Nanda and Seth’s destination Sarasota wedding seamlessly blended their multi-cultural backgrounds with elegant floral arrangements, thoughtful details, and the breathtaking backdrop of a historic Mediterranean-style mansion overlooking the waterfront.

“We would describe our theme as a romantic Italian garden, La Dolce Vita. During a trip to Tuscany, we fell in love with the region’s charm and wanted to bring that inspiration to our wedding,” the bride beamed. “Our vision was an al fresco celebration surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant pops of color, and plenty of lemons. We chose a palette of blue, yellow, and natural tones like beige and olive green to complement the Italian garden aesthetic, creating the perfect atmosphere for our celebration.”

The Georgia couple chose the Suncoast for their Italian-inspired October wedding, drawn to its deep personal significance and the opportunity to create a memorable experience for their guests.

“We live in Atlanta, GA, and chose Sarasota for our wedding because we love the area. It’s where we took one of our first vacations together more than six years ago. With Seth originally from Connecticut and me from Germany, 100% of our guests traveled in for the wedding. We wanted to provide an attractive and enjoyable destination where guests could extend their stay before and/or after the wedding.”

Since the pair hosted a Florida destination wedding, having a trustworthy and experienced planner was essential. From their very first conversation with Ashley Johnson of B Eventful, Nanda and Seth knew they were in the best hands.

“What mattered most to us in a wedding planner was reliability, responsiveness, trustworthiness, execution, and knowledge of the local area and vendors, especially since we were planning from out of state. We also wanted a planner with experience at our venue, as well as a working style and personality that aligned with ours,” the bride explained. “From the very start, Ashley Johnson of B Eventful was an absolute pleasure to work with. During our consultation call, she focused on getting to know us and our vision, making the conversation feel warm and personal—more like chatting with a friend than a sales pitch. Unlike others, she wasn’t pushy or focused on listing her past accomplishments. Instead, she truly listened, which we deeply appreciated.”

“Throughout the planning process, Ashley was flexible, responsive, and incredibly supportive, promptly addressing any questions or concerns while providing thoughtful recommendations to bring our vision to life. On our wedding day, Ashley and Aria went above and beyond, ensuring we had food and drinks, handling any hiccups before we even noticed, and coordinating vendors seamlessly. Their flawless execution allowed us to relax and fully enjoy every moment. Ashley and her team genuinely care about the couples they work with, and it shows,” the bride raved. “With them by our side, we felt completely supported and knew we were in the best hands. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we had the most incredible day imaginable.”

For the wedding ceremony, authenticity and personalization were essential. With 95 guests in attendance, the couple blended their German, American, and Jewish backgrounds, incorporating meaningful traditions while ensuring the ceremony felt personally curated, with Seth’s cousin officiating.

“We wanted our wedding to feel unique and deeply personal, blending our cultures without adhering too closely to traditional norms. It was important that our ceremony reflected our story and was led by someone we knew and trusted. Alyssa (the groom’s cousin) made the ceremony incredibly personal, weaving in cherished memories of Seth and her first impressions of me, creating a moment that was truly one-of-a-kind,” the bride detailed. “What truly made our day unique was the ceremony, which we customized to reflect who we are. It was exactly what we had hoped for—intimate, meaningful, and uniquely ours.”

The couple also infused their love for music into the day, choosing a string quartet to perform unconventional processional songs.

“The bridal party entered to Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), while I, a devoted ABBA fan, made a memorable entrance walking down the aisle to a classical version of Dancing Queen—one of my favorite songs. It was such a fun and special way to begin the ceremony!” the bride beamed.

Honoring tradition while adding a personal twist, the bride and groom incorporated elements of a Jewish-American wedding with German influences, including a steinkrug for the wine blessing, a German pretzel in place of challah, and a trilingual ketubah in Hebrew, English, and German. They also included Baumstamm sägen, a Bavarian log-cutting ceremony symbolizing their first challenge as a married couple.

“Nanda and Seth’s celebration beautifully blended elements of their rich cultural heritages, from the romantic Italian garden and La Dolce Vita theme to the thoughtful integration of German, American, and Jewish traditions,” Ashley Johnson, owner and lead planner of B Eventful revealed. “It was a joy to see how the floral designs from Tuli Floral and the rentals from Southern Chair brought our vision to life, creating a truly unique and memorable event. A standout moment was the Baumstamm sägen—an unforgettable and meaningful tradition that I was honored to be part of.”

“Friends and family gathered around to cheer us on during this meaningful and symbolic act,” the bride added.

The bride wore a stunning A-line gown featuring a draped bodice and a subtle front split, exuding elegance and sophistication. She wore her hair down in soft, delicate waves, adding a touch of romance to her effortlessly chic bridal look. Nanda wanted timeless and natural style, opting for a look that enhanced her features rather than masking them, achieving an effortless yet polished glow.

“My wedding day beauty inspiration was Sofia Richie’s natural makeup—I wanted something that felt like ‘me.’ the bride revealed .”The art of makeup is about enhancing your natural beauty, not masking it. Femme Akoi Beauty Studio was recommended to me, and after browsing their Instagram, I was immediately drawn to Ana Grace’s beautiful work. She was easy and fun to work with, took the time to understand my vision, and made sure every detail aligned with my wishes. The entire experience was seamless.”

Some of the most memorable moments of the day were filled with raw emotion, pure joy, and unexpected surprises that made the celebration even more special.

“Walking down the aisle was such an emotional moment—seeing each other for the first time and finally letting go of everything we had been holding in. It was pure joy, and for a brief moment, it felt like time stood still,” the bride reminisced. “During the ceremony, we paused to take in the sight of all our guests, so many of whom had traveled from across the country and abroad to celebrate with us. It was a powerful reminder of the incredible love and support surrounding us. Our first dance was another unforgettable moment—just the two of us, completely in the moment, singing along, focusing on each other, and soaking it all in. Then came The Hora, which was such a blast, but the look on Seth’s face is something I will never forget. As we were lifted up in the chairs, he was holding on for dear life while everyone cheered. It was such a fun moment that perfectly captured the energy and spirit of our celebration.”

“One of our favorite memories from the day actually came from what could have been seen as a mishap,” the bride joked. “For our grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs. Kirschner, we were supposed to walk down the stairs from the balcony, but the doors were stuck shut. Thinking quickly, I noticed the window next to the door was wide open and suggested we climb through right as the DJ was about to announce our names! Seth’s immediate reaction was, ‘I think my pants are going to rip,’ but a second later, we were both crawling through that tiny window. It wasn’t what we had planned, but it was spontaneous, fun, and so us. Only we knew what had happened (until now), which made it feel even more special. It’s a funny little moment that always brings a smile to our faces when we look back on our wedding day.”

The Proposal:
It was December, and we were staying at my parents’ home in Germany. One evening, I went out for dinner with my girlfriends while Seth stayed behind with my parents. Throughout the night, he kept texting me, asking when I’d be home—and honestly, it felt a little suspicious.

When I finally walked in on that quiet Thursday night, I was surprised to see Seth standing there in a button-down shirt. My first thought was, Why is he dressed up? And why isn’t he hanging out with my parents? Then, he handed me an envelope and told me a scavenger hunt was waiting for me. Each envelope contained a clue, leading me through the house as my excitement grew. The final clue brought me to the garden outside, which had been completely transformed. Hundreds of candles, twinkling lights, and rose petals surrounded me, creating the most magical atmosphere. That’s when Seth got down on one knee.

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
What mattered most to us in a wedding planner was reliability, responsiveness, trustworthiness, execution, and knowledge of the local area and vendors, especially since we were planning from out of state. We also wanted a planner with experience at our venue, as well as a working style and personality that aligned with ours.

From the very start, Ashley Johnson of B Eventful was an absolute pleasure to work with. During our consultation call, she focused on getting to know us and our vision, making the conversation feel warm and personal—more like chatting with a friend than a sales pitch. Unlike others, she wasn’t pushy or focused on listing her past accomplishments. Instead, she truly listened, which we deeply appreciated

Throughout the planning process, Ashley was flexible, responsive, and incredibly supportive, promptly addressing any questions or concerns while providing thoughtful recommendations to bring our vision to life. On our wedding day, Ashley and Aria went above and beyond, ensuring we had food and drinks, handling any hiccups before we even noticed, and coordinating vendors seamlessly. Their flawless execution allowed us to relax and fully enjoy every moment. Ashley and her team genuinely care about the couples they work with, and it shows. With them by our side, we felt completely supported and knew we were in the best hands. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we had the most incredible day imaginable.

What was your wedding day beauty inspiration?
My wedding day beauty inspiration was Sofia Richie’s natural makeup—I wanted something that felt like ‘me.’ The art of makeup is about enhancing your natural beauty, not masking it.

Femme Akoi Beauty Studio was recommended to me, and after browsing their Instagram, I was immediately drawn to Ana Grace’s beautiful work. She was easy and fun to work with, took the time to understand my vision, and made sure every detail aligned with my wishes. The entire experience was seamless.