Erin and Jon’s beachfront Longboat Key wedding was a chic-meets-tropical affair filled with exotic greenery paired with classic white blooms and accented with luxurious gold details. The bride and groom exchanged vows on a pristine lawn overlooking the harbor before hosting their 85 guests in an elegant ballroom reception with ocean views.

“Our theme was traditional, with black, white, and hints of gold,” the bride shared. “We chose this combination because it can work for any season, day or night. It is also a perfect choice for a classic wedding.”

The Sarasota couple sought a wedding venue stocked with modern amenities and attentive service for their June celebration. The plethora of amenities at The Resort at Longboat Key Club checked all of their boxes.

“We wanted a private venue with good ambiance, aesthetics, catering, and accommodations. A lot of the guests were from out of town, and we wanted them to experience paradise. The Resort at Longboat Key Club truly provided an all-around inclusive wedding,” Erin beamed. “Surprisingly, most of the beach resorts we looked at only had options to get married on the actual sand or next to a swimming pool. Longboat Key Club had a private space on the property for the ceremony and reception and a beautiful resort with large suites for every guest. The wedding coordinator, Ayla, was amazing! If you want a beautiful wedding, please call Ayla at Longboat Key Club Resort. She is the wedding coordinator and will make your day wonderful. They had everything in-house and gave us the option for outside vendors as well.”

Erin prioritized the planning process and selection of wedding professionals to ensure the wedding day experience was as beautiful as it was seamless. She relied on Limelight Photography to artfully capture the day through their creative lens, forever preserving the emotions and details..

“We wanted a professional who has been doing this for many years. I looked at many different photographers and eventually went with Limelight Photography based on their reviews. Our wedding coordinator suggested them as well!” Erin revealed.

Erin envisioned classic floral arrangements filled with native greens and exotic orchids, and turned to the creative design team at Beneva Weddings to transform the ceremony and reception space with beautiful blooms. The cascade-style bouquet of palm leaves and stems of phalaenopsis perfectly accented Erin’s chiffon and lace gown from Truly Forever Bridal, accentuating the delicate scallop-edged lace details.

“My floral inspiration was traditional. I wanted beautiful white orchids and as much greenery as possible. Beneva Weddings has the best reputation in Sarasota. Everyone goes there to order flowers for any event, and I wanted them from the start,” the bride raved. “Corona was the flower wedding coordinator and had set up many meetings before the wedding. She came up with the design on her own and executed it perfectly.”

While their vows remained a core memory from the celebration, the special dance floor moments were truly unforgettable.

“There were so many elements to pick, plan, and execute, but when it really came down to the hard question of which was the most important part of our wedding, the ceremony came out on top. We got married by Jon’s father, surrounded by all of our favorite people,” the bride reminisced. “Our most memorable moment was the ceremony followed by our first dances. We took lessons before our wedding and really enjoyed executing the dance. We also had meaningful dances with our parents, which we will remember for a lifetime.”

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted a private venue with good ambiance, aesthetics, catering, and accommodations. A lot of the guests were from out of town, and we wanted them to experience paradise. The Resort at Longboat Key Club truly provided an all-around inclusive wedding. Surprisingly, most of the beach resorts we looked at only had options to get married on the actual sand or next to a swimming pool. Longboat Key Club had a private space on the property for the ceremony and reception and a beautiful resort with large suites for every guest. 

The wedding coordinator, Ayla, was amazing! If you want a beautiful wedding, please call Ayla at Longboat Key Club Resort. She is the wedding coordinator and will make your day wonderful. They had everything in-house and gave us the option for outside vendors as well.

The Proposal:
Our home has been our sanctuary and was the perfect setting for beginning the next chapter of our lives. Before this happened, Jon felt that he needed to talk to my father and ask for my hand in marriage. Once he had my dad’s blessing, it was time for the proposal. Jon was home before me on this special day, just sitting in his favorite chair with Jack and Celine (our precious pups) at his side. Jon called to me and when I reached him he said, “Jack and I have something to ask you and Celine”. He had a small box and opened the lid to expose the most exquisite diamond ring. He looked into my eyes and said, “Will you marry me?”

What was your wedding dress inspiration?  
I chose Truly Forever Bridal because of the large selection of dresses. I was looking for a Milla Nova dress, and Truly Forever Bridal was the only store around that offered that brand. I wanted a timeless dress.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted a professional who has been doing this for many years. I looked at many different photographers and eventually went with Limelight Photography based on their reviews. Our wedding coordinator suggested them as well!

What was your wedding floral inspiration?
My floral inspiration was traditional. I wanted beautiful white orchids and as much greenery as possible. 

Beneva Weddings has the best reputation in Sarasota. Everyone goes there to order flowers for any event, and I wanted them from the start. Corona was the flower wedding coordinator and had set up many meetings before the wedding. She came up with the design on her own and executed it perfectly.