This wedding absolutely blew me AWAY! The girls had an adorable little suite to get ready in and the whole morning was so relaxed. They were all ready in plenty of time, and we were even able to get some portraits taken at the hotel before moving to the ceremony! (If you've ever been married before, you know that timelines almost never go according to plan, and there's almost certainly not extra time in the day!). I arrived to the chapel expecting the wedding to be inside, but to my surprise the wedding was held in the courtyard under the stunning white pavilion! The bridal party walked through tropical jungle-esque flowers and trees to the ceremony and made for such a breathtaking ceremony nobody cared how hot it was outside!
Then we headed to Mote Marine. Now, Chris and Chelsea live out of town so they weren't able to do much of the planning themselves. So Jennifer worked her magic and surprised them with the most AMAZING reception they could've dreamed! They walked in completely in awe of the detail and endless beauty in that ballroom. We had the fresh air and view of the sunset sky, while still being completely covered and shaded from the Florida heat and weather should there have been any rain. It was absolutely perfect. I couldn't take my eyes away from the cake and dessert tables, located right in front of a tank of SHARKS! How many people have sharks swimming behind their wedding cakes? It was truly magical and one of a kind to say the least. Not to mention the added flair of the classic car rental for their sparkler exit! The bridal party all piled together to wish them farewell as they sat inside a vintage car, along the water, enjoying the soft breeze, living up every moment of their personal paradise. It was a dream...
So please, take a moment and soak up these favorites of mine from this truly spectacular day!
And as always, a HUGE thank you to all the amazing vendors who made this day so perfect.
CEREMONY VENUE: Longboat Island Chapel
RECEPTION VENUE: Mote Marine Laboratory
PHOTOGRAPHY: Bailey Lane Photos
EVENT PLANNER: Jennifer Matteo Event Planning
FLORIST: Oh Darling Events
OFFICIANT: Rev. Friederich Laurie Shuttleworth
CEREMONY MUSIC: Bob Palafian / Violinist
COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC: Marc Mannino
RECEPTION MUSIC: TLS Entertainment
HAIR / MAKE UP: Brides by Kelly Anne
LIGHTING & DRAPING: Palacios Events
RENTALS: US Tent Rental
CATERER: Morton's Gourmet Market
CAKE: Cakes By Ron
DESSERTS: All made by the mother of the bride!
GETAWAY CAR RENTAL: Revvies Classics
BUS TRANSPORTATION: SRQ Services
CAFE: Cafe Ala Carte
INVITATIONS / STATIONERY: Write-On Sarasota
