Tampa Museum of Art Wedding | Abbey and Michael

Weddings

April 24, 2023

Abbey and Michael celebrated their love with a modern and chic Tampa Museum of Art wedding. With a large guest list and a blank slate for decor, I loved designing the space to have a warm and intimate feel. As their Tampa wedding planner, I was happy to bring their Tampa Museum of Art wedding dreams to life!

The Couple

bride and groom outside of Tampa Museum of Art

Abbey and Michael both grew up in Tampa and met as kids at St. Timothy Catholic Church. After they got engaged, they knew they’d get married at their home church because of how special it was for them growing up. It was truly such a full-circle moment for them to get married in the church that they met at and grew up in together!

Wedding ceremony at St. Timothy Catholic Church

The pair envisioned a chic and modern winter wedding reception at the Tampa Museum of Art. Their hope was that their friends and family could enjoy both the outdoor and indoor spaces at the museum.

Their ultimate goal was to create a warm and intimate environment, despite having a large guest count of 275.

Tampa Museum of Art Wedding Cocktail Hour on the Terrace

As one of the few waterfront wedding venues in Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art has a gorgeous terrace overlooking the city. The covered terrace offers views of the Hillsborough River, Curtis Hixon Park, and the University of Tampa, where Abbey and Michael did their first look and wedding party portraits.

Tampa Museum of Art exterior and terrace

Even though it was a chilly—by Florida standards—day, Abbey and Michael chose to host their wedding cocktail hour on the stunning terrace, and their guests loved taking in the views and fresh air.

The cocktail hour also made for the perfect time for guests to visit the art exhibits, too.

Designing a Modern Reception in the Tampa Museum of Art Atrium

Before Abbey and Michael’s wedding, the museum had just gone through a renovation. Since everything is so white and modern in the atrium, I knew I needed to use color to warm up the space and bring Abby and Michael’s vision of an inviting and intimate reception to life.

Wedding couple at Tampa Museum of Art wedding reception

I went with wintery hunter green linens and a floor plan that featured feasting tables. This made it feel cozy, even with the really large guest count. The florist used wintergreens in the floral arrangements and place settings since the couple wasn’t afraid to acknowledge that Christmas was just around the corner. The linens, floorplan, and floral arrangements created the perfect modern reception with warmth in the Tampa Museum of Art’s large atrium.

Tampa Museum of Art wedding in the Atrium

As guests entered the atrium, they found their seats at the feasting tables. I split the tables into sections with table numbers to ensure each guest could easily find their seating assignment within the long tables. I love how the smaller wintergreen centerpieces allowed guests to easily chat across the table without an obstructed view of each other. As the sun set, guests dined on a delicious meal from the museum’s in-house caterer.

Following the dinner, guests brought the dance floor to life with the help of the DJs. They only took a break from dancing to enjoy treats from the huge dessert display. Abbey and Michael knew they didn’t want to serve cake, so I recommended a large dessert station for their 275 guests instead. It was a big hit for their wedding guests, and everyone loved the variety of sweet treats, which included cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Looking to plan your Tampa Museum of Art wedding?

I would love to be your Tampa wedding planner and design a unique wedding for you! Find out more about wedding and event planning services by Alexa Kritis Events.