ABOUT

UNIQUE Weddings + Events is a bold, design-first Tampa Bay wedding planner and designer crafting celebrations that defy the ordinary. We transform your personality and vision into immersive, unforgettable wedding experiences that reflect your style—not tradition.

With a sharp eye for detail, a flair for the unexpected, and a fearless approach to wedding design, we bring bold visions to life.

We’re not just planning weddings—we’re creating magic with a timeline. Every couple, every story, and every love deserves to be celebrated with intention, creativity, and a whole lot of flair.

✨ Born & Raised in New Orleans – My childhood was basically a mix of glitter, brass bands, and
          sucking crawfish heads like a pro. Mardi Gras isn’t a season—it’s a personality trait.
🎨 Design is in My DNA – Technically, I have a degree in Interior Design, but event design is
          where I sprinkle the magic. I see the vision before there is a vision. Basically, I’m a design
          psychic.
🖤 I Wear Black… A Lot – It isn’t just my favorite color—it’s my whole vibe. Elegant, effortless,
          and perfect for creeping around behind-the-scenes like an event ninja.
💎 Statement Earrings & Necklaces? Yes please. My accessories often enter the room before I do.
🍷 Drink of Choice? Sweet wine, fruity cocktails, or if I'm feeling tough - a spicy Bloody Mary!
          With all of the accoutrements, can it legally count as a salad?
💬 Blunt Honesty? Love it or hate it, it’s what you’ll get. I’m not here to sugarcoat—unless we’re
          talking cake.
🍅 I Love Anything with Tomato – Although, I'm still not convinced that it's a fruit. Science, stay
          in your lane.
❤️‍🔥 Met My Husband Speed-Dating – 6 minutes, one drink, and zero red flags. And, the man
          didn’t run? Keeper.
🌅 Morning Person, No Apologies. I’m that person who’s fully caffeinated and firing off emails at
          4am. Don’t be alarmed—it just means your timeline is getting done before sunrise.
🎃 Favorite Holiday? Halloween, Obviously. While everyone else is decking the halls, I’m over
           here thriving in fake blood, fog machines, and fabulous costumes.  
🧩 Puzzles Are How I Decompress – They’re basically wedding timelines but without the rain
          delays and Aunt Susan changing her entree selection again.
📺 I Binge the Same Shows on Repeat – The Office, Schitt’s Creek, Vanderpump Rules—it's not
         just TV, it’s a lifestyle. David Rose is my spirit animal.
💖 Favorite Wedding Moment? That sneak peek when my couples see the reception design and
          say, “Wait, this is OURS?” Damn right it is! Welcome to your Pinterest board, IRL.
😆 Ideal Client? Witty, sarcastic, and not afraid to drop an occasional F-bomb. Bonus points for
          inappropriate memes.
🎤 Fun Fact Bonus Round: Sarcasm is my love language. Boring events are my mortal enemy.
          And yes, I’ll get a little choked up at your wedding—while still holding it all together.

what makes me unique...

Tampa Bay wedding designer, planner, and all-around “get shit done” girl.
Equal parts dreamer, designer, and spreadsheet-loving perfectionist.

Meet the mastermind behind unique weddings + events - staci mandikas

We’re Not Just event Planners—
We’re Storytellers, Stylists, & detail whisperers

Founded in 2008 by sarcasm-fueled, coffee-chugging creative Staci Mandikas, UNIQUE Weddings + Events is a boutique Tampa Bay wedding designer and planner with big ideas and even bigger results.

With over 400 weddings under our belt—across Tampa Bay, St. Pete, Sarasota, and beyond—we’ve built a reputation for creating one-of-a-kind wedding experiences that blend innovation, intention, and a little unexpected flair. Staci brings her design background and sharp design eye into every single wedding—meaning we don’t just plan, we curate. From color palettes and layout to custom build-outs and mood lighting, no design element goes unnoticed. You’re not getting a Pinterest copy/paste wedding—you're getting something tailored, intentional, and dripping in personal style.

What Makes Us...UNIQUE?
(Besides, like, everything)

  • We’ve planned and designed weddings with budgets from $5K to $300K—and brought style to every single one.
  • We’ve designed everything from eight-person micro weddings to 400-guest extravaganzas.
  • We limit the number of weddings we take on each year so we can give your day the attention it deserves—because perfection doesn’t happen on autopilot.
  • We’ve worked our wedding magic at just about every venue in the Tampa Bay Area—and even transformed private residences into total showstoppers.
  • We’re licensed, insured, and obsessed with timelines, logistics, and backup plans (aka, your wedding is in safe, type-A hands).
  • We’ve been featured in Style Me Pretty, Rock 'n Roll Bride, The Knot, Wedding Wire, Marry Me Tampa Bay, and about 30 other outlets that make us blush.

Our BELIEFS

Cookie-cutter is a curse word.
Tradition is optional. Personality is not.
Good design matters.
Your story is our blueprint.
Events should be experiences.
Details are everything.
Elegance and edge can coexist.
We live to create the unexpected.
Love is love.
Timelines and tequila both have their place.
We’re not just planners—we’re experience designers.
We don’t follow trends. We set them.
If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.

At UNIQUE Weddings + Events, we believe that bold wedding design should reflect your personality and that planning a wedding in Tampa Bay should feel effortless, creative, and fun.

We’re not your average planners. We’re your creative partners, timeline tacticians, emotional support humans, and detail-obsessed design nerds. And we don’t just plan weddings — we design bold, badass celebrations for modern couples in Tampa Bay who want something that actually feels like them.