maggie & josh | ybor city wedding photography | the don vicente reception

…insight from maggie…
what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
My favorite moment of the wedding day was at the end of Mass. My dearest friend helped us coordinate a youth chorus which sang an a cappella “Amazing Grace.” It was a surprise for our guests. The chorus members snuck into the back few rows and began to sing when our priest introduced us as Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Shaffer. The singing was beyond incredible. I will never forget the looks on our guests’ faces and the emotion that it stirred in all of us.

which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
The three vendors that were most important to me during the planning were the photographer, wedding coordinator and band. Marissa Moss Photography had shot a wedding at the Don Vicente in the past, and when I saw the way they captured the venue and the entire event, I knew it was the perfect choice for a photographer. I was so happy that Marissa was available for our date. She and the secondary photographer were very calm, kind and professional and were wonderful at directing the wedding party and family during the coordinated shots.

Our wedding coordinator, Ashley Packett, is a childhood friend of mine. I knew she had started a wedding coordination business, and when I was in the early stages of planning and had so many questions, I called her right away. She walked me through every detail and thought of all the things I was forgetting. She is one of the most professional and responsive people I have ever worked with. I knew I could trust her completely when the wedding day arrived, and I didn’t stress about a thing! It was wonderful to reconnect with an old friend.

Our band, Phase5, was unbelievable. They maintained the flow of the reception and kept the dance party going all night! The lead singers, Josh and Sammi have beautiful voices. They were very professional and easy to work with.

One other important vendor that I want to mention is the Tampa staple, Wright’s Gourmet House. We chose to serve twelve 9″ cakes instead of one large cake. Guests were able to choose from 10 different flavors. I borrowed cake stands from my friends and absolutely loved the outcome of the display. Since the wedding, guests have continually mentioned how much they loved the Wright’s cakes!

what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
I ordered custom printed wayfarer sunglasses from Logo Lenses in Clearwater. I remember having a bit of buyer’s remorse, but it was one of our favorite details at the reception and ended up being completely worth it. The guests loved the glasses and I think having a prop like that can really get the party going. I loved seeing my parents’ friends wearing the glasses while dancing or even just sitting at table eating shrimp n’ grits.

what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
Everyone tells you that the day will fly by and to try and take in every moment. This is true and great advice. I tried to concentrate on looking around, listening and storing away as many memories as I could. It was truly the most fun day I’ve ever had and memories keep popping into my head and making me smile.

was there a moment(s) during your wedding day that surprised you?
Marissa had the wedding party walk down a brick street in Ybor City to take some photos, and of course a car turned down the street 30 seconds later. We were diverted to the sidewalk and right there we saw a heart carved into the cement with our initials, “M + J,” inside. It was a fun coincidence.

when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
I believe in 50 years, we will still remember the love and joy we felt on our wedding day.