Just Married: Amy Zinna and Dylan Bower

Bride’s parents:
Patty Zinna and the late Thomas Zinna

Groom’s parents:
Steve and Teri Bower

The Details:
First Dance: “You are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne
Wedding Photography: Leijea Photography
Wedding Planning + Design: Sarah Tucker Events
Floral Design: Flowers By Edie
Invitations: Paper Panache
Cake: Publix

How they met:
Dylan and Amy met after college while working together at Bonefish Grill, in Bradenton. Amy was planning to set him up with a friend, but, instead, ended up finding herself in awe of her handsome co-worker. What first started off as a friendship quickly blossomed into a love story.

The Proposal:
Dylan and Amy went to dinner with her nephew and niece after her nephew’s baseball game on Oct. 24, 2011, at the Gulf Drive Café. While at dinner, Amy went down to the water with her nephew to watch him skip rocks in the water. It wasn’t long before her nephew found a shiny ring in the sand (or better yet, his pocket). Before Amy knew what was going on, Dylan was on one knee with ring in hand proposing and her niece was running to meet them with a dozen beautiful roses. The newly engaged couple immediately dubbed the kids, Tommy and Grace, their ring bearer and flower girl.

The Wedding:
The wedding ceremony took place Oct. 27, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, on Longboat Key. Ben Pila, a guitarist and friend of the bride, played throughout the traditional Catholic ceremony. Amy’s brothers walked her down the aisle in memory of her father, Thomas Zinna. Monsignor Gerry Finnegan officiated the wedding and gave their sacrament of marriage a personal touch while incorporating a few laughs.
 
The Reception:
The South Florida Museum Spanish Plaza was everything the bride and groom had hoped for — the wrought-iron gates, bold wooden doors, and ornate Spanish architecture could have been enough all on its own but was even more beautiful with complementary pieces such as bunches of babies breath for the table centerpieces, a soft color palette of pale pinks, mercury glass and wooden candelabras. Guests enjoyed 1950s classics mixed with modern versions of the songs of that era, which kept the dance floor crowded all night. In lieu of wedding favors, Amy and Dylan made a donation to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, where Amy’s father received special care and treatment.

Honeymoon:
Amy and Dylan did not plan their honeymoon until after their wedding, because they wanted to prolong the excitement that goes along with wedding activities. They recently set sail on a cruise with family and friends to the Western Caribbean, aboard the Norwegian Dawn.

Fun Facts:
The bride wore a simple diamond necklace that was given to her the morning prior to her wedding by her aunt and uncle, from her father’s side of the family. It included diamonds from her late grandmother and great-grandmother. It was a special way to remember her dad and grandmother on her wedding day. There was also a special table at the reception with family wedding pictures, as well as a memorial to the father of the bride.