Our Jennifer Matteo Event Planning team loved working with Suzanne and David on their Sarasota wedding. From their welcome party to the last dance, this intimate Selby Gardens wedding was packed with entertainment and surprises for their family and friends.
 
For the couple, the festivities started with their first look, photos together, and some time with their wedding party. Across the gardens, wedding guests enjoyed champagne as they gathered for the outdoor wedding ceremony.
 
Suzanne and David entered the intimate wedding ceremony together to the sounds of a guitarist. The couple and their wedding party all wore lush tropical floral leis, which created a relaxed tropical vibe.
 
The cocktail hour that followed brought in some steel drums, cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres that included island favorites like tuna sliders, crab cakes, and tequila grilled shrimp. As the sun began to set, the couple took time for some photos as guests made their way to the reception area.
 
The sounds of soft rock and country music filled the air as an interactive illusionist performed up-close magic while guests found their seats.

Tables were set with white linens and warm pink napkins, centerpieces of greenery, and white tropical flowers held thick pillar candles in glass cylinders. Dozens of lights in acrylic cases hung from the trees and flickered above the tables.

​Dinner and toasts were followed by an incredible Jimmy Buffett impersonator who opened with “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and ended his set by taking some time for photos with wedding guests.
 
As if an illusionist and Jimmy Buffett impersonator and a cart with Nye's Cream Sandwiches were not enough.
David decided to surprised Suzanne with an appearance by her favorite singer-songwriter, Emily Hearn!
 
Congratulations Suzanne and David, we know this was a wedding your family and friends will talk about for a long time.

​Sarasota's Edison Keith Mansion, in the Phillippi Estate Park, was the ideal location for Linda and Cayden's elegant wedding with an old Florida feel. Our Jennifer Matteo Event Planning team worked with them to incorporate personal details and a stunning neutral color palette. 
 
The wedding parties spent the morning getting ready and taking some fun photos. Soft vintage-inspired neutral colors were incorporated in everything from robes to invitations and personal flowers. Creamy white garden roses and ranunculus were blended with Dusty Diller and sage colored eucalyptus leaves.
 
Following their first look, the couple and their wedding party prepared for the outdoor wedding ceremony. Gold chivari chairs sat beneath a pair of oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The aisle was marked with two white garden urns filled with greenery and white florals.
 
Cayden entered to the song "Marry Me" followed by the couple's wedding party. Once everyone was in place, Linda made her entrance escorted by her mother.
 
A cocktail hour followed the outdoor wedding ceremony, which included an assortment of butler passed hors d' oeuvres, and a Mediterranean inspired dip station. The newlyweds selected Moscow Mules and Classic Mojitos for their Signature Cocktails. Guests enjoyed Polaroid photos and shared some advice for the newlyweds. 
 
Inside, the dining room was arranged with round tables and gold chivari chairs, tables were draped in floor-length white linens and set with gold charger plates, vintage-inspired china, and custom-designed menu cards. Centerpieces included greenery and mercury glass votives and candlesticks holding various styles of candles.
 
Linda and Cayden's sweetheart table sat in front of a beautiful mantle filled with greenery and a collection of tall candles. Greenery, metallic tone candles, and the bridesmaid's bouquets filled the table, the two garden urns from the ceremony flanked the table.
 
In a unique twist, the couple's introductions and first dance to "Tenerife Sea" were done on the mansion's patio before inviting guests into the wedding reception.
 
The reception began with a welcome speech by the couple, followed by a plated salad selection, and family-style dinner service. After dinner, guests danced the night away, had some fun playing with props in the photo booth, and ended the evening with a family cake cutting and delicious cupcakes.
 

​Our Jennifer Matteo Event Panning team loved taking a look back at Christina and Grant's November wedding at Sarasota's iconic Ca' d'Zan at the Ringling.
 
We spent a lot of time with Christina on all of the details, color palette, and floral design. She's super sweet and knew exactly what she wanted. The wedding was a whimsical fairy tale with very thoughtful touches. 
 
After a morning of the wedding parties getting ready, each made their way to Ca' d'Zan for Christine and Grant's first look in the mansion's tower. Some wedding party photos followed this before the couple's wedding ceremony on the terrace, facing the Sarasota Bay.
 
The personal flowers were created in shades of pink with bold pops of orange and lush greenery. This was a color story and design detail that continued throughout the wedding.
 
The sun was beginning to fall as Christina made her entrance to "Can't Help Falling In Love." 
 
Tall gold metallic urns overflowing with brightly colored flowers stood above dozens of flickering pillar candles, and an antique table created the stage for the couple to exchange their wedding vows.
 
Following the ceremony, wedding guests enjoyed hors d' oeuvres and cocktails to the sounds of an electric violin and DJ as the bride and groom took some sunset photos. The couple took some time together, off in the distance, overlooking the spectacular setting.
 
Seating assignments were presented on a luxurious wall lined with miniature envelopes containing each guest's escort card.
 
The reception began with the wedding party's entrance, followed by the newlyweds' entry to a traditional Arabic wedding song.
 
The outdoor reception space was designed with long rectangular wooden tables. Each table was set with gold flatware, textured pink glass charger plates, custom round menu cards, and a soft pink napkin tied with organic cording and greenery.
 
The tables overflowed with long pink table runners, organic elements, textured glass vases, and candles of every size and shape. Chunky pillar candles, gold-toned glass votive candles, and gold candelabra holding white tapered candles lined the various tables.
 
A lush carpet of cottage roses, ranunculus, and snapdragon wove its way down the length of each table. Round gold metallic table numbers and clear acrylic chairs added a modern element.
 
Dinner included several toasts and a surprise belly dancer. Ballet flats, pashminas, and belly dancing scarves were provided for guests as they danced the night away. Live Arabic music mixed with a DJ playing popular contemporary songs.
 
The evening included a Hookah Lounge with "sparks of love" matchboxes, assorted truffles, and platters of mini baklava. 
 
The ceremony backdrop was repurposed to display the couple's unique gold and white marble tone wedding cake with a cascade of brightly colored roses spilling out of the center.
 
Congratulations, Christina and Grant!