Deedee McLain knew that she and Cassie Kramer would become close the first time they met at a new age study group in 2013.
“When I first saw her, I knew that we would be friends. I just knew that she would be somebody important in my life,” McLain says.
For the next two years, they continued studying together at the Mystikal Scents shop in Thonotosassa and bonded over their shared spirituality. They began meeting up outside their study group to continue their conversations.
“We started doing stuff together, getting to know each other as friends,” Kramer says.
As they grew closer and their friendship deepened, eventually this gave way to something more. “I realized I was attracted to her and wanted more,” McLain recalls.
Kramer laughs, “I caught the feels, she caught the feels and we finally got together.”
Their relationship was filled with fun, whimsy and adventure from the start. They shared their first kiss at The Castle in Ybor City. The first time they said “I love you” was in Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
So, when they started talking about getting married, Kramer knew she wanted their engagement to be special.
“I knew I wanted it to be like something out of a fairytale,” she says. One evening after work, she surprised McLain with dinner reservations in St. Petersburg. The couple lived in Tampa, so spending time on the other side of the bay was a special treat.
Kramer is known for her spontaneity and sense of adventure. So, the impromptu visit to downtown St. Petersburg didn’t raise any questions with McLain.
“She’s already adventurous, so her picking me up after work and saying we’re going somewhere was not a stretch of the imagination,” McLain says.
Ahead of their St. Petersburg dinner date, Kramer booked a horse-drawn carriage without telling McLain. After dinner, when it passed by the restaurant, she pointed it out and suggested a carriage ride around downtown.
“She had no idea I booked it ahead of time,” Kramer says. “I really wanted to create this fairytale experience for her.”
Throughout the evening, she carried a bag everywhere they went. When McLain questioned it, Kramer said she had an extra pair of shoes in there in case her work shoes caused foot pain while they walked around downtown. McLain didn’t question her and had no idea what was really inside: an engagement ring, a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
Also in her bag was a stuffed bear from Build-a-Bear with an internal voice recording of Kramer popping the question. She took the bear out during their carriage ride.
“I was trying to be as whimsical and magical as I could be,” she says.
The sentiment was no surprise to McLain. After all, they had already started talking about getting married. But she wasn’t expecting such a magical proposal.
Their engagement took place Feb. 23, 2018 and McLain immediately got to work planning their wedding, which was held nine months later on Nov. 11, 2018. It was just the right size wedding that she was able to handle the planning without hiring a professional.
She was excited to oversee the wedding plans, she adds. “I’m a Virgo and really like to plan and organize things.”
Both had been married previously, so they saw their marriage as an opportunity to create the wedding of their dreams.
“We had both been married before, so we came away learning what was really important in a wedding,” Kramer says. “We wanted this to be the wedding to end all weddings.”
They knew they wanted an intimate wedding, and only invited 30 guests – their closest friends and family members. They also wanted to incorporate their love of nature and new age spirituality into the ceremony, so they held it at Tampa’s Eureka Springs Park, incorporating a handfasting ritual into their special day.
“Those were the kinds of details that were important to us. We knew where we wanted to spend our money at to create the most magical, perfect experience,” Kramer says.
Ultimately, it was a day they’ll both never forget. “It was amazing having everyone coming around us to support us and love us that day,” McLain recalls.
Kramer adds, “It wasn’t just a Sunday in November. It was a day focused on our soul-level love and our deeper connection.
Engagement date: Feb. 23, 2018
Wedding date: Nov. 11, 2018
Wedding venue: Eureka Springs Park
First dance song: “This is It” by Scott McCreery
Send-off song: “Kiss the Girl” from “The Little Mermaid” as their guests blew bubbles at them
Wedding theme/colors:Outdoors-related and natural elements, such as lavender and birchwood
Florist: Jennie’s Flowers
Officiant: Jamie Hendricks, their new age teacher at Mystikal Scents
Cake Bakery: Publix
Photographer: Meg Dreyfus
Do you have an interesting wedding or engagement story you’d like to share with Watermark readers? If so, email the details to Jeremy@WatermarkOnline.com if you live in the Central Florida or Space Coast area and Ryan@WatermarkOnline.com if you live in the Tampa Bay or Sarasota area for consideration as a future feature on this page.
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