A Look Back at our Tropical, Art Deco, Cuban Themed, Havana Nights Speakeasy, Florida Wedding
After 8 years together as boyfriend and girlfriend and two years engaged, Mike and I finally had our dream Florida, Spring wedding day on April 8, 2023 at The Vinoy Hotel, only steps away from where we got engaged, pre COVID in 2019. Our wedding was delayed obviously due to the universal pause we all experienced, coupled with the hotel undergoing a five-star renovation, which further delayed things.
I had this blog post drafted up shortly after wedding but for some reason, haven’t been able to post it until now — our anniversary one year later. Maybe I just didn’t want to let time slip away an face the fact that day went by in the blink of an eye.
We had no hesitation about where we wanted to get married as The Vinoy Hotel was the first place we ever stayed in St. Pete, and a big reason why we felt compelled to move to the sunshine city. Mike also proposed on the St. Pete Pier overlooking the hotel, so we’ve just always felt a romantic connection to the area (plus it’s where we started our lives together, only minutes from our current home). The fact that one year has passed since the most incredible day of our lives is mind blowing to me, but then again I can’t wrap my head around that fact we’ve been together for more than 10 years.
I look back on this day with joyful tears in my eyes every time, as it was the perfect encapsulation of our love and families and cultures and just all OUR vibe. The Havana nights, speakeasy, party of our dreams with the people we adore most in the city we love so much and call our forever home. And at the hotel where we first stayed when visiting Downtown St. Petersburg and fell in love with the destination. Mike also proposed to me overlooking The Vinoy Hotel on the St. Pete Pier and from that moment we knew that was the place where we’d have our wedding some day.
Little did we know a global pandemic and five-star hotel renovation would hold us back 3 more years, but April 8, 2023 was the wedding of our dreams and worth any wait. Truly the best day of our lives, filled with so much LOVE, positivity, and incredible energy from those that matter most to us.
We wanted our wedding to feel like an immersive and personal experience that embodies our personal styles and vibes, while honoring our families and traditions. As I’m Cuban (and my mom and I did most of the wedding ideating), we opted for a Havana nights speakeasy wedding theme. We worked with the amazing, Taylor Falcon Events to bring our very unique, family-driven, vision to life.
Our vision came to life when we saw the “Fred’s Cellar” at The Vinoy Hotel, a speakeasy style cellar event venue, secluded from the rest of the hotel and event spaces, aside from the exterior patio connected to the area. Fun fact, Fred’s Cellar used to be the hotel’s luxe steakhouse, boasting a Great-Gasbyesque bar with marble walls and a very Art Deco vibe. We wanted to weave in my Cuban + Spanish culture which Mike has grown to be part of, so we thought a ‘Hava Nights’ speakeasy style wedding would be the perfect blend over intimate and over-the-top, while honoring my family and culture with a Latin twist, that still encapsulates the hotel and surrounding area.
We held our ceremony at The Vinoy’s iconic tea garden, with The Jazz Librarians and there amazing violinist providing the soundtrack to this perfect afternoon. My abuela was the flower girl and my stepdad walked me down the aisle, while Mike’s father Dave, officiated the ceremony, featuring a prayer by my mom. We wrote a vows, something I will always cherish, and Mike wrote a Spanish portion of his vows, surprising all of us with the tender gesture — especially my abuela and I.
While we worked with with an event rental company, many of the major pieces we used were found at second-hand stores and estate sales throughout South Florida, as well as tons of REAL Cuban boutiques in Miami (some pieces brought directly from Cuba!). This why we were able to blend pieces that felt personal with over the top additions that brought our speakeasy vision to life.
Non-traditional wedding ideas that we incorporated - I think our phone guestbook was easily one of my favorites from our Havana Nights Speakeasy wedding. 💍💃🏻🌴
The set up included a gorgeous vintage dial up phone that guests could pick up to leave a personalized message during our reception party. From old besties to new friends, my crazy uncle, and even a few sweet strangers - we laughed and cried listening back to the range of messages left during the evening on our audio guestbook. An immersive memento that brings us so much joy every time we listen! ☎️🤍
A few more of my favorite wedding planning ideas that we incorporated into the big day + weekend —
💍 Audio guestbook by @fetefone phone
💃🏻 Flamenco dancing from @vanessacerallo
🥥 Custom coconut bevs from @surfingcoconutami
💍 Father of the groom officiated + my mom read a prayer
🌸 Grandma was the ring girl
🤍 We opted for a private first look ahead of the ceremony - a moment we will forever cherish
🇨🇺 Domino seating chart
🍽️ Sweetheart table for us two + family style tables
🍾 Speakeasy tunnel entrance into reception
🎉 Welcome cocktail party instead of dinner + Sunday pool party instead of brunch
Some of my top planning tips:
Get the dress as early as you can!
Start the planning process as early as you can — your mental health will thank you!
Make it an experience and savor every part of the planning portion — you will never get this experience back and its worth marinating in your bridal journey!
Use your culture + family tradition as inspiration to create new traditions based on your new life together
Do you and what will make you and your partner happy (regardless of how big and small that may be)
Check out the wedding highlight video on YouTube and see below for some of our favorite photos from the day we cherish most! 💍💃🏻🤍🌴
