Real Weddings: Alyssa & Beau - The Rialto Theatre in Tampa Heights

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Alyssa Michelle Gill & Roger "Beau" Nolan Beaubien 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

When & where did you get married?
December 9, 2017 in Tampa Florida
Ceremony - First Presbyterian Church of Tampa (Downtown Tampa)
Reception - The Rialto Theatre (Tampa Heights)

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Is there any significance to the date or location?
As devoted football fans, we picked the first Saturday after football season! 
Beau grew up in Tampa (and his parents still live there), and it's where we got engaged and a city we both love. We wanted our friends and family to enjoy the weekend so a city that was easy to travel to, had lots of accommodations, a rich history, and good places to eat were a must! Plus there are so many vendor options. 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Tell us about your gown?
In high school I worked in a bridal boutique, so I was lucky enough to return home to Charlotte Bridal Boutique and search for my dress! I didn't have one dress in mind, but was open to trying on all different styles and designers, and Lynn - the owner, had picked out a large selection of options for me.  We had a short engagement so I knew I really needed to decide on a dress that day so I could order and get it altered in time. I have always loved the Casablanca dress line, and after trying on probably 20 dresses I had it narrowed down to two. My mom, sister, soon to be mother-in-law and sister-in-law and a few of my bridesmaids were all with me and we had a blast hanging out while I shopped. My sister, mom, and I all kept coming back to the same dress and at the end of the day it's the one I felt most beautiful in! Thankfully it came in two weeks before my wedding and didn't need too many alterations. I LOVED my dress! 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Describe your groom?
Beau is loyal, kind, generous, funny and a true southern gentleman. My favorite quality about him is that he points our family and friends towards the Lord. Most of my family would probably say their favorite thing is that he is a University of Florida Alum!

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

What traditions did you incorporate into your wedding day?
There were Southern traditions woven through our entire wedding! Monograms, friends reading our favorite scripture, a groom's cake, homemade vanilla extract as favors, toasts by our Best Man and Maid of Honor. But one of my most favorite traditions was a "Cake pull." My momma is from New Orleans, and the cake pull tradition stems from an old Victorian tradition of "ribbon pulling." Ribbon laden charms are placed on the bottom layer of the wedding cake and ladies who the bride would like to honor are given the opportunity to pull a charm from the cake right before it's cut. Each darling prophetic charm has a specific meaning and is believed to reveal the fate and bestow good fortunes or blessings on the gal who pulled it. I also had something old (my engagement ring and wedding band were Beau's great aunt's rings), something new (a gorgeous wedding dress!) something borrowed (my veil was my new sister-in-laws), and something blue (my Mom sewed a piece of my late Granny's blue dress in a heart under my gown. While she couldn't be at our wedding in person, she was definitely their in spirit!) I also had a six pence in my shoe from my Mom. Lastly, while we could not do the traditional "Bury the bourbon" because we were planning from a different city - we had our own twist... my husband and one of his groomsmen built a bourbon fountain that flowed continuously throughout the evening. After our first dance, we toasted each other and kicked off our reception! 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Favorite wedding moment?
Right before the night was ending, we had Taco Bell delivered to the reception. Every year on Valentine's Day Beau and I go to Taco Bell, so it was a fun surprise to incorporate into the wedding! Tied with that memory, was seeing all our family and friends cheer for us at the end of our ceremony when we were announced, for the first time, as husband and wife! 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Detail your flowers for us? 
Perfection! I specifically chose our reception venue because it was a blank slate. I wanted to bring in my own vendors, and dream up the design from top to bottom. Although we were getting married in December, I didn't want dark colors for our wedding, I jokingly say "white on white" is my favorite color - so our wedding was every shade of neutral there is. Soft pinks, peaches, ivory, white, grays and lots of luscious greens. We were not having a seated meal, so with no place settings on the table, there was plenty of space for various vessels full of eucalyptus, kale, garden roses, hydrangea, ranunculus, and peonies all surrounded by crystal candlesticks and tea lights. The Rialto is known for it's stunning rustic, industrial wall in the back of the theatre where we hung floral hoops to accent the vintage furniture we had staged alongside of these gorgeous lantern rentals from PCF. Our welcome sign had a garland of greens that tied everything together from the centerpieces to the gift table. Our bouquets were just as amazing- unstructured and ethereal.  I received so many compliments on them and the pictures of me and my bridesmaids with our bouquets are some of my favorites.  

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Describe your day in one sentence?
Our day was full of all our favorite people, in one of our favorite cities celebrating our commitment to each other and most importantly the Lord. 

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Best advice for a bride to be?
Everyone says it, but the day goes by so quickly. Make sure you soak in every second! While our wedding was very traditional in some ways, we didn't follow "all the rules" of a traditional wedding. We wanted the day to be a reflection of us as a bride and groom and wanted our friends and family to feel just as loved and celebrated as we did! ​

Annabeth Kierspe Photography

Vendor Kudos
Photographer: Annabeth Kierspe Photography
Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church (Downtown Tampa)
Reception Venue: The Rialto Theatre (Tampa Heights)
Flowers & Decor: Port Charlotte Florist
Vintage Lounge Furniture: The Rialto
Rentals: The Chair Affair
Cake Artist: Family Friend
Grooms Cake: Publix
Bridal Gown: Charlotte Bridal Boutique
Suits: Joseph A. Banks
Bow Ties: High Cotton
Hair:  Jessica Roberts, Salon Loft
Make Up: Make Up By Marissa
Bartender: Bar Luxe
Caterer: Lynn's Catering of Tampa
Late Night Caterer: Taco Bell