Emily and Nick
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
“Nick and I are super active and love to be outside, which is why we knew we wanted an outdoor venue. The garden made for the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and cocktail hour overlooking the water and sunset. We wanted the wedding to feel chic and editorial, yet unfussy — very much a ‘less is more’ approach.
To complement our minimalist aesthetic, I wanted the color palette to feel equally restrained and intentional. We grounded it in natural, organic tones, shades of green and white, while adding a subtle pop of color as a nod to getting married in the Sunshine State. The bridesmaids wore mismatched lilac dresses of their choosing, and the florals featured soft accents of purple in varying shades.”
—The Bride
FEATURING
Emily and Nick’s elegant destination Sarasota wedding featured neutral tones of white and green with accents of lilac and mauve, mirroring the lush surroundings of the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The Chicago bride and groom hosted 150 treasured guests for an outdoor October ceremony followed by a chic ballroom reception filled with candlelight and minimalist decor.
“One of our favorite moments was our vows during the ceremony,” the bride revealed. “Nick and I aren’t always the most PDA couple, so this was something a little out of character for us, but I felt passionate about doing personal vows. We were so glad we did it. It made our ceremony deeply personal and helped set a beautiful foundation for our marriage.
The Bach Party & Honeymoon
“My bachelorette was in Newport, RI. I love it out East, and my mom is from the East Coast and went to school in Rhode Island, so this was a place we vacationed growing up. I love how charming it is there. We went sailing, played pickleball, shopped, and walked around downtown and had great dinners!
Nick and I went to Portugal for two weeks on our honeymoon. We wanted to go somewhere out of the country, as we love to travel, but also had a mix of relaxation (good food, wine, etc.) and exploring.”
The Proposal
“Nick proposed on a summer day in Chicago on the rooftop of the London House Hotel overlooking the city! Our friends came out after the proposal as a surprise, and we were on cloud nine.”
The Guest Experience
“Nick and I live in downtown Chicago, but both have strong family ties to Florida. My parents live in St. Petersburg now, my grandparents live outside Tampa, and Nick’s parents previously lived in Sarasota. It felt like a no-brainer to bring all of our loved ones together in a place that holds so much meaning for us as a couple! Because so many of our friends were traveling in from the Midwest, the guest experience was always top of mind. Our resort venue made the weekend feel effortless and special — our guests were blown away by the service.
We were really focused on creating an amazing guest experience and paid close attention to every detail. We worked closely with the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, to personalize the menu, dishes like Kona-rubbed beef tenderloin and marinated snapper with ginger and garlic, since Nick and I love cooking together. We also both have a big sweet tooth, so a gelato cart was a must. We chose Paciugo Gelato in St. Pete, a spot near my parents that we love.
To top it all off, spending the next day with friends and family at the Ritz’s private beach club was the perfect way to end our wedding weekend. Having everyone together on-site made the wedding feel like a true getaway, and we loved continuing the celebration with a beach club party the next day. The thoughtfulness behind every detail at the Ritz did not go unnoticed, and it made the entire weekend feel seamless for everyone.”
The Planning
MDP Events
“We wanted a planner who was super organized, patient, and responsive for our day-of coordinator, and Lauren Gertz-Bisbee at MDP Events checked all of those boxes and more!
Nick and I immediately connected with Lauren on our first phone call and knew we wanted to work with her. We had to navigate changing wedding venues halfway through the process, and Lauren was amazing — giving us sound advice throughout and helping us remain calm through a challenging time. We had zero concerns or worries on the day of the wedding because we knew MDP had everything under control. We were truly so lucky to have worked with the MDP team.”
From The Planner
“Emily and Nick’s wedding beautifully showcases how whimsical romance and modern elegance can blend seamlessly across both garden and ballroom settings. Their celebration at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, highlighted a cohesive design story from start to finish, with textured florals, layered candlelight, and thoughtful details such as potted orchids, fluted tealights, and gold table lamps, creating an atmosphere that felt intimate, elevated, and distinctly their own.
A standout element worth noting is the couple’s commitment to crafting an experience-driven celebration. The addition of a charming gelato cart for dessert, paired with intentional design choices that emphasized warmth and hospitality, made the day feel immersive, heartfelt, and visually captivating.”
– Lauren Gertz-Bisbee, MDP Events
The Inspiration
“Nick and I are super active and love to be outside, which is why we knew we wanted an outdoor venue. The garden made for the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and cocktail hour overlooking the water and sunset. We wanted the wedding to feel chic and editorial, yet unfussy — very much a ‘less is more’ approach. To complement our minimalist aesthetic, I wanted the color palette to feel equally restrained and intentional. We grounded it in natural, organic tones, shades of green and white, while adding a subtle pop of color as a nod to getting married in the Sunshine State. The bridesmaids wore mismatched lilac dresses of their choosing, and the florals featured soft accents of purple in varying shades.
For the florals, we leaned into an organic, architectural aesthetic, with two overgrown arrangements flanking the ceremony staircase and orchids displayed in unique vessels to complete the look. I wanted the florals to echo my dress, which was sculptural in design, featuring a fitted basque waist bodice and a dramatic tulle skirt.
Nick’s family loves piña coladas, so one special touch we had was serving piña colada shooters during cocktail hour. I’m also very into art and design, so I loved creating our wedding invitations, to give guests a sneak peek at our wedding aesthetic and set the tone.”
The Entertainment
Tampa Bay DJ Company
“We realized Tampa Bay DJ Company was a popular choice when looking at past weddings in Sarasota and was recommended by many of our vendors. They were super easy to work with and communicative.”
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We loved our photographers, Jess and Jordan, of Everence Photography. They have such a unique style, and all of their photos turn out absolutely dreamy. They made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera, and we truly enjoyed having them with us on the day of the wedding. Our florist, Arms Of Persephone Floral Design, also blew us away. With florals, you don’t really know what the end output is going to look like until the day of the wedding, and Regan exceeded all expectations. Our guests are still talking about the floral arrangements her team created to flank our ceremony staircase. Lastly, MDP Events was amazing — we had not a worry in the world the day of our wedding because we knew Lauren and her team had everything covered.
What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
Try not to overthink everything! Go with your gut and do what feels right to you as a couple.
