A Sunken Gardens Tampa Wedding — Alba & Eli | Peony Wedding Co.
when alba first reached out to us, she told me she wanted something simple, joyful, and full of the people she loved most. no fuss. no over-the-top production. just her, eli, their families, and a space beautiful enough to let the love do the talking.
she found that space at sunken gardens in st. petersburg, florida — and honestly? it delivered in every possible way.
a secret garden in the heart of st. pete
if you haven't been to sunken gardens, let me paint you a picture: cascading walls of hot-pink bougainvillea, ancient oak trees draped in natural canopy, winding stone paths lined with tropical palms, and a garden that has been growing since 1903. it is one of the oldest roadside attractions in florida, and standing inside it on a wedding day feels like stepping into a living painting.
for alba and eli — a jehovah's witness couple with ecuadorian and mexican roots, a love for simplicity, and a guest list of 130 of their closest people — it was exactly right.
the details: yellow, white, and pure sunshine
alba's vision for the day was beautifully restrained. bud vases with yellow, white, beige, and blush flowers. tall cylinder vases with floating candles. a mirror welcome sign. a bar sign. woven baskets at the entrance filled with paper umbrellas for guests to grab on their way in — because it was may in florida, and she was not about to let anyone melt.
her bridal look matched the vibe perfectly: a strapless white gown, white slingback heels, a gold princess-cut diamond ring, a pearl bracelet, and the most joyful bouquet of yellow gerbera daisies, white roses, and carnations you have ever seen. sunshine in bouquet form, honestly.
eli showed up in a white dinner jacket and black bow tie — cool, classic, and completely himself. the black and white portrait of him in the garden? it belongs in a magazine.
the ceremony: short, sweet, and deeply meaningful
the ceremony took place outdoors on the garden lawn at 5:00 pm as the afternoon light softened over the trees. alba and eli are jehovah's witnesses, so their ceremony was intimate in the most beautiful way — more of a heartfelt speech about their relationship than a traditional script, followed by traditional vows and a closing prayer by their officiant, julio ruiz. the whole thing was about thirty minutes, which was exactly right for a may evening in florida.
alba walked down the aisle to a melody called "now we are one" — a jehovah's witness hymn that she had on loop — escorted by her parents, lorena and octavio. eli walked with his parents, eréndira and hilario. there was no wedding party, no bridesmaids, no groomsmen. just family, in the truest sense.
when it was over, they walked out under a canopy of string lights and tropical trees to "this will be" by natalie cole, surrounded by the biggest smiles i have ever seen on a crowd of guests.
cocktail hour: bites, bougainvillea, and golden hour portraits
while guests headed to the oak pavilion for cocktails, alba and eli snuck away with carolina martinez photography for portraits — and carolina absolutely delivered. every frame felt like a painting. the bougainvillea wall alone is enough to make any photographer want to stay forever.
guests enjoyed cocktails through sunken gardens' in-house bar service alongside bites from a fresh connection catering — a duo dip platter, spinach artichoke dip with crostini, and italian sausage stuffed mushrooms with provolone. the kind of appetizers that make people linger at the table in the best possible way.
the reception: a receiving line, a first dance, and a dance floor that never emptied
guests moved inside to the garden room — sunken gardens' stunning indoor reception space with windows overlooking the north lawn — and as they entered, alba and eli were right there waiting. rather than a grand entrance, they chose to do a receiving line, greeting each of their 130 guests personally as they came in. it was one of the most touching moments of the entire evening. you could feel how much it meant to both of them.
the grand entrance that followed was set to "accidentally in love" by counting crows — energetic, joyful, completely them — and the room erupted.
they danced their first dance to "i think they call this love" by elliot james — a song that felt entirely written for them — and then it was time to eat.
a fresh connection served a full buffet dinner: rosemary chicken with shallots, lemon, and capers, roasted pork loin with apples and onions, cilantro lime rice, elote corn cobs with queso fresco, creamy smashed potatoes, and a summer berry salad. followed by a mini dessert bar with key lime pie shooters, chocolate mousse, strawberry cheesecake, and bread pudding with caramel sauce. the guests were thrilled, and the compliments did not stop.
heli and alba gave the sweetest speeches during dinner — genuine, funny, and full of love. and then? the dance floor opened, and deejay chino int. — christian padilla — absolutely took over. i don't think anyone sat down for the rest of the night. christian read the room from the very first song and had every single guest on their feet, from the grandparents to the little ones. the dance floor energy at this wedding was something else entirely.
the night closed with a salsa last dance — "de sol a sol" by salserin — with every single guest called to the floor one last time. the perfect ending to a perfect evening.
the cake
a two-tier white wedding cake with floral buttercream detail from publix in bradenton — and the most adorable dog cake topper, because alba and eli are dog people and we love that for them. the black and white photo of the cake cutting is one of my favorite images from this whole gallery.
hair and makeup by emv beauty & co.
alba and her five girls were in the most capable hands with emv beauty & co. — emily mata velazquez and her team. alba's look was soft, glowing, and timeless — exactly the kind of bridal beauty that photographs beautifully no matter the lighting and still looks like you at the end of the night.
a note on sunken gardens
i have to be honest: sunken gardens completely exceeded every expectation i had for this venue. stacey fuqua and sarah carvalis and their entire team were extraordinary from the very first email to the very last moment on wedding night. they were communicative, kind, professional, and genuinely invested in making this day perfect for alba and eli. the space is breathtaking on its own, but it is the people behind it that make it truly special.
if you are dreaming of a tampa bay garden wedding, a st. pete outdoor wedding, or a venue that does the styling work for you — sunken gardens belongs at the very top of your list. i would bring every single couple i work with there without hesitation.
the dream vendor team
every single person on this vendor team showed up and gave it everything. alba and eli deserved nothing less, and they got so much more.
venue:sunken gardens | st. petersburg, fl
planning & coordination:peony wedding co.
photography:carolina martinez photography
hair & makeup:emv beauty & co.
dj & entertainment: deejay chino int. | @chinoeldeejay
catering: a fresh connection | st. petersburg, fl
bar service: sunken gardens (in-house)
florals & decor: family friend (diy)
cake: publix bakery, bradenton, fl
officiant: julio ruiz
are you dreaming of a garden wedding in the tampa bay area? peony wedding co. serves couples across sarasota, tampa, and st. pete — and we would absolutely love to be part of your day.
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