Elizabeth + Nick Step Into The Limelight | Hotel Haya | Tampa, FL

November 8, 2022 Rebecca Zoumberos

Happy. Engaged. Welcomed.

Elizabeth and Nick met the old fashion way online, and had their first date on 9/6/2018.

About three years later on September 17, 2021 they did an early morning 7-mile hike in Sedona, Arizona on Devils Bridge together. This was day two of an eleven day, three state trip. Elizabeth later learned that her super punny future hubby was pulling one over on her, when he asked if she wanted to go across the street to the Mescal Trail and find the “perfect rock” to sit on and eat their lunch. There were no rocks, barely any trees. Just clay and heat. Somehow, he managed to find a rock that they attempted to squish their bottoms on together. Like usual, he gave her one of his Airpods and he had in the other. He put on her favorite – Dierks Bentley. She was unpacking their lunch, and as they were eating their wraps, staring out at an incredible view, her rubbing his back – she got super teary eyed behind her glasses. “Living” was what was playing…she said to him something along the lines of, “I know you’re going to make fun of me, but I’m secretly crying behind my glasses. We have such an awesome life, look at what we’re looking at, and it’s only day two of our trip.” She proceeded to keep eating, and then he said, “do you remember that nuclear bomb I told you that I had on you?” She couldn’t forget... He had been talking about it for years. She thought she had done something really stupid or embarrassing and he recorded her or something. Nope. He gave her his phone (that was playing the music) and he said, “go to a video from our first date.” She said, “like the anniversary of our first date four years ago, like last week?” He said, “no, our first date.” She said, “the only picture we took on our first date was one I took of the veins popping out of your temple.” So she scrolled back to September 6, 2018 – and there it was...the nuclear bomb. She hit play, Dierks stopped – and the audio was now accompanying a selfie video of Nick, on his way to their first date. PS – Nick hates taking photos, selfies, you name it. He went on to say some things along the lines of, “I have no idea why I am doing this, but I am going on a first date with this girl Elizabeth, and something just feels different about it.” He went on to say a few other things too. So now clearly, she is crying even more behind her glasses. What she doesn’t see happening in her peripheral is Nick going in their backpack, pulling out a ring box, and plopping his knee in the dirt. Apparently, he asked her to marry him, and she didn’t hear it. She wasn’t able to process what was happening. Then she heard, “was that a yes?” So of course, she said yes!! They hugged, they kissed, and she only made him take one photo! Sweaty, no makeup, private. Couldn’t have been a more perfect proposal for the two of them.

They selected Hotel Haya in Ybor City for their wedding so they could show off their town, celebrate their union, and enjoy their family and friends. A killer venue with history and charm, and they love Ybor. It was a perfect setting for their Vintage Old Florida wedding. It was classy and elegant with dark greens, citrus oranges and magnolias.

Nick restored a 50-year old family ’65 Chevy that they took pics with, and used for their getaway.

The couple incorporated citrus decoupage oyster shells for each guest, dehydrated citrus for the name cards and florals. Cocktail napkins of their pups were on the bars with cigars.

Lead Photographers | Rebecca Zoumberos + Dafne Spencer