The Publisher’s Notes

Love Blooms! It’s engagement season and we hope that as you begin to plan your special day, we can provide inspiration and quality vendors and venues for your wedding, or any special event. It is always our goal to provide our brides with the best wedding advice, and access to the latest design trends in cakes, florals and bridal styles. The Gown Guide showcases some gorgeous gowns, where the bride-to-be will find the top 10 trends showcased on the virtual runway.

Since 2008, we have been inspiring and introducing our brides to the very best vendors and venues in the region, and will continue as we move forward into 2021. There is no question that the wedding and event industry is resilient and has adapted to the changes required due to the pandemic. From intimate “micro” weddings to backyard soirees, couples are finding creative and innovative ways to say “I do.”

We feature several Real Weddings and thank the couples for allowing us to showcase their day. Wishing happiness and love to Bridgette and Logan, who married at Four Seasons and Kiley and Brandon, who

Photo by Andi Diamond Photography

tied the knot at the beachfront Don CeSar, Austin and Smith who married at a private residence in south Tampa, and Mickey and Scott who celebrated at Hyde House.

We also a include an Inspiration shoot from The Edison with images by Rabecca Cruz Photography. In this issue, we feature a whimsical pre-COVID, Alice in Wonderland inspired event, Topsy-Turvy Tipples & Tea, at The RitzCarlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.

If you have dreams of a destination wedding, The Haven Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico delivers. The expert planners at the property are ready to assist in creating your dream wedding with a variety of design and décor options. From the ceremony to the reception, the on-site team will handle all the details for you and your guests.

We are so proud of all the venues and vendors that have adjusted to meet the needs of the soon-to-be wed couples, their families and guests. From increased social distancing requirements to additional safety protocols including wearing masks, wedding and event planners, photographers, caterers, hair and makeup artists, floral and décor companies, venues and more, have made the necessary adjustments to make sure that events and weddings can still take place. Certainly, expectations and plans may have had to be be altered and adjusted due to COVID-19, but as they say “the show must go on.”

Cheers, WEDDINGS+EVENTS

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Parag II

Publisher / Managing Editor Ronda M. Parag

Executive Art Director Chad Vorbrich

Contributing Photographers Victoria Angela Rabecca Cruz Justin DeMutiis Kristin Fizur Hey It’s The Lopezes Kara Larchenfeld Elisha Orin Photography Limelight Photography The Photography Concierge Dafne Spencer

Publishers of: Tampa Bay METRO™ Orlando METRO™ METRO Weddings + Events™ METRO Health + Wellness™ METRO Home + Design™

Ronda M. Parag Publisher/ Managing Editor

@TampaBayWed

Tampa Bay Weddings Magazine is published bi-annually by Metro Life Media, Inc. at 3404 S. Omar Ave., Tampa, FL 33629 (813) 835-7700 Fax (813) 835-7700 • Copyright 2021 Metro Life Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of, or use without written permission of the publisher, of editorial, pictorial or design content in any manner is prohibited in the United States. Tampa Bay Weddings Magazine, ™ are trademarks of Metro Life Media, Inc. Advertisers represent that they are authorized to use submitted materials.