Matt and Sarah's Wedding in Sarasota, Florida

The story of our wedding

After searching many beaches across Flordia I decided to go with Lido Key beach for it's white sand and blue waters much like Siesta Key, but less populus. I was an out of town bride planning the wedding from the state of Maryland. We started off our wedding week by taking a family vacation to Disney World for four days. We then took the 2.5 hours drive to Sarasota and went to the court house to pick up our marriage license. After a smooth pick up there, we went to Lido Key and checked into our hotel room at Holiday Inn Lido Beach - Sarasota. We had a beautiful view of the Gulf and things seemed to get real once there. Our family arrived the same day, we soon meet up for a casual rehersal dinner at a local restaurant to watch the sunset. The next day our wedding ceremony was at 3 PM. That afternoon Posh Bridal arrived and started my hair and makeup. Nikki C. Photography arrived shortly after. It was from my gulf view room I watched Flordia Sun Weddings arrive and start the ceremony beach setup. We also had poshpicniks do a smaller setup close by for a beach cocktail hour with cabannas, chairs, and beach games for the guests while we took our pictures. I was told it was very windy and it would take some extra digging to secure everything. Then things started really moving. Our videographer, Elvira MK Films, arrived and took getting ready shots with men down by the hotel pool. My beautiful bouquets and boutonniere's by Sue Ellen's Floral Botique were handed out. Then the next thing I knew it was time for me to get into my dress and everyone to get down to the beach. The wind was about 30 mph and our hair was everywhere, perhaps I should of selected a total updo, but I stuck with what I had picked prior. The setup was everything I had been imaginig for over a year. The music we walked into, the white sand, and blue water behind us. Sure it was windy, but they had been calling for storms that day, so the wind came in to push them out, and without the wind it would of been very hot. Afer the beautiful ceremony with a great job by our Officant Scott from Flordia Sun Weddings, we then shared our first dance as husband and wife on the beach. We then moved over to our beach cocktail setup area to have some drinks on the beach, play wiffle ball, and throw the football around. It was a dream come true for this sports crazy bride and groom. We then took the most breathe taking pictures down by the water. That time went so fast on the beach, and I honestly wasn't ready to leave, but we had our dinner reservations to get to at the local restaurant in St. Armands cricle at the Speaks Clam Bar. We had a party of 11 and they setup a perfect corner long table for us and also included a cake table over looking the St. Armands area. The restaurant did amazing job hosting us and providing table service that just continued making our day feel so special. Our cake by CCSWEETS941 was amazing, and I wished I had taken more back to the room with us. Instead we shared our cake with the rest of the restaurant guests and staff there. After a lovely dinner it was time for my hubby and I to make our way back to the beach alone with our photographer for sunset pictures. It was just as romantic as I hoped it would be with him and I. Later that evening we meet up with our group again to explore St. Armands that night. The area closes early so you won't be able to party late into the night, but it's great that it's all within walking distance. It was an amazing magical day, and I would choose Lido over and over again.