Sarah and Brent’s summery St. Pete Beach wedding combined soft hues of blush and peach with glamorous gold accents and lush flora. The couple exchanged vows in a secluded courtyard ceremony before dining and dancing the night away in a timeless hotel ballroom reception.

“Our wedding style was elegant beachy. Our venue inspired me to embrace an Old-Hollywood-glamour-meets-the-beach vibe,” the bride shared. “I chose shades of navy, pink, and coral. The navy and pink were inspired by the colors of the Don CeSar and I’ve always felt coral was a fun tropical color.”

The former Chicago couple wanted to showcase their new hometown in the Sunshine State and sought an iconic, historic venue for their 85-guest destination wedding.

“We wanted a venue that truly felt like a vacation for our guests. Since a majority of our guests were coming from up north, we wanted to make sure they had good restaurants, a beautiful pool, and beach options to enjoy. The Don CeSar has everything a wedding guest could want in a weekend getaway,” Sarah raved. “The restaurants and bars are outstanding. The pool and beach are pristine. Our guests had the best time and could not compliment the staff and level of service enough.”

With the perfect backdrop selected, Sarah began planning the May celebration and turned to the team at Blue Skies Weddings and Events to guide and support the planning process to ensure everything came together beautifully.

“I really wanted a wedding planner who embraced my creativity and let me do my thing but helped out when needed. I also wanted someone who was a good communicator and was into the details and logistics. I cannot recommend Blue Skies Weddings and Events enough,” the bride beamed. “They are so well connected in the wedding community. Heather and her staff are insanely talented. She recommended vendors, sent intro emails, and followed up with everyone regularly. She created timelines and communicated with everyone involved which made the planning process so incredibly easy and stress free. If you are thinking about hiring Blue Skies, do it!”

“From the moment I first spoke with Sarah, I could feel her passion for design and the vibrant energy she brought to our conversation, and I knew it was a perfect fit! Her enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear that she had a vision that was as exquisite as she is. Sarah’s creativity knew no bounds; she was unafraid to think outside the box and fully embrace every aspect of her wedding planning journey. Her attention to detail and love for the delicate beauty of spring and summer florals were evident in every choice made. Together, we crafted a stunning tapestry of colors and textures that truly captured the romance of their special day!” Heather Tyler, owner of Blue Skies Weddings and Events gushed. “Walking into their wedding felt like wandering through a magical secret garden, where each turn revealed stunning florals or charming details that made their guests’ hearts skip a beat. It was a celebration not just of their beautiful love for one another, but also of Sarah’s vibrant spirit and artistry. I am so honored to have collaborated on such a magical day for the two of them, surrounded by love, laughter, and the beauty that they envisioned.”

Blue patterned linens dressed the reception tables while lux gold-rimmed chargers and gold flatware from Kate Ryan Event Rentals accented the place settings. Once the decor was selected, the pair focused on the guest experience, opting for unique and interactive twists on their seating chart and a guest book that would leave a memorable impression.

“I love throwing themed parties so I had so much fun planning this wedding. Brent and I wanted to make sure our guests were entertained from beginning to end. I did all the decor and details, and Brent leaned into the food and drink selection,” Sarah detailed. “Our wedding had so many special personal touches. We did a champagne cart upon entry with customized coupes as our seating chart. We also did a phone booth for our audio guestbook and it was so fun.”

With the decorative details and experiential elements in place, the bride and groom wanted a creative yet seasoned photography team to capture all of the details of the day. Given their romantic photography style and kind, approachable demeanor, Buffy Feldman at Lifelong Photography Studio impressed Sarah and Brent during each interaction, from their engagement session to the wedding day and beyond.

“I really wanted someone who was fun and patient. Buffy was so kind and amazing! She always made us feel comfortable and kept us laughing,” Sarah recalled. “Lifelong‘s photography style aligned perfectly with what I was looking for: light, bright, airy, and fun. We used Buffy for several photoshoots throughout the wedding process, and I will continue to use her whenever we need photos done in the future!”

Sarah felt beautiful in front of the camera courtesy of the stylists at Adore Bridal who primped and prepped the bridal party to perfection. Two special guests enjoyed VIP treatment on the wedding day, including private transportation, inclusion in the wedding processional, and a portrait session; the couple’s beloved pets, Tibbs and Topo, were able to be an integral part of the celebration thanks to the attentive team at Fairytail Pet Care.

While the nuptials were a prominent core memory, Sarah and Brent ultimately prioritized the memories they would impart on their guests. From the delectable culinary offerings to the energetic music, the couple thoughtfully chose each vendor in order to offer their loved ones the best of the best.

“The food, drinks and music were our top priorities. We had some fun additions with a pop up espresso martini bar and hot donut stand after dinner,” Sarah reminisced. “We wanted everyone to have a high quality meal and to stay on the dance floor all night.”

What was your wedding day hair and makeup inspiration? 
My bridal beauty inspiration was Old Hollywood glam.

Kelcey and Kassie from Adore Bridal are not only amazing human beings but they are also masters at their craft. I felt absolutely beautiful on my wedding day.  

The Proposal: 
Brent proposed on the beach in New Buffalo, Michigan, at my lakehouse. He took me and the dogs to the beach at sunset and it was really special. 

What did you look for in a wedding photographer? 
I really wanted someone who was fun and patient.

Buffy was so kind and amazing! She always made us feel comfortable and kept us laughing. Lifelong Photography Studio’s style aligned perfectly with what I was looking for: light, bright, airy, and fun. We used Buffy for several photoshoots throughout the wedding process, and I will continue to use her whenever we need photos done in the future!

What did you look for in a wedding planner? 
I really wanted a wedding planner who embraced my creativity and let me do my thing but helped out when needed. I also wanted someone who was a good communicator and was into the details and logistics. 

I cannot recommend Blue Skies Weddings and Events enough. They are so well connected in the wedding community. Heather and her staff are insanely talented. She recommended vendors, sent intro emails, and followed up with everyone regularly. She created timelines and communicated with everyone involved which made the planning process so incredibly easy and stress free. If you are thinking about hiring Blue Skies, do it!

Why did you choose to incorporate your dogs into your wedding day? 
It was so important for me to include our fur babies, Tibbs and Topo, in the wedding. We wanted them in photos and to walk down the aisle as flower girls.

Fairytail Pet Care are dog whisperers. They provide a full service experience, including dog transportation. They show up with the dogs and help incorporate them when you want but also entertain them when you need a break. I would absolutely recommend hiring FairyTail to make including your dogs in your wedding stress-free. 

What did you look for in a wedding venue? 
We wanted a venue that truly felt like a vacation for our guests. Since a majority of our guests were coming from up north, we wanted to make sure they had good restaurants, a beautiful pool, and beach options to enjoy. 

The Don CeSar has everything a wedding guest could want in a weekend getaway. The restaurants and bars are outstanding. The pool and beach are pristine. Our guests had the best time and could not compliment the staff and level of service enough.