August 14, 2021
The Terrace Hotel Lakeland
Photos by @marialejaphoto

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Shelby + Evan’s Love Story

They started dating in February 2020, less than two months before the pandemic turned lives upside down, and started an unpredictable chapter for Shelby, a surgical trauma ICU nurse. 

“I was working at two hospitals as a nurse, as well as a part-time job…we definitely got a lot of conflict-resolution out of the way quickly,” Shelby said. “That’s the best way to word that because it was tough to be in a long-distance relationship and not know if it’s even safe to be around him because I was taken care of all these COVID patients.”

Evan moved to Tampa in November 2020. On February 27, 2021 Evan proposed to Shelby while she was still in scrubs, a perfect symbol for a pandemic era romance.

Why Shelby loved the venue

“I loved all the old and new together.”

“They had this really beautiful textured wallpaper in the Lake Mirror room. The really large windows gave the best lighting possible for the photos…it really added to the photos and gave our photographer a lot to work with.”

Special moments from their day

  • Shelby, an avid runner, woke up the morning of her wedding, and wrote her vows while working out on an elliptical in the hotel basement
  • Prior to the ceremony, the couple had a special “first touch” moment. While back-to-back and hand-in-hand on opposite sides of a door inside the hotel, the couple prayed and privately read their vows to each other – without sneaking a glance. “That was probably one of my favorite parts of the day – I didn’t know I could get so emotional without looking at someone.” – Shelby
  • The couple put special meaningful quotes, including humorous lines from “The Office,” on each guest’s name card 

Featured vendors for Smith Wedding
Venue: @terracehotellakeland
Coordination: @everlastingaffair
Photography: @marialejaphoto
Floral: @taylormadefloraldesign
Hair/Makeup: @glitzandglamcreative
Rentals: @achairaffair
DJ: @airwaveevents