Wedding

Romantic, Tented Sarasota Beach Wedding | Resort at Longboat Key Club

Best Tampa Bay Wedding Photographers

Jessica and Daniel's waterfront Sarasota wedding boasted beach views, a neutral palette of natural greenery with soft white and gold accents, and romantic candlelight.

Since the wedding was on the beach we knew we didn’t want a beach-themed wedding, per se. My mom is an interior designer and has the best taste ever, so I truly followed her lead in the design department. The wedding didn’t have a true theme, but the design inspiration came from a love for natural décor and the use of greenery and flowers for decoration. We love natural lighting and candlelight, so we knew we wanted a lot of candles,” the bride shared. “The bridesmaids wore a deeper champagne-mauve color called dusty rose, and the groomsmen wore navy suits with white shirts. As for the ceremony, we had all-white decorations with gold accents and a lot of greenery and white flowers. We chose all of these colors to complement the natural colors that the beach and golf course already had.”

The Atlanta couple had long since vacationed to Longboat Key and were even engaged in the area, so choosing the locale to host their celebration was an effortless and sentimental decision. A beachfront ceremony and inclusive on-site conveniences were their top priority, and upon seeing the venue virtually they immediately booked it without even stepping foot on the property.

“From the second we had our meeting with the Resort at Longboat Key Club we knew we wanted to have our wedding there. We actually weren’t able to go there in person at the time (due to COVID and travel restrictions), so my mom went and met with Ayla and FaceTimed us during the meeting and tour. After that we booked it sight unseen!” the bride revealed. “We chose them specifically for their location and beachfront access, as well as the various amenities they offered. Their service was absolutely incredible, I truly can’t sing their praises enough! Ayla, their wedding coordinator, truly handled everything amazingly and made the entire planning process stress-free. We are still getting compliments about the food almost a year later!”

When searching for an officiant to perform their October wedding ceremony, the pair wanted someone who could customize the ceremony to incorporate certain traditions, but also someone with whom they could instantly connect so that the ceremony was a reflection of their relationship.

“The second that we met Grace from A Wedding With Grace we knew she was the perfect fit for our officiant,” Jessica beamed. “She is so warm and welcoming and truly takes an interest in you as a couple. She was able to tell our story better than we ever could have and made the ceremony so intimate, personal, and special. She met with us multiple times before the big day to make sure that everything was going well and to go over her plans with us. We had such a great time getting to know her that we still keep in touch and have even gotten together with her and our dog, Willa!”

Jessica and Daniel were high school sweethearts, and their group of close-knit friends and family who attended their intimatedestination wedding truly made the celebration feel unique.

My husband and I have been together since we were 17-years-old, so a lot of our guests were able to watch us grow up together which was special. Even though there were 50 people there (all of who had to travel from out-of-state), almost everyone knew each other,”Jessica shared. “Also, everyone was on the dance floor all night! At several points, we looked out into the venue and saw not one person sitting!”

The wedding day held many special moments in Jessica's memory, including her first look with her father, the personalized ceremony vows, and even a surprise choreographed dance. Overall, being able to celebrate with their loved ones given the challenges of the pandemic was something the couple would forever treasure.

“The most memorable moment was having all our family and friends together in one place after such a tough year. Outside of that, being able to hear the beautiful ceremony Grace put together was a great memory for us as a couple [was unforgettable],” the bride reminisced. “Another great memory was the bridesmaids, mother of the bride, and mother of the groom all doing a surprise dance at the reception, and my first look with my sweet dad was also super special.”

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Tampa Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Tampa Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Classic Floral and White Wedding Invitation Suite with Bridal Accessories
Classic Floral and White Wedding Invitation Suite with Bridal Accessories
Round Diamond Engagement Ring with Square Halo, Bride Diamond Wedding Bands and Silver Groom Wedding Ring
White and Gold Foil His and Hers Wedding Vows Books
Romantic Lace and Nude Underlining Spaghetti Strap Wedding Dress
Romantic Bride Wearing Spaghetti Strap Lace Wedding Dress Outdoor Under Palm Trees
Bride in Romantic Lace Spaghetti Strap Wedding Dress Holding Greenery Eucalyptus and White Roses Floral Bouquet
Natural Classic Bride in Romantic Spaghetti Strap Lace Wedding Dress and Bridesmaids in Dusty Rose, Mauve Dresses Holding White Roses and Eucalyptus Greenery Floral Bouquets
Natural Classic Bride in Romantic Spaghetti Strap Lace Wedding Dress and Bridesmaids in Dusty Rose, Mauve Dresses Holding White Roses and Eucalyptus Greenery Floral Bouquets

Where did you host your bachelorette party?
The bachelorette party was hosted in Sarasota, Florida the week of the wedding. This was chosen because of all the fun things to do in Sarasota, as well as for ease of travel for the bridal party.

Florida Bride and Groom Exchanging Wedding Vows on Beach | Tampa Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

What did you look for in a wedding officiant?
Since we knew we would be getting married to someone we didn’t personally know beforehand, we were looking for someone who we connected with quickly and who was comfortable with us as a couple. We also didn’t want a very formal ceremony, but still wanted some traditions incorporated, so having someone flexible was also important.

The second that we met Grace from A Wedding With Grace we knew she was the perfect fit for our officiant. She is so warm and welcoming and truly takes an interest in you as a couple. She was able to tell our story better than we ever could have and made the ceremony so intimate, personal, and special. Being able to hear the beautiful ceremony Grace put together was a great memory for us as a couple [was unforgettable]. She met with us multiple times before the big day to make sure that everything was going well and to go over her plans with us. We had such a great time getting to know her that we still keep in touch and have even gotten together with her and our dog, Willa!

Florida Bride and Groom Exchanging Wedding Vows on Beach under White Arch with Greenery Arrangements and White Drapery | Tampa Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

What did you look for in a wedding venue?
When looking for a venue, beachfront access for the ceremony was a necessity for us. Other than that, we knew we wanted a venue that had other amenities included so that we were not coordinating all different vendors ourselves. For example, we wanted somewhere that could do the food, the setup, and teardown, the cake, alcohol, etc. 

From the second we had our meeting with the Resort at Longboat Key Club we knew we wanted to have our wedding there. We actually weren’t able to go there in person at the time (due to COVID and travel restrictions), so my mom went and met with Ayla and FaceTimed us during the meeting and tour. After that we booked it sight unseen!

We chose them specifically for their location and beachfront access, as well as the various amenities they offered. Their service was absolutely incredible, I truly can’t sing their praises enough. Ayla, their wedding coordinator, truly handled everything amazingly and made the entire planning process stress-free. The Resort at Longboat Key gave the most top-notch service the entire wedding night, and we could not have asked for more! We had to reschedule our wedding once due to COVID, and they all could not have been more understanding and accommodating. We were able to receive the most amazing recommendations from our coordinator Ayla. She really pointed us in the right direction as far as reliable and reputable vendors that she trusted and trusted for us. We are still getting compliments about the food almost a year later!

Florida Bride and Groom Exiting Wedding Ceremony on Beach, Guests Throwing Flower Petals | Tampa Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding?
We are both very easygoing and love to be comfortable in our surroundings, so we wanted our guests to feel the same way. By having the ceremony on the beach we were able to let guests take off their shoes, sit back and enjoy the sun and hopefully relax a little! We also love to dance and have fun, so having the right music was important for us.

Romantic Florida Bride in Lace with Nude Lining Wedding Dress Holding Hands with Groom with Navy Blue Suit Holding Eucalyptus Greenery and White Floral Bouquet Walking Holding Hands on Beach | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Bride and Groom Kissing on Florida Beach During Sunset with Seagull Birds Flying | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Sunset Florida Bride and Groom Beach Portraits

The Proposal:
We got engaged on Lido Beach. My husband and I were down in Sarasota visiting my parents from Atlanta, and one night he suggested we go to see the sunset before we went to dinner. So he and I went to the beach and my sister tagged along (with her camera, which is not unusual for her), and we started watching the sunset. As the sun was going down, I turned around and Dan was down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was truly shocked!! After, we went to dinner at Crab and Fin on St. Armands Circle with my family and his family, who he had flown in from New York as a surprise.

Romantic Florida Bride and Groom Kissing on Beach During Sunset | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Where did you spend your honeymoon?
We went to The Bungalows in Key Largo. We were originally supposed to travel to Cancun, but with the COVID travel restrictions, we were unable to. We chose The Bungalows because they are one of the few all-inclusive resorts in the country and because they had a fun, laid-back vibe. Also, the rooms you stay in are actually bungalows which are adorable.

Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Greenery Garland Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Greenery Garland Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Greenery Garland Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
Since the wedding was on the beach we knew we didn’t want a beach-themed wedding, per se. My mom is an interior designer and has the best taste ever, so I truly followed her lead in the design department. The wedding didn’t have a true theme, but the design inspiration came from a love for natural décor and the use of greenery and flowers for decoration. We love natural lighting and candlelight, so we knew we wanted a lot of candles incorporated into our day as well.

What were your colors?
The bridesmaids wore a deeper champagne-mauve color called dusty rose, and the groomsmen wore navy suits with white shirts. As for the ceremony, we had all-white decorations with gold accents and a lot of greenery and white flowers. We chose all of these colors to complement the natural colors that the beach and golf course already had. 

Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Greenery Garland Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Elegant Waterfront Sarasota Florida Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Greenery Garland Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Elegant Outdoor Courtyard Golf Course Wedding Reception Decor, String Lights, Long Tables with White Linens, Simple Greenery Centerpieces Table Runner, Gold Chiavari Chairs, Candlesticks | Sarasota Waterfront Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
Every single vendor that we had was amazing. Our photographer was one of the best investments we could have made for the wedding. A Wedding with Grace was amazing as mentioned. Our planner made our vision come together perfectly and made the wedding day so relaxing and special, I did not have to worry about one single thing. Our cake was exactly as we envisioned, and our florist created the most beautiful arch, centerpieces, and bouquets that we could have asked for.

Our stationer created so many beautiful invitations (multiple different times due to COVID) and was so helpful throughout the planning. Our music was exactly as we asked for! Both me and all the bridesmaids felt beautiful on the day of.

The ease of communication with all of our vendors, as well as the communication they all had together separate from us was incredible. Lastly, the Resort at Longboat Key gave the most top-notch service the entire wedding night, and we could not have asked for more! We had to reschedule our wedding once due to COVID and they all could not have been more understanding and accommodating.

Three Tier Textured White Wedding Cake Garnished with White Roses, Laser Cut Wedding Cake Topper
Romantic Florida Bride in Lace Spaghetti Strap and Nude Lining Wedding Dress and Sandals with Groom First Dance Wedding Reception Photo | Sarasota Wedding Venue The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Romantic Black and White Wedding Photo of Bride and Groom Kissing in Getaway Car

What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
Try to enjoy your wedding planning and day as much as possible. It all goes by so fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the minute details, but in the end, it’s all about enjoying the day with your new spouse and loved ones! Also, splurge on photography and a planner.

Ceremony and Reception Venue and Caterer: The Resort at Longboat Key Club *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Venue
Photographer: Beth Joy Photography
Videographer: Samantha Schueubert (family friend)
Planner & Rentals: Swanky Soiree Events
Florist: Sue Ellen Floral Boutique
Cake:
Cakes by Ron
DJ: DeLair Entertainment
Officiant: A Wedding with Grace *Preferred Marry Me Tampa Bay Wedding Pro
Invitations: Invitations by Whitney
Dress Shop and Designer: The Perfect Dress Sarasota | Essence of Australia
Shoe Designer: Target
Bridesmaid Dress Shop and Designer: The Perfect Dress Sarasota | Essence of Australia
Hair & Makeup: Brides by Kelly Anne + Co
Rehearsal Dinner: Patrick’s 1481, Sarasota FL

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.

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.