Sarasota Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Peach + Gold Lakewood Ranch Wedding

Folded into this Lakewood Ranch soiree from K and K Photography are the sweetest soft peaches and golds, and the result is a romance-filled fete that has my heart skipping a beat. Top it off with the dreamiest Lazaro dress from JLM Couture that you ever did see? Well, my dears, I dare say you’ll be madly in love with this gallery too.

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Spring Weddings

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Rustic Weddings

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Romantic

From the beautiful Bride… Adam and I were together for seven years before he proposed. The going joke was that I was going to have some extravagant wedding but that was definitely not what I was going for. We talked about a destination wedding but it was just too important for our grandparents to be present. After visiting countless venues, Adam’s Aunt recommended the Lakewood Ranch Country club (she’s an ambassador for LWR). I wanted a ballroom to fit 100 guests and it was perfect, not too big, not too small.

Adam is more classic and I love a little glam. I fell in love with the idea of a romantic spring wedding in March. Sping is always gorgeous in Sarasota. My color palette was soft peach, ivory, and gold. I wanted a romantic, timeless wedding with a hint of glam.

It all started with the dress. I chose a Ivory, Lace, Couture bridal gown by Lazaro. Some detail: sweetheart neckline, alencon lace skirt with pleated net godets and chapel train. Once I stepped into that dress I didn’t want to take it off!

My bridesmaids were in gorgeous, soft peach, floor length dresses. They wore different variations but all in soft peach. We topped them in diamonds and pearls with bouquets of Juliet garden roses, pale peach tulips, and versilia roses. Adam was in a classic black tuxedo with an ivory vest and tie. His groomsmen also in classic black tuxedo’s with soft grey vest and tie. We pinned them with Peoni buds and pale peach roses.

Ceremony Inspiration… It was really important for us to have our puppy there! Teddie the golden doodle was dressed to the nines in a D.I.Y ivory satin bow. We arranged for him to be there after the ceremony for pets and pictures. It really made our day!

Wedding Inspiration…I found a lot of inspiration from wedding blogs and magazines. Luckily, I had my Confetti and Botanica girls to help me with inspiration and they brought our ideas to life.

It was the cutest thing to find out that my groom was secretly collecting our RSVP cards – he was excited too.

We wanted to sit with our friends and family so we just had to have a feasting table. The head table was dressed with a Champagne Dupioni and a gorgeous lace overlay. For florals we chose an eclectic mix of gold containers filled with ivory hydrangeas, white tulips, peach roses and pale peach spray roses. We used candles on gold pillars and gold chargers to glam it up a pinch. It was stunning.

I chose Chic Sweets because We both have a major sweet tooth. We wanted our guests to have edible party favors (that’s what would want)!

It was important to us that our friends share the day celebrating with us. We had a delicious dinner, a champagne toast, and we danced the night away. But the best part of all was that I could feel the love in that room. :)

As for us, the Bride and groom stepped into a Vintage Rolls Royce and lived happily ever after.

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Wedding Dresses

Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Wedding

Any wedding that starts with a giant bouquet of bright pink pretties is bound to be a pin-worthy day. But when that same affair includes stunning modern design from Stonehouse Events, beautiful blooms by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio, and every inch shot through the lens of Justin DeMutiis – well, you better get ready for a wedding swoon-fest like you’ve never seen before. Get started right here, m’dears!

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Fall Weddings

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Garden Weddings

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Modern

From the Bride… I met Ryan out one night while he was dressed up as, what looked to be like a member of Motley Crew, during a month not even remotely close to Halloween, so humor has been a large part of our relationship from the get-go. We wanted the wedding to really reflect us as a couple so we tried to get creative with a lot of custom details. We wanted a fun, yet elegant outdoor wedding on the water, which was slim pickings if we were to do it in my hometown in Ohio. We vacation in Sarasota every year, so we started to look at venues in the area. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens turned out to be the perfect spot!

We love to entertain, even in our tiny NYC apartment, and this wedding was no different. When else would we be able to throw this big of a party with all of our friends and family? For the ceremony, we went the non-traditional route and played upbeat oldies love songs to get everyone excited for the evening to come. I have no shame; Darlene Love’s “Today I Met The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” will never get old in my book. We had refreshments and fan programs to keep our guests hydrated and cool. We adored the idea of the Love Letter and Wine box ceremony as we are easily swayed to unwind at home with a bottle of wine after a stressful day.

Afterwards, guests moved to cocktail hour, which was overlooking the water so everyone could enjoy the sunset. Kitschy metallic silver lawn flamingos then lead our guests on a path through the garden to the great lawn where the reception was held. I desperately wanted mirrored tabletops, but they were not easy to come by in the area, so I opted for a mirrored escort table. We both love bubbly, so we used oversized champagne buckets instead of having a box for cards. In lieu of a guest book, we had marriage advice mad libs at each place setting on the tables.

The food from the Francis was absolutely amazing and they really went above and beyond for us in so many ways. We love dining out, so it was important to us to have a great menu, and not typical wedding food. The cake was gorgeous and all white, but we went with a fun rainbow surprise inside. A rainbow colored candy and dessert bar, complete with a favorite from home, Momofuku Milk Bar Birthday Cake Truffles, accompanied it. Since we have a love for food, favors were little jars of rosemary sea salt to remember our garden seaside wedding (Big thanks to Martha Stewart for this tidbit!)

We wanted to go with a DJ over a band because of the wide variety of music we had in mind for the whole night. We actually found Jay when we were out one night after dinner, the first time we came down to visit the venue. One of the best moments of the wedding night was when I looked around and noticed absolutely everyone had joined us on the dance floor after the parent dances were over. Not one person was left in their seats!

I didn’t realize some of the challenges we’d face doing a destination wedding at a venue where you had to bring in literally everything, but a lot of love went into this wedding from countless friends and family members who helped out. We couldn’t have done it without them or without our awesome vendors! Though we did the majority of planning ourselves, I highly recommend anyone doing a destination wedding to hire a wedding coordinator for at least the month of service, they will keep you sane when you need it most (or at least try)!

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Jenny Packham

Bridal 2016 Catwalk

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Sarasota, FL Wedding at Ca’ d’Zan Mansion

Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing in this wedding from Katie Lopez I’m not absolutely obsessed with. Not a one. I first fell in love with this couples’ engagement last year, so I shouldn’t be surprised that their wedding is off-the-charts fabulous, but here I am, completely floored. From her lovely Jenny Packham gown to the pin-worthy reception planned to perfection by Sarah Tucker Events (complete with a perfume bar) and every love-filled moment in between, this beauty moved right up to the tippy top of my favorites list. See why here.

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Spring Weddings

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Estate Weddings Museum

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Classic Weddings

From Katie Lopez Photography…This was one of my favorite weddings this year so I just had to share with you! You might remember the bride and groom. Their sailboat engagement was featured on SMP Florida last year and it’s hard to forget Alison’s contagious smile! The inspiration behind their wedding- “old school charm with a dash of glamour”. You’ll see right away that Alison’s vintage-inspired Jenny Packham gown and faux bob set the stage for the rest of this vintage-meets-glamour wedding day. From the perfume bar to the old church pews, it all came together perfectly against the backdrop of the Ca’ d’ Zan mansion at the Ringling Museum.

From the Bride..Ryan grew up just a short distance from Sarasota as a child. He used to tell me stories about going to the Ringling Museum with his family every year. After he proposed we began to put together a venue wish list; beautiful water views, old school charm, with a dash of glamour. After visiting the Ringling we realized that our wish list was an actual venue! I remember Ryan joking that if someone had told him at seven years old that he would be saying ‘I do’ there years later; he would’ve thought they had lost their mind.

We decided to keep the wedding in line with the overall ambiance of the venue. I chose my Jenny Packham gown for its vintage feel and amazing lace detailing in the back. We rented antique furniture for lounge areas and had old church pews brought in for an outdoor ceremony. Our amazing florist created a cloud of Hydrangeas for the seating chart which really looked as if it was floating in mid-air, it was also one of my favorite details from the wedding.

From the start the most important thing to us was to ensure that our guests had fun and that the night would be as memorable for us as it was for them. Between a DIY perfume bar for the ladies and a cigar station for the men we really wanted our guests to know how much we appreciated them being there. We spent the night surrounded by our closest friends and family which was all we could have asked for. The night flew by and we wouldn’t change a thing. It was such a memorable evening for us and we are so thankful to all those who attended and stood by our side throughout the process.

Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Wedding from Alisia Thompson Photography

My favorite wedding ingredient? Hands down, personality. Because there’s nothing better than a wedding chock-full of personality-infused details to really give you a glimpse of the couple behind the big day. And this darling duo captured by Alisia Thompson? Well, they (and their family and friends) are as crafty as it gets with a whole host of amazing details lovingly styled with their very own talented hands. Think fab paper goods, beautiful florals and glittery gold centerpieces. See them all right here.

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Fall Weddings

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Country Club

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DIY Inspired

From the Bride… Romance, Fun and Mingle: Those were the words my husband and I based our wedding on. We knew that adding as many personal touches as we could was the way to achieve that. So with that in mind, we DIY’d almost everything and crafted nearly all of the decorations by hand. It was our way to create a wedding that catered to our style, as well as helped our budget!

It all began with the color peach, which I view as such a romantic, yet playful color. I chose it as the basis for the whole event! My sister designed our invitations, RSVP cards, and bulletins to fit our personalities and promote the theme of our wedding. She also created personalized crossword puzzles, madlibs and the signs that were displayed at our venues. All of the bouquets and florals were arranged by my aunt, who was the one to introduce me to the beautiful type of flower used in my bouquet. I described to her that I wanted a taller arrangement to compliment the flower bunch on my dress. She suggested “stock,” and when I saw a picture of them, I knew immediately that those were what I wanted. Who knew that such a pretty flower could have such a ordinary name? Other handcrafted projects we did were the coffee filter peach flowers that were used in the centerpieces on the tables and all of the backdrops used at the ceremony and the reception. We crafted the backdrops with simple light pink and peach crepe paper streamers, and added a touch of Martha Stewart’s Gold Glitter Eyelash Yarn for some sparkle. My mother and sister hand-crafted all of the cake toppers and cupcake toppers; it totally topped off our look!

One of the most meaningful personal touches of the wedding was that I had the honor of wearing the veil my mother wore at her wedding twenty-six years ago. In the end, we created a memorable celebration that reflected our personalities and our desire for our guests to just have fun. And everything came together the way my husband and I dreamed it would.

Classic Sarasota Wedding from Pezz Photo

I have the best job in the world. I spend my days dancing with flower girls, catching bouquets, tearing up with the Mother of the Groom, and smiling with the most amazing couples. Oh, and admiring the fabulous work of amazing vendors, like photographer Pezz Photo, along the way. Weddings like this one make my job not only easy, but unbelievably cool.

A little cherry on top courtesy of Lucky Lemon Films…

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Fall Weddings

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Estate Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From the stunning bride… I envisioned my wedding being romantic, classic, vintage-inspired and whimsical, with a touch of quirkiness. I love the color mustard, I feel it embodies those characteristics so I looked for inspiration on Etsy and Pinterest. We found wooden signs to point the way and to hang on the back of our chairs. Pat has been obsessed with Superman since he was a kid, so the groomsman and fathers wore Superman socks (complete with attached capes). One of our wedding favors were sunglasses (it was an outdoor wedding) and in a funny twist, the guests popped out the lenses during the reception so we ended up with a dance floor filled with Clark Kent look-a-likes! All of our food was vegan– even the cake– and we added a late night snack of PB & J paninis (our initials) for another personal touch. We also displayed the wedding photos of our parents & grandparents along with a framed thank you letter to our parents. I walked down the aisle to the same song my sister used at her wedding. We found that no matter how many decisions we tried to make before hand the wedding planning process was still chaotic and unpredictable at the end including drastically cooler temperatures and high winds from approaching Hurricane Sandy. Table linens were tied town, the cocktail hour moved indoors and my veil flew into my sisters face throughout the ceremony. Those “issues” became some of our favorite memories. We kept smiles on our faces and had the most wonderful time with our friends and family.

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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Sarasota Wedding from Lexia Frank Photography

They write songs about all white weddings and with good reason…they’re stunning. A layered approach to pretty neutrals is all at once timeless and taking a page out of the modern book. It’s a duality, if you will, that works each and every time; especially with vendors like NK Productions and Lexia Frank Photography on the job. They take stunning details and perfectly plan them and capture images as light filled and pretty as they come. See all that beauty together in one spot right here.

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Fall Weddings

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From the Bride…We were first introduced by a mutual friend at the gym, but didn’t reconnect until several months later after finding each other online. We dated for five years before mike finally got down on one knee on Christmas Eve during a walk down a beautiful street with homes decorated for the holiday. We knew we wanted to get married at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota immediately since we had visited several times in the past and loved it. Our amazing wedding coordinator, Nicole Kaney, helped us pull everything together so we could relax and enjoy the process. As for the decorative elements of the wedding, we both prefer things that are simple and streamlined but elegant. We wanted to be sure that everything was timeless, so that we’d never look at pictures and wonder what we were thinking. We chose a neutral palate of ivory and black with touches of red. Flowers by Fudgie created stunning table arrangements for us using a variety of cream colored flowers, mercury glass, and plenty of candlelight. In the end, we got the timeless elegant wedding we wanted while keeping the focus on our love and commitment. It was truly the best night of our lives!

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Sarasota Wedding from Justin Demutiis

The BAD news: Labor Day weekend has officially drawn to a close. The GOOD news: this Sarasota wedding is more than enough to put the pep back in your pretty little step. Because when two photographers say “I do” with The Anti Bride and SRQtees by their side, the result is amazing. I’m talking an absolute overhaul of gorgeousness brought to life behind the lens of Justin Demutiis. And you know what, loves? We didn’t even scratch the surface. See it all right over here.

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Fall Weddings

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Estate Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From Justin Demutiis…I’m often asked if its nerve racking to photograph another photographers wedding. But the truth is, I find it energizing. In this case, both the bride and the groom are photographers and they could not have made my job any easier! Maybe all their experience shooting seriously inspired them, because I loved their design and detail choices! Of course you can never go wrong at the Powel Crosley Estate, but the florals, cakes, and vintage furniture truly added to their day. It was an absolute honor working with Dan and Vicki.

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Wedding Dresses

Claire Pettibone

Couture Bridal

Fall 2015 Romantique

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Wedding Dresses

BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Sarasota Yacht Club Wedding from K & K Photography

Lace gowns, chandeliers, vintage cars – this wedding from K and K Photography is just everything swoon-worthy about a traditional affair all in one perfectly pretty post. It’s a collection of images so lovely, you can’t help but let yourself get lost in them, and you can do just that right here in the full gallery of images.

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Yacht Club

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Modern Vintage

From the Bride… Our wedding was perfect. After I found my dress, a gorgeous Modern Trousseau lace gown, we knew we’d be going for a vintage classic look with a modern twist. Mustard yellow is my favorite color so we punctuated the elegant cremes, whites, and greys of the reception room with oncidium lilies, accent pillows, and my Badgley Mischka mustard pumps. We also tried to incorporate family heirlooms into our day. I wore a sixpence piece in my shoe for good luck – the same coin my mother had in her shoe on her wedding day – and pearl studs that were my great grandmother’s. I also wore a garter that was made by my husband’s grandmother that has been worn by every child/grandchild in their family. At the entrance to the reception, we included photographs of other family members’ on their wedding day. The reception was a blast and a testament to my mother’s keen eye for design. We danced the night away to the phenomenal band Serenade of Souls and left in a vintage Bentley driven by Duane Magnuson.

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Romantic Sarasota Wedding at The Field Club from K&K Photography

You know what makes one pretty amazing combo? A stunningly classic wedding and one seriously adorable duo. But not just any adorable duo. An adorable duo that really knows a thing or two about putting on a stellar wedding. One that takes a gorgeous color palette (blush and gold, mind you) and pairs it up with lush blooms from Flowers by Fudgie, a breathtaking Sarasota setting and one beautiful moment after another captured by K&K Photography. See them all right here in the full gallery.

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Ballroom Weddings

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Classic Weddings Romantic

From the Bride… Even though I currently reside in Nashville, my dream was to have our wedding in my home state of Florida. Growing up in this lush, tropical place, I wanted my guests to have an authentic Florida inspired experience for our somewhat destination wedding. After looking at several venues, I knew that I didn’t want the typical ballroom wedding, and desired something much more intimate and romantic. The Field Club in Sarasota presented 1920’s Spanish architecture, and a vintage elegance that was reminiscent of a Gatsby-esque mansion, perfectly situated on the bay in Siesta Key. Having grown up going to the Club, I wanted my decor to accentuate these elements and not distract. I chose a blush pink (my favorite color), gold, and a cream color palette to set a romantic glow. Candles in mercury glass holders were everywhere and I think really set the mood for the whole evening. For the flowers, I chose hydrangea, roses, and baby’s breath for a traditional, yet romantic and full bloom effect.

I love all things girly – pink, pearls, ruffles, and bows and I could not help myself from reflecting this in our wedding. I felt like an absolute princess in my Watters gown, and my photographer, Jeff made me feel even more beautiful in the moments he captured.

I was lucky to have my mother and phenom wedding planner, Jennifer, help so so so much along the way, but I still wanted my personal touch on things. My favorite wedding related investment was an embosser with our couples monogram. This circular monogram became a theme of the wedding and I used it on the cocktail napkins, programs, and thank you card stationery for a personal and luxurious touch. The same monogram style was also reflected on our cake in pink icing. The grooms cake depicting our beloved chihuahua was truly a labor of love on the behalf of my husband and our guests could not stop raving about it.

Reflecting on the wedding now, it was truly such a magical moment in my life. It was so gratifying to see all the different elements finally come together after a year of planning and to see the guests enjoy every moment of it.

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Watters

Willowby Fall 2014

Watters Maids Fall 2014

Wtoo Maids Fall 2014

C20 Mothers 2012 Part I

C20 Mothers 2012 Part II

C20 Mothers Spring 2013

C20 Mothers Fall 2012

Seahorse Spring 2013

Watters Brides Fall 2014

Watters Brides Spring 2013

Watters Brides Spring 2015

Wtoo Brides Spring 2015

Willowby Spring 2015

Watters Maids Spring 2015

Wtoo Maids Spring 2015

Encore Spring 2015

Watters Brides Spring 2016

Willowby Spring 2016

Wtoo Brides Fall 2015

Willowby Fall 2015

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Boho Chic Inspired Photo Shoot from Kate’s Captures Photography + Kiley A. Bolster

It’s hard to imagine the wedding world without the bohemian bride; that uber-chic lady who isn’t afraid to let her hair down and who yearns to go barefoot in the sand… and rock some perfectly imperfect florals on her trip down the aisle. I love those brides, and I love it when I get to spend my day soaking in all of the inspiration a boho chic affair can bring. Inspiration like this beautiful photo shoot from the oh-so-talented Kiley A. Bolster and Kate’s Captures Photography; a shoot literally bursting with laid-back meets elegant goodness every step of the way. From the crazy gorgeous vintage pieces from Hemstitch Vintage Rentals to that stunning gown from Ruthy’s Creations to a pug who knows a thing or two about some serious cuteness, it’s the perfect way to start our Monday morning. Join me in the gallery for so much more.

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Spring Weddings Summer Weddings

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Outdoor Weddings

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Vintage

From Kate’s Captures Photography…The simple, ethereal elegance of a hardwood deck along a natural waterfront landscape is inspiring in its beauty and perfection at sunset. For this Old Florida Boho Chic Shoot created by Kiley A. Bolster, a pretty little barefoot gypsy bride perched on vintage furniture, nibbled on unfussy cakes and played with an adorable pug puppy while the Gulf of Mexico gleamed in the background.

From Kiley A. Bolster…The inspiration for this shoot came from a want to highlight the natural beauty of the event space. I pitched the idea to Kate Willmann of Kate’s Captures Photography and Angela Haley of Hemstitch Vintage Rentals, who each added personal touches to the design to bring my vision of a barefoot “boho” bride simply lounging around in the afternoon sun on her “wedding day” to life. We could not have dreamed up a more perfectly natural bride than Valerie Matthews Bolster and after everything was said and done- we are all thrilled with the photographs!

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Photography: Kate’s Captures Photography | Event Coordination, Styling + Cakes: Kiley A. Bolster | Floral Design: Fiore | Venue: The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge | Furniture: Angela Haley of Hemstitch Vintage Rentals | Makeup + Nails: Kristen Lee Saxon of Stay, The Clinical Spa | Spray Tan: Summer Color | Dress: Ruthy’s Creations | Invitation: Wedding Paper Divas | Model: Valerie Matthews Bolster of Southern Affairs | Ringbearer: Xander Bruni (Special thanks to Breena + Antonio) | Pug: Knuckles the Puppy (Special thanks to Lisa + Joey)

Ringling Museum of Art Wedding from Jenny Haas Photography

If there is one thing I know for certain about glamorous weddings, it’s that they tend to leave me speechless. Which can sort of be a problem, since it happens to be my job to talk all things pretty. And when you throw in a breathtaking setting like the historical Ringling Museum of Art, beautiful blooms from Beneva Flowers and a whole host of yummy goodness from Milan Catering and Event Design (hello, grilled cheese panini), I become a blubbering mess of adjectives. See why in the full gallery captured by Jenny Haas Photography. It’s amazing.

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Museum Outdoor Weddings

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Classic Weddings Romantic Whimsical

From the Bride… Landyn and I are both engineers and typically drawn to clean and modern design. However, we found ourselves absolutely captivated by the romance and history at the Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard. It reminded us of a European vacation we took for graduation and felt it truly was the venue of our dreams. It really dictated the themes of romance and travel, but we injected fun with live music and modern flourishes when appropriate.

We chose a color palette of black, white and pale green because it complimented the pale pink walls of the courtyard and evoked the old world appeal of space. I wore a lace mermaid gown for the ceremony that felt renaissance and changed into a modern paillette sequins covered dress for dancing. Landyn loves hats and wore a top hat, suspenders, and white jacket to make his look unique and as he describes “made him feel like James Bond.” We kept the flowers basic because the courtyard had plenty of style and we didn’t want to detract from it. All the bridesmaids carried a different bouquet, each of one type of white bloom – lilies, hydrangea, roses, baby’s breath, gerbera daisies, lisianthus and white stock. We had the bouquets wrapped in lace to reflect the lace in my wedding dress. Each groomsman had a matching boutonniere to his coordinating bridesmaid and each dinner table centerpiece contained a vase of one type of the same blooms. Since we love to travel we named each dinner table a city where we had a great memory. Escort cards were made to resemble luggage tags and guests were prompted on how to use the card and find their seat by a poster exclaiming “Where in the World am I sitting?” The ceremony programs were designed to look like black and white passports and each page was printed with a custom watermark.

Our family and friends are everything to us and our wedding was only going to be good if everyone had fun. That’s why I had the bridesmaid pick their own gowns. If they were feeling confident and beautiful, they were sure to have a good time with everyone at the wedding. We wanted live music throughout the evening because it felt more interactive. A string trio played a mix of our modern rock favorites and classical pieces through the ceremony and the cocktail hour. The live band and bold black and white checkered dance floor really motivated guests to dance throughout the evening. Food is another great love of ours so we wanted guests to sample yummy bites throughout the evening with passed hors d’oeurves at cocktail hour and ending the night with midnight snack food including grilled cheese paninis and mini cheese burgers (our personal favorite bite of the evening). All in all, it was the best night of my life captured so true and elegantly by Jenny and Will’s photography that I know the evening can live on forever in these images.

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Sarasota Florida Beach Anniversary Shoot from Sarah Joelle Photography

It’s not always easy to return to work after a holiday, but here at SMP we’re committed to making it as awesome as possible. Which is why we thought we’d share this drop-dead gorgeous anniversary shoot from Sarah Joelle Photography. A day at the beach, a plethora of light-filled images and a stunning duo sharing their love with each and everyone of you? Life is sooo good. Click here for more.

From Sarah Joelle Photography… Ryan and Kay’s anniversary session was shot all in FILM at a little beach near Sarasota, FL. Ryan and Kay are college sweethearts and married soon after graduation. They are coming up on their third wedding anniversary in July. The couple moved to Florida for jobs and the pristine, white, sandy beaches seemed like the perfect spot for their session. The soft colors of the blue water, white sand, and the warm golden sun make my heart happy! I love this classic session for the romantic sweetness and the playfulness! Kay rocked the classic black bikini. As a photographer I love anniversary sessions because it is a reason to celebrate the marriage after the wedding! It’s a fun little way of saying “I still choose you.”

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Photography: Sarah Joelle Photography

Sarasota, Florida Sailboat Wedding from Sophan Theam Photography

I’ve been swimming in the sea of pretty that are these images by Sophan Theam Photography for, oh, about two hours now. And I don’t plan on leaving this gallery of coastal goodness anytime soon. Seriously. Because this wedding is simply a dream come true for any ocean-loving soul, and really everyone else for that matter. See what all my gushing is about here.

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Casual Nautical

From the Bride… Once we decided to marry in a private ceremony, we shared our plans with the family and received their full blessings. Both of our families are Florida natives of several generations, so the notion of an at-sea wedding was born of our shared love for the Gulf of Mexico. We invited only 5 guests, one of whom is an attorney of the State and dear friend. He graciously accepted our request to conduct the ceremony.

We connected with the owners of a 41-foot Morgan sailboat in Sarasota. The couple who own and operate the boat enjoy a great reputation for their services, which was well-documented online, but beyond this they were so friendly and happy to work with us to create our sunset wedding cruise. Their sailboat was immaculate and so comfortable. They’re also such interesting people with amazing stories about their lives, we loved spending this day with them.

I found our photographer’s name here on Style Me Pretty and was captivated by her work. She was the only person we called. I was thrilled to learn that she was available and up for the adventure of this non-traditional ceremony. We worried that a photographer would be hesitant to take their valuable equipment on open water – but Sophan shared with us nothing but excitement for the event.

I honored my family with “something old” by wearing an ivory shawl that had belonged to my paternal grandmother. My “something new” was a delicate crystal necklace from a friend. The groom’s sister honored their mother’s memory by providing my earrings as “something borrowed”. These earrings were worn by the groom’s mother at his sister’s wedding. The final detail of “something blue” was found in my glittery baby blue pedicure. There were a few other traditional wedding details; a beautiful white phalaenopsis cascading bouquet, a sweet little coconut cake and plenty of rosé champagne. Standing alongside the tall mast of the boat, we exchanged vows and rings just before sunset as our few guests watched from the bow. The wedding cruise had a taste of adventure and elegance, but was also relaxed and easygoing – a good reflection of our personalities.

The groom wore a navy and tan suit with a maritime flag bowtie. The dress was serendipity. Over a decade ago, I had tried on (and fallen hard for) an Amy Michelson design that I never purchased. Flash forward to a few weeks before we were to set sail, when I happened upon a photo of this dress on Pinterest. Another click brought me to the listing of this never-worn gown on a bridal resale site in my exact measurements, head to toe. It arrived at my door eight days before the wedding and fit me perfectly. I consider it a wedding gift from the universe.

My now-husband and I first met while we lived across the hall from each other in a historic Davis Island apartment building named “The Ritz”, so we thought it fitting that we spend the honeymoon weekend at Sarasota’s Ritz-Carlton. The lovely people who work at this resort, at their restaurant Jack Dusty in particular, went so far above and beyond in helping us celebrate the occasion. It was the cherry-on-top of our wonderfully romantic wedding weekend. We look forward to many returns for anniversary celebrations!

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Sarasota Wedding from Fabulously Chic Weddings + Trenholm Photo

One combo I can never get enough of? Formal + fun. Just those two words together conjure up images of elegant brides dancing the night away with their dapper grooms. It’s a wedding fusion that never fails to deliver the pretty and today’s shining example is this downright breathtaking Sarasota affair from Fabulously Chic Weddings, aka, a drop-dead gorgeous mix of sophisticated details and heartwarming moments, all wrapped up in mesmerizing images from Trenholm Photo. See it all unfold in the full gallery.

Oh, and we’re not done yet. Check out this incredible film from Voila Cinematic. It’s beyond amazing.

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Spring Weddings

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Estate Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From the Bride… When we were first thinking about how we wanted our wedding to look and feel like, Brad simply requested the end scene from the movie “Meet Joe Black.” I knew at that point it had to be formal and it had to have an air of opulence. Stylistically we both love vintage and refurbished items, so after finding the Powel Crosley Estate we knew it was the perfect match. The Powel Crosley Estate really had everything we were looking for: the winding staircases, magnificent fireplaces, fabulous wood beams that spanned across the ceilings, and the gorgeous and expansive private views of Sarasota Bay. Having grown up with religious backgrounds we knew our ceremony had to be in a church. We do have a local church that we attend, but knew with our guest count it would be too large. So we started to hunt for a quaint small church that we could have our ceremony in. With the original wood floors and white pews, the adorable red doors, and the quintessential little white church feel, the Crocker Memorial Church quickly became our choice. Being local, we love how we were able to have two Sarasota landmarks as our venues.

As far as the aesthetics went for our wedding, we wanted to add to the romance of the venues. At the Crocker Memorial Church, we went with simplicity. We didn’t want to distract from the rich history that we loved about it. By simply adding fabric, in a couple of textures and shades, crystals to reflect the light, and restored pieces of wood picked up from a local salvage yard, to a backdrop, we were able to add to the church’s overall feel without taking away from its history. We also had two large vases with all white flowers to add to the romantic feel.

At the Powel Crosley Estate, we thought the lighting had to be perfect to really set the mood. What a better way than with candles, candles, and more candles. We used an assortment of ivory candles in fluctuating sizes and in varying containers. We also had large silver candelabras and medium sized matte black candle sticks to hold candles as well. We put a chandelier and café bulb lighting over the dance floor to continue the mood outside when dancing. There were two long tables to accommodate the sixty guests, adding to that intimate feel we were trying to capture. The tables had beautiful rosette textured linens in a dark champagne color to give the angular tables some body and texture. The floral arrangements, neutral in color with mostly white and pale peach soft and structured flowers, were in a variety of non-matching clear and mercury glass vases. The overall color scheme was neutral shades with metallic and black accents.

Other personal touches included the guest place cards. I created little formal characters of each guest in attendance with their name attached. These served as double duty being that they also helped the servers to know which guest ordered which entree (white name card being fish and black name card being beef). We also had our new monogram placed on a Victorian styled mirror that was hung above the fireplace to display our new married title. We also wanted a way to incorporate our family members who were no longer with us. We accomplished this by having black and white photos put in metallic and mirrored frames above us on the fireplace mantel. The groomsmen had personalized hometown maps put into their cufflinks. Seeing that all the groomsmen grew up in the same hometown as Brad, it was a way to personalize it in a meaningful and fashionable manner.

We also wanted to have a way to incorporate our Great Dane into our wedding without have to deal with his actual unpredictability, so we added small touches of him throughout. The first one being in the favors I created. I drew a picture of our dog and had a Letterpress company imprint the image onto coasters for the guests to take home. We also made a donation in our guests honor to the Great Dane Rescue Society. Our cake included our dog with a miniature replica sticking out from underneath the ruffles of the bottom tier. Our wedding day really was everything we could have hoped for. After everything was said and done, we finally have been able to decide on what our overall wedding theme should be called—Formal and Fun!

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Sarasota Wedding from Paper Moss + 13:13 Photography

I’ve come to the realization that the happiest weddings start with the peppiest palettes. So when coral and peach mingle with a mix of varied neutrals, the result is a Sarasota wedding to perk you right up from the Monday morning drag. And from the prettiest stationery crafted by Paper Moss to Day Planners’ oh-so-obvious attention to detail, this color-infused Indian wedding is one you don’t want to miss. And you don’t have to thanks to the full gallery of photos from 13:13 Photography waiting right here.

And before you hurry off to the gallery, don’t miss this lovely little video from Lucky Lemon Films!

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Spring Weddings Summer Weddings

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From the Bride…When we went down to Sarasota to visit venues we fell in love with both Ca D’ Zan and the Powell Crosley Estate – we just couldn’t pick one. That’s why were so happy that we were able to share both of these unique staples of Sarasota with out guests. We drew our inspiration from both of the venues. The stained glass and breathtaking architecture at the Ca D’ Zan were a perfect match for the colorful Indian ceremony. The backdrop of the ocean at the Crosley was perfect for all of the details that I wanted to incorporate in our decor. The neutral driftwood and succulents mixed with the romantic coral flowers were some of my favorite details of the wedding. I love Coral and wanted to make sure that there were splashes of it everywhere. We had a family member make the beach cover-ups for my bridesmaids which we all go ready together in. I wanted to give them something fun and that would allow them to remember Sarasota.

Specific details that were your favorite? Our invitations- everyone loved them!! I was so happy with them and they perfectly set the tone for the entire weekend. Patrick and the boys came in to the festivities on a boat which was so important to him. I loved looking out the window while I was getting ready and seeing them all dressed up and arriving on the beautiful boat. Several of our décor items were DIY projects -the table numbers, the welcome bags – which were maps of the US with a heart over FL, and which we stuffed with Florida goodies like fresh FL oranges, a good friend of mine hand painted the maps that we stuffed the bags with – It was one of my favorite details of the whole wedding.

Anything you want to include about the process of working with specific vendors: I feel like the luckiest bride to have worked with vendors that made everything so simple and so special for us. Working with 1313 Photography was like having our friends walk around with us all day and capture all of the special moments. Paper Moss: Made the invitation process so simple and fun. The level of detail and attention that they gave- from our first meeting picking out save the dates, all the way to sending us last minute invitations just weeks before our wedding, was so impressive. They managed to set the tone for our whole wedding through their unique custom made stationery – I really felt like our invitations reflected us and our event to a T.

Anna Pohl: I cannot say enough about Anna, our event planner. We met with many planners early in the process since we planned the wedding from Boston. When we sat down with Anna we clicked and there was no turning back. She was on top of everything and so helpful throughout the process, I don’t think anything would have been possible without her. As soon as our wedding weekend started – I let all of the stress of planning fall away. I knew Anna and her team would make sure everything was perfect from the welcome bags all the way to the farewell brunch. She was at every event and it was so comforting to turn around and see that she had everything under control. Even when Patrick stepped on my dress and ripped my bustle – she was right there with a sewing kit stitching it back, I couldn’t believe it! I would recommend Day Planners to every bride!

Fete Catering: We received so many compliments about the food at our wedding (both nights). We didn’t want guests to feel like they were going to two weddings and two sit down dinners in a row. Fete Catering managed to put out a spectacular spread for guests on Friday night that allowed guests to walk to different stations taste a variety of food from Indian cuisine (which they knocked out of the park), to seafood, and fun comfort food as well. Jaymie Klauber of Fete Catering made us feel like we were the only event she had to focus on (which we know was not the case). Her level of personal attention was unparalleled. We love the food at the Polo Grill (her restaurant and we go there whenever we are visiting.

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Osprey Bay Preserve Wedding from Esther Louise Photography + Day Planners

Priority number one for this darling bride and groom? Sprinkling in as many meaningful details as possible into their big day. Details that not only represented their relationship as a couple, but their rich family history, as well. From the burlap table runners to the antique jewelry to the sweet DIY projects so lovingly crafted with the help of family and friends, this was a day that was a true “labor of love” from start to finish. See every last moment planned to perfection by Day Planners and captured in beautiful images by Esther Louise Photography right here.

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Outdoor Weddings

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Romantic Vintage

From the Bride… Our wedding was a DIY labor of love involving our closest friends and family. The venue was perfection – just the right balance of a vintage estate, picturesque location on the water and plenty of space outside for lots of dancing, lawn games and socializing. Above all we wanted to ensure that our guests had a blast – what better way to celebrate our love than to see our loved ones with smiles on their faces.

So much love and thought went into each and every detail of the wedding – from the vintage quilt hand sewn by my great grandmother decades ago serving as a tablecloth on the welcome table to the little bags of eco-friendly confetti that were individually stamped, filled and tied by Ryan and my dad just days before the wedding. My sister, mom and I spent months making the decorations, coordinating from opposite ends of the country to create the burlap runners for the tables, the antique window seating chart, yay flags for the guests, corn hole boards for the cocktail hour, table centerpieces named after some of our favorite travel destinations and all of the signage that brought the whole event together. Our wedding coordinator, Anna, and the coordinator at the venue, Gilly, must have thought we were crazy as my mom and I dropped off boxes and boxes of handmade decorations, but they perfectly recreated the vision that we had in mind.

Every aspect of the wedding was filled with memories: I wore my mother’s wedding dress for our welcome reception, my sister-in-law’s veil for the ceremony, my grandmother’s wedding band and engagement ring and her antique pin adorned my bouquet. We used my grandmother’s doilies as tablecloths and we displayed photos of our parents’ and grandparents’ wedding portraits around the cake, serving as examples of strong, beloved, faithful marriages that will be our guidance as we begin our journey together. Our beloved puppy (our furbaby) Coconut walked down the aisle with a fascinator on her little head and a collar of flowers created by the florist.

Our wedding day was more than we could ever have imagined. Surrounded by the people who have shaped who we are today, Ryan and I had the perfect day and our photographer Esther has captured every moment in the most stunning way. As my dad unexpectedly announced that he would not give me away, but agreed that he and my mom would share me with Ryan, we laughed our way through our vows that we’d finalized only the day before and our dog Coconut barked her assent, I couldn’t imagine our wedding being any more “us.” I only wish we could do it all over again!

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Sarasota Botanical Garden Wedding from Raquel Sergio Photography

There’s romance and then there’s the romance bursting from this beautiful Sarasota affair captured by Raquel Sergio Photography, which is like every love-filled detail you could ever imagine, all wrapped up in one magical gallery. (Seriously.) And the uber-adorable bride and groom? Well, they happen to be all caps ROMANTIC, too with their office romance beginning, an at-home (+ heartwarming) proposal and, of course, one drop-dead gorgeous wedding. See it all in the full gallery.

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Garden Weddings

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Classic Weddings

From the Bride… The roads traveled to find one another were long. Much longer for Victor as he is Brazilian, and journeyed to the United States to get his PhD. We eventually met in Tampa at the engineering consulting firm where we started working nearly three months apart from one another. Victor and I joined bowling leagues and beach volleyball leagues with other co-workers, so we spent a lot of time together outside of work.

Almost three years later, Victor kneeled on one knee beneath the open sky and the beautiful pergola that he and his father built in our backyard and asked that I be his wife. He made me a very happy woman on that very special evening.

From Raquel Sergio Photography… Stephanie and Victor were married at the selby gardens in Sarasota, Florida. I absolutely love selby gardens for the uniqueness it has to provide. The furniture and decor was very elegant, and added a gorgeous touch to the wedding day as well.

Their ceremony took place on underneath a banyon tree of the garden during sunset. Their cocktail hour followed by the beautiful and famous Floridian pinkish tone sunset sky. Their reception was held in the ballroom overlooking the the beautiful stars. Their flowers and centerpieces were simple and sweet. What a beautiful night full of the simplest emotion of love!

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Wedding Photography: Raquel Sergio Photography | Wedding Venue : Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida | Floral + Event Design: Bee Ridge | Catering: Harry’s Continental Kitchen | Wedding Dress: Olgas Bridal Shop

Sarasota Wedding at The Oaks Club from Binaryflips Photography

This wedding is all about amazing moments. Stop-you-in-your-tracks, jaw-droppingly gorgeous amazing moments. Like when the world’s cutest ring bearer ran happily down the aisle with his “Here Comes the Bride” sign… or when the stunning Mr. and Mrs. laughed lovingly while saying their vows. And then there’s the moment that the Father of the Bride surprises everyone with a fireworks show in honor of his daughter and new son-in-law, which is beyond awesome. (Beyond.) Even better? Binaryflips Photography was on hand to capture every last love-filled memory and you can see them all in the full gallery. Join me there for sooo much more.

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Country Club

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Classic Weddings

From the Bride… My husband, Kevin, and I are both from Chicago, so choosing Sarasota for our wedding may have seemed like an odd choice but we both have close connections to the city. My parents moved from Chicago to escape the cold winters about three years ago and chose their new home in Sarasota at The Oaks Club. Coincidentally, my husband’s parents have owned a winter home on a very nearby island called Casey Key for five years close to where Kevin’s Dad grew up and joined The Oaks not long after my parents.

The Oaks provided the perfect backdrop for our “destination” wedding. Besides wanting the guaranteed warm and sunny Florida weather, we loved the plantation feel of the club, from the long driveway under the hanging moss, to the view of the clubhouse over the pond on the 18th hole. We also were set on having a tented wedding because what’s the purpose of having a wedding in a warm climate if you can’t enjoy it! We kept with the preppy, Southern theme by having our groomsmen dress in classic navy blazers with cream pants while the bridesmaids wore matching navy J.Crew dresses and gold sandals. Our two ring bearers looked adorable in seersucker jackets with matching shorts and finished their look with specially made bow ties that matched the groom’s tie.

Instead of tented place cards we decided to tie mini gold compasses to name tags to guests could “find their seat.” When ushered into our tent, everyone moved past our wedding cake stand which displayed mini key lime tartlets. As everyone sat down and my Dad and Mom welcomed the crowd, we all raised a mini-Pilsner glass filled with beer. Following was the most incredible, over-the-top, amazing moment of my life. My Dad finished his award-winning speech (side note: he hates public speaking) with the words, “May your future be bright with hope, let the brightness begin and the sky light up.” All of a sudden, FIREWORKS shot up over our clear tent to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” I was in complete and utter shock… I was crying, laughing and overwhelmed by what was going on. My parents had planned this amazing fireworks show and managed to keep this a surprise from everyone, including me. There were even heart shaped fireworks and the show kept going on and on to amazing music. My husband and I truly felt like the luckiest people alive and when my parents came over, we couldn’t find any words to explain how amazing it was. That moment will stick with us for the rest of our lives!

The rest of the night went just as Kevin and I wanted. We were surrounded by the best family and friends, the dance floor was packed all night, we drove a golf cart through the aisle of sparklers and then returned to our after-party where we made sure to eat our late night munchies and dance until we were the last people standing.

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Sarasota Wedding at South Florida Museum from Sarah Tucker Events

When piecing together her perfect day, this beautiful bride knew exactly what she wanted. A soft color palette of pale pinks, a breathtaking Spanish-styled backdrop and a traditional Catholic ceremony in honor of her father. And when those three ingredients came together in her stunning Sarasota affair, magic happened. Heartwarming, beyond gorgeous, light-filled magic all captured in glorious images by Leijea Photography and planned to absolute perfection by Sarah Tucker Events. See every last moment in the full gallery.

From the Bride… I have a very simple and classic style with an appreciation for all things romantic. My perfect day would consist of pale hues in a beautiful old Spanish-style church and venue. My lace dress along with my cathedral veil in a beautiful Catholic ceremony were a testament to my love of tradition and all in honor of my Dad, who had always hoped to walk me down the aisle but unfortunately is no longer with us. At the South Florida Museum, large bunches of babies breath on the tables along with the mercury glass and votives were such complimentary pieces to the wrought iron gates, bold wooden doors, and ornate Spanish architecture. Upon our first look at the reception in its completed state, we could only think that it was all we had hoped for; our dreams played out right in front of our eyes. As the sun set, the glow of the twinkling stringing lights above our heads was incredibly beautiful and made for such a lovely night under the stars.

Wedding Photography: Leijea Photography / Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Church in Longboat Key, Florida / Reception Location: South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida / Wedding Planning + Design: Sarah Tucker Events / Floral Design: Flowers By Edie / Caterer: Savory Scenes / Dj: Chris Grumley / Guitarist: Ben Pila / Rentals: Taylor Rentals / Favors: Shannon Kirsten / Garland: Rifle Paper Company / Invitations: Paper Panache / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals “2302” via Sarasota Brides / Veil + Hairpiece: Brides Against Breast Cancer / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Bill Levkoff via Pearl’s Place / Hair + Makeup: Ali Severson (aliseverson@aol.com) / Grooms Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Signage + Wedding Certificate: Shannon Kirsten / Bride’s Shoes: Antonio Melani via Dillards

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Sarasota Wedding from Jordan Weiland Photography

There’s nothing quite like a farm wedding. The whole vibe is just so peaceful and serene, especially when you tie the knot out in the open air like this couple did. They seemed to have gotten everything perfectly perfect. From the real, (as in from Ireland) four leaf clovers to the gorgeous al fresco reception filled with local foods, this vintage inspired day is simply beyond. And to top it all off, Jordan Weiland Photography captured it all so beautifully. See it all right here.

From Jordan Weiland Photography… Mallory and Justin were married at Windsong Farm in Sarasota this October. Their intimate ceremony took place under an old oak tree with guests seated on carved wooden benches and a lantern release during the nuptials. Their southern, vintage, open-air reception was full of wooden signs, beautiful centerpiece details, honey bee candles, bird cages, market lights and a giant chandelier over the head table. Instead of a traditional cake, this couple had Amish pies from a famous Sarasota restaurant, Yoder’s. The gorgeous flowers had four-leaf clovers incorporated into them from the bride’s grandmother’s plant, which comes from Irish soil.

Wedding Photography: Jordan Weiland Photography / Wedding Venue: Windsong Farm in Sarasota, Florida / Wedding Coordination, Event Decor + Floral Design: Kim Frazer of The Perfect Settings / Catering: Cindy of Star Keeper Cafe / Pie: Yoder’s Restaurant / DJ: J.Baxter of More than Music Disc Jockeys / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal + Alterations at Weddings 826 / Groom’s Tuxedo: Men’s Wearhouse

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