Get ready SMPers, because we’ve got one seriously stunning wedding coming at you this morning! Sent into us by the uber talented Kt Crabb Photography, this wedding is guaranteed to inspire you for days. It’s simple, it’s elegant, and it’s got the prettiest florals we ever did see! Oh, and did we mention their super sweet (pun intended!) favors? LOVE it! See all the rest right here in the full gallery.
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From the Bride… Joe and I met at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Louisiana State University. I was on the swim team and Joe was on the football team. The Lord opened the door for our paths to cross, and after dating for four years, we knew we were to spend forever together. While visiting Joe in Virginia, where he worked after graduation, he proposed on a surprise romantic dinner cruise on the Potomac River. After graduating from LSU, I moved back to Sarasota, Florida, to work and plan the wedding of my dreams. We knew we wanted to have the ceremony at Sarasota Baptist Church, and after living in Louisiana the past four years, I wanted a venue that reminded me of the many beautiful plantation homes. After searching almost every venue available, my dad suggested we look at The Field Club, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The former winter home of the Fields (of Marshall Fields retail stores) proved to be the setting I was looking for. With its 18th century Spanish villa style, front gatehouse, lush landscaped grounds and setting on Sarasota Bay, the venue was more than I could have dreamed of.
Joe and I wanted a ” first look” in order to pray together and have a quiet moment with just the two of us before the day began. The courtyard of the Field Club was the perfect setting for this! When entering the church, the guests were asked to “sign” the guest book by leaving a fingerprint on our fingerprint tree. I had printed and tied our program booklets together with satin ribbon that matched the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen ties. The church was decorated with soft florals, draped pews, a photo display, candlelit lanterns and a beautifully elegant floral-covered arch.
The Field Club is known for its amazing food, and we knew after one meeting we were in good hands. Along with the club’s specialties, we included Cajun dishes of jambalaya and Cajun chicken pasta to our menu. We had a buffet dinner so that our guests could mingle and socialize throughout the night. The timing was perfectly orchestrated by The Field Club staff, and the food was delicious. After our cake tasting with Thompson Cakes, we couldn’t narrow it down to just one flavor, so each layer of our wedding cake was a different delicious flavor. I surprised Joe with a chocolate LSU groom’s cake and display, which included his helmet, senior game football and various pictures of him in his uniform. We also had a dessert bar and ice cream sundae station. Who doesn’t love cake and ice cream!? Our favors were one of my favorite DIY details of the wedding. We filled small jars with fresh Florida orange blossom honey and decorated them with burlap, twine and a small message tag to guests.
As the reception and dancing came to an end our guests were escorted to The Field Club’s dock located on Sarasota Bay. We were showered with rose petals and well wishes as we made our way to the get-away boat. It was a romantic moonlit boat ride to the Ritz, where we spent our first night as husband and wife before leaving for our dream honeymoon in Bora Bora. Being surrounded by our closest friends and family on our special day was such an incredible blessing! I couldn’t have imagined the day being any sweeter. Kt Crabb, our photographer, was excellent in capturing the beauty of the location, the mood of the day and the wonderful details!
Wedding Photography: Kt Crabb Photography / Second Shooter: Molliner Photography / Ceremony: First Baptist Church of Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida / Reception: The Field Club in Sarasota, Florida / Floral Design: Bee Ridge Florist / Wedding Day Coordination: Stoney Dvornik / Wedding Cinematography: Corey Woosley / Wedding Cake: Thompson Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Write-On Sarasota / Ceremony Décor: Artistry in Elegance / DJ: Kelly Shires / Transportation: Bee Ridge Limo / Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal via The White Closet Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jasmine Bridal via Something Blue Bridal Boutique / Men’s Attire: Sacino’s Formalwear