Monica and Vivek’s Tampa engagement session felt like two films cut together. The first was black-tie: a tuxedo, a white satin gown, champagne and the hallways of a 1905 federal courthouse that’s now Le Méridien Tampa. The second was golden hour. Vivek changed into an olive suit and Monica into a black floral dress, and we went across the river to the minarets and verandas of Plant Hall at the University of Tampa. Same couple, two completely different stories.
Inside Le Méridien Tampa
Le Méridien kept the bones of the old courthouse: marble, terrazzo, tall doors and brass. Then it added a teal patterned carpet that runs down the corridor and practically begs for a walking shot, so that’s where we started. Monica stepped up onto a brass luggage cart in front of the old elevator cage while Vivek played bellhop. On a gray sofa they shared a glass of champagne, and I came in low for her heels and the glass in his hand. At the bar, under the globe lights and the warm wood, they stopped posing for me and started talking to each other.
The Courthouse Steps and the Tampa Theatre
Outside, the building is pure Beaux-Arts: wide granite steps and fluted columns, with a lamp post that could be from any decade. They sat on the steps like they owned the place. Between the columns, Vivek pointed at something and Monica laughed, and I’m glad I kept the camera up. A few blocks away, the Tampa Theatre marquee lit them gold, and they walked the brick sidewalk under it.
Plant Hall at the University of Tampa
Plant Hall is the most dramatic building in Tampa. You can’t fake those silver minarets and Moorish arches. The olive suit and black floral read softer against the red brick, and the session slowed down to match. We started on the front steps and then moved in close for the ring and a kiss on her hand. They curled up together on the stone stairs. On the veranda Vivek dipped her, a bench near the bamboo gave us a quiet sit, and the last frame of the day was the two of them walking with the downtown skyline behind them at sunset.
Planning a Le Méridien and University of Tampa Engagement Session
These two locations pair well because they’re separated only by the Hillsborough River. Together they give you the best historic architecture in the city.
- Le Méridien Tampa: the building was the U.S. Post Office, Courthouse and Custom House, built from 1902 to 1905 in the Beaux-Arts style under James Knox Taylor. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, and it opened as a hotel in 2014 after a restoration that kept the original marble and terrazzo. For photos inside, we coordinate with the hotel ahead of time.
- Plant Hall: the former Tampa Bay Hotel, built by Henry B. Plant between 1888 and 1891, is a National Historic Landmark with 13 crescent-topped minarets. Shoots are coordinated through UTampa Event Services, and we keep the lobby, verandas and front steps clear for students and visitors. The Henry B. Plant Museum inside doesn’t allow photoshoots.
- Order of operations: indoors and downtown first, and save Plant Hall for last, when the low sun warms the brick and lights up the minarets.
- Two looks: formal for the hotel, softer or patterned for campus. Monica and Vivek’s switch from black tie to olive and florals is a great template.
For another Downtown Tampa and UT route, see Raj & Priya’s engagement session, which ended at the Hindu Temple of Florida.
FAQ
Can you take engagement photos at the University of Tampa?
Yes, with coordination. Photoshoots are arranged through UTampa Event Services and must not block building access. The Plant Museum interior is off limits for shoots.
Can we do engagement photos inside a hotel?
Often, yes, with the hotel’s permission. Historic hotels like Le Méridien Tampa have hallways, bars and lobbies that make rainy days or summer heat much easier.
When is the best time for photos at Plant Hall?
The last hour or two before sunset, when the light is low and warm on the brick and silver minarets.
Monica and Vivek, thank you for the champagne, the patience and two perfect outfits. If you want an engagement session that feels like a film, check my availability.