Jami and John's destination Anna Maria Island wedding featured oceanfront views, a soft peachy palette, tropical flora and foliage, and natural details such as warm wood chairs and rattan décor. The bride and groom exchanged vows against a backdrop of crashing waves before dining and dancing with their guests in an al fresco summertime reception.
“We wanted to go with a tropical theme but with a warm, vintage color palette rather than bright, ‘in your face' colors like hot pink and bright yellow. We chose colors like gold, coral, and mint green with pops of subtle oranges and pinks,” the bride shared. “I am a beach girl at heart, and I absolutely love anything tropical. Anyone who knows John knows how fun and laid-back he is. When I showed him my wedding inspiration board on Pinterest, he was all in.”
The Tenessee bride recognized the immense benefit of working with a seasoned wedding planner while planning from a distance and relied on the team of experts at Wilder Mind Events to help plan their 75-guest celebration. Lead planner, Delaney Driver, guided the planning process from vendor selection to “day of” execution with ease and grace.
“Since we live in Nashville but were getting married in Florida, we had to plan our wedding from states away. It was really important to us to find someone who could connect us with reputable vendors and who could execute our plans so that when we arrived the week before the big day, we could enjoy that time with our families without having to worry about tying up loose ends ahead of the event,” Jami detailed. “After reading the reviews for Wilder Minds Events and consulting with Delaney, we knew we had to go with her. She was so much fun. Even though her personality is very laid back, she's got everything under control, and she's thought of anything and everything before you have! Working with her and her team was probably one of the best, if not the best, decision we made when starting the wedding planning process.”
The pair prioritized an oceanfront setting as well as incorporating their loved ones into their celebration. By doing so, Jami and John achieved a personalized event experience that felt truly authentic to their love story.
“We chose to get married in the Bradenton area because Tampa is my hometown, and Anna Maria Island holds a special place in our hearts. We visit often and have made lifelong memories there with family and friends throughout the years. Given our love for the beach, having the ceremony right on the water was the perfect way to incorporate something that we love into our special day. We loved that we got married right on the water and had our reception overlooking the beautiful gulf coast. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful backdrop!” Jami beamed. “Family is also so important to us, so we tried to incorporate as many family members as we could into the ceremony. We even had John's brother and Best Man, Joe, officiate our marriage.”
Seeking a fusion approach to wedding florals, Jami turned to Danielle Zechmann, owner of Save The Date Florida, for her creativity and expertise with tropical blooms.
“I wanted someone who could create an elegant, timeless arrangement with a fun, whimsical twist. After taking a peek at the work of most of the florists in the Tampa Bay and Bradenton areas, Save The Date Florida‘s arrangements checked all my boxes. Danielle is a master at her craft, and the tropical theme was right in her wheelhouse,” the bride gushed.
The feeling of being surrounded by so much love is something that Jami will never forget. Touching emotions manifested through heartfelt speeches, and that same energy later appeared on the dance floor.
“In addition to the ceremony, our most memorable moments were, hands down, the toasts and the dancing. We are an expressive couple, and we come from expressive families, so nothing pleased us more than listening to our family members share their hearts and John getting to let everyone know how much they mean to us. Getting to top the night off with a dance party was the icing on the cake,” the bride reminisced.
What did you look for in a wedding florist?
I wanted someone who could create an elegant, timeless arrangement with a fun, whimsical twist. After taking a peek at the work of most of the florists in the Tampa Bay and Bradenton areas, Save The Date Florida‘s arrangements checked all my boxes. Danielle is a master at her craft, and the tropical theme was right in her wheelhouse.
How would you describe your theme/wedding design inspiration?
We wanted to go with a tropical theme but with a warm, vintage color palette rather than bright, ‘in your face' colors like hot pink and bright yellow. We chose colors like gold, coral, and mint green with pops of subtle oranges and pinks. I am a beach girl at heart, and I absolutely love anything tropical. Anyone who knows John knows how fun and laid-back he is. When I showed him my wedding inspiration board on Pinterest, he was all in.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Since we live in Nashville but were getting married in Florida, we had to plan our wedding from states away. It was really important to us to find someone who could connect us with reputable vendors and who could execute our plans so that when we arrived the week before the big day, we could enjoy that time with our families without having to worry about tying up loose ends ahead of the event.
After reading the reviews for Wilder Minds Events and consulting with Delaney, we knew we had to go with her. She was so much fun. Even though her personality is very laid back, she's got everything under control, and she's thought of anything and everything before you have! Working with her and her team was probably one of the best, if not the best, decision we made when starting the wedding planning process.”
Where did you host your bachelorette party?
My bachelorette weekend took place in Tampa at the J.W. Marriott. Anytime I visit Tampa, I love staying on Water Street because you're a hop, skip, and just a jump away from fun places like Armature and Curtis Hixon Park. Having my bachelorette weekend in Tampa with my girls just made sense.
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
Maui. One of the first special trips we took together was to Hawaii, and since that trip, we couldn't wait to get back.
Which vendors really exceeded your expectations?
We loved working with Delaney with Wilder Mind Events and our photographer. They were not only kind and professional, but we really felt warmth and genuine care from them that just confirmed how much of their hearts they put into working with their couples. We weren't just customers to them. They cared about getting to know us and our families, and they sincerely wanted us to have the absolute best day possible and were willing to do whatever they could to make that happen.
What advice would you give to other Sarasota couples?
Don't get too hung up and stressed over the little things. Hire a planner and let someone else do that for you so that you can enjoy the day and stay present and in the moment!
