Poynter Institute

Rehearsal

Rehearsal Dinner 

The Night Before

Welcome Drinks - Grand Central Brewing

The Wedding

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Goodbye Brunch

Our Wedding

It started, like so many modern love stories do, with a dating profile. After weeks of chatting through the app, we had our first date on Labor Day in 2023. We went to Colt’s favorite sushi spot, Lemongrass, for a bite, then Grand Central Brewing, just steps from his townhouse. It may sound cliche, but we walked into each other’s lives like we were always supposed to be there. We just worked, which is funny considering we’d been in the same city for years without ever crossing paths. Colt said goodbye to shoveling snow and moved to St Pete in 2017, while Ashley has been enjoying the Sunshine City her whole life.

A True Match Made In St Pete

A couple days later, we met up for an impromptu ice cream date at Twistee Treat. A shared love of ice cream, we’d say, is perhaps a hallmark of our relationship, and if you’re coming to the wedding, this is a not-so-subtle hint about dessert 😉 That’s also when we realized we shared something bigger: family is a top value for both of us. We’d each been in past relationships where that wasn’t true, and honestly, that’s a big part of why they didn’t work. Our families are everything to us, and with how fun and loving they are, how could they not be? We’re lucky.

From there, everything blurs together. We’ve barely spent a day apart since. There have been challenges: loss of family, hurricane destruction, and wondering if we’d ever get Ashley’s spoiled only-child corgi, Finn, to fit into Colt’s pack with Reese and Zoey. But there have been incredible highs too: two new nieces, Maci and Nyx, buying a home, and finally making the pack work. Early on, we knew we were getting married. It was only ever a matter of when.Last year, Colt and Ashley went to Cape Cod for vacation and family time. Little did Ashley know, Colt had a proposal planned, privately, at Jack Knife Beach, a place close to his heart from years of family vacations. Ashley was completely caught off guard (you could tell by the unpainted nails and the baggy shirt and shorts), but of course said yes. And here we are.

We’re most looking forward to having our families and friends that feel like family all in one place, including our nieces, Maci (3) and Nyx (2), who will be our flower girls. Whether they walk down the aisle like pros or stage a full sit-in protest halfway there, we already know it’ll be the best part of the day.

We’re so ready for this next chapter and can’t wait for what’s next.

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING TO CELEBRATE WITH US! WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!Here are a couple of lodging options close to the venue. Most of St Pete is a no AirBnB zone so it might be hard to find one in St Pete specifically. If you're interested in going this route reach out to us and we can help you figure out where might be good and is close enough.

You can call 1-888-492-8847 and ask for the Cooley - Agar wedding block rate or use the link below that says website or copy and paste this: https://www.hyatt.com/shop/rooms/piezd?checkinDate=2026-11-06&checkoutDate=2026-11-08&rooms=1&adults=1&kids=0&corp_id=G-ACWB&accessibilityCheck=false&brands%5b%5d=place

Hyatt Place

To book here call 1-800-445-8667 and let them know you are with the group, Cooley-Agar WRB. Rooms will be held until 30 days prior to November 6.

Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront

Travel

Olivia: OUR FAVORITE CURRENTLY. Top notch Italian. A higher scale establishment in the heart of downtown. Fortu: Michelin recommended Japanese restaurant we tried this year. So good. It's mostly TASTY tapas and again a higher scale place. Fresco’s: Well known seafood restaurant located right on the water, outdoor bar and seating.&nbsp; Gratzi: Fantastic Italian food! BellaBrava: Another fantastic Italian restaurant. Mangosteen: Great sushi spot on Central with loads of walkable locations nearby Lemongrass: Colt’s favorite sushi place and they have tasty Pad Thai. Colony Grill: Pizza and ONLY pizza. Nice casual small town vibe kinda place and the pizza is 👨‍🍳 👌 Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops: We’re ice cream people. This place has delicious pops and hard ice cream with unique flavors.

Restaurants

3 Daughters Brewing: Large warehouse space loaded with yard games, board games, and a yummy food truck. They have an extensive beer menu. Grand Central Brewery: A place near and dear to our hearts (1st date nostalgia 🥰). Casual brewery with a respectable menu. Cool outdoor and the people watching is top-tier. If you get hungry, super-popular-for-a-reason Lala is next door. Green Bench: A super chill industrial-style brewery just off the beaten path of Central Ave. Around the Corner: Bar with classic video games available to play The Par Bar: Alcohol + put-put golf. What’s not to like? The Dog Bar: All the dogs, all the time plus alcohol. Mutts &amp; Martinis: Dogs + mini-pool + bar.

Breweries & Bars

The Dali Museum: Loads of Salvador Dali’s work plus it’s a gorgeous building The Imagine Museum: Really neat stuff in here The James Museum: Gorgeous collection of western and wildlife art. Ashley's favorite in the city. The St. Pete Pier: The classic. Several restaurant options here and all the views 😍 The Great Escape: If you’re like us and love a good escape room, this has three great options for you The Iron Club: An indoor golf bar. We haven’t been but have heard great things. The Saturday Morning Market: a St Pete staple right in the heart of downtown. Great selection of farm-fresh produce, artisanal food products, and a wide range of arts and crafts.

Activities

Things to Do

Registry

Semi-formal / Cocktail: Think polished but comfortable—dresses or jumpsuits for women; dress pants or chinos with a button-up shirt and blazer for men. Ties optional.

Dress Code

Honeymoon Fund

Your love, support, and presence at our wedding are truly the greatest gifts we could ask for. As we begin this exciting new chapter together, we are fortunate to already have many of the household items we need. Instead of traditional wedding gifts, we have chosen to focus on creating unforgettable memories together on our honeymoon [Italy 💕]. For those who wish to honor us with a gift, a contribution to our honeymoon fund would be deeply appreciated and will help us celebrate the start of our marriage through meaningful experiences we'll cherish for years to come.

Ashley & Colt

Ashley & Colt

Travel

Hyatt Place

Hilton St Petersburg Bayfront

Which airport should we fly into?