mimma and tom | clearwater beach wedding | hyatt regency wedding and reception

…insights from mimma …

what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
The entire day was such a dream for both Tom and I. We both still can’t stop saying how everything exceeded our expectations. When we talk about our wedding, we always go back to the ceremony as the moment we knew would be such a moving and incredible experience, which it truly was. We both talked about how we each got tunnel vision once I was walking down the isle and how our minds were able to tune out the music, the setting, our guests and the only thing that existed was the two of us. It was such a powerful moment that we will both cherish forever.

is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?
Every little and big decision we made helped our day be just that – ours. I am not crafty and Tom definitely did not have any interest in cutting paper, gluing, etc. But I had a vision for certain parts and he definitely helped make it happen. We looked at it as an adventure. At the time, we did wonder why we really needed to do such things as making elaborate place cards, making countless Michael’s trips for other crafts, but at the end, it all came together and we look back now and realize what great teamwork went into every little detail.

which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
Venue, planner, photographer

what was your biggest wedding day savings? (and was it worth it?)
Our wedding was on a Friday. It saved us a lot on our venue, catering and other vendors. We knew that our guests who wanted to come and be a part of our special day, would make it happen.

what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
The floral arrangements and decor were out big splurge and they were worth it. Our venue looked so beautiful. We got so many compliments!

what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
The advice I received was to tell my fiancé only the most important parts so he doesn’t get overwhelmed by the little stuff. But I found out that I wasn’t able to make some minor decisions by myself, so I did go to Tom so he can help pick. What I found out was that he liked being involved and helped me make quick decisions.

was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?
Coordinating the guests’ accommodations was very difficult. We had so many last minute guests reaching out to us to help them with accommodations. Since our venue was at a popular tourist destination, the hotels sold out very quick and last minute guests were left to scramble to find a place to stay. Luckily, our planner was able to help with it, but I would highly recommend for brides to connect with out of town guests early and often, especially in tourist spots in FL.

was there a moment(s) during your wedding day that surprised you?
Yes, yes, yes! I was born and raised in Bulgari My parents surprised us by having a couple of Bulgarian dancers perform a traditional dance during the reception. Our guests were equally surprised and entertained.

when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
In addition to our ceremony, I personally will remember my moment alone with my parents before the ceremony. I was so nervous and they both gave me a hug and I immediately calmed down.

… how it all came together …