Emma and Ryan’s downtown Sarasota wedding featured custom monograms, classic white roses, and baby’s breath paired with diaphanous candles and lucite chairs for an elegant twist. The monochromatic affair began with an outdoor ceremony followed by dinner and dancing in a luxurious ballroom reception.

“Our wedding design was very classy and timeless. I didn’t want to regret the theme or colors of my wedding,” the bride shared. “Our colors were black and white. I had all the guests wear black, and my bridesmaids wore white with me.”

The then-destination bride, who frequented the Sarasota area for vacations, turned to Marry Me Tampa Bay to guide her search for local vendors for her October nuptials.

“I was living in Boston when I first started planning, so I wasn’t familiar with local Florida vendors,” Emma recalled. “Marry Me Tampa Bay made me feel comfortable working with these specific vendors because of all the reviews that were attached on the vendors’ pages. We found Fairytale Pet Care, Lifelong Photography, Platinum Entertainment, Femme Akoi Beauty Studio, and Baby Blue Film on the site.”

Desiring a bright photography style that focused on the beautiful surroundings, the couple was drawn to Lifelong Photography Studio‘s extensive portfolio. Lead photographer Buffy Feldman’s kind demeanor and gentle guidance put the couple at ease throughout the day and, in turn, created the most stunning images.

“We wanted photography that looked bright and airy and showed the beauty of the venue. Lifelong Photography Studio had done a couple of weddings at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota, and we loved the look of their photos,” Emma detailed. ” Buffy from Lifelong was absolutely amazing. She told us exactly what to do in every photo moment and was so positive and encouraging the entire time. My feet started hurting from my shoes during photos, and Buffy worked with me the whole time, telling me when to take them off/when to put them back on. She is amazing.”

Emma and Ryan coordinated a pre-wedding celebration to allow their guests to experience the area and mingle before the main event, orchestrating a memorable multi-day affair.

“The most important elements of our wedding were the vendors, food/drinks, and location,” the bride revealed. “We also made sure to do a welcome event because all of our guests had flown in. This allowed everyone to meet before the big day and enjoy downtown Sarasota along with an amazing view.”

A few VIP guests were given the star treatment, thanks to the attentive animal experts at Fairytail Pet Care. The bride and groom’s dogs were able to enjoy the festivities along with the other 80 friends and family in attendance; they partook in the ceremony processional, formal photos, and touching moments with their parents before being chauffeured home while everyone else danced and partied.

“Fairytail Pet Care took the best care of our two dogs the entire day,” the bride beamed. “They allowed us to include them in the first look and the ceremony. They kept our dogs busy by walking them around the venue and even stayed for cocktail hour so our guests could say hello to our boys. After our wedding, they drove them to our pet sitters’ house. We had no worries the entire time if our boys were doing good.”

Although the entire evening felt like pure magic, it was the touching moments that bookended the beginning and end of the day that truly stood out for Emma. The emotion of seeing her special gentlemen before the ceremony and then the shocking finale to the reception were the most unforgettable.

“The most memorable moments were the first looks with Ryan and my dad, along with jumping into the pool at the Ritz with all of our guests at 1 a.m.,” the bride gushed. “It was the perfect way to end the perfect day.”

What were your wedding day hair and makeup inspiration?
My wedding day hair and makeup were inspired by the soft glam Hailey Bieber did on her wedding day.

I hired Ana Grace from Femme Akoi Beauty Studio, and I fell in love with her work. She did my trial perfectly, and then she matched it exactly how I wanted on my wedding day. She was also my hype woman that day and kept me calm while doing my makeup. I couldn’t recommend her enough. 

The Proposal:
Ryan proposed in front of our entire family at the Ritz Carlton Aruba.

Why did you incorporate your dogs into your wedding?
I chose to incorporate our dogs in the wedding because they are like our children. We do everything with them, and I couldn’t imagine them not being there on the biggest day of our lives. We even took a first look with them and walked them down the aisle. They enjoyed cocktail hour as well. I am so happy I get to reflect on that day for the rest of my life and remember they were there with us. 

Fairytail Pet Care took the best care of our two dogs the entire day. They allowed us to include them in the first look and the ceremony. They kept our dogs busy by walking them around the venue and even stayed for cocktail hour so our guests could say hello to our boys. After our wedding, they drove them to our pet sitters’ house. We had no worries the entire time if our boys were doing good.

Where did you host your bachelorette party? 
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I spent summers growing up. 

What did you look for in a wedding photographer? 
We wanted photography that looked bright and airy and showed the beauty of the venue. Lifelong Photography Studio had done a couple of weddings at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, and we loved the look of their photos.

Buffy from Lifelong was absolutely amazing. She told us exactly what to do in every photo moment and was so positive and encouraging the entire time. My feet started hurting from my shoes during photos, and Buffy worked with me the whole time, telling me when to take them off/when to put them back on. She is amazing.

What did you look for in a wedding DJ?
In a wedding DJ we were looking for someone who knew our vibe and played what we wanted. Platinum Entertainment is based out of New York, so my husband and the owner had a lot in common. They kept us and our guests dancing all night!