This beautiful Bride’s favorite part of her Big Day was the first time she saw her dashing Groom, which so happens to be my favorite capture from Justin DeMutiis Photography. First looks make me gush with emotion and theirs? It’ll make you all warm and fuzzy inside. The rest of their 20’s-inspired fete, coordinated by Fabulously Chic Weddings, is striking to say the least.
From the beautiful Bride… Our initial idea was a vintage style wedding which incorporated warm romantic candlelight with a speakeasy vibe, mixed with a nod to roaring 20s. The inspiration was derived from our favorite late night spots in New York City and love for all things antique & classic. Much to the help of Courtney, we were able to narrow down our focus and put all of our ideas together in a clear and concise platform which made for an amazing night!
Once we found our location at the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, Florida we knew we had the perfect location to build out our perfect wedding day. We rolled the dice on the weather and planned for an all outdoor wedding day, start to finish. We wanted our out of town guests to really feel why we love Florida – a nice mild November night in Florida was a welcomed escape for our New York travelers.
As the guests entered through the front door of the historic Powel Crosley Estate for the first time they saw the beautiful furniture from Wish Vintage Rentals that was set to the sides of the room with the candle-filled fireplace straight-ahead. The nostalgic estate, built in 1929, immediately takes you back in time and sets the vibe for what’s to come. Looking through the back doors to the patio, you are greeted with the amazing landscape of the Sarasota intracoastal and Longboat Key. After a heartfelt ceremony accompanied by a string trio, guests made their way to the gazebo situated on the back of the lawn, right on the water. As the extended cocktail hour, complete with jazz music from days past, came to an end, the sun set behind the Key and painted the sky in beautiful pink and orange arrays as our guests enjoyed the warm breeze. As the sunlight diminished behind the horizon the glimmer of an overabundance of candlelight sparkled off the long gold sequin table runners on the three parallel feasting tables set in the middle of the lawn. Black table cloths, five piece settings of gold flatware, gold charger plates topped with black center plates, gold chivari chairs… candlelight, speakeasy, roaring 20’s… and a touch of vintage. Our vision became a reality that was felt just as strongly as it was seen.
I think my absolute favorite detail was the lighting throughout the whole event. We knew from the start of wedding planning that we wanted cafe lights to be a large part of our decor. That was one the one detail that never changed during the planning process. Seeing the cafe lights with all of the candles, and the candlelight reflected off of the sequin table runners set the mood perfectly and just as beautiful as we had imagined and hoped it would be.
Our escort cards were old (mostly baby) pictures of all our guests. This was a surprise for everyone as we spent countless hours collecting pictures without anyone knowing. This was a labor of love but so worth the time and effort as our guests crowded around the tables smiling ear-to-ear. It was a traditionally simple task that we were able to have fun with.
The first look was my favorite part of the day. Seeing my soon to be husband for the first time was so emotional and surreal. I am so thankful to have done the first look. It helped to calm my nerves and gave us some personal time before the festivities began. I also was filled with joy when I took a moment to look around at the end of the night and found ourselves surrounded by all the people who came to celebrate this special day with us. The feeling of love was overwhelming.
Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Videography: Brandon Hilliard Films | Coordination: Fabulously Chic Weddings | Floral Design: Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio | Wedding Dress: St. Patrick-La Sposa | Cake: Pastries By Design | Stationery: Dana Marino Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Catering: Mattison's Catering | Hair And Makeup: Jess Waldrop | DJ: Your Event Matters | Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Ceremony Music: Vanderbilt Strings | Transportation: Sarasota Trolley | Wedding Venue: Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key | Bridal Boutique: The White Gown | Gold Flatware: Party Time Rentals | Rentals: US Tent Rental | Vintage Rentals: Wish Vintage Rentals