you made the best decision!
We’re absolutely thrilled that you’ve chosen Rad Red Creative to capture your special day! Welcome to the Rad Red fam—we're so excited to have you! We're confident you’ve made the perfect choice by trusting us with such a special moment.
To kick things off, check out our Welcome Guide, crafted with you in mind! We know planning a wedding can feel like a huge task (especially if it’s your first time), so we’ve packed it with planning tips, style inspiration, engagement session details, wedding timelines, and more. Keep this link handy—it’s your new best friend.
And remember, we’re here to help! With 300+ weddings under our belt, we’ve seen it all, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need some advice. We're just an email or a call away!
One last thing—never lose sight of what really matters: your love story. Your wedding day is all about celebrating togetherness, love, and family. Here’s to creating unforgettable memories together—cheers!
FACT: Planning a wedding can be stressful (shocking, right?). If it starts feeling like too much, give yourself a break. Step away from the planning for a couple of days, and when you come back, you'll be refreshed and ready to tackle it with a new perspective!
Pro Tip: Book your venue and top vendors first, especially if you’re tying the knot during a busy season. Since you're reading this, you probably already have a date, venue, and photographer/videographer secured (yay!). Next up, reach out to a planner, florist, and caterer—then the rest of the crew.
Another Tip: Don’t overwhelm yourself by contacting too many vendors. Stick to 3-4 options in each category—you’ll have enough to choose from without feeling buried in decisions.
And finally: Don’t DIY the big stuff! Focus your budget on what’s most important to you. If you’re going to DIY, save it for the little things.
YOU MADE YOUR WEDDING RAD
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YOU MADE YOUR WEDDING RAD ☺︎
TAMPA BAY’S TOP VENDORS
We have been shooting weddings for 12+ years and have worked with hundreds of vendors. So, let us help you weed out the bad apples and choose the best of the best in the Tampa Bay Area. Be sure to browse the website to see all the different styles to help decide which works best for your style and budget. If you need a recommendation for a type of vendor not listed here, just shoot us an email.
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Wilder Mind Events
Chantilly Chic Celebrations
Taylor Falcon Events
Coastal Creative
Confetti Events
Events by Angela
Blue Skies Events
Carefully Curated Events -
Tampa Bay DJ Co
Grant Hemond & Associates
Total Entertainment by Matt Winter
CNERGY Band
Breezin Entertainment -
Flower Child Florist
Arms of Persephone
2Birds Events
Marigold Flower Co
Iza's Flowers
Tailored Twig
Fancy Free Nursery
Monarch Events & Design
Bloom Shakalaka -
Treasury Rentals
A Chair Affair
Kate Ryan Event Rentals
So Staged
Posy Exchange
The Revel Co
Vivant Rentals
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The White Magnolia
Isabel O'Neil Bridal
The White Closet Bridal
Malindy Elene Boutique -
Jason Sowell
Pastor Heath Weddings
Sensational Ceremonies
Pride Wedding Ceremonies -
Good Food Tampa
Olympia Catering
Salt Block Catering
Puff N Stuff
Delectables Catering -
Hands on Sweets
Chantilly Cakes
Alessi Bakery
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Style Hair & Makeup
Femme Akoi
Destiny & Light
Lasting Luxe
Glow By Natalie -
The Black Tux
Friar Tux
Generation Tux -
Eleven Note
Citrus Press Co
A&P Design Co
Sadgebrush Designs -
Pet Services: Fairytail Petcare
Bar: Tipsy Trotter
Bar: Sipping nomads
Photobooth: Wild Hearts Photobus
ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS
IF YOU HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION WITH US, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE STYLE GUIDE BEFORE YOU GET STARTED PLANNING OR BOOKING.
DON'T FORGET SAVE THE DATES!
They should be sent 6-8 months in advance; 9-12 months for destination weddings. All they need to include is your name, date and location. They are less formal than invites but it gives your guests a first glance into your style and theme.
SHOULD WE DO A "FIRST LOOK"?
It's a new age for weddings, so it's no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. Whats more, there are actually some advantages to a first look prior to the wedding. First, the bride, groom and bridal party are in top form! Hair and Makeup are fresh and the guys are still ok with being in the tux. Second, if you do decide to go with a first look we set aside 15 minutes of uninterrupted private time for the bride and groom before the ceremony so they can spend some quality time with each other before the I dos. This is the best time to calm your nerves, exchange gifts or prayers and think about all the moments that are to come. Because once the ball gets rolling at the ceremony, there is not much free to relaxing time until you get to your honeymoon suite. Finally, first look are almost required for people with a later/sunset ceremony time or who want to go to cocktail hour. But ultimately its your wedding and if a first look doesn't fit for you and your fiancé that's okay to!
GO UNPLUGGED.
We live in the age of smart phones! So it's important to remember to be present. So we highly recommend having an "unplugged" ceremony where no cellphones or cameras are allowed. This will allow guests to be in the moment and keep our photos device free. I promise you'll be thankful later.
WEATHER.
DO NOT over check the radar. Especially if you are getting married in Florida. The forecast is ever changing and Florida weather is so unpredictable. Its not worth the stress, again just trust us on this one! Rule of thumb (not guaranteed) October -April rain shouldn’t be a big issue so if you are stressed think colder months not hurricane months when picking a date!
FOR THE LADIES
GO PRO + TRIAL RUN
Hiring a professional hair and makeup artist will make the difference, trust us on this one! Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial with your artist before the big day. Snap a few images after the session to make sure all the elements from makeup to dress to jewelry are a perfect match.
TIMELY TENDING
Allow an extra hour for hair and makeup then you originally anticipated, this will ensure we do not run behind. We will work on a timeline and communicate with you what time hair and makeup should be complete so you can tell your artist.
MORE CAN BE BETTER
Because you're likely to look washed out on camera, don't worry if you feel like you have too much makeup on. Especially if your not use to it! Professionals know how to make everyone look great on camera.
FALSIES
Most makeup artist will swear on false lashes. Not only do they make your eyes pop, you will hardly even notice that they're there. We highly recommend them, and most professional artist offer them as an add on.
KEEP IT CLEAN
Make sure to take extra care of your skin and hands in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Drink lots and lots of water!
FOR THE GENTS
GIVE YOUR INPUT
Planning a wedding isn't their idea of a good time. But it's really important to be a part of the process. After all, it is your wedding too! Pick a few things that interest you: food, music or flowers? Pitch in for the BIG THREE: guest list, venue and date. Your fiancé will thank you for it.
KEEP DATING HER
If you're fiancé is on borderline wedding overload give her a night to relax! Take her out to dinner, do the dishes or take her to a movie. Remind her why wedding planning is worth it!!
HONEYMOON
Take the lead on planning the honeymoon - it's a WINNER! Unlike wedding planning, there is no formalities. Book way in advance and consider the half-n-half technique where honeymoon is half adventure and half relaxing.
STYLE TIP
Match your tux or suit to the theme or venue. You wouldn't wear a black on black high end tux on the beach right? Also consider buying a suit instead of renting so that you can have it for multiple uses. Every guys needs a perfectly tailored suit. Also ditch the 90s style matching vest - trust us on that one!
ACCESSORIZE
Think about unique pocket squares or tie pins. Colorful socks or unique shoes!
GROOMS! Get a FREE Virtual Style Session + 15% Individual and Group Rentals with Stitch & Tie by Friar Tux
CODE: A1187
2025 Wedding Trends
We highly HIGHLY recommend browsing Instagram and wedding blogs for new and trendy themes for weddings because things are changing year to year. Here are some 2024-2025 Wedding trends we are seeing and loving right now to get your creative juices flowing! We also constantly pin to our Inspiration board so check that out too!
Follow our Pinterest board for more wedding inspiration!
*photos below are sourced from Pinterest
Intention over tradition
unexpected color combinations
Printed and mismatched Bridesmaids dresses
one of a kind veils
Hanging Florals
Micro Weddings or Themed Weddings
Non-White Wedding Gowns
Guest Dress Codes
Artsy Wedding Cakes
sustainability
Creative florals for the Groom
Sleeves, Bows and Cottagecore!
Color blocking
Reception Dress Changes
DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY :)
2025 Color of the Year: MOCHA MOUSSE
GONE ARE THE DAYS OF TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS, AND HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE OUTDATED “TRADITION” THAT WE THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER MIXING UP OR DITCHING.
This is not in an effort to offend, but we feel it is important to mention that nothing is required, so don’t feel like you HAVE to do anything just because it’s a Wedding!
Bride only having Bridesmaids and Groom only have Groomsmen - mix it up! Add in a Best Woman, Bridesman or Man of Honor
Father “giving you away” - this tradition dates back to Brides being considered property. Exchange it for both parents, a mother, special person in your life or even take that walk all alone. Nothing wrong with that!
Stark white wedding gowns - mix in some color! If you don’t feel like bold consider champagne, beige or off-white.
Flower girls and ring bearers - #sorrynotsorry - more and more couples are opting out of this tradition. If you can’t shake the idea of someone throwing pedals consider exchanging for a grandma or “flower dude”.
Tight ball like bouquets - chat with a great Florist and they will say the same. No more are the 90s tightly wound bouquets in a perfect ball. In are the large, loose organic feeling bouquets for a modern yet timeless feel!
Parent dances - not all couples have a great relationship with their parents so if this is the case don’t feel obligated to have those types of dances.
Bouquet and garter toss - this can be cringy for everyone involved, throwing underwear to a crowd is a strange tradition and one we aren’t even sure where it came from. Plus couples are getting married older and older and have less single friends so we don’t want to single people out, no pun intended.
A million toasts - your guests want to eat, drink and dance! So drop the open mic! Leave the long winded or parent speeches for the dress rehearsal and just have 1 or 2 short and sweet toasts on the wedding day.
Large Wedding Parties - this one might not be ok with some of you and thats ok! But unless you are having a 300 person traditional wedding you don’t need 15 people on each side. The term “the more the merrier” doesn’t work here, in fact the more in your wedding the less variety in portraits we can have. 1-5 is a good sweet spot, but its your wedding so if you feel like you want them all then so be it!
TIMELINE EXAMPLES
HERE ARE THE STARTING TEMPLATES FOR EVERY WEDDING DAY. We start here and then tailor it to each couple and hour many hours are booked. USE THIS AS A REFERENCE DURING THE STAGES OF THE WEDDING PLANNING.
No First Look Timeline
Bridal Detail Photos
Candids/Hair and Makeup
Bride Getting Ready / Groom Getting Ready
Separate Wedding Party Photos
Break before Ceremony
Ceremony
Family Formal Portraits
Wedding Party Portraits
Bride and Groom Portraits
Reception
First Look Timeline
Bridal Detail Photos
Candids/Hair and Makeup
Bride Getting Ready / Groom Getting Ready
First Look
Wedding Party Photos
Bride and Groom Photos
Break before Ceremony
Ceremony
Family Formal Portraits
Bride and Groom Sunset Portraits
Reception