Lisa & Tyson's Don Cesar Wedding | St. Pete Beach, FL
Let’s be honest, on wedding day there’s so many moving parts there’s always something that doesn’t totally goes as planned. Lisa & Tyson had two full curveballs in one afternoon and somehow ends up more magical because of it. Their wedding day at The Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach's iconic "Pink Palace," had double rainbows, a fire alarm, and one of the best sunsets I've photographed as a Tampa Bay wedding photographer. But more than any of that, it had two people who have clearly built a beautiful blended family and could not stop smiling about it.
Getting Ready in the Don Cesar Penthouse
Lisa and Tyson were staying in the penthouse, so Lisa and the girls got ready there. The view from up there is amazing and it’s private, so we had all the views to ourselves from up above and for first look Tyson's reaction the moment he turned around and saw Lisa fully ready is hands-down one of my favorite moments from the entire wedding, he clearly adores her and is so sweet and funny!
This wedding was extra special because it wasn't just a couple getting married, it was a family coming together. Lisa's daughter and Tyson's son and daughter made up their entire wedding party, and having their three kids standing up there with them made every part of the day feel even more meaningful.
When Florida Weather Had Other Plans
They'd planned a beach ceremony, because of course you do when you're getting married at the Don Cesar. But Florida had other ideas, and the forecast forced the ceremony indoors. Thankfully, the hotel's backup ballroom space was stunning in its own right. the florals and ceremony chairs looked incredible under the room's chandeliers, and honestly, you'd never know it wasn't the plan all along.
Lisa's son walked her down the aisle, and one of the couple's best friends officiated the ceremony, which made the whole thing feel exactly as personal and warm as it was meant to be.
While the couple was at cocktail hour, I was photographing reception details the beautiful florals, their cake, and a view from the room that was honestly one of the best I've shot at a St. Pete Beach wedding. It had been raining earlier in the day, and when I looked out the window, a full double rainbow had appeared over the water. The team at Coastal Coordinating and I pulled Lisa and Tyson straight from cocktail hour so we could race outside and catch it before it faded. Those few minutes turned into some of the most unexpected, breathtaking photos of the day.
Then, just when we thought the surprises were over, someone pulled the fire alarm. It turned out to be nothing more than a drill, but the timing could not have been more perfect, right as everyone was being evacuated, I got the couple outside and down to the water for sunset portraits. What could have been a stressful interruption turned into a stunning, golden-hour photo session that neither of us saw coming.
After all that, Lisa and Tyson got to do exactly what they came for. dance, eat, and celebrate with the people they love most, with GHA Mobile DJs and DJ Jason Tally keeping the party going all night. Watching the two of them, their kids, and their friends and family let loose on the dance floor was the perfect close to a day that kept us all on our toes. These two could not have been happier, and it showed in every single frame.
Congratulations, Lisa and Tyson, thank you for letting me be part of such a wild, wonderful, rainbow-and-fire-drill kind of Don Cesar wedding.
Wedding Vendor Team
Venue: The Don Cesar
Planning & Coordination: Coastal Coordinating
Florals: Iza's Flowers
Hair & Makeup: Beauty Marked
DJ: GHA Mobile DJs
Looking for a Don Cesar wedding photographer for your own St. Pete Beach wedding? Get in touch — I'd love to hear about your day.