Jenna and Travis’ destination waterfront Sarasota wedding featured an outdoor black-tie celebration during the glowing golden hour of Florida’s warm winter. The bride and groom selected a timeless color palette with natural greenery, winter white roses, and soft champagne-toned accents throughout the décor.

“Our wedding had a rustic and romantic theme. The beautiful bay, incredible sunsets, and historic charm that our venue had to offer made our decision very easy,” the bride beamed. “Our colors were white, green, and champagne; we wanted to keep everything neutral so the natural beauty of the venue could shine!”

The Miami couple chose Sarasota because of its historic venue and turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay for décor ideas.

“I would look at Marry Me Tampa Bay’s real weddings for design and floral inspiration. It was extremely helpful to see how certain colors and designs tied together,” Jenna shared. 

The 125-guest ceremony and reception took place in a Mediterranean-inspired courtyard with romantic string lighting and sunset views. The bride and groom exchanged vows under a breathtaking floral arch while A Wedding with Grace officiated the nuptials.

“We wanted an officiant who was able to truly highlight our love for each other. We didn’t want an overly long and drawn-out ceremony, so we wanted someone to be able to accomplish that in a direct and elegant way,” Jenna explained. “We fell in love with A Wedding with Grace the first time we met her. Grace took ample time getting to know Travis and me and was able to deeply connect with us. She brought the best out of us and tied our love story together so beautifully. Grace paid close attention to what we wanted to focus on and really made our ceremony special.”

To incorporate their fun and energetic personalities, the pair included a custom menu and fun sayings throughout the décor, such as “Our Favorite People” for the seating chart and “Let’s Eat” on the plated-menu stationery.

“Travis loves all the junk food. He made sure to have a widespread supply of Chick-fil-A for the groomsmen while getting ready, and of course, had his favorite fried chicken and waffles as one of our hors d’oeuvres,” Jenna revealed. “We made sure to have our favorite drinks as our specialty cocktails; a Moscow Mule for myself and rum punch for Travis. Having our cocktail hour by the bay and being able to watch the sunset was a must!

The bride and groom sought out a wedding photography and videography duo whose photojournalistic style could capture their love story. Garry and Stacy Photography Co.’s shining personalities and full-service team were the perfect fit.

“Travis and I are definitely more awkward around the camera, so we wanted a photography team that made us feel comfortable. We wanted to see our true selves in the photos without having anything feel forced or staged,” Jenna explained. “Garry and Stacy Photography Co.’s personalities could not be more comforting, and they had us feeling like naturals in front of the camera! Ryan, the videographer, put together the most unique video capturing all of our special moments. They truly made our wedding day unforgettable.”

The February wedding weekend was filled with lasting memories, with one of the milestone moments occurring when the pair were introduced as husband and wife.

“It was a surreal moment being introduced as Dr. and Dr. Altman for the first time. Our first dance was one of our favorite moments. We would practice our dance in the kitchen weeks before the wedding, and on our wedding night, it all became so real; dancing to our song as husband and wife with our family and friends circled around us as the sun was setting was magical,” the bride reminisced.

The Proposal:
Travis and I booked a trip to Colorado for our winter break. I knew something was up when Travis wanted to plan our first day there (he isn’t much of a planner). When we got to Boulder, Travis insisted on going for a walk in Chautauqua Park. As we approached a giant rock overlooking the beautiful flatiron mountains, Travis got on one knee. It was all a blur, but obviously, I said “YES!”

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Rustic and romantic. The beautiful bay, incredible sunsets, and historic charm that our venue had to offer made our decision very easy!

What were your colors? 
White, green, and champagne; we wanted to keep everything neutral so the natural beauty of the venue could shine! 

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Turks and Caicos. We only had a week due to our hectic work schedules, so we wanted to choose somewhere we could get to easily. It was the perfect destination for us because all we wanted to do was relax after wedding planning! We told ourselves we would do another delayed honeymoon in Europe at a later date, so we are going to Tuscany, Italy!

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
Austin, Texas. It was relatively easy for my friends to travel to and offered all the fun activities I wanted to do: a beautiful lake, Lake Travis, which was perfect for me, and wineries, bars, and restaurants. Travis planned his bachelor party in Savannah, where they golfed and enjoyed Southern food and drinks.

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Our wedding planner and our photography team. Our day couldn’t have happened without them! Their hard work and dedication to making everything perfect helped make our night unforgettable.

What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay couples?
Enjoy the planning process as much as possible. It can get stressful at times, but remember that this is your special day. Don’t spend too much time focusing on everyone else! Unexpected things or obstacles are bound to pop up at the last minute. Try to relax and just enjoy the day because it flies by!