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This is too cute of a love story not to share!!! Our bride, Jenny was raised in Tampa, but Tennessee has always held a special place in her heart, which was the inspiration for her Tampa Wedding. Tennessee is where Jenny met husband James and currently resides.
They share a mutual love of University of Tennessee and of course their football team, Go Vols!!!
Part One: Let's go back a few years to their friends' wedding. Both Jenny and James were in the bridal party and just so happened to get paired up for introductions. They struck up conversation and realized they had a lot in common and given their relationship with the bride and groom, they were surprised that they had never met before.
Jenny was impressed by James' friendliness, easy conversation and the fact that he knew how to spin her while dancing. James was impressed by her beautiful smile and lively personality. At several points throughout the evening, people had noticed the way we had hit it off.
Part One: Let's go back a few years to their friends' wedding. Both Jenny and James were in the bridal party and just so happened to get paired up for introductions. They struck up conversation and realized they had a lot in common and given their relationship with the bride and groom, they were surprised that they had never met before.
Jenny was impressed by James' friendliness, easy conversation and the fact that he knew how to spin her while dancing. James was impressed by her beautiful smile and lively personality. At several points throughout the evening, people had noticed the way we had hit it off.
After the reception was over and upon returning home, Jenny and James continued to chat and planned an official first date. Their first date was to one of Tennessee's finest and most venerable Southern icons: the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg. (Hence the signature cocktail Lynchburg Lemonade). The rest, as they say, is history.
Part 2: The Engagement: The evening before the home opener, James had made plans for dinner with several of our friends. What Jenny didn't know was that he also had a plan to take a detour to campus and get new t-shirts for football season. He had gone so far as to make sure that Jenny's roommate who was with them, would also want to buy a UT t-shirt so that way Jenny wouldn't complain and insist that we wait until the next day. As they drove onto campus, James decided that he wanted to go to the store close to the football complex instead of the main bookstore. In doing so, he parked in a tow-away zone, which prompted Jenny to ask if he could park in the store parking lot instead. James said no, it would be a short walk and we wouldn't be there long anyway. The whole point was to ensure that we would walk by a campus landmark called The Rock. As the three of them - James, Jenny and Kate (Jenny's roommate) - started walking, Kate began asking about UT traditions, in particular The Rock. Jenny started talking about how it's painted several times a day by various student organizations or by friends wanting to wish people happy birthday or with a special game day design. As they approached The Rock, Jenny looked at quickly and saw the words "will you" and "marry" and turned to smile at Kate saying "Oh cool - someone proposed on The Rock today!" When she turned around, Kate was nowhere in sight but what she did see was James on one knee with a ring. Still, Jenny didn't fully understand what has happening. She looked back at The Rock where she read the whole message which said "Jenny, will you marry me?" As she realized that the message on The Rock was meant for her, she looked back at James who was smiling and he repeated the question, to which Jenny answered with a resounding "Yes!" Much laughter ensued as they both realized how much he had surprised her. And in an added touch, which James couldn't have planned for, a bus pulled up at the corner and the UT marching band and the Tennessee cheerleaders got off, yelling the obvious question "Did she say yes?" "Yes!" we yelled back to their cheers, pom poms and trombones in the air. It couldn't have been more perfect.
Part 3: The Big Day: Now this brings us to the big wedding day in Tampa! Jenny and James added a lot of special touches through out. For the ceremony at Bayshore Baptist Church, instead of having traditional organ music, The Florida Mountain Boys, a local bluegrass band, that played the family's favorite hymns for the processional. For the recessional, the guests clapped and stomped to good old " Rocky Top Tennessee" After the lively ceremony, guests headed over to the Tampa Yacht Club for the reception where guests experienced a traditional southern menu: The bride's chicken salad, shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles along with mac and cheese tarts (this is just a sampling of what was served). Since the Bride and Groom's first date was to the Jack Daniels Distillery, the signature cocktail of the evening was Lynchburg Lemonade. Favors were RC colas and moon pies. It was definately a night to remember as we literaly brought the roof down at the end of the night before they were sent off with authentic UT shakers. We want to thank all of the vendors for making this day such a memorable experience for Jenny and James!!!
Part 2: The Engagement: The evening before the home opener, James had made plans for dinner with several of our friends. What Jenny didn't know was that he also had a plan to take a detour to campus and get new t-shirts for football season. He had gone so far as to make sure that Jenny's roommate who was with them, would also want to buy a UT t-shirt so that way Jenny wouldn't complain and insist that we wait until the next day. As they drove onto campus, James decided that he wanted to go to the store close to the football complex instead of the main bookstore. In doing so, he parked in a tow-away zone, which prompted Jenny to ask if he could park in the store parking lot instead. James said no, it would be a short walk and we wouldn't be there long anyway. The whole point was to ensure that we would walk by a campus landmark called The Rock. As the three of them - James, Jenny and Kate (Jenny's roommate) - started walking, Kate began asking about UT traditions, in particular The Rock. Jenny started talking about how it's painted several times a day by various student organizations or by friends wanting to wish people happy birthday or with a special game day design. As they approached The Rock, Jenny looked at quickly and saw the words "will you" and "marry" and turned to smile at Kate saying "Oh cool - someone proposed on The Rock today!" When she turned around, Kate was nowhere in sight but what she did see was James on one knee with a ring. Still, Jenny didn't fully understand what has happening. She looked back at The Rock where she read the whole message which said "Jenny, will you marry me?" As she realized that the message on The Rock was meant for her, she looked back at James who was smiling and he repeated the question, to which Jenny answered with a resounding "Yes!" Much laughter ensued as they both realized how much he had surprised her. And in an added touch, which James couldn't have planned for, a bus pulled up at the corner and the UT marching band and the Tennessee cheerleaders got off, yelling the obvious question "Did she say yes?" "Yes!" we yelled back to their cheers, pom poms and trombones in the air. It couldn't have been more perfect.
Part 3: The Big Day: Now this brings us to the big wedding day in Tampa! Jenny and James added a lot of special touches through out. For the ceremony at Bayshore Baptist Church, instead of having traditional organ music, The Florida Mountain Boys, a local bluegrass band, that played the family's favorite hymns for the processional. For the recessional, the guests clapped and stomped to good old " Rocky Top Tennessee" After the lively ceremony, guests headed over to the Tampa Yacht Club for the reception where guests experienced a traditional southern menu: The bride's chicken salad, shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles along with mac and cheese tarts (this is just a sampling of what was served). Since the Bride and Groom's first date was to the Jack Daniels Distillery, the signature cocktail of the evening was Lynchburg Lemonade. Favors were RC colas and moon pies. It was definately a night to remember as we literaly brought the roof down at the end of the night before they were sent off with authentic UT shakers. We want to thank all of the vendors for making this day such a memorable experience for Jenny and James!!!
Coordinators: Us
Venues: Bayshore Baptist Church and The Tampa Yacht Club
Entertainment: Florida Mountain Boys and D.J.: RJ Vida
Flowers: The Potting Shed
Photographer: K and K Photography
Invitations: Paper Players
Cake: Publix Greenwise and Wright's Deli
Rentals: BBJ Linens and Signature Events by Design
Hair and Make-up: Collective Creations
