Planning Your Wedding at The Westin Sarasota
Rooftop Views, Bayfront Ballrooms, and a Venue Built for Unforgettable Celebrations
Standing 18 stories above downtown Sarasota, The Westin Sarasota offers one of the most versatile and visually stunning wedding venues on Florida's Gulf Coast. With over 26,000 square feet of flexible event space, from the soaring Hickory Ballroom to the 19th-floor rooftop deck with panoramic views of the bay, the Gulf, and the Sarasota skyline this is a venue that works beautifully for intimate gatherings and grand celebrations alike.
What makes The Westin Sarasota particularly special for wedding weekends is its downtown location and built-in hospitality: 255 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, a full-service spa, on-site dining, and proximity to Sarasota's arts district, restaurants, and beaches. Guests who stay the weekend have everything they need, and your wedding day unfolds with the seamless service of a world-class hotel.
Jennifer Matteo is a preferred luxury wedding planner at The Westin-Sarasota for couples looking for an unparalleled setting , just moments away from Sarasota's top destinations.
Why Couples Love The Westin Sarasota
The Westin Sarasota is known for it's stunning rooftop. That's usually where the conversation starts. The 19th-floor Roof Deck at The Westin is genuinely one of Sarasota's most spectacular event spaces; an open-air platform with fire features, modern lounge furniture, and panoramic views that make cocktail hour feel like a private party above the city. Ceremonies up here at golden hour, with Sarasota Bay glittering in every direction, are the kind of moments people talk about for years.
But The Westin's appeal goes well beyond the rooftop. The Hickory Ballroom, at 5,258 square feet with soaring ceilings, shimmering fixtures, and floor-to-ceiling windows, can seat up to 350 guests for dinner or 500 for a reception. The Sycamore Ballroom offers warm finishes and bayfront views. And spaces like the Oak Room are perfectly scaled for rehearsal dinners, morning-after brunches, or intimate day-of gatherings.
JMEP's Experience at The Westin Sarasota
The Westin Sarasota's event team is known for its calm, professional, and genuinely flexible approach,, which makes it one of JMEP's favorite hotel venues to partner with. The venue's infrastructure is excellent, and its staff is experienced in managing complex multi-day wedding weekends. JMEP brings the layer of independent planning, creative vision, and personal advocacy that transforms a well-run hotel wedding into a deeply personal celebration.
We've coordinated weddings across multiple Westin spaces in a single weekend, including rooftop welcome parties, ballroom receptions, and bayfront brunches; and the venue consistently delivers on every level.
What to Know Before You Book The Westin Sarasota
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Hickory Ballroom — 5,258 sq ft. Seats up to 350 for dinner, 500 for a reception. Soaring ceilings, shimmering light fixtures, floor-to-ceiling windows, pre-function foyer.
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Sycamore Ballroom — 4,559 sq ft. Warm finishes, bayfront views. Beautiful for receptions and dinner dances.
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19th Floor Roof Deck — Open-air. Seats up to 150. Fire features and lounge furniture. Perfect for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and welcome parties.
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Oak Room — 1,200 sq ft. Natural light, minimalist. Ideal for rehearsal dinners or intimate gatherings.
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Coral Bay — 120-person event space with floor-to-ceiling windows.
150 (rooftop) to 500+ (ballroom).
255 guest rooms and suites. Room blocks available for wedding guests.
AAA Four Diamond Award winner, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award, Best Conference/Meeting Facility in Sarasota.
The Ritz is a year-round venue. Peak season is November through April (Florida's dry season). Summer months offer more availability and often better pricing.
Love Notes
Our wedding was absolutely perfect! Jennifer Matteo was super great to work with — she really listened to us in executing our vision for what was most meaningful to us as a couple with incorporating our different cultural backgrounds and was mindful of our budget. She also demonstrated her expertise with giving us great suggestions and options, which was absolutely essential. All of our guests raved about their experience, but more importantly we personally had an event that was beyond our wildest imaginations. We didn’t have to micromanage much as Jen and her team knew what was needed, but with the couple moments where something needed attention, there was quick action and correction. It was truly seamless. As a bride, I don’t know how anyone can plan a wedding without a qualified wedding planner like Jen - highly recommend!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Weddings at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
Yes — and this is one of our favorite combinations at The Westin. A rooftop ceremony with bay and Gulf views, followed by cocktails on the deck, then flowing into the Hickory Ballroom for dinner and dancing creates a natural progression that guests love. JMEP designs your evening timeline to make this transition seamless.
The Westin can accommodate up to 500+ guests in the Hickory Ballroom for a reception. For a seated dinner, up to 350. The rooftop accommodates up to 150. JMEP helps you determine which combination of spaces best fits your guest count and vision.
Absolutely. With 255 guest rooms, a spa, on-site restaurant, rooftop bar, and multiple event spaces, The Westin is designed for multi-day celebrations. JMEP frequently coordinates welcome dinners, ceremonies, receptions, and farewell brunches all within The Westin's spaces.
Yes! The Westin welcomes outside vendors, which gives JMEP the flexibility to bring in your preferred florist, entertainment, photographer, and custom décor vendors while The Westin's catering team handles food and beverage.
Yes — The Westin Sarasota is a pet-friendly venue, which is wonderful for couples who want to include their furry family members in their celebration.