigned just a couple of months prior to the wedding. Thank GOODNESS our new consultant, Edward, was absolutely fabulous. We were thrilled about his service and commitment to our special day.

was there a moment during your wedding day that surprised you?

I enjoyed two fabulous surprises on my wedding day. First, my groom teared up when I walked towards him down the aisle – a complete shocker! Joseph is so logical, unemotional, and collected, I fully expected a stoic smile. He was so moved that he shed visible tears (very atypical of my now hubby). What a blessing! Secondly, my sister prepared a wedding toast “rap” which was truly remarkable and moving. My DJ (who has been performing at weddings for 20+ years) went out of his way to comment how outstanding Jessie’s toast was. It really drove home for me how special she is to me (and this family) and how she throws her heart and soul into everything she does for those she loves. This is after, of course, she hosted the world’s most beautiful and fabulous bridal shower in history! I’m so blessed and loved. Lucky me!

what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?

I loved walking towards Joseph down the aisle, as well as seeing my grandmother so moved by our music selections during the ceremony. My uncles honoring us by readings, and my aunties delivering the gifts at mass. Father Len gave a smashing homily which drove home our inclusive initiatives. “Peace be with you” turned into peace be with everyone. Our first dance was so much fun, and I had so many compliments on my dress (yay!). Dancing with friends and family I don’t get to see as much as I’d like to. Soaking up every smile from all of my loved ones, watching people genuinely enjoying themselves. So, simple answer, the whole thing for different reasons.

when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?

Joseph crying as I walked down the aisle, my uncle walking me down the aisle and telling Joseph how much he loved him, my beautiful mother, grandmother and mother-in-law (how how much I can’t wait to see them being escorted into the Chapel with Ave Maria in the background), how beautiful our families looked celebrating together, the fact that everyone was healthy enough to attend, my sister’s outstanding wedding toast, and my gorgeous dress and veil.

… how it all came together…