The Don Cesar St. Pete Beach Proposal | Abby & Stephen

April was a very exciting month for me! I had the honor of planning and styling THREE proposals in one week. It was a month of pure excitement. I am excited to share Abby & Stephen’s proposal with you today but check back for the other proposal soon.

Amanda Zabrocki, the photograoher Stephen hired was kind enough to recommend me to plan all the details of the proposal. I am so glad she was there to capture the joy of the evening.

I planned a picnic on the beach near the beautiful Don Cesar Hotel where Stephen popped the question. I provided charcuterie, prosecco, beautiful blooms and a cozy setup for them to celebrate their brand new engagement. I didn’t know much about Abby so I used my best judgement and chose a blue and pink color palette to accent the iconic pink hotel. I was so happy I went with my gut because Abby said it was so her (always my goal) and they even dressed in those colors. I love when that happens!

Beyond the actual proposal, the best part of the night was when their friends and family ran out to ambush them with hugs and congratulations. I had no idea they had been hiding and it made me emotional to see them run out in pure joy to hug them. It was one of those moments were I feel so lucky to get to facilitate these important milestones. It’s such an honor.

Stephen, thank you for hiring me to spoil Abby so you could pop the question. You two are such a joy and it was a complete honor to make all of this happen for you. I wish you two all the best and happy planning!

If you are local to the Tampa area or are planning to travel here to propose I would love to help you plan out every detail. Email me to get on my limited schedule.

Photography: Amanda Zabrocki Photography | proposal design, planning florals and styling: Amber Veatch Designs | Location: The Don Cesar |

Calee & Jake | St. Pete Beach Proposal Planner

Last fall I was happily surprised to get a phone call from Amberly an Atlanta based wedding planner and owner of Wrenwood Design I met through a business conference group. She was working with a sweet couple who wasn’t officially engaged yet but the groom to be wanted to plan an extra special proposal for his then girlfriend while they were on vacation in St. Pete. it was so sweet of Amberly to think of me to help pull it off. Planning proposals is my jam and I love every minute of it. We got on a group email and talked through details. I realized immediately how much Calee meant to Jake and how special he wanted things for his girl. It was heartwarming.

As I often do when planning a proposal for people I’ve never met, I did a little internet research on Calee. She has an amazing Instagram account and I now follow her regularly, you should too! I pulled a lot of the colors right from her Instagram feed and that was my inspiration for the entire aesthetic of the beach picnic proposal. I saw a lot of burnt orange, teal and neutral colors, talking my language for sure!

I put together a design plan and sent it over to Jake. Once he approved I went to work sourcing each detail. I spotted those two large, burnt orange pillows and the rest came together from there. I knew I wanted to incorporate some dried florals and wood elements too.

I always like to provide a celebratory snack to give my couple after their proposal wether it be a charcuterie board and champagne or in Jake and Calee’s case, milk and cookies! Jake knows how much Calee loves macaroons too so I decided to make them a cookie grazing board. Not just any cookie grazing board though, a gluten and dairy free cookie board. I ordered the gluten and dairy free macs and cookies from Baked & Whipped by Bri and she was amazing to work with.

Proposals are always full of so much nervous excitement for me. There are so many variables that have to align just right in order to pull it off. I give the person who is proposing a Google Earth location and loose timeline. They almost always come at a different time and end up slightly off from the location because they have to force them to come to a specific spot at a specific time and it rarely works out just right. It always makes me laugh. In this case, we were hiding behind the rental beach chairs and I see Jake and Calee start to walk up from the left. From the right is a HUGE family of about 30 getting ready to walk directly in the path of the proposal and block Ashley, the photographer from getting THE shot. I ran Baywatch style (not really but like to think I looked like that, ha) screaming at this poor family to to go the other way without saying proposal so I don’t give it away. It’s always something, haha.

Jake & Calee were absolutely giddy around each other and it completely made me giddy too. They have the kind of infectious love that makes me absolutely love my job. Calee was completely shocked by all of it-the proposal-the ring-the picnic-the whole setup. Her reaction was adorable and it was a complete honor to help Jake give her the fanfair she deserved. Jake, thanks for trusting me to make all of this happen. I wish you two all the love and happiness together.

If you are traveling to the Tampa Bay area and need help planning a proposal or just want a styled picnic I would love to help you. Contact me to get on my calendar.

Photography: Ashley Izquierdo Photography | Proposal Planning, design & styling: Ambr Veatch | Cookies and macaroons: Whipped & Baked by Bri

Simone & Michael | Armature Works, Tampa, Florida Wedding

Simone and Michael are a kind, genuine and humble couple. They completely light up around each other and have an infectious joy. It was very clear that they have so many people on their lives who love and support them and it was sweet to witness. When I first met with them to talk through their design and wedding details they had a few solid ideas of what they wanted but a lot of the design they put their trust in me for. I had a lot of fun creating a unique color palette and playing with a lot of textures. I am always thankful when my couples put their trust in me and I love how their details came together.

They started their morning getting ready at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay where they also had their first look and some of their portraits taken. They had a large wedding party with so many sweet friends and getting the portraits taken care of before the ceremony really helped with the timeline.

I loved the elegant fabric and color of the bridesmaids dresses, they all looked stunning.

Simone rode to the church in a beautiful vintage Rolls Royce.

It’s tradition for the bride and groom to walk into the church together and I LOVE that! Simone and Michael had a beautiful Coptic Orthodox ceremony.

Simone and Micheal had their cocktail hour in the Social Room and the reception in The Gathering Room of Armature Works. It’s no secret that I love designing weddings at Armature Works and it’s mostly because the variety of locations they offer, all full of character and can easily be styled to make your own.

We styled the seating chart by alphabet and placed it in the cocktail hour space so guests had an hour to find their seats. This helped a lot transitioning into the reception with the 240 person guest count.

For the reception design we wanted to incorporate a fun color palette of mauve, blush, burgundy, ocean blue and navy blue with copper accents. I shared the design with Kaleidoscope Floral and they, per usual knocked it out of the park. I love the variety of the centerpieces they designed and the way they incorporated copper fern leaves into the design. To bring in texture, we used velvet linens and it was perfect with the color story of florals and copper details. I think all of the colors complimented the brick walls and wood floors perfectly.

For the favors and a way to incorporate copper into the tablescape, Simone and Mike gifted their guests with a copper mug with a thank you tag attached.

I loved how the floor plan had a mix of round and long feasting tables. They had their wedding party and family at the feasting tables and they sat at a sweetheart table. It was a great use of the space in The Gathering Room.

For dessert, there was traditional wedding cake with mini doughnuts and an ice cream sundae bar. It was a big hit!

There were charicature artists available for the guests to enjoy and the guests loved it.

For the grand exit we lined the sidewalk of Armature Works with guests and shot streamer poppers at them as they walked through. I love this option because the streamers stay attached and it makes clean up a breeze. It also makes for such fun and celebratory photos!

Simone and Mike, it was a complete joy to work with. Thank you for putting your trust in me. Wishing you all the best!

Photography: Love & Covenant | Planner & Designer: Amber Veatch Designs | Ceremony: St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church | Reception: Armature Works | Florist: Kaleidoscope Floral | Catering: Puff N’ Stuff Catering | Linens: Over the Top Rental Linens | Rentals: The Reserve Rentals | Bridal Boutique: The White Closet Bridal Company | Bridal Gown Designer: Justin Alexander | Hair & Makeup: The Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group | Reception Entertainment: Grant Hemond & Associates, Inc., DJ Adam Hensleigh | Accomodations: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | Transportation: Ambassador Limousine | Mini donuts and sundae bar: Sundays Ice Cream | Favor tags and place cards: Minted Weddings | Seating chart graphic design: Remi Design Co.

Brooke & Alan | Morean Center for Clay Wedding, St. Pete, Florida

Like a lot of my couples I met Brooke and Alan at a local coffee shop to go over the details of their wedding and get to know them better. I can easily say I knew I would get along with these two just fine immediately. Brooke and Alan are an adorable couple together. They have a sweet dynamic and the best senses of humor. They are fluent in sarcasm and dry humor-my people! I loved the way Brooke put her trust in me completely from the start and throughout the whole process I really loved working with them.

Brooke and Alan opted for a first look before the ceremony and it gave them the opportunity to have some amazing portraits at different locations, a beautiful park and The Dali Musuem. They had their ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at Morean Center for Clay and this would have made taking all the portraits there during cocktail hour a little challenging. I love that their portraits have a beautiful variety and were not rushed.

The ceremony was held on one end of Morean Center for Clay and there was plenty of room for it because they had a great guest count of about 75. This was one of my favorite ceremonies because the words they chose were so meaningful and loving but also absolutely hilarious so their great senses of humor could still shine. I mean, Alan Rick Rolled Brooke during his vows and it was just as epic as you could imagine. My husband Kyle, Veatch House Woodworking constructed an amazing backdrop for the ceremony and I love how it turned out. Not only did guests use it as a backdrop for the photo station but Brooke and Alan took pieces of it and turned it into their headboard. How is that for some intentional and meaningful design?!

They opted to do a streamer cannon exit for after the ceremony and I highly encourage the trend of an “exit” after the ceremony. This is truly the most exciting portion of the whole day because they are just now officially married as opposed to when everyone is several drinks deep and exhausted at the end of the wedding. Also, if you opt to not hire your photo and video team to be there until the last moments of your wedding this still gives you exciting photos of an “exit”. I am hoping this becomes more of a thing.

The cocktail hour was held outside where guests enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvre. We also used the big metal railroad door to hold the seating chart. This turned out to be my favorite detail of the wedding and maybe one of my all time favorite details ever. We had the guests names and table number calligraphed on paint samples and fastened to a magnet that we stuck on the door. I love giving guests an entire hour during cocktail hour so they can find their seats and their isn’t a “traffic jam” on the way to the reception.

Brooke and Alan wanted their reception to be understated and elegent and definitely not stuffy and I think we acheived that beautifully. They decided to serve BBQ at their wedding to keep things casual but it was still done with class. I loved the overall vibe and guests did too. We used a mix of long feasting tables and round tables to give some visual interest and a cozy feel in the industrial space. The wedding was held in November so the design and color palette was inspired by the time of year too.

Brooke being a talented dancer and Pure Barre instructor HAD to surprise Alan with a flash mob with her wedding party in friends in on the secret. They did the wedding danced to “Forever” by Chris Brown just like they did at Jim and Pam’s wedding in The Office and it was again, EPIC. I told you these were my people, didn’t I?

At the end of the night Brooke, Alan and their family thanked us over and over for all we did and were just so kind. Brooke mentioned she would love to help me on weddings if I ever needed help. I didn’t think she was actually serious but she offered again a few weeks later and she has been Team AVD ever since, bringing her positive attitude and big muscles to our wedding production days and I am so thankful!

Brooke and Alan, being your wedding designer and planner was such a treat. You two together are such a ray of sunshine in this world. Thank you for putting your complete trust in me and allowing me to be a part of your day. I wish you guys all the laughter in fun for many, many years!

Photography and Videography: Namesake Creative | Planning, design & flowers: Amber Veatch Designs | Venue: Morean Center for Clay | Rentals: A Chair Affair | Linens: Linens by the Sea | Hair: Tyler Ashley Hair | Makeup: Lasting Luxe | Stationery and Calligraphy: Grace Reclaimed | Gown: Martina Liana | Dress boutique: CC’s Bridal | Catering and bartending: 4Rivers | Cake: Publix | Transportation: Jolly Trolly | Entertainment: DJ Adam Hensleigh, Grant Hemond & Associates | Wood ceremony backdrop: Veatch House Woodworking

Amanda & Leo | Tampa Bay Styled Elopement

WIth all that is happening with social distancing and a lot of unknowns, elopements and intimate weddings have become more popular. I have heard a lot of professionals in my industry proclaim that while everything may not go as planned, love is not cancelled. I absolutely love that sentiment. I also believe that you should celebrate your new marriage however you feel comfortable and for some, that means with no or very little guests. I have always loved and respected that and feel that although a big guest count is not your preference it does not mean that you should have to sacrifice by doing all the work or aesthetically. I have always offered intimate wedding and elopment planning and design and I want to remind everyone of that. No matter what your wedding scenario, I am happy to help you celebrate.

Amanda contacted me to help style and plan her elopment and I am glad she did. I believe I had just a few weeks to plan, which I take on as a fun challenge. With intimate weddings or elopements I find all of your vendors for you and source your details so that you don’t have to worry about it. For Amanda I sourced all of her rentals, booked hair, makeup, photography, an officiant and created her florals. I also setup her picnic, cake AND donuts (a girl after my own heart) and or course, a celebratory champagne toast. I absolutely love how it all came together and they still got to celebrate the best way for them, win-win!

Kind words from Amanda: “Absolutely amazing! I contacted Amber for an intimate wedding/elopement with a month notice. She did AMAZING. From the flowers to the food at our picnic, it was all perfect and everything we asked for. Every little detail was perfect.”

Thank you, Amanda and Leo for trusting me with your special day and being there to witness it all meant the world to me.

Planning, design, styling, florals: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Jordan Weiland Photography | Hair & Makeup: Lasting Luxe | Rentals: Wish Vintage | Location: Philippe Park | Dress: Lulus | Cake: Publix | Officiant: It’s Official Weddings 

Abby & Eric | Davis Island Yacht Club Wedding

A year ago I had the priveledge of working with Abby & Eric to design and plan their wedding. Happy anniversary Abby & Eric!

Eric grew up going to the Davis Island Yacht Club regularly as several of his family members sailed. It was an important place to him and his family and I love that Abby and Eric decided to get married there. Meeting with them to plan their wedding at DIYC I was blown away by this hidden gem in Tampa on Davis Islands. The location has 360 degrees of stunning views of the bay.

Abby started her morning getting ready in their home and I love that she did that. I am sure it was a much more relaxing experience.

Abby and Eric decided on a first look and portraits before the ceremony. This allowed them to have their portraits taken at an alternative location that they wanted on the islands and I love how their portraits turned out.

Their ceremony took place on their lawn, followed by cocktail hour in the pavilion, dinner upstairs, then dancing and celebrating back downstairs in the pavillion. There was a lot of dancing and celebrating thanks to their band, Reverend Barry and the Funk.

In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Abby and Eric had a table full of cakes with different flavors from Wright’s Deli, a Tampa favorite. It was a big hit!

Photography: Marissa Moss Photography | Full Planning & Design: Amber Veatch Designs | Venue and Catering: Davis Island Yacht Club | Hair and Makeup: Style Hair & Makeup | Flowers: Events in Bloom | Wedding Dress Boutique: The White Closet Bridal | Stationery: Minted | Signs: Remi Design Co. | Linens: Over the Top Rental Linens | Cakes: Wright’s Deli | Band: Reverend Barry & The Funk

Erinn & Brendan | Sunken Gardens and Morean Center for Clay Wedding | St. Pete, FL

Erinn & Brendan are a fun-loving couple who love to laugh. They had a gorgeous Jewish ceremony at Sunken Gardens followed by a brief intermission at Green Bench Brewing ( I told you they were fun) then a cocktail hour outside of Morean Center for Clay followed by dinner and dancing inside. This will always be one of my favorite weddings because of the stunning and playful details and the incredible color palette. Erinn is a University of Florida alumni and I love how the color palette was a play on that but done so tastefully. Erinn hired me for event management and was honored to step in and make her vision come to life. Erinn did a very thoughful job selecting her details. Which ones are your favorite?

Erinn and her father had a sweet and emotional first look.

Erinn surprised Brendan with their pup and sorry not sorry for the obsessive amount of photos. Their dog is one of the cutest I have ever seen and I have a soft spot for doxies.

A personalized thank you note was written for each guest at each place setting and it is one of the most thoughtful details I have ever seen. It was so sweet to witness each guest notice their name and then feel so thought of while they read their note.

They had a Polaroid station setup for guests to take photos and leave them in a guest book for them. I am loving this trend right now.

Vendors: Ceremony Venue: Sunken Gardens | Reception Venue: The Morean Center for Clay – St. Petersburg, FL | Planning/Event Management: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Laura Foote Photography, Brittany Bishop Photography (2nd shooter) | Floral: 2 Birds Events | Stationery: Old City Calligraphy | Rentals: A Chair Affair, Treasury Rentals | Linens: Linens by the Sea | Bartending: Hub Tap, Spunky Spirits | Entertainment: DJ Cory Barron & Co. | Videography: Life’s Highlights | Hair & Makeup: Lasting Luxe Artistry | Bridal Gown: The White Magnolia

Rachel & Trey | Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete Wedding

I distinctly remember my first consultation with Rachel and Trey over the phone. Just like all of my couples, they were so sweet and supportive of each other’s specifications. I could tell they were a touch nervous about planning a destination wedding in St. Pete while they were in Atlanta but I reassured them that we could totally make it work.

After talking to Rachel for five minutes I knew she was my people and we would work great together. She is a color designer in the fashion industry (what?!) and had a very specified design plan that she dreamt up herself. She spoke my language when she shared her color palette with me and how she wanted to see her vision come to life. I mailed her linen swatches once I narrowed down the options because textiles were obviously very important to her and I wanted to include her in that process. I could very much relate to Rachel as I was this kind of bride. I knew just what I wanted but needed help executing my vision on my wedding day. It was truly an honor to help Rachel & Trey do just that.

Since Rachel and Trey were not local I had a few meetings and venue walk- throughs with Rachel’s dad Jack, a first for me. Rachel raved about her dad so I knew he would be great but I was not prepared for how loving and supportive of a father he is. In our first meeting, Jack walked up with his notebook, pen and pages of bullet point notes to discuss with me. It was probably one of the sweetest things I have witnessed. He was there for Rachel and wanted everything to be perfect. He also raved about how amazing his future son-in-law is and how happy he is for the two of them. So to say I loved being a part of this wedding is a massive understatment.

The ceremony was a traditional catholic ceremony at the absolutely stunning, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown St. Pete. The details of the church are exsquisite and Rachel looked stunning in her Monique Lhuillier gown and veil.

Their cocktail hour was held in the Statue Garden at the Museum of Fine Arts. The reception was split between three spaces at th museum and I loved the seperation and element of surprise that took place throughout the night.

During cocktail hour, we snuck Rachel and Trey into the reception space for a private reveal. I highly recommend every couple does this to get a private moment together to take in all the details of the wedding that they worked so hard to plan. I love that these photos captured their great reactions.

After cocktail hour, guests were ushered through the gallery and into the Membership Garden where a romantic and still life-inpired dinner was waiting for guests. The reception was an absolute dream with string lighting, feasting tables, whimsical florals and fresh fruits and I need more receptions like this in my life.

After dinner there was a celebratory champagne fountain (a fun trend I am seeing a lot of lately) with several heart-felt speeches that had everyone (me included) with huge grins and tears of joy. Guests also enjoyed delicious cake by Hands On Sweets.

Next, we moved guests into the ballroom for dancing and partying for the remainder of the night. The ballroom had more string lighting and several beautiful vignettes of lounge furniture for guests to relax between celebrating on the dance floor. A live band brought the party and guests had a great time celebrating Rachel and Trey.

Rachel changed into a gorgeous grand exit dress.

Rachel and Trey, it was an absolute joy to get to work with you throughout the planning process and on your wedding day. Wishing you all the best!

The talented people who made this happen:

Photography: Kaity Brawley Photography | Event Management: Amber Veatch Designs | Event design: Bride | Hair & Makeup: Lasting Luxe | Acommodations: The Don Cesar | Florals: Kaleidoscope Floral | Rentals: Tampa Lights, Reserve Vintage Rentals | Ceremony: St. Mary our Lady of Grace | Reception: Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburgh | Catering: Olympia Catering | Bar: Lundy’s | Cake: Hands On Sweets | Transportation: Jolly Trolly and Olympus Limo | Gown and veil: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s shoes: Manolo Blahnik |Bridesmaid and flower girl dresses: BHLDN | Stationery: Blissfully Planned and Anna Oh | Music: Rusty Trumpet Band | After party: The Canopy

Rachel and Trey’s wedding was also published in The Knot Florida magazine, pages 126-129.

Monica & Matthew | Academy of the Holy Names and The Birchwood Wedding

Monica and Matthew’s wedding was on the most beautiful February afternoon in Tampa and St. Pete. They got ready at The Birchwwood in St. Pete. One of my favorite details of their day was that Monica wore a family heirloom, her mother’s wedding dress also worn by several women in her family. She surprised Matt by slipping into a new dress to dance in for the remainder of the night.

Monica decided on a first look with her dad then Matthew. They also brought in their adorable dog for some portraits. It was helpful to have almost all of the portraits taken with the entire wedding party and immediate family before the ceremony.

They had a beautiful ceremony at Academy of the Holy Names where Monica attended school. If you attended school there you can have your ceremony in the chapel and I love the sentiment of that.

Their cocktail hour was on The Birchwood’s rooftop, The Canopy and the weather was absolutely perfect. Guests were welcomed downstairs for the reception where they found their seating assignment on a hand written thank you note.

Monica and Matthew wanted an elegent and classic black tie wedding reception and the ballroom at The Birchwood was the perfect location. Their colors were a classic black and white with blush accents. I love the way they incorporated their dog, Harper into their decor too.

For entertainment they chose Phase 5 band. They are talented and definitely started the party. Their dance floor was packed and the guests had a great time celebrating Monica and Matt. At the end of the night, they chose to do a last dance and guests threw rose petals and toy airplanes (Matt is a pilot) at them while they danced. It was a sweet way to end the night.

Monica and Matt, you were such a gracious and kind couple and I am thankful I got to work with you. I wish you all the best!

*cell phone photo

Design & Planning: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Everence Photography | Videography: Sunshine City Films | Hair & Makeup: Femme Akoi | Florals: Sarah Rose Events  | Entertainment: Phase 5 Band  | Custom seating assignment wall: Veatch House Woordworking | Acommodations: The Birchwood | Ceremony: Academy of the Holy Names | Reception location: The Birchwood | Cake: Bayside Bakery | Transportation: Martz First Class, His & Hers Limosine

Lauren & Keith | Anna Maria Island, FL Wedding

Lauren and I go way back. We attended the same middle and high school. Lauren was always so genuine and kind. She would always compliment my doodling or class projects and encouraged my creativity. We have kept up through social media and when I moved back to the area I ran into her. She graciously complimented me on my work and promised to call me if/when she gets married. Cue Keith, a sweet guy from the United Kingdom who completely adores Lauren. When I first met with them to start the planning process they welcomed me into their home and the joy they had when they were around each other was completely infectious. That carried on througout the planning process and into the wedding day. My face hurt from smiling on their wedding day.

Just like all of my clients, Lauren & Keith are busy professionals. They placed their complete trust in me to guide them through the design and planning process and it was a complete honor to take over for them.

They chose a venue with an amazing location, directly on the beach on Anna Maria Island. The ceremony took place on the beach and the guest seating and dance floor was placed under their open air covered structure. I loved that everything was all in one close spot and all with a gorgeous view of the beach.

As a favor, Lauren and Keith had us place a fan, sunglasses and a custom made Anna Maria Island tote bag at each chair. The majority of guests traveled from the UK or up north and this was such a practical gift for everyone to have. I always think going the practical route for favors is the way to go.

One of my favorite moments of the wedding was getting Lauren’s nieces and nephew down the aisle. They were absolutely adorable and it was sweet to witness how sweet of a relationship they have with their aunt.

They wanted the design to be beach-inspired but not cheesy and that never happens on my watch anyhow. We decided to create a very clean, minimal and serene design. Lauren also has a bit of a bohemian style so I incorporated that in the flowers and it was very cohesive with her dress.

I loved designing the lounge and photo booth bus area for guests to relax and have fun during the cocktail hour and reception. I wanted it to have easy access from the ceremony and to the guest seating areas but with the beautiful backdrop of the beach too.

For the table names, Lauren and Keith decided to name their tables based on important streets to them in the Tampa area.

Lauren’s niece drew a picture for Lauren when she got engaged and Lauren proudly displayed it on the cake table. Such a sweet sentiment that truly speaks to the amazing aunt that she is.

Lauren and Keith, may you continue to make each other smile so much your faces hurt, support each other through everything and have a lot of fun adventures together. Thank you for trusting in me to create your wedding day. Happy anniversary!

Design, planning and florals: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Laura Foote Photography | Acommodations: Waterline Resort | Hair & Makeup: Style Hair & Makeup | Venue and catering: The Sandbar | Entertainment: Jason Tally, Grant Hemond and Associates | Rentals: Reserve Vintage Rentals/So Staged | Photo booth: Sweet Shot Photo Booth Bus | Cake: Publix | Paper goods: Inkk Print | Table names: The Treasury Rentals

Tropical Inspired Bridal Shower Brunch Design

I got some great feedback on my Instagram that I should share more of my design plans. That is something I would love to do more. I thought it would be fun to show you my design for the tropical bridal shower brunch I styled compared to the finished product. I recently started using Canva to create my design plans, this was the first one actually. My goal is to create a more visually appealing design plan for my clients.

Each one of my clients get an extensive design plan like this that outlines inspiration for what the event will look like. The photos I use in my design plans are not mine and aren’t intended to be copied, just serve as inspiration so my clients are able to better envision the design. The goal for creating this design plan is to get on the same page as my client and build trust so they know I understand their overall design goals and plan for their celebration. Let me know what you think and what more behind the scenes you would like for me to reveal.

Design, styling and florals: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Foto Bohemia Photography | Venue: Haven | Furniture rental: So Staged | Welcome sign, place cards and decor: Treasury Rentals | Cake and cookies: Hands On Sweets

Tropical Inspired Bridal Shower Brunch at Haven Tampa

A few weeks ago I was hired to design a bridal shower for my client’s niece from out of town. She didn’t live in the area and put her trust in me to help honor her niece, never something I take lightly. All I knew was that Taylor would be getting married at The Breakers in Palm Beach (swoon). Between that and the landscaping that surrounded Haven’s patio, where the shower would take place I was inspired. My goal was to create a modern, tropical bridal shower brunch with soft colors instead of the typical bright tropical colors.

Treasury Rentals created a beatiful welcome sign and I added tropical leaves behind it. I created a date jar activity for guests to give date night ideas to Taylor.

I chose a simple lounge area from So Staged for Taylor to open her gifts on and it really helped tie in the color and design elements of the shower.

It’s no surprise that I created one long table because I love the idea of everyone socializing together and sharing brunch. I chose a crisp white linen with a texture to it and selected the napkins in a fun banana leaf pattern. The restaurant’s cool, modern chairs were the perfect addition to help create a clean and modern look. I created floral arrangements with tropical greens and soft blush and white blooms. Truthfully, the blush or “summer crush” anthurium as they are named was a big inspiration for my whole design. They almost look like they are painted ombre and it was the perfect addition to my arrangements to communicate a soft, tropical palette. I added in coral bud vases which helped pick up the blush florals.

I had Hands On Sweets create two different types of custom cookies and the cake. As a favor, guests were given a beautiful cookie with an R on it, Taylor’s current and new last name initial. Hands On Sweets also created amazing palm print cookies and a delicious cake with a blush ombre effect just like the anthurium flower. I added tropical greens to it and it was the perfect, subtle cake for the shower. I styled it on a gold bar cart instead of a large cake table.

Design, styling and florals: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Foto Bohemia Photography | Venue: Haven | Furniture rental: So Staged | Welcome sign, place cards and decor: Treasury Rentals | Cake and cookies: Hands On Sweets

I took a poll on my Instagram and the results were that a lot of you wanted to see more of my design process and my design plans. I started implimenting a new process for my design plans when I designed this shower and I would love to share it with you. Check back in here to see this design plan so you can see my inspiration and how it played out in reality.

Matthew & Carolyn | Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete Wedding

Matthew is a dear friend of about 20 years that is like family to me. He actually officiated my wedding so when Matt proposed to Carolyn I was excited to offer my help with their wedding. The best part of the whole process was the time that I got to spend with them and get to know Carolyn better. I loved the way they checked in and supported each other throughout the planning process.

They didn’t want their wedding to be fussy or over the top. They wanted it to be classic with subtle touches of green and gold, a little nod to their alma mater, University of South Florida. It was also important to them that their guests have a lot of fun. I think we checked all the boxes. Their band, Actual Bank Robbers was an absolute blast with all the best songs from high school, hello boy bands and Eminem. I highly recommend them if you want a packed dance floor.

I loved Carolyn’s stunning BHLDN gown and think the delicate crown of greenery was the perfect touch. I loved that her girls wore mismatched but coordinating dresses in greens and golds. They looked beautiful!

They had their ceremony and reception at The Musuem of Fine Arts, St. Pete and it was beautiful. I love the portraits Verance Photography took around the incredible artwork and other stunning architectural details that the museum has to offer.

I created their seating chart with help from Veatch House Woodworking by incorporating different types of greenery on cards made by Remi Design Co. I think it was the perfect way to add in the elements of greenery that they wanted. It was Matt & Carolyn’s idea to name their tables after well-known and talented artists and I think it was perfect for an art museum wedding.

Matt and Carolyn, you two are a great pair and I loved that I was able to help celebrate you both. Wishing you many years of happiness.

Design, Coordination and Florals: Amber Veatch Designs | Photography: Verance Photography | Venue: Museum of Fine Arts | Catering: Olympia Catering |Cake: Publix | Dress: BHLDN | Entertainment: Actual Bank Robbers | Rentals: Treasury Rentals

Michelle & Luis | New Year’s day Wedding | The White Room, St. Augustine, FL

Michelle and Luis are a sweet couple who loves big and have such an excitement for life. They love to go to football games and travel together and the way they look at each other in adoration is one of the sweetest things I have witnessed.

On a chilly and windy day in St. Augustine, FL Michelle and Luis wed on New Years Day. It was such a sweet way to start my new year and fifth year in business! They had the most joyful and fun celebration and their friends and family were there to party! They had their ceremony in Villa Blanca at The White Room which happens to be one of my absolute favorite indoor ceremony spaces. This was the rain plan and it did not disappoint. Their reception was in the grand ballroom at The White Room and I can't wait for you to see how bright and fun their design was.

Michelle had a great direction she wanted to go in, design wise. She knew her color palette, magenta, black, white and gold. She wanted a nod to New Years but not too cheesy. She was inspired by Anthropologie and the bright and fun color palette she chose. She needed my help to hone in on what she wanted and create a design plan to create and impliment a vibrant and cohesive wedding.

I worked with Jade Violet Flowers to curate the look she wanted with florals and they knocked it out of the park with all of the challenging hanging floral installations Michelle wanted. Other than the gorgeous florals, the paper goods were my favorite design element because they brought in a lot of the floral elements too. I love how the bright blooms really helped bring out the colors she loved.

We brought in a fun black and white strip to tie the napkins that served as the pop of color and I love the fun and playful design that it brought to the table. The gold accents in the chargers and candles were a nice accent to the table too. 

M&L had an awesome selection of mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes instead of traditional wedding cake and I LOVE how it turned out. The guests really loved the selection and I have to warn you these little cakes are addicting and will change your life because they are so delicious!

Michelle and Luis were one of the most loving couples I have ever worked with. They can't help but be giddy and smile so big when they are together and working with them to bring their vision to life was an honor. I wish you two much more happiness and love together.

The awesome vendor team: Wedding Design + Styling: AVD | Photography: Nicole Piper Photography | Videography: You & I Pictures | Coordination: Shannon Waters, The White Room | Venue and Catering: The White Room | Flowers: Jade Violet Flowers | Linens: Connie Duglin | Gold chargers: Set Event Rentals| Invitation suite, seating chart: By Invitation Only Ink | Table numbers: The Treasury Rentals | Bundt cakes: Nothing Bundt Cakes | Cake topper: Cuts of Confetti | Dress: Top, BHDLN Skirt, White Magnolia Bridal Collection, Jacksonville | 

Jessica & Chris | Armature Works Tampa Wedding

When Jessica first emailed me to inquire she mentioned that she and Chris have been each other's date to over 30 weddings. That blew me away for a few reasons. The first being wow, they have a lot of friends and two, being how great that they have so much fun celebrating their friends together and now it's their turn! When I met them at Bartaco for our first planning meeting over tacos and margaritas I was not surprised by the amount of friends they have and all the fun they have together. These two are so fun, no wonder they have so many friends! They are loving and always up for a good time. I loved that each meeting we had and every email correspondence they took on planning as a team and it was heart warming to witness. Wedding planning can be stressful but it is also a great strength training exercise between you and your partner and Jessica and Chris passed with flying colors. 

Jessica and Chris got ready and did their first look at Le Meridien in downtown Tampa, a beautiful boutique hotel that is in a transformed courthouse. The steps were the perfect location for their first look and portraits and Cathy Durig did a beautiful job communicating their timeless and classic style. 

It was easy to pick up on their style right away, they had great style. They love classic and timeless elements with modern flairs. We stuck with a palette of whites, with gold accents and a little classic navy here and there. I love how timeless all the details turned out. 

One of my favorite details were the seating arrangements that were custom made by my husband, Kyle (Go give him a follow on Insta @VHwoodworking ) Each guest had a card with their name and table assignment. I love that it doubled as beautiful decor and the greenery and candles added by Jana of Events In Bloom made it that much more amazing! It was located in between the cocktail and reception space that was separated by draping to section off the different areas. 

We loved working with Jana of Events in Bloom becuse she totally got our vision of classic white flowers with touches of greenery. I love that Jana used the high ceilings of the space to inspire her design of the tall centerpieces. They were perfect in the Armature Works Gathering Room. This was the first time I got to design in the Armature Works Gathering Room and it was a treat. If you have been following along around here for long enough you know I love venues with historical elements with exposed brick, wood floors and a lot of natural light being high up on the list. 

Jessica's family is from Peru and I love that she honored that heritage in a few ways. Her family performed a beautiful Peruvian dance and served their favors, Peruvian candy in beautiful bags from Peru. 

Jessica and Chris, Thank you for trusting me throughout the planning and design process. You were so fun to work with! I loved witnessing the beautiful way you support one another through life. I know married life will be a smooth transition for you as you continue to be supportive, loving and have lots of fun together. I wish you all the best! 

The vendors who made it all happen: Photography: Cathy Durig Photography | Wedding Design and Planning: Amber Veatch Designs | Venue: Armature Works | Floral Design: Events in Bloom | Entertainment: Bay Kings Band | Catering: Puff N' Stuff Catering | Cake: Publix Greenwise | Linens: Over the Top Rental Linens | Chairs: Elegant Touch Chairs | Dress: White Magnolia Bridal Collection | Hair & Makeup: Style Hair & Makeup | Accommodations: Le Meridien, Tampa 

Meg & Ralph's Clearwater Beach at Sand Key Wedding

They say when you know you know and after a brief consultation over the phone with Meg I knew she was my kind of person. Her best friend is one of my friends, Lauren Grove of my favorite wedding blog, Every Last Detail. Lauren has a gift of connecting people and she knew what she was doing when she sent recommended Meg to contact me. Then I met Ralph and the fun began as we all worked together to create their travel, adventure, Disney, coastal-inspired wedding. I quickly picked up on the fact that they just loved to get out and enjoy life and don't take things too seriously, it was an infectious vibe and everyone needs more of that in their life. Being able to showcase that in their wedding was a real treat.

 Meg and Ralph love to travel, love the outdoors, the beach especially. They love going to Disney together, in fact that is where Ralph asked Meg to marry him (squeal!). Yes, some of the elements were a challenge to bring together and incorporate but I love a good challenge. We brought in their love for Disney in a lot of the signage, using quotes and through their favors. To incorporate their love of travel we used suitcases and globes as decor. Inspired by the water, the color palette was serene with soft monochromatic shades of blue and natural driftwood elements. It was so calming and care-free but still intentional and stylish. 

The color palette 

“I honestly don’t know what I would have done without Amber. She started off as a wedding designer and planner, but quickly became a friend. She is incredibly kind and immensely creative, and on top of that, she’s organized, accommodating, and helpful. Our dream wedding became a reality because of the partnership we developed with Amber. Amber has phenomenal taste, and she’s so good about adapting her skills and expertise to her couple’s needs and wants, and that is what makes her AMAZING at what she does. I didn’t have to worry about anything on our wedding day because Amber and her team had it all covered: from a detailed timeline to the set up and breakdown to coordinating with vendors, she managed everything. And the floral arrangements she created were so beautiful they literally brought tears to my eyes. We highly, highly recommend working with Amber Veatch Designs!” -Meg ”

Meg and Ralph wanted a venue that could help them incorporate the outdoors and wasn't too stuffy. I planned a day filled with venue visits and they were hooked right away at stop one, Clearwater Community Sailing Center. With this view, I was on board with their enthusiasm. We loved that it was outdoors but covered and in February the weather was absolutely perfect here.

When guests arrived to cocktail hour they were greeted by two tables, a sign in table and a name card table. Guests signed a globe in lieu of a guestbook to tie in their love for travel and provide a keepsake to display in their home. The name cards calligraphed in gold were displayed in pieces of sea glass. Each table name was a place that Meg and Ralph had visited together and loved. 

At the end of the night Mickey Mouse shaped rice crispie treats were served as a favors.

Meg and Ralph, I wish you many more adventures together. Working with you was an absolute dream and honor. 

The vendors who made it all happen: Photography: Rachel Burkhart Photography | Full Planning, Design & Flowers Amber Veatch Designs | Acommodations: Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key | Ceremony location: Sand Key Beach | Reception location: Clearwater Community Sailing Center | Bride's dress: The White Magnolia Bridal Collection | Hair and Makeup: Lasting Luxe | Transportation: Clearwater Jolley Trolley | Calligraphy and signage: Old City Calligraphy | Ceremony arch, farm tables, furniture: The Reserve Vintage Rentals | Driftwood chargers and candles: The Treasury Rentals | Driftwood chargers: Set Event Rentals | Entertainment: Matt Winter Band | Catering and cakes: 4Rivers | Mickey Mouse treats: Sweetly Dipped Confections

Madilyn's 10th birthday Photo Shoot

My absolute favorite little girl is ten years old today. It seems so surreal to me. Not just because all parents say that but because ten years and nine months ago if you were to tell me that my life would be this amazing I would not have believed you. For those of you who don't know, Kyle and I were surprised with Madi while we were in college. Until Madilyn came along I hated surprises, me naturally being the planner and all. We were 22 and pretty terrified, at least I was. Kyle has been calm and optimistic since the moment I met him. Madilyn is the most kind- hearted, fearless, athletic and creative girl I know. She always has a positive attitude, always wants to help and is wise beyond her years.      She is the best big sister to Brody, always practicing patience, kindness and playing along with his little games. She never complains about school despite all of the extra work she has to put in. Because of that, Madilyn is my hero. Parenting her with Kyle for the last ten years has been a complete joy and honor. I had no idea how much love, happiness and entertainment (she is the life of the party everywhere she goes) she would bring to our lives. 

This year we decided on an experience instead of a party, so we are going away for the weekend. I wanted to do something that would make her feel loved and celebrated and I didn't want to ever forget her at this age. So, I booked Laura Foote of Laura Foote Photography, to do a little photo shoot with Madi. Since Madilyn was two she put her creative input into my events and photo shoots and I wanted to give her a turn to creatively direct a shoot for herself.

We worked together to create a color palette, overall theme, wardrobe and look. She wanted it to be playful and fun and in her favorite colors. As any kid would, she wanted to incorporate a lot of candy and sweets too. She got her hair done the morning of the shoot and we decided to do the photo shoot on the white brick walls of Hyde Park Village and the ice cream shop, Astro at Armature Works. They turned out to be the perfect backdrops! 

I love how it came together and that she felt like a celebrity. Mostly, I love that these photos capture Madilyn's true fun and sassy personality and her adorable little freckles. I will truly cherish these photos forever. Of course Brody had to sneak in a couple of the photos too and I love the photos we got of them together. 

For everyone who has supported and loved us since the moment we announced Madilyn's arrival and the new friends who have come along the way to be part of our tribe, thank you! To my favorite daughter Madilyn, may you always feel empowered, supported, loved and celebrated by your family. We love you and are incredibly proud of the person that you are. 

Photography: Laura Foote Photography | Cake and macarons: Dough | Candy on cart: Party City | Location: Hyde Park Village and Astro Ice Cream at Armature Works Dress: Nordstrom Hair: Dry Bar, Tampa

Brody's Ghostbuster Birthday Party

Brody turned four in November and we sure did celebrate. My husband is beyond obsessed with Ghostbusters. It started young for him and continued on through adulthood. In fact, for our wedding I had a proton pack groom's cake made for him. I joke that his reaction to the cake reveal was full of way more excitement than our first look but it is so true. Our kid's have obviously been introduced to Ghostbusters and in the last year Brody's obsession with it grew and grew. I always let my kids pick their party theme and Ghostbuster/fireman theme it was. 

I found the perfect venue when my friend mentioned there is an old firehouse turned community center in our area. Sure enough, it was perfect. If you haven't seen the original Ghostbuster movie, their headquarters are located in an old firehouse so it made perfect sense. 

The decor- Kyle insisted that each child would have their own proton pack so I put him on that task. He hit it out of the park by hand crafting each one out of shirt boxes, card stock, paint and glue. They took a lot of time but they were a big hit. I decided to use them as a design focal point too and I love how it came together. I also picked up a lot of decor on November 1st when the Halloween stuff went on sale. I scored and awesome ghost light up sign at Target for $10 and Dove chocolate candy with ghosts on the wrappers. I went simple with the cake and cupcakes and ordered them at Publix. Everything else, including the vintage fire truck was supplied by the community center, conveniently enough!

The activities- We supplied green slime (play-doh) for the kids to play with and that was actually a lot more popular than I thought. We also had a marshmallow man creation station (spoiler alert: the kids just ate everything instead). The kids had the most fun climbing on the vintage fore truck. We also provided green silly string with triggers on them (from Dollar Tree) and the kids had a blast having a silly string war. 

The kids had a great time and Brody was so excited to have a Ghostbuster/fireman birthday like he wanted. 

Photography: Brittany Lee Photography | Venue: Firehouse Cultural Center | Design, Styling, Decor: Amber Veatch Designs | Desserts: Publix | Candy: Party City (and Target) 

Christopher & Sarah, A Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort Proposal

Last week Laura Foote contacted me asking if I was available to style a Disney proposal. I wanted to squeal and do a backflip but instead I replied back with a "YESSSSSS!!!!!" I got in contact with Christopher who was so excited to ask the love of his life to marry him. Laura and I loved working with Christopher because he had the best energy. He could not wait to pop the question and just wanted everything to be so special for Sarah. He gave me a few sentences about Sarah and with a little bit of Instagram research (some call it stalking but, whatev) I knew exactly how I was going to style their Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort proposal.

I knew Sarah was a first grade teacher. That had nothing to do with the design but my love and respect for teachers motivated me to create something so special for her. Thanks to Christopher I knew she loved Kate Spade, tulips and her favorite colors were purple and black & white. I had five days to make this happen and I had the best time bringing everything together. I like to think that my super hero is understanding what my client's style is and creating a cohesive design from that skill and this time was no exception. My other super power is being able to pull off this design in less than a week. I went with a crisp black, white and purple Kate Spade and Kansas State University-inspired setup. I included custom flower boxes with purple tulips and a custom chalkboard sign that included a quote that was special to them. I had custom donuts made from Remi's Minis and the toasted with some prosseco in Kate Spade champagne glasses. 

Christopher & Sarah spent the rest of the day celebrating their engagement at Epcot so as a gift I had custom shirts made by Ciera Christine Accessories. 

What was sweet for me about this proposal is that Laura and I brought our kiddos along. She watched Madilyn and Brody while I set up and I got to hold McCartney while she photographed. Then, we explored the resort and Disney Springs. My kids were so excited to get to see the proposal and they helped me carry all the things. 

Sarah and Christopher, we were so honored to be included in this special milestone and we wish you all the love and happiness together. 

Photography: Laura Foote Photography | Design, Styling & Florals: Amber Veatch Designs 

Planning on  proposing to the love of your life? Contact me today so I can style the perfect proposal for you. 

7 Tips for a Happy Marriage Seven Years Later

This Sunday I will be celebrating seven wonderful years with my sweet husband, Kyle. When they say time flies when you are having fun they weren't lying. (You can view our wedding here) A main reason that I love my career in the wedding industry is because I truly believe in marriage and respect how amazing it can be. When I hug my couples and send them off at the end of their wedding I am genuinely excited for the future they get to share with each other. Marriage takes work though. You don't say "I do" and continue on with business as usual. I don't claim to be a marriage or relationship expert but as I reflect on these past seven years I am happy to share some things that I think keep our marriage happy. 

Photography by Debra Eby Photography 

1. Enjoy every moment I can thank the police department for this one. As challenging as it is to be a police wife I truly believe it has helped our marriage. For the first five years of our marriage Kyle worked five days on (night shift) and five days off. We didn't really see him for the five days that he was working. On those five days he wasn't working we were intentional about our time with each other. Even if you do have the same schedule and you do have the privilege of seeing your spouse regularly take the time to be intentional with the time you spend together. 
2. Don't leave each other angry I can also thank my husband's career for this one. Unfortunately, I don't really know for sure that Kyle will return home for work. Not to be morbid but the same goes for anyone, it's just something we are more aware of. I try to make a very conscious effort to resolve any conflicts that we have before he leaves. Much like the popular advice of not going to bed angry, don't harbor bad feelings, it's just not worth it. See also #3. 
3. Communicate effectively I could go on and on about this one. I am reluctantly part of several mom groups on Facebook and these moms constantly complain about how their husbands won't read their mind and do exactly what they want. Wouldn't that be great? Yes, but it's not real life. You don't have to yell, or be sassy just say what it is you need to say. Also, don't bring up past grievances, just make it simple. Honestly, I like to know when I am doing something that hurts someone I love and I want to fix it. I think it is also important to not hold things in. Have an honest but loving dialogue with each other. Don't fight just to fight and don't fight just to win. See also #4
4. Check in This one is huge, guys! Life gets busy, we get into our routines and activities and next thing we know we have been married for seven years. Make it a point to check in with each other. Is what you are doing working? How can you be a better team mate to each other? If what you are doing isn't working, come up with a better game plan. See also #4
5. Date Continuing to date each other is important. It helps you take the time to check in with each other and gives you the opportunity to have intentional time together. You don't have to go to a five star restaurant, the majority of our date nights include making cocktails at home and watching a movie after the kids go to bed. The point is, take the time to reconnect without distractions. 
6. Compromise My husband is the compromise champ, bless his heart. Go to his favorite restaurant even though you don't care for it, go to the movie he wants to see even though you'll have nightmares for years (sorry Kyle I just can't) and be happy about it. 
7. Support each other Have each other's back, cheer them on in their little and big wins, celebrate the successes, like and comment on their social media posts and share their blog and Youtube videos, make dinner or throw in that load of laundry when they've had a long day. You guys are on the same team in life, how can you make life better and easier for them?

Photography by Jenn Hopkins Photography

I am one lucky gal to have a husband that gets these things. I fall short in a lot of these areas, but I know that when I make a conscious effort to do these things we are happier and I wish that for you in your marriage too.