NICOLE + PATRICK STEP INTO THE LIMELIGHT | THE DON CESAR | ST. PETERSBURG, FL

Romantic. Elegant. Modern.

Nicole & Patrick began their courtship in San Francisco in 2014. Thanks to the magic of a little app called Hinge, they matched and were excited to meet each other! After going on a few dates, while the spark was there, the timing just wasn’t right...

Fast forward 3 years: Patrick was browsing Facebook one day and saw that it was Nicole’s birthday. He remembered how much he enjoyed getting to know her in 2014 and was sure there was more to explore around a potential relationship, so Patrick decided to put himself out there and sent her a message. Much to his delight, Nicole quickly replied and said she would love to reconnect. Soon after their “second first date”, Nicole & Patrick both knew that they had found their life partner. :)

Nicole & Patrick had been working with their close friend and jewelry designer to create Nicole’s engagement ring together, so Nicole knew that something was happening. Patrick had mentioned that he wanted to take Nicole to the River Cafe, which was where Nicole’s family had taken Patrick for a special and memorable dinner during his first trip to New York. Nicole was obviously very excited and frantically tried to anticipate when and where the proposal would happen. Despite her best efforts, Patrick surprised her with a sweet and beautiful proposal at home, and Nicole eagerly said yes! They went on to celebrate their engagement with a lovely dinner at the River Cafe.

Nicole loves Patrick for his kindness, intellectual curiosity, and thoughtfulness. Patrick always knows how to make Nicole feel loved and appreciated; he regularly surprises her with flowers and makes her coffee every morning. Throughout their relationship, Nicole and Patrick have been dealt with no shortage of difficulties, yet have tackled each challenge as a team, supported each other every step of the way, and emerged stronger.

Patrick loves Nicole because she always makes him smile. To this day, Patrick still gets butterflies when he looks at Nicole, and he is constantly reminded how lucky he is to have ended up with a girl as beautiful as her. Nicole is caring, sweet, silly, passionate, loyal and authentic. Nicole always finds little ways to make Patrick feel appreciated, the most special of which is by leaving little love notes for him to find around the apartment. She is Patrick’s partner in crime, together they can tackle any challenge in front of them, and the future is bright!

Together they enjoy:

Traveling and adventuring together
Going to the park with our puppy Maya
Staying active through biking, hiking, etc.
Trying new bars and restaurants

Patrick and Nicole currently live in NYC, but always knew that their wedding would take place in Patrick’s home state of Florida. For their wedding, they both envisioned a waterfront venue near Patrick’s family’s home in Bradenton. After officially deciding on a destination wedding in Florida, they agreed that a venue overlooking the water was an absolute must. They also wanted something more formal than a beach wedding, yet more relaxed than a black-tie event. Patrick and Nicole both felt the Don CeSar strikes that perfect balance; they loved the idea of a romantic ceremony in the Courtyard, followed by a reception on the South Terrace with stunning views of Tampa Bay. The hotel is also perfect for their out-of-town guests given its historic exterior combined with a modern and newly renovated interior. Lastly, they selected a neutral color palette to tie their wedding theme together, given its timeless look and feel.

The wedding party’s attire closely aligned with their wedding colors and theme; the bridesmaids wore long, champagne-colored gowns and the groomsmen wore blue suits with champagne neckties. Nicole wore her dream wedding dress, which combined traditional wedding gown features, such as lace, a long train and veil, with a flattering silhouette and plunging neckline.

Their favorite part about their wedding was spending time with friends and family from so many different parts of their lives. Their wedding guests traveled from all over the US, including NY, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. They could not wait for friends from different phases of their lives to come together for a beautiful evening filled with love, happiness, and laughter. They love connecting people and it was fun and rewarding to see high school friends, college friends, family and other important people in their lives come together as one people in celebration. The little details and overall ambiance created an atmosphere where guests felt overjoyed, exuberant, connected and relaxed.

Lead Photographer | Rebecca Zoumberos
Associate Photographers | Gabe Caldwell