Rebecca and Michael’s waterfront Sarasota wedding featured a timeless affair set against a historic mansion along the bay. Neutral floral and minimalist decor set the scene for a celebration that centered around delicious food and heartfelt fellowship among friends.

“I wanted to keep it simple and classic,” the bride revealed. “We wanted minimal colors, black and white with greenery for the decor. The venue was beautiful enough that we didn’t need much!”

The St. Petersburg couple planned an intimate event with 77 guests in attendance. As a self-proclaimed introvert, the bride knew she needed a skilled wedding photographer who could put her at ease in front of the lens while also artfully capturing the day in a way that was authentic, natural, and beautiful.

“We wanted someone who was young enough to know the ‘ins and outs’ of photo technology and who knew how to make even the least favorable pictures look amazing but who also had some experience in the field. This was Amber Yonker Photography to a T!” Rebecca raved. “I really wanted someone who could bring out the best in both myself and my husband. I didn’t want the pictures to look staged. I am an introvert, so I needed someone bubbly and encouraging to bring me out of my shell, especially during a stressful time such as our wedding! Amber did just that. Her extroverted and funny personality really allowed me to feel like the whole process was a breeze. I felt like a natural, and the pictures reflect this!”

The pair incorporated their personalities into their March celebration, including their love for fishing and their affinity for gourmet cheese.

“We love cheese, specifically from our favorite market, Mazarros, in St. Petersburg, so we had our two favorite cheeses brought from that market to serve as our first hors d’oeuvres. We called these the ‘his and hers’ cheeses!” Rebecca beamed. “We also had some fun pics of Michael’s dad and us with fishing poles since we love fishing!”

When it came to entertainment, Rebecca and Michael decided to forego the traditional, common music and instead focus on tailoring a more unique experience. Grant Hemond & Associates‘ solid reputation for providing excellent service for a great price made them an ideal choice.

“We wanted a DJ who was open to playing songs that weren’t on the usual wedding playlist. We went to five weddings the year before ours and took notes of what we liked and didn’t like as guests and tried to use this to make our wedding more enjoyable. We couldn’t do one more Cupid Shuffle after our year of attending weddings!” Rebecca joked. “Our wedding planner recommended Grant Hemond & Associates for our DJ. After looking around, we thought they were the best value for their services, especially since they were familiar with our venue and had been there many times before.”

The bride’s favorite memory involved a quiet moment of seclusion she shared with her groom before the festivities began when focused on each other before becoming the center of attention with everyone else around them.

“One of our favorite moments was the first look we had before our wedding,” the bride reminisced. “We had time to really take everything in together- a moment of peace before all eyes were on us!”

The proposal:
On the day of our engagement, we hiked to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. We were exhausted, and the first thing on my mind was the nearly head-sized cinnamon roll I was about to devour. The very last thing on my mind was the fact that Michael had carried an engagement ring to the very top of one of the hardest hikes of our lives to propose! It was perfect, and I was completely surprised (which is very hard to do). 

What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
Choosing a beautiful venue can save lots on decor! Listen to the recommendations from your other vendors. They usually know best, and it’s always good when vendors have worked together before. Things just flow better. If you have a budget for the vendors, be honest with them! A lot of them are willing to work with you to make your vision come alive. 

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who was young enough to know the ‘ins and outs’ of photo technology and who knew how to make even the least favorable pictures look amazing but who also had some experience in the field. This was Amber Yonker Photography to a T!

I really wanted someone who could bring out the best in both myself and my husband. I didn’t want the pictures to look staged. I am an introvert, so I needed someone bubbly and encouraging to bring me out of my shell, especially during a stressful time such as our wedding! Amber did just that. Her extroverted and funny personality really allowed me to feel like the whole process was a breeze. I felt like a natural, and the pictures reflect this!

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our baker really went above and beyond to make sure our cake was exactly what we wanted. We met with the owner at an initial consultation where we tried way more than our money’s worth. Afterward, we had two to three phone calls (lasting at least 20-30min each time) and many email exchanges so that she knew what our vision was. The cake, made of a bunch of cake pops with four different flavors and a circle cake topper, turned out absolutely gorgeous and was the best-tasting cake we have ever had. We have already been back once to get more cake pops just for ourselves!

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
We wanted a DJ who was open to playing songs that weren’t on the usual wedding playlist. We went to five weddings the year before ours and took notes of what we liked and didn’t like as guests and tried to use this to make our wedding more enjoyable. We couldn’t do one more Cupid Shuffle after our year of attending weddings! Our wedding planner recommended Grant Hemond & Associates for our DJ. After looking around, we thought they were the best value for their services, especially since they were familiar with our venue and had been there many times before.