Congratulations, Jaclyn and Mark! Their Ritz Carlton Sarasota wedding day was an elegant affair with blush and ivory details. From the beginning of planning, Jaclyn and Mark knew that they wanted to have a day that felt relaxed and was completely enjoyable for them – and their guests. They planned a wedding day that was a great experience for everyone, and it’s one of the reasons that they chose the Ritz for their celebration. It was important that their guests felt very loved and like it was a fun family reunion for them. Jaclyn and Mark’s wedding day truly felt like a beautiful celebration of all of the love in their lives!
Their Love Story
Jaclyn and Mark met online in 2021 and their first date featured one of their favorite restaurants, BarTaco in Hyde Park. They told me that they talked and laughed so much that they barely even touched their drinks. It was then that they knew this was something special. Things got serious quickly between Jaclyn and Mark, and in 2023, on a trip to Rome, they got engaged. Now Rome holds a special place in their hearts!
Classy Ritz Carlton Sarasota Wedding
When they began planning their Sarasota FL wedding, Jaclyn and Mark immediately fell in love with the Ritz Carlton. During their first appointment, they booked the venue because they just loved it so much! It was important for them to make the most use of the venue. They had an outdoor ceremony at the Ritz’s lawn and reception in the ballroom. Their outdoor ceremony felt elegant in the Florida air with ivory flowers on the bright green lawn, and it wound up being a gorgeous spot for their family formals, too. I loved photographing the newlyweds around the Ritz. It’s one of my favorite venues in the area and full of so many beautiful spots for your celebration. See more about why I love the Ritz Carlton here!
Wedding Reception at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota
For their wedding reception, Jaclyn and Mark chose the ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota. They filled the room with gold, ivory and blush accents. It was stunning! Since guest experience was so important to them, Jaclyn and Mark pulled out all the stops for a wonderfully fun reception including late night snacks of pizzas and burgers, an affogato station, and live musicians including a saxophonist and drummer. They chose Aerosmith’s classic song, “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for their first dance – and made sure to honor their sweet pup Shiloh (who passed before the wedding) with a special cake topper. It was wonderful to see their personalities come through in all of the classy details they selected!
Tips for a Relaxed Wedding Day
From the beginning of planning with Jaclyn and Mark, they shared that having a wedding day that was relaxed was extremely important to them. I’m happy to share that their day was very relaxed and everything went smoothly, at times, we were even ahead of the timeline, which is honestly rare! If you want to have a similar wedding day, planning is super important.
One of the most important things to consider is having enough hours with your photographer. Jaclyn and Mark chose a 10 hour package and I personally consider that to be a sweet spot for a more relaxed day! During our consult, we’ll discuss your needs and wants – and I’ll help you decide which package makes the most sense. Plus, when we’re planning your timeline, I always call out any potential delays or tight timelines and give my couples the option to add more hours of coverage. Sometimes things look perfect on paper, but after years of experience as a Florida wedding photographer, I know where the hang ups might happen.
Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner
I also think another important and overlooked detail is to have a Wedding Planner or at least a Day Of Coordinator! They’re crucial to achieving a relaxed wedding day, because even though we help with the timelines, your photographer is not a planner/coordinator. A lot of times, that pressure falls on us and as much as we love to serve our couples, it’s literally impossible for us to also fill the role of a coordinator. Finally, one of the other things that Jaclyn and Mark did well to help with their day was sharing the timeline with their loved ones so everyone could follow the plan! They even had designated “hang out rooms” for their families so we can quickly locate them for formal portraits. Your wedding day is one of the best days of your life, you want it to be relaxed and fun.
Congratulations again, Jaclyn and Mark! I loved every minute of your elegant wedding day at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota. It was so beautiful and special. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it all.
Sarasota FL Wedding Vendors
Venue: Ritz Carlton Sarasota
Photography: Ruth Terrero Photography
Florals: Victoria Blooms
Beauty: Femme Akoi and Paloma Guerard Makeup
Wedding Dress: Wtoo Watters from The Perfect Dress Sarasota
Shoes: Christian Loubouin
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Men’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank
Videographer: Megaset Weddings
Officiant: Wes Morris
Entertainment: Inpulse Entertainment
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