Real Lakeland Weddings: Wyatt and Jessica Thomas
By RJ Walters
Photography by Madi Elizabeth Photography
It was perfect that on January 27 The Lakeland Country Club hosted a grandiose centennial celebration, because just eight days later—February 4, 2024—a Lakeland couple whose goal was to throw a “Roaring Twenties” style party were married in the same building.
“Everything was black and gold and elegant, and we had lots of pearl accents on everything,” Jessica Thomas says. “Our photo booth had Gatsby themed props like little fans and flat caps and all these cute sayings…and my sister printed these stickers that were in art deco form that had different quotes from the Great Gatsby about love and romance.”
Jessica and Wyatt’s love and romance started out in their home state of Oregon right before the pandemic lockdown, and although the couple moved to Florida in 2022, Jessica’s engagement ring will forever point back to the couple’s origin story with an Oregon sunstone at the center of it.
Jessica said she and Wyatt were up for adventure, and liked the prospects of living in Florida. The thing that made Lakeland a desirable location was more than just the size of the city or the culture of it—it was the fact an Aveda Co-Brand Concept Salon, Venue Salon, was here and she was an Aveda-certified stylist.
The decision to move to Lakeland and earn a position at Venue Salon under the tutelage of Patricia Uiterwyk was doubly beneficial for the Thomas because Uiterwyk was able to utilize her membership at The Lakeland Country Club to get them access to the venue for their special day.
Jessica said the goal for the couple’s wedding was to create a fun themed atmosphere that paid homage to the music, the aesthetics and the social lore of the 1920s—and according to the bride, the result was picture perfect.
She said the support of so many friends and families made the planning and execution of the event fairly easy and it helped her achieve her goal of being “the opposite of a bridezilla.”
“Everything was black and gold and elegant, and we had lots of pearl accents on everything.”
– Bride Jessica Thomas
One of the couple’s most cherished moments from the wedding was their intimate personal vows that they shared, with Wyatt’s stepdad officiating the ceremony.
While they didn’t share their vows to go in print, it’s a fun fact that the couple first crossed paths at a gymnastics club out West, where Wyatt was training and Jessica was coaching young children.
Vendors for the Thomas Wedding
VENUE & CATERING
Lakeland Country Club
DJ
Grangertainment
HAIR & MAKEUP
Venue Salon & Spa
PHOTOGRAPHY
Madi Elizabeth Photography
PHOTOBOOTH
The Gala Photobooth
DESSERTS
Mary Duckworth
