Modern, Tropical Sarasota Wedding | Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Wedding
Kate and Devon’s modern Sarasota wedding featured tropical Florida chic decor and a black, white and gold color motif.
“Our theme was modern tropical, spotlighting pineapples. My mother has always loved pineapples, and growing up in the south, I love what pineapples represent (good ol’ southern hospitality),” the bride shared. “We as a couple both love the South Beach modern art deco style, so incorporating a modern South Beach vibe was our goal for the reception.”
To combine a tropical feel with modern decor, the bride and groom incorporated colorful uplighting, a checkered dance floor and lots of greenery.
“Our colors were mainly black and white, followed by gold and green from the tropical plants with pops of color. I love how classic black and white are, the sophistication of gold and the tropical natural feel of green from the plants,” Kate explained. “The white drapery with the pops of color gave the South Beach vibe we were going for.”
The Chicago bride and groom both grew up in Sarasota and knew that they needed a local wedding planner who was organized, hard working and very detail-oriented.
“Hiring Jennifer of Jennifer Matteo Event Planning was by far the best wedding decision my husband and I made. She checked every single box and then some. I remember sending her pictures of ideas I had for the wedding, and she made every single one of them into reality! She knocked it out of the park! She literally thinks of every little detail,” Kate gushed. “The majority of our vendors were referred to us by Jennifer; I trusted her opinion and work history with them. Every single one was amazing! Jennifer is absolutely amazing and made our wedding dreams reality!”
Looking back, one of the bride’s most cherished memories was seeing her groom for the first time on her wedding day.
“The most memorable moments were my husband and I locking eyes with each other for the first time coming down the aisle. It was such a magical moment we had waited so long for,” Kate reminisced.
The Proposal:
My husband proposed on November 25, at sunset on the South Jetty in Venice, FL. We were home for Thanksgiving break (my husband was in medical school, and I was in graduate nursing school), and we had plans to go out to dinner that night with his family. On our way to dinner, we stopped at the South Jetty because his brother, Wade, wanted to show us his new drone he just got. So while Wade was flying his drone, my husband and I were walking up and down the jetty, when all of a sudden he pulled on my dress, and I turned around to find him down on one knee. At first, I thought he had dropped something so I didn’t realize what was going on, but then I finally came to my senses!
Of course I accepted his proposal, and when we turned around, both of our families were waiting for us at the end of the jetty with bottles of champagne ready to celebrate! I was so surprised! Our families had made dinner reservations that night together to celebrate. Wade taped the whole proposal on his drone, and his sister, Tessa, taped it on her cell phone and made it into a video for us to remember. The whole night was so special!
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
I was looking for an organized, hard working and very detail-oriented wedding planner. Jennifer of Jennifer Matteo Event Planning checked every single box and then some! I remember looking her up on the Internet before I called her and thought to myself “her website is exactly the style and colors I love: black, white, and gold. This is a great sign!” She also had a gold pineapple in her office when we met! It was fate! Hiring Jennifer was by far the best wedding decision my husband and I made. I remember sending her pictures of ideas I had for the wedding, and she made every single one of them into reality!
Jennifer knocked it out of the park! She literally thinks of every little detail. The majority of our vendors were referred to us by her. I trusted her opinion and work history with them. We would hire them all again! Every single one was amazing! Also, I love Jennifer’s work ethic. She will not stop until it is perfect and done right! She is absolutely amazing and made our wedding dreams reality! She truly is the best!
How would you describe your theme?
Modern tropical, spotlighting pineapples. My mother has always loved pineapples, and growing up in the south I love what pineapples represent (good ol’ southern hospitality). I had the history of the pineapple printed on our wedding menus for our guests.
“Since Colonial America, the pineapple has been recognized as a traditional expression of welcome and hospitality throughout the South and Eastern Seaboard. Families would set out fresh pineapple when guests were invited over; the warmest welcome a family could extend to their guests. As such, we would like to extend our warmest welcome to our friends and family on our special day!”
What were your colors?
Mainly black and white, followed by gold and green from the tropical plants with pops of color. I love how classic black and white are, the sophistication of gold and the tropical natural feel of green from the plants. The white drapery with the pops of color gave the South Beach vibe we were going for.
What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
Wedding planning is stressful. Do not beat yourself up! Hiring a wedding planner is worth every penny! Enjoy every moment because it goes by in a blink of an eye. Make sure to take a moment with your husband on your big day to look at and enjoy all the hard work and planning you have done together.
Ceremony: Lido Beach
Reception Venue: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Photographer: Katelyn Prisco Photography
Planner: Jennifer Matteo Event Planning
Florist: Claudia’s Pearl Florist & Oh Darling Events
Reception Plants: Critter Ridge Landscape Contractors
Caterer: Modern Events Catering
Rentals: US Tent Rentals, Rental Depot, Palacios Events, So Staged
Cake: Cakes by Ron
DJ: Jam All Day Entertainment
Ceremony Music: Tasa & Rob
Cocktail Hour Music: Caladesi Steel Drum Band
Officiant: Grace Felice
Invitations: Write On Sarasota
Signage: Signs In One Day
Transportation: Sarasota Trolley
Dress Shop and Designer: The White Magnolia – Tara Keely
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: Dessy – Dessy Collection Vivian Diamond
Hair & Makeup: Brides by Kelly Anne
