Emily + Alex

Tampa, Florida

As an avid horse-lover and rider, I found myself giddy at the beginning of this year when I got to photograph the most elegant at-home wedding in Tampa, which took place—that’s right—on a horse farm. Provincial though it may sound, don’t be fooled. Emily Koplin and Alexander Jenkins’s wedding elevated every aspect and detail of a wedding at home, leaving us, and their guests, practically spoiled with delight.

Looking at the images now, I find myself feeling something even deeper than glee. After a long (and counting!) interlude from events of this size, I’m so struck by the joy of gathering. I feely deeply grateful to have been present at this wedding, and thoroughly hopeful for beautiful events like it next year.

Now put yourself on the green, sprawling horse farm in Tampa…

Imagine overflowing bouquets of greenery with mixes of blooms that looked directly pulled from a wildflower field (thanks to 50fifty Events). Picture an avenue of oak trees forming a natural walkway for the wooden aisle, and accents of moss and iron lanterns on wooden farm tables at the reception.

Emily told Brides:

We worked very hard to keep the overall aesthetic [in line] with the wedding location.

It was everything you might dream of, were you attending a much-anticipated, royal wedding at home on the lush, garden grounds: equestrian elegance, refined taste and that romantic English pastoral flare.

But—without any of the stuffiness. 

In addition to the outdoor, pastoral wedding theme, Emily and Alex wanted their guests to feel as though they were at a luxurious, 5-star hotel. That meant a welcome bag of beautiful amenities, as well as custom hotel slippers for total comfort at the afterparty. The bountiful raw bar at cocktail hour lead into the 18-piece orchestra during the formal dinner. And those are just some of the highlights that made guests feel especially pampered.

After a dinner of dry-aged filet mignon and lemon-thyme baked Branzino, the party moved to the dance tent. It was completely decked out as a glamorous club, featuring silver disco balls and a neon “Love” sign. It also featured a bit of Miami. The bar was custom-made and designed with the Four Seasons Surf Club bar in mind. The cigar station was open all night, and late-night snacks of mini-pizzas were passed around to keep the party going.

As Emily said (to Brides):

We wanted to mix a black-tie event and a backyard wedding all into one.

This at-home wedding in Tampa certainly achieved both. No detail was spared, to the credit of Anna Lucia Events’s impeccable planning and design.

Finding a team to work with who understands your vision and style is so important,” Emily told Brides of Anna Lucia Events. “We could have never done it without them.

See the inspiring farm fête below—and on Brides.

See the at-home wedding featured on Brides here: