Candles + Calla Lillies: These Drapery-Filled “I Do’s” Were an Ivory Dream

School’s staring, so this is a reminder to any students headed back to campus this fall: Keep your eyes (and your hearts) open, cause, if you’re anything like Ella + Eric, that meant-to-be moment could strike mid-semester ❤️📚

“I saw him at a college house party in 2014 and thought he was so cute,” says Ella of the first time she laid eyes on now-husband Eric. “That night, we barely talked, but we exchanged numbers, and it took him a few years to finally text me.”

After nearly a decade together, Eric popped the question. “We dated for 8 years before he finally proposed to me at my family’s house in St. Petersburg, Florida!” bride Ella says. And how’s this for timing: “We got married exactly one year later to the day!”

Ella + Eric’s Tampa, Florida wedding was a glorious, glowy spectacle that we are so excited to show you. The candlelight? The drapery? The dress? Our jaws are on the floor.

“I knew I didn’t want a traditional wedding,” Ella shares of where she started with her wedding vision. “I immediately knew I wanted to lean into draping and candles rather than big flowers. As soon as I started looking for inspo online, my Instagram feed was flooded with great ideas that I could pull from, or twist and turn ideas. I wanted to blend vintage with modern.”

So the couple collaborated with event designers from MMD Events and planners from Parties A La Carte to take the event spaces at The Vinoy Resort + Golf Club and transform them into a draped + dreamy candlelit wonderland. Floor to ceiling swaths of fabric, clusters of glowing candles, and a radiantly cloud-like all-ivory color palette — the romance level was so immersive + otherworldly. 

So settle in and let these wedding photos from Abby Jackson Photography transport you to a land of ivory lace + calla lilies, of filigree and flickering wicks, of contemporary-meets-timeless bliss in a sea of shimmery silver + pearly white.

“My dress was from J Andreatta. Very untraditional,” Ella says, “short in the front and long in the back. I wanted something unique and unexpected, but that felt a bit vintage.”

“I saw the dress online right after I got engaged and knew it was the one. It matched the decor so well.”

You NEED to see our collection of stunning high low wedding dresses if you’re loving Ella’s short-yet-voluminous bridal silhouette.

So into the way this sweeping lace-edged wedding veil emphasizes the bubble-hemmed wedding dress’s shorter front and epic train.

Can we take a moment to appreciate how MASSIVE these calla lilies are? Bloom Shakalaka really did make this minimalist bouquet idea into a maximalist floral moment.

These lilies have us thinking of the super-unique horizontal bridal bouquet at this intimate New Orleans wedding. Another example bridal flowers making an unforgettable statement.

“Eric wore a traditional tux with a white jacket from Suit Supply,” Ella remembers of her husband’s timeless look. “The buttons on his tux were mother-of-pearl, which felt perfect for a Florida wedding.”

A Candlelit Ceremony

We have Swag Decor to thank for this wedding’s absolutely breathtaking drapery.

Nuage Designs added a modern metallic gleam with this ivory + silver guest seating.

Believe it or not, this radiant ceremony set up is just the beginning of the candlelit magic that Lova Candles brought to Ella + Eric’s day.

String players from Sweet Harmony were on hand to serenade the bride + groom as they made their way into the ceremony.

Wondering what to walk down the aisle to? We’ve got a collection of wedding processional song ideas for every couple’s vibe that you’re definitely going to want to scroll through.

Omg, those pearl cluster wedding earrings! Pearls really are *the* perfect accent for any timeless-meets-modern bride.

White isn’t just for brides, btw! We love it when the grooms like Eric opt for white wedding day looks. This eclectic Austin wedding, this transcendental Burning Man wedding, and this mirage-inspired desert wedding are some of our other fave examples.

The Brand-Newlyweds

Golden Hour created Ella’s elegant bridal updo, and we’re obsessed. LOVE those wavy face framing pieces.

If you’re rocking a short-hem wedding gown then a pair of show-stopping wedding heels is a must, and Ella absolutely understood the assignment. Shop these lacy ivory pointed toe pumps from Betsey Johnson for a similar look!

The entire vibe of Ella + Eric’s day is reminding us of this drapey, candlelit wedding in Miami — another unforgettably glowy situation.

We can’t help but notice when brides crush it with the pre-wedding mani and get a set of perfectly bridal wedding nails like Ella did.

Our Advice
Don’t be afraid to break tradition or blend it with what you want — our guests loved the unique details of our wedding. We got so many compliments.

A Draped + Dreamy Celebration

Love the fact that Ella + Eric leaned into the local southeastern horticulture by anchoring this sophisticated, minimalist reception seating chart in bundles of twisted sweetgrass.

OK, bold claim: the spritz is maybe *the* perfect wedding cocktail. Refreshing? Not too boozy? And SO pretty in a glass? A perfect way to start off the celebration.

J.Thor Productions absolutely deserves an award for this lighting.

Decora Event Rentals decked out the reception with a perfect mix of modern and antique-inspired details.

Crisp ivory linens from I Do Linens and velvet elements from Over the Top Rental Linens gave the event its multi-textured textile feel.

“No doubt, my favorite details were the draping, candles, and long tables,” says bride Ella.

The columns, the tassels, the ornate molding? Is it just us, or does this entire reception space feel like a wedding cake?

Morgan Hunter Desserts + Design STUNNED with the Old World ruffles + rosettes of this five-tier white wedding cake.

Vintage wedding cakes like Ella + Eric’os are having such a moment, and we really do love to see it.

Tampa Bay DJ Company provided the tunes that kept the happy couple and their friends + fam on their feet on this gorg custom b+w dance floor from Letz Dance On It.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
a Mozart song, unsure of the name 
Recessional
"Roses" by Chainsmokers
First Dance
"Dancing in the Moonlight" by Jubel

“We projected old black and white wedding pictures on a draped wall to honor our family members,” say Ella + Eric of their meaningful nod to their families’ love stories. “It was a super cool, unique touch.”

Our Favorite Memory
It’s hard to pinpoint a moment, but we did a T-shirt toss, which got the crowd going. The T-shirts had caricatures of our faces on them. The DJ / band combination was incredible. Eric and I had the best time dancing together all night long.

Later in the reception, guests grabbed a slice from these amazing custom wedding logo pizza boxes. Such a fun, personalized touch!

Pizza truly is the king of all wedding late night snacks. 🍕🥰

How sweet is this nod to the old polish wedding tradition of “oczepiny”!

Congratulations, Ella + Eric! Wish we could stay forever in the dreamy, drapey candlelit magic you created for your wedding day! All the best from GWS!