Tori and Martin’s destination waterfront Sarasota wedding was a timeless affair filled with neutral colors, classic blooms, and accents of greenery and wood for a natural vibe. The bride and groom exchanged vows overlooking the bay, against the backdrop of their venue’s historic stone facade.

“Our wedding was the day after Thanksgiving, so we chose fall-inspired, earthy colors. We wanted a simple, natural vibe,” the bride shared. “We chose olive green and burnt orange tones that reflected the season.”

The Ohio couple personalized their big day to reflect their hobbies and personalities, and incorporated their families wherever possible, for a unique and sentimental evening

“The ceremony was the most important part for us. Martin’s brother officiated, and we added many personal touches that made it very meaningful. Martin’s family loves playing cards, so we used playing cards as our guest book,” Tori detailed. “My family has many artists and musicians, so we had them play during our ceremony. My brother, who is in the Sarasota Symphony, composed and performed the song I walked down the aisle to, which was such a special moment. I’m a professional dancer, so music was a huge priority and having an amazing band was a must; Noah Grey Music did not disappoint!”

The couple sought a photography team who could document their 100-guest November celebration with a natural approach that would yeild authentic, unstaged images filled with real emotion. They were blown away by their experience working with We The Blackwells, in both their attentive, professional methods as well as their stunning imagery.

“We wanted a photographer who could truly capture the emotions of the day via natural, candid moments rather than posed or generic shots. We The Blackwells checked every box we were looking for and they were fantastic to communicate with,” the bride raved. “I wanted photos that truly reflected the emotions of the day—nothing posed or stale—and they exceeded every expectation. Every shot feels so natural and full of life. And the 24-hour preview was such a thoughtful touch, too!”

Despite having to find a new venue due to weather-realted issues, the couple truly enjoyed in the entire wedding day experience thanks to their stellar wedding team, allowing them to savor a multitude of unforgettable moments throughout the celebration. A core memory for Tori was the couple’s first dance, which unfolded in front of their guests as a sweet surprise.

“About a month before our wedding, our original venue had to cancel due to hurricane damage. We went from planning a beach wedding to having our ceremony and reception at New College—a very different vibe! We rolled with the changes and relied on our vendors’ expertise to guide us. I’m incredibly grateful for our coordination team, who ensured we could fully soak in and enjoy every special moment and memory of the day,” the bride reminisced. “There were so many memorable moments! One that stood out was our first dance; we had everyone positioned for a group photo, and then, we started our first dance right there as a surprise, outside at sunset. It was such a magical moment, and the photos turned out incredible!”

The Proposal:
Martin proposed after one of my dance performances in Cleveland at a spot that was special to us. It was under a full moon, and I was completely surprised!

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted a photographer who could truly capture the emotions of the day via natural, candid moments rather than posed or generic shots.

We The Blackwells checked every box we were looking for and they were fantastic to communicate with. I wanted photos that truly reflected the emotions of the day—nothing posed or stale—and they exceeded every expectation. Every shot feels so natural and full of life. And the 24-hour preview was such a thoughtful touch, too!