Jonathan and Maria’s waterfront Sarasota wedding was a timeless affair filled with neutral flora, a monochromatic color palette, and classic decor. Following a traditional ceremony in an ornate Greek cathedral, the newlyweds dined and danced with friends and family at an al fresco reception overlooking the bay.

“We wanted an elegant and modern wedding that would be timeless. We were very inspired by the iconic Sophia Richie wedding. Our main colors were black, white, sage, and cream. We chose this color scheme because it was very clean and timeless, and we felt it helped accentuate the venue rather than overpower its natural beauty,” the groom shared.” “We both come from different cultures and different religions, so our wedding was a clash of Greek/Polish festivities! Maria’s bridal party was also made up of her sister and four of her male best friends, which is considered unconventional. When she thought of her closest friends, who have always been there for us, these were the only people she could think of. We recommend everyone take this approach and do what’s meaningful to them rather than doing the norm.” 

The St. Petersburg couple devoted care and attention to selecting each wedding professional who would be a part of their 110-guest December nuptials. As a local wedding photographer/videographer, Jonathan knew the caliber of talent that he would entrust with documenting their big day.

“During our search, we prioritized picking vendors we had relationships with and had worked with. As vendors, we understand how important it is to have a great connection with your vendors since they are a big part of the day as well!” the groom articulated. “We wanted a team who would help capture candid moments that followed our day rather than being superposed and planned. We also love styles that stay true to colors and really embrace storytelling. We chose J&S Media because they are reflective of the style we were looking for, as well as just being really great people. We had worked alongside them previously and really loved how they went about their work and prioritized couples. We really liked our photos!”

“We are in love with all of the newlywed portraits of Jonathan and Maria. Being wedding photographers/videographers as well, they were very familiar with and aware of what looks good on camera. For them, that was just embracing their love and having a good time,” Jennifer Reed, owner of J&S Media beamed. “They took photos of each other on Jonathan’s film camera, cuddled each other in the more picturesque backdrops of Powel Crosley, and had a special time with their dogs. Taking photos of them came naturally and required little direction on our part.”

Throughout the planning process, the couple prioritized selecting high-quality vendors who would embrace their vision, tell their story, and allow them to truly enjoy the wedding day without worry.

“Everyone who knows us would probably describe us as people who don’t take themselves too seriously and love to have a good time. We love and prioritize quality time with family and friends and wanted to throw a big party for everyone to enjoy! Our main focus for the day was to keep it as candid and organic as possible, with the focus being on facilitating meaningful quality time with our family and friends since it is so hard to bring everyone together these days,” the groom detailed. “With this in mind, right off the bat, we wanted to prioritize a big, fun reception with an amazing DJ (which we got!) and an unlimited bar. We incorporated fun props for the reception, including glow sticks and glasses, and hyped up an outfit change to keep the crowd going! For the sentimental parts of the day, we prioritized finding vendors who also enjoy storytelling in an organic way so that we could be truly present in those special moments and not feel like we had to accomplish a checklist on our wedding day. Thankfully, that is exactly how our day went, and we couldn’t be more grateful!”

To bring everything together for a seamless celebration, the bride and groom selected planner Wilder Mind Events. Having experienced their creativity and organization first-hand through working together at past events, the coouple knew they were in excellent company for their big day.

“We were looking for someone who could bundle up all our ideas and add to them with their creativity. We also wanted someone who paid a lot of attention to detail and timelines to ensure the day ran smoothly,” Jonathan explained. “We hired Wilder Mind Events because the business owner, Delaney, is a dear friend of ours, and we have had the pleasure of working beside her for a couple of weddings. Her eye for detail and amazing personality made it a no-brainer to ask her to help plan our day!”

“What truly set this wedding apart was the couple’s unique perspective as wedding vendors. Their deep understanding of the industry allowed them to appreciate the significance of assembling a trusted vendor team, which greatly streamlined the planning process. This insight also helped them prioritize the most important aspects of their special day, resulting in a beautifully curated event and a seamless celebration,” Delaney Driver, owner of Wilder Mind Events shared. “One of my favorite moments of the day was seeing Jonathon take pictures of his wife during sunset. It was incredibly beautiful to witness a professional photographer capturing intimate moments with his spouse, adding a personal and magical touch to the photos. I also loved the dance floor; this couple knew how to let loose and have fun. They never left the dance floor, creating an energetic and unforgettable experience for their guests.”

The pair’s tender moments as husband and wife stood out among their favorite memories of the joyous celebration.

“Our first touch was a special moment because we both feel most calm when we’re with one another, and we definitely were nervous and anxious for the first part of the day when we were not able to see each other,” Jonathan reminisced. “We also got to exchange our vows privately, and it truly was such a beautiful moment for the both of us.  Our last dance was also emotional as we concluded our day and were finally ending our first day as husband and wife.”

“One of the highlights of the day was Jonathan and Maria’s ceremony. Jonathan’s emotional reaction to Maria walking down the aisle was unforgettable; he teared up yet managed to capture the moment with his film camera. Their ceremony also integrated cultural traditions, adding to the occasion’s significance and joy,” Jennifer added. “We specifically loved documenting Jonathan and Maria’s day, as we’ve had the opportunity to work with Jonathan on a professional level at other weddings. This created a unique and special experience for us, being able to capture the day of one of our friends and fellow wedding vendors.”  

The Proposal: 
Maria and I love to travel, especially for snowboarding in the winter months. One December trip to Colorado, I decided it would be the perfect time to humble myself and ask her to marry me. Seeing as I always bring cameras around everywhere, and we do tripod photo shoots on all our travels she never saw it coming. After taking a gondola up Vail Mountain and hiking a bit, we stopped for photos, and I popped the question!

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
During our search, we prioritized picking vendors we had relationships with and had worked with. As vendors, we understand how important it is to have a great connection with your vendors since they are a big part of the day as well! We wanted a team who would help capture candid moments that followed our day rather than being superposed and planned. We also love styles that stay true to colors and really embrace storytelling.

We chose J&S Media because they are reflective of the style we were looking for, as well as just being really great people. We had worked alongside them previously and really loved how they went about their work and prioritized couples. We really liked our photos!

What was your wedding floral inspiration? 
With the venue already being so beautiful, we wanted minimal florals that would accent the venue and incorporate pops of sage and white florals, similar to Sophia Richie’s wedding. We enjoyed the concept of the florals accenting the day but not being too loud. We have seen Save the Date Florida’s work at many weddings and trusted that we would be in good hands to bring our day to life. We were so happy with how the florals came out!

What did you look for in a wedding planner?
We were looking for someone who could bundle up all our ideas and add to them with their creativity. We also wanted someone who paid a lot of attention to detail and timelines to ensure the day ran smoothly.

We hired Wilder Mind Events because the business owner, Delaney, is a dear friend of ours, and we have had the pleasure of working beside her for a couple of weddings. Her eye for detail and amazing personality made it a no-brainer to ask her to help plan our day!

Which vendors really exceeded your expectations? 
We prioritized picking vendors we had relationships with and had worked with. As vendors we understand how important it is to have a great connection with your vendors since they are a big part of the day as well! The hair and makeup team were exceptional from when we first inquired till the day of!  These ladies truly were so fun, encouraging, and professional, and could not have asked for a better experience.  Wilder Mind Events were pivotal in making this day happen and helped guide us through all our planning and execution of the day perfectly! Another amazing human was Deana! She helped capture our day via Super 8 footage, and we will cherish that footage for years to come!

What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples? 
Be sure to take moments during your wedding day to just breathe and be with one another. There are so many things happening, and it can be overwhelming, so be sure to just take a moment to be with another and take in the beautiful day celebrating your love. It truly does go by so quickly!