Non-denominationl wedding ceremony St. Petersburg Archives

On December 27, 2014 I officiated Megan and Chris’ Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum Wedding in St. Petersburg. Megan and Chris had just moved to the St. Petersburg Florida area wanted to start their new life together married. Since many of their close friends and family where going to be in the area for the holidays they decided to have a small wedding the Saturday after Christmas.

Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum

Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum is a BEAUTIFUL hidden area right near the Vinoy in St. Petersburg. It’s nestled in between palm tree and garden so you no one can see from the road or the beach. Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum can be rented for weddings through the City of St. Petersburg for only $30!!! You can bring in chairs, arbors, and decorations as you wish. But it really is a beautiful tropical spot that doesn’t need much decorating.

Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum wedding ceremony.

On Megan and Chris’ wedding day the weather was awesome. Cool and warm and sunny. There were about 35 guests in attendance. Megan and her bridesmaids came in on a horse drawn carriage.

Megan arriving to her Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum Wedding

Her Dad helped her down from the carriage and walked her down the isle. It was lovely. Chris and Megan were so happy and so giggle. Their nerves made them silly and giggle throughout the entire ceremony but they were having so much fun we continued on. After they kissed the guests blew bubbles as they walked down the isle together. It was very pretty. Everyone in attendance was pleasant and Chris and Megan were a joy to work with.

If you’re looking for a St. Petersburg area wedding but don’t want to do a beach be sure to check out Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum.

On Saturday Oct 18th, I performed Amanda & Joey’s wedding at Sunken Gardens in St Petersburg. This was their destination wedding. Amanda’s parents & a few of Joey’s family members were present at the wedding. Sunken Gardens is such a pretty place for a wedding. All the garden greenery, plants, tropical birds, waterfalls, and flowers really create such a beautiful setting for a tropical garden wedding. They didn’t want a beach wedding and after a great deal of research Amanda knew Sunken Gardens was where she wanted to be married.

It was a perfect day for a wedding at Sunken Gardens in St Petersburg

Amanda & Joey recently moved from Georgia to Northern Maine where she is from. They met when Amanda was doing an internship in Georgia. Joey is a police officer. They needed someone to assist with a job where they would be breaking down a door. This was going to be one of her internship assignments, and that’s how they me.

The wedding was in the North Lawn where a canopy of shade trees are located in the Oak Pavilion. The reception was going to be held late afternoon at Fresco’s in St Petersburg. Amanda & Joey had a very nice wedding. Amanda had prepared a music CD that she had timed perfectly for the wedding. Joey knew just what song and where in the song that he was to walk out and he knew just when she would be walking out. Her father looked emotional as he gave his daughter away. Amanda looked so pretty. She held a gorgeous bouquet, and just looked so elegant. They had a sand ceremony and invited guest to have a champagne toast and cake in the garden after the ceremony. The Cake Lady made a gorgeous cake with colorful flowers and palm trees frosted along the sides of the cake. After the toast guest were invited to enjoy Sunken Gardens and then meet them at Fresco’s for dinner later in the afternoon. Amanda & Joey were spending a few more days in Florida before returning to Maine.

Amanda e-mailed, and thanked me for everything.