Meredith and Michael's Sarasota wedding featured a modern black and white color palette with accents of champagne, tropical greenery, and eclectic bohemian details set against an elegant country club backdrop.
“I wanted unique and bold flowers that made our wedding feel unique and clean. I also wanted it to feel summery and effortless in all of the décor and details,” the bride explained. “I was on Pinterest and saw the use of tropical leaves in bouquets and table settings and immediately knew that was the vision and vibe for the wedding day. Our colors were matte black, deep green, champagne, and white. I wanted timeless colors with a modern touch in the execution.”
Meredith wasted no time finding ideas and inspiration for her May wedding by browsing the real weddings featured on Marry Me Tampa Bay.
“Marry Me Tampa Bay was one of the first places I went when we first got engaged! I went there to look at other vendors close to the Tampa area and look for inspiration,” the bride revealed. “The real weddings found on the site are like the realistic and helpful Pinterest board you always needed. You can be linked to things that resemble your style without any hassle thanks to all of the wedding vendors being listed.”
The Lakeland couple chose Lakewood Ranch since the groom grew up nearby and knew the area offered all the conveniences they would need for their 96 guests. They sought a wedding venue with a combination of clean and modern indoor and outdoor spaces that could be personalized to fit their wedding style.
“We chose The Concession Golf Club because they were extremely accommodating, helpful, and provided many additional services other venues did not,” Meredith raved. “They were able to provide food, drinks, and cake in-house as well as providing the option to use their tables, chairs, and linens. They offered a space to get ready the day of and the ability to drop off all of our wedding décor the evening of the rehearsal dinner. The Concession Golf Club allowed me to own the space and use my creativity to dream up the big day.”
The bride and groom embraced their own styles and ensured their wedding details were a reflection of their personalities from their attire to the way their tables were decorated.
“Although our wedding was formal in many ways, we wanted to bring in our casual style to the day. From me wearing tennis shoes to having a Be Our Guest play as the food was served to the guests,” the bride beamed. “We made things feel goofy and ‘us.' There was even intention with the table design. I wanted it to feel eclectic, casual, and original. That is my style at home, and I wanted that to translate on the day!”
While the day was designed with the guests in mind,Meredith and Michael made spending time alone to savor the intimate moments a priority.
“Finding pockets of time together as bride and groom was important for us. We found that in doing private worship and communion, taking our pictures together away from where the guests were, and doing a private dance before our sparkler exit,” the bride revealed.
The celebration was filled with many special moments, but one of the most memorable surprises occurred during the reception toasts courtesy of the bride's sisters.
“Our wedding had so many special and unexpected moments, but one of the most memorable was when my Maid of Honor and Matron of Honor, who are also my sisters, rapped a song for my husband and me at the end of their speeches. It was surprising, full of laughter, tears, and deep joy,” Meredith reminisced.
The Proposal:
The proposal was nine months prior, and I was completely surprised! I was told I was going to do a photoshoot, little did I know that Michael, both of our families, and our friends were waiting for me there! I walked in and Michael was standing there with flowers, a picnic basket, and a big smile. After I cried a lot and he proposed, our family and friends ran out, and we had a huge charcuterie picnic with everyone.
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
We wanted a venue that was clean and timeless but also had a warmth to it. It was important for us to find a place with the right balance of indoor and outdoor spaces and a venue that had a secluded place to take photos as a newlywed couple.
We chose The Concession Golf Club because they were extremely accommodating, helpful, and provided many additional services other venues did not. They were able to provide food, drinks, and cake in-house as well as providing the option to use their tables, chairs, and linens. They offered a space to get ready the day of and the ability to drop off all of our wedding décor the evening of the rehearsal dinner. The Concession Golf Club allowed me to own the space and use my creativity to dream up the big day.
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bridesmaids surprised me with my bachelorette trip and location, so I had no part in the planning part, however, they blew me away! We stayed in an Airbnb in Bluffton, South Carolina, and went into Savannah, Georgia for some of the trip! It was the “The Bachelorette” themed, which is truly the most fitting choice due to my love for that show!
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Our honeymoon was a complete surprise to me. Going into the wedding planning process, I wanted to make sure my fiancé would have something to plan that he wanted to. I knew he was excited about the honeymoon, so he planned all of it, and I found out where we were going at the airport. It was one of my favorite parts of our wedding process, not to mention he did such an amazing job planning!
We went to Sandals Resort in Whitehouse, Jamaica and stayed in an overwater bungalow. He chose this location because he knew we would want to relax and eat great food, but also get to do adventurous things we love like snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
I wanted unique and bold flowers that made our wedding feel unique and clean. I also wanted it to feel summery and effortless in all of the décor and details. I was on Pinterest and saw the use of tropical leaves in bouquets and table settings and immediately knew that was the vision and vibe for the wedding day. I wanted it to feel eclectic, casual, and original.
What were your colors?
Matte black, deep green, champagne, and white. I wanted timeless colors with a modern touch in the execution.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
I can truly say every single vendor I would recommend to any bride. They all exceeded my expectations and made my wedding day so beautiful. Each one took the time to know me, my style, and my vision. Even more, they checked in on me throughout the wedding process. I am extremely blessed that I had the dream team on our wedding day.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Weddings are extremely exciting but can have stressful moments. My two pieces of advice would be to talk about the things that are important to you in a wedding with your partner and divide and conquer. It will never be even but make it a team thing as much as possible.
The other piece of advice would be to develop a relationship with your vendors. You want to know them and for them to know you. The more they understand your personality, style, vision, and ideas, the greater the execution on the big day!
Ceremony and Reception Venue, Caterer, and Cake: The Concession Golf Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Brianna Kim Photography
Planner and DJ: Crown Entertainment
Florist: Alyssa Maldonado Design
Rentals: So Staged & U.S. Tent Rentals
Officiant: John Hoffman
Invitations: Created on Canva – Printed through Zola
Dress Shop: A&Be Bridal (Miami)
Shoe Designer: Grace Loves Lace
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Show Me Your MuMu
Makeup: Krista Worth
Hair: Katie Dion
Rehearsal Dinner: Oak & Stone
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
*Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pros are highly respected by our local wedding community and have been personally vetted by our editor.
