A Spring Wedding at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida

Inspired by their invitation suite, Alex Bernardi (29 and in advertising) and Chris Bernardi’s (30 and a restaurant server) spring wedding was all about creating a personalized celebration for their guests. Even their location was picked with this in mind. “We wanted a venue that would reflect us—not too serious, but still put together,” Alex says. They chose the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida, and took things a step further by filling the space with almost all DIY accents in pastel colors. The groomsman walked into their ceremony with pink rose boutonnieres that had shark handles to match the sea-worthy setting. Alex and her maid of honor crafted every one. The reception even had homemade centerpieces from the dollar store. Each table had a hand-painted copper vase filled with hand-cut pink roses. A copper bottle-topped table number stood beside it with gold polka dots on the mint card. Alex and Chris's day also had a few surprises. Before their sparkler exit, a pirate ship from a local tourist attraction passed by the aquarium and shot off a few canons. “It was unexpected and awesome,” Alex says. Life Long Studios captured every moment of their day, below.