Luxurious Outdoor Sperry Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Luxurious White and Blue Tented Sarasota Wedding | The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Log in to Marry Me Tampa Bay to save your favorite vendors, venues, and wedding inspiration.

Need to register? Click here.

Erin and Justin’s luxurious Sarasota beach wedding combined soft blue and white hues with classic coastal elements indicative of Florida’s “isle style,” creating a memorable resort weekend.

“We love it living on the gulf coast of Florida and couldn’t have found a more beautiful location for our wedding. Our inspiration for the wedding was classic and timeless white and blues with southern and Florida touches,” the bride explained. “I wanted the wedding design to complement the natural backdrop of our venue.”

The Pennsylvania high school sweethearts had relocated to Sarasota for medical school and fell in love with the area for their wedding. They wanted their guests to experience the locale’s renowned coastline and lush landscape along with resort accommodations.

“When looking for a wedding venue the two most important factors were having a waterfront ceremony location and a large lawn that could be used for a tented reception. Because most of our guests were from out of town, it was also important for our venue to be in close proximity to the airport and have a lot of nearby accommodations,” the bride shared. “I changed our venue three times before settling on the Longboat Key Club, and we couldn’t have been happier. I always wanted to get married in front of the ocean but not on the sand, so the grass lawn at our venue provided the perfect location. The staff, especially Ayla, went above and beyond to make our day perfect. She even had soft pretzels and beers sent to the guys the morning of the wedding and chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne waiting in our room after the wedding.”

The couple prioritized their 75 guests’ experience by hosting an April weekend filled with festivities so that they could enjoy everyone’s company following the pandemic.

“The most important elements of the wedding for us were great food and amazing music. It was the first time since we moved away four years ago that we had both of our families and all of our friends together, so we wanted the entire weekend to feel like one giant party!” the bride revealed. “We had a welcome party the day before at a local beer garden for all of our guests in lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner, an after-party following the wedding, and a beach day the day after. We truly never wanted the weekend to end.”

Despite the whirlwind of activities throughout the celebration, Erin and Justin made sure to steal away for some alone time where they could savor their wedding day experience.

“My biggest piece of advice to couples planning their wedding is to find time during the day to just be together and take it all in. I was hesitant about doing a first look but it really helped calm my nerves prior to walking down the aisle, and it was nice to have that time together with no pressure,” the bride suggested. “After the ceremony, while our guests were being shuttled to the reception, our photographer wanted to take some photos of us in front of our ceremony arch. We stood there together for a few minutes just looking out at the beach and enjoying our first few moments as husband and wife. It was one of my favorite parts of the day.”

Florida Wedding Venue, South Beach at The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Elegant Wedding Invitation and Stationary Suite, Dusty Blue and White Envelopes, Ivory Florals, Silver Serving Tray
Luxurious Florida Wedding Florals, Elegant White Bridal Bouquet with Exotic Orchids, Ivory Roses, and Babys Breath Gypsophila
Luxurious Provinias Wedding Dress with Floral Appliqué Sleeves and Fitted Corset, Hanging From Balcony Overlooking Gulf of Mexico | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Florida Bride Getting Ready Overlooking Balcony of Gulf of Mexico, Wearing Provinias Wedding Dress with Floral Off the Shoulder Sleeves | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Florida Bride Wearing Provinias Wedding Dress with Floral Applique Off the Shoulder Sleeves with Sweetheart Neckline, Braided Updo, Luxurious Round Ivory Floral Bouquet with Orchids
Florida Bride Wearing Provinias Wedding Dress with Floral Applique Off the Shoulder Sleeves with Sweetheart Neckline, Braided Updo, Luxurious Round Ivory Floral Bouquet with Orchids | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Luxurious Florida Wedding Florals, Elegant White Bridal Bouquet with Exotic Orchids, Ivory Roses, and Babys Breath Gypsophila

The Proposal:
After 10 years of dating, Justin finally popped the question on our favorite beach at sunset. He even flew down both his sister and my best friend to surprise me. We had a two-year engagement which allowed for honestly a very stress-free planning experience (except for planning around COVID!)

Sarasota Bride and Groom First Look, Groom in White Tuxedo Jacket, Bride Wearing Provinias Wedding Dress | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Florida Bride and Bridal Party, Wearing Beige Mismatched Long Birdy Grey Bridesmaids Dresses, Holding White Floral Bouquets, Bride Wearing Off The Should Wedding Dress
Elegant Florida Wedding Party, Groomsmen Wearing Classic Black Tuxedos, Bridesmaids in Long Mismatched Beige Birdie Grey Dresses | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Harbourside Lawn
Luxurious Garden Wedding Decor, Acrylic Welcome Sign with Black Matte Stand
Luxurious Wedding Ceremony Arch, White and Ivory Florals with Greenery
Luxurious Wedding Ceremony Arch, White and Ivory Florals with Greenery | The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Harbourside Lawn
Waterfront Wedding Ceremony, Bride and Groom Exchange Vows at Modern Circle Floral Arch with Classic White and Greenery Florals | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Beach Lawn
Waterfront Wedding Ceremony, Bride and Groom Exchange Vows at Modern Circle Floral Arch with Classic White and Greenery Florals | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Beach Lawn

What did you look for in a wedding venue?

When looking for a wedding venue the two most important factors were having a waterfront ceremony location and a large lawn that could be used for a tented reception. Because most of our guests were from out of town, it was also important for our venue to be in close proximity to the airport and have a lot of nearby accommodations.

I changed our venue three times before settling on the Longboat Key Club and we couldn’t have been happier. I always wanted to get married in front of the ocean but not on the sand, so the grass lawn at our venue provided the perfect location. The staff, especially Ayla, went above and beyond to make our day perfect. She even had soft pretzels and beers sent to the guys the morning of the wedding and chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne waiting in our room after the wedding.

Waterfront Wedding Ceremony, Bride and Groom Kiss at Processional, Modern Circle Floral Arch with Classic White and Greenery Florals | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Beach Lawn
Waterfront Wedding Ceremony, Bride and Groom at Modern Circle Floral Arch with Classic White and Greenery Florals | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Beach Lawn

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We spent our honeymoon in Bora Bora and had the most amazing trip. We had to postpone it to two months after our wedding due to COVID restrictions but it was absolutely worth the wait. 

Sarasota Bride and Groom on Marina and Yacht Deck at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Sarasota Bride and Groom on Yacht Deck at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Sarasota Bride and Groom on Yacht Deck at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Luxurious Outdoor Sperry Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

“When looking for a wedding venue the two most important factors were having a waterfront ceremony location and a large lawn that could be used for a tented reception. The staff at the Longboat Key Club went above and beyond to make our day perfect.”

-The Bride

Luxurious Outdoor Tented Florida Reception Decor, Seating Chart, Handwritten Hanging Chart
Elegant Florida Garden Wedding Reception Decor, Blush Pink Velvet Couch with Modern Gold Furniture for Cocktail Hour
Elegant Florida Outdoor Garden Wedding with Luxurious Signature Cocktails and Water painted drink Menu
Florida Wedding Reception Decor and Details, Watercolor Custom Couple Seal, Dusty Blue and Greenery on Outdoor Game Table

What was your theme/inspiration?
Classic and timeless white and blues with southern and Florida touches. I wanted the wedding design to complement the natural backdrop of our venue. 

Luxurious Outdoor Sperry Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Luxurious Outdoor Sperry Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Elegant Florida Wedding Reception Decor and Details, Natural Wood Element Circle Charger, Neutral Table Linen, Ivory and White Florals with Greenery, Dusty Blue Napkins
Elegant Florida Garden Wedding Reception Decor and Details, Custom Watercolor Table Number with Low Floral Centerpieces,
Elegant Florida Wedding Reception Decor and Details, Natural Wood Element Circle Charger, Neutral Table Linen, Ivory and White Florals with Greenery, Dusty Blue Napkins
Luxurious Outdoor Sperry Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Elegant Outdoor Garden Wedding Reception Decor, Low Ivory Floral Centerpieces with White Linens on Feasting Tables with Blue Tapper Candles
Luxurious Outdoor Tented Reception at Harbourside Lawn | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Sarasota Bride and Groom First Dance in Sperry Tented Garden Reception with Market Lighting and Hanging Greenery | Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club | South Harbourside Lawn

Which vendors exceeded your expectations?
Our wedding planning team was amazing. From helping us navigate the process of finding vendors to creating an overall design and making sure our day ran seamlessly, we couldn’t have done it without them. Even if you don’t have a full-service planner, make sure you have at least a day of coordinator to make your day as stress-free as possible. 

Florida Bride and Groom Grand Cold Sparkler Exit on Red Carpet to Classic White Rolls Royce Getaway Car

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
My biggest piece of advice to couples planning their wedding is to find time during the day to just be together and take it all in. I was hesitant about doing a first look but it really helped calm my nerves prior to walking down the aisle and it was nice to have that time together with no pressure. 

After the ceremony, while our guests were being shuttled to the reception, our photographer wanted to take some photos of us in front of our ceremony arch. We stood there together for a few minutes after just looking out at the beach and enjoying our first few moments as husband and wife. It was one of my favorite parts of the day. 

Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pros

Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.

Feature Credits

Vendors and venues marked with

are Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros and have been personally vetted by our editor.

Ceremony/Reception Venue and Caterer:The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Rehearsal Dinner VenueMandeville Beer Garden
VideographyWild Light Films
Florists/DecorVictoria Blooms
Cakes & DessertCakes by Ron
RentalsSo Staged
RentalsBBJ Linens
DJ/Band & Live EntertainmentSRQ Violinist Matt Dendy
DJ/Band & Live EntertainmentC'Nergy Band
Limo and TransportationSRQ Trolley Sarasota
Dress and Bridesmaid AttireCalvet Couture Sarasota
Dress and Bridesmaid AttirePronovias
Bridesmaids DressesBirdy Grey
Invitations & StationeryGingerly Design Co
Invitations & StationeryAndi Mejia + Co
Invitations & StationeryAndi Mejia + Co

About the Author

Anna Coats

Marry Me Tampa Bay editor Anna Coats created Marry Me Tampa Bay in 2012 to showcase the area’s best local weddings and vendors. She has been featured as a wedding expert on the national talk show Daytime, Fox13, ABC Action News, Great Day Tampa Bay, and Bay News 9 (now Spectrum).

View More Like This

Find Wedding Vendors
& Venues in Tampa Bay

We’ve done the research for you! Find the best Tampa Bay wedding vendors and venues for your wedding.

Search for Venues
Search for Vendors