This expecting bride was absolutely glowing on her wedding day! Congratulations to Erin and Jon! We are so excited for this new chapter in your lives! Venue: Field Club Estate Officiant: Sarasota Dream Weddings DJ: Cigar City DJs Florist: Suncoast Florist Photographer: Villetto Photography Cake: Cakes by Ron Hair & Makeup: NUOVO Salons Place Cards & Day of Coordination: Swanky Soiree
The year may be half way over, but there is still time to become one of the newly engaged couples of 2017! This year has shown a revelation in engagement rings and times are definitely changing! Engagement rings are varying from the traditional stone and band to aged metals and gemstones! No ring shall be looked at in question as an engagement ring in 2017! Not sure where to start? Or need some inspiration to show your beau? We've got a nice list that's sure to bring a smile to your face once placed on your finger! East to West Diamonds Dare to be different with these stunning settings! Split Shank You could say this would be the sister ring to the more classic single band. The split shank allows for more light to strike your diamonds, which means more SPARKLE when you display your new jewels on social media! Intertwined Bands A truly meaningful gift (not that a different style wouldn't be!), this band represents two lives coming together to become one. Whether there is a platinum band or rows of diamond accents, its sure to impress! Square Bands Believe it or not, this shape is actually more comfortable than the traditional round band. Rose gold The "pink" gold has made a serious comeback with its feminine hue. Plus, it's flattering with every skin tone! Opals Personally, I am biased to OPALS as I am an October baby! Each stone is different than the next, which makes for a truly unique and one of a kind ring! Pear shaped This setting is sure to elongate and slim your [...]
Rain did not stop this night from turning into a party! Congratulations Nicole and Shawn! We truly couldn't have had such an amazing night without the help of all of these superb vendors! Ceremony Location: Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church Reception: The Powel Crosley Cocktail & Reception DJ: Jam All Day Caterer: Simply Gourmet Florist: Victoria Blooms Photographer: Cat Pennenga Photography Videography: Current Films Sweets: Sub Zero Cake: GiGi's Cupcakes Transportation: Siesta Trolley
So many gorgeous details at every angle of Krystel & Matt's wedding! We couldn't have done it with out this amazing team of vendors! Venue: Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast Full Planning , Coordination, lighting & Draping: Swanky Soiree Videography: Seltzer Films Photography: Concept Photography Floral Design: Victoria Blooms Hair: Bliss Salon Makeup: Jessmarie Make up DJ & Photobooth: Jam All Day Entertainment Linens: Linens By The Sea Furniture: So Staged Event Design + Rentals Catering: Innovative Dining Cake: Pastries by Design Dress: Blush Bridal Sarasota
Congratulations Paige and Cleo! Your bright beach wedding was a breath of fresh air! Venue: The Resort at Long Boat Key Club Officiant: Grace Felice, with Weddings with Grace DJ: DJ Jason & Associates Florist: Flowers by Fudgie Photography: Kim Dyer Photography Cakes: Cakes by Ron Hair & Makeup: A Victorian Bride
Cassie and Kyle were such a friendly couple! We felt like we were part of the family and were sad to see the night come to an end! With romantic vibes of layered floating candles and whimsical wisteria as centerpieces, this garden theme wedding was taking guests (and our!) breath away! Thank You to all of these amazing vendors! Without you all this wouldn't have been possible! Venue: The Resort at Longboat Key Club Coordination, Up lights, Wisteria: Swanky Soiree Events DJ: Fits Otis with Goodley Entertainment Group LOVE sign and Dance Floor: So Staged Event Design + Rentals Florist: Victoria Blooms, LLC Photographer: Johnna Brynn Photography Videographer: Current Films Cake: Cakes by Ron Hair & Makeup: The Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group by Priscilla Marie Transportation: Siesta Key Free Ride
Venue: The Resort at Longboat Key Club DJ: Black Tie DJ's Florist: Beneva Flowers Photographer: Katelyn Prisco Photography Sweets: Cakes by Ron Hair & Makeup: Something Blu Transportation: Siesta Trolley Draping: Swanky Soiree
Let’s face it- on your big day, the last thing you want to be doing is handing out more money! But on your wedding day, take a moment to appreciate all of all the different puzzle pieces that came together to make the masterpiece known as your "Best Day Ever!" Companies and businesses greatly appreciate a "Thank You" from the new Mr. & Mrs. and any other form of monetary appreciation is welcomed. This is one expense that some couples do not plan for! If you have ever worked in the service industry, you can understand the agony of not getting a tip! The same can apply when it comes to your vendors! Make sure you double check your contracts to see if a tip or gratuity is already included! We never tell couples what to do! We do however provide a handy Cheat Sheet for those interested in tipping their vendors! SWANKY TIP: The disbursement of your thank you cards / tips should be assigned to a responsible bridal party member! (or your wedding planner, if you have one!) You can decide when they should be handed out
It’s your wedding day! A day of celebration and love with your family and friends- of course this includes those who have passed away! There are a variety of different ways to cast remembrance, and they can be as subtle and symbolic as you’d like. One TIP we have before you start- check with any family members that could be sensitive to the death, the last thing you want are happy wedding tears to turn into sad memorial service tears. Pin their photos to your bouquet or boutonniere! There's also locket cufflinks! Include their favorite flowers in your bouquet! Light a candle in their memory! Include in your program that you have lit a candle in memory of those who are there in spirit, but not in person! Dance to their favorite song! Or play their favorite song for some of the ceremony music! Place a flower and a picture of them on a seat at the ceremony! Cut a piece of your loved ones clothing (tie, scarf, dress, etc.) and have it sewn on the inside of your dress or fiancé's suit! The Groom can wear the tie of a passing loved one! Hang picture frames from chairs down the aisle of family members who couldn't be there. Release a biodegradable lantern, doves or butterflies during the wedding in their honor. Have a special toast for them at the reception. Have a charity that guests can make a donation to in lieu of your loved one! (Could be loved pets that you are remembering as well) Have their special recipe as part of you menu or dessert table! Have a memory table at your reception with photos [...]
Being home to the Nation's #1 Beach isn't all Sarasota has to offer. There are a plethora of venues that are sure to take your breathe away! #1. The Longboat Key Club #2. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art #3. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens #4. The Ritz-Carlton #5. Historic Spanish Point #6. Tortuga Inn #7. Powel Crosley #8. Beach House #9. Baker's Ranch #10. Philippi Mansion #11. Mixon's in the Grove #12. South Florida Museum #13. Sarasota Garden Club #15. Palma Sola Botanical Park
What is the difference between a Coordinator vs. a Planner? Planners are with you from day 1- they are there with you every step of the way, “holding your hand” so to say, from choosing your venue, your style/theme, creating a budget, choosing vendors and then managing them, and everything in between (there's usually a lot of in between!!). Planners do all of this IN ADDITION to what the Coordinator does. Coordinators are there with you one month before your wedding day. So all of the decision making has already been made by the bride and groom, the coordinator ties up any loose ends and presents you your wedding day on a silver platter. Timelines, main contact between you and your vendors, overseeing & beautifying set up, managing the smooth flow of the day and keeping an eye out on all the details is the Coordinators main purpose. They also will line up your bridal party prior to the ceremony, bustle your gown, let you know when the important nightly events are up (first dance, Cake cutting, sparkler sendoff, etc.) What are the PRO’s of having a coordinator? Budget Do you know what cakes, photographers, flowers, dj, or a videographer cost? Planners help to educate you on cost and then distribute your budget based on what is most important to you! It's hard to know if you are paying too much or what kind of quality you are getting for your money- we're here to guide you! Discounts We keep a good business relationship with our vendors, which means we’re receiving discounts that are then passed on to you! We also help with vendor referrals. One of the hardest parts of planning can be narrowing [...]
Being chosen as the Maid (matron) of Honor is the epitome of true friendship! What does this title include, you may ask? Let’s just say that the bride will be depending on you to support them throughout the engagement process and through the I DO’s! Woah! Talk about pressure! Have no fear! We are here to help narrow down your duties to make sure you are on your A game! Maid of Honor Wedding Dress Shopping & Wedding day Bustle – We all would love to have that instant SAY YES TO THE DRESS moment, but every bride is different! Some know the dress they want before they even walk into a boutique, others go on month long journeys until they have their jaw dropping moment. None the less, you are there for the ride, no matter how long or short it may be, with a huge smile on your face (and maybe a box of tissues). The Bustle can be a tricky part of the night- we have seen our fair share of 25 minute bustles because the MOH couldn’t figure it out! This can stress the bride out! Do not let that be you! Make sure you go with the bride to her final fitting so that you may be shown where the bustle buttons are! Bridesmaid Dress Shopping- Whether the bridal party is wearing the same dress or each member is wearing a different styled dress – your opinion matters the most to the bride when it comes to color or style. (of course, she wants her Best Friend to look fierce!) It will also be your job to interfere with any negative remarks – this is the bride’s day, not everyone else’s! DIY Assistance- There [...]
Paula and Evan were married at the beautiful Palma Sola Botanical Garden on November 4, 2016. You can truly see how deep their love is within the photos of this boho chic inspired wedding. We couldn't be happier for the both of you! Congratulations!! Venue :: Palma Sola Botanical Garden Officiant :: Tim Pastmore Ceremony Music :: Matt Dendy Reception Music :: Complete Southwest Caterer :: Harry's Kitchen Florist :: Oneco Florist Photographer :: Everence Photography Videographer :: JD Cobb Cake :: Publix - University Walk Linen & Rentals :: Swanky Soiree & US Tent
Ashley & Ryans Ringling Museums traditional wedding was breathtaking! The couples love really shines through in their photographs! As I quote from the Brides titled Facebook album, this was definitely the "Best Day Ever!" Wedding Venue :: Ringling Museum of Art Officiant :: Weddings by Grace Ceremony Music :: Karens Violins Reception Music :: Bay Kings Band Caterer :: Nellies Deli Linens :: Linens by the Sea Rentals :: US Tent Florist :: Rose Garden Florist Photographer :: Kenzie Shores Photography Photobooth :: Social Strip Sweets :: La Dona Donuts Hair & Makeup :: Karen Boni Transportation :: A Chauffer for You
Swanky Soiree (along with the following AMAZING VENDORS!!) is pleased to present this superb styled shoot that we all worked vigorously over- and it paid off! We are ecstatic to announce that we have been PUBLISHED with Every Last Detail. Piecing together each and every little detail of this bohemian inspired wedding is what we are all passionate about! Be sure to check out Every Last Detail here Styled by Yours Truly :: Swanky Soiree... Venue :: Weddings at The Resort at Longboat Key Club Dress :: Something Blue Bridal Boutique Photography :: Alisa Sue Photography Cake :: Cakes by Ron Florals :: So Staged Event Design + Rentals Hair & Makeup :: A Victorian Bride Hair and Makeup Rentals :: Linens By The Sea Videography :: TruColor Productions
To travel or not to travel?? That is the question! Are you contemplating a destination wedding but worried about your budget? We have several tips to help you save big on your special day! Step 1- The first decision that sets your wedding in stone is the DATE. If you can be flexible with choosing your date, then you are on your way to saving already. Everyone knows there are parts of the year that are more desired to travel than others, so choosing a date during the off season is ideal for your budget! This will also work in your favor as resorts aren’t at full capacity which leaves more space and seclusion for you and your guests. Step 2- Choosing a venue is the next step in planning your destination wedding. Whether you are traveling to the sunshine state, Florida or out of the country to Costa Rica, several hotels and resorts have their own designated wedding venues that have set packages to choose from based on your needs. You would be responsible for booking your rooms and then let the resort handle the rest- sounds headache free, right? Picking a beach venue at any location is also a great idea! You can save on venue costs and have a beautiful landscape as the backdrop of your nuptials. Strep 3- Your vendors- another key factor in planning your wedding! Decide what vendors are most important to you and fly only them to your destination, the rest should be local! For example, you might have a favorite photographer/videographer or even a hairstylist (she’s the only one that understands your hair!)- it would save your pockets by only making only a few vendors travel [...]
There are several different key characteristics that come to mind when you hear the word WEDDING. White dress, lots of flowers and the Wedding Cake! Keeping the details fun and unique seems to be turning into a trend of its own- especially when it comes to the ‘sweetest’ part of the night. Here’s a couple of different contributors to switching up the first slice as husband and wife. Crepe Tower Oreos Cheesecake Get creative! Add strawberries and brownie chucks to really make your guests salivate! Belgium Waffles or even Pancakes! A bacon n eggs topper will definitely bring smiles to your guests face! Cannoli's Bundt The more the merrier! Macaroon Ice Cream Theres several different options when it comes to ice cream. Whether you are taking it literal and doing an icecream cake. An ice cream cart. Or ice cream sandwiches. Cheese Tower Pork Pie Tower Consists of roughly chopped pork and pork jelly sealed in a hot water crust pastry Black Forest Pavlova Crispy shelled meringue with a chewy marshmallow interior Strawberry Tower Pie Pops Mini pie pops are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser any time of year Doughnut Tower Rice Krispy Cakes
Picking a location to get married may be easier said than done. There are always the local options in your hometown, a banquet hall or a barn? But why not add some sunshine, beautiful weather, and amazing beaches to your special day? Sarasota and Bradenton are hands down the most beautiful places in Florida, and the nation! So, let’s break it down to the top 10 reasons to get married in Sarasota and Bradenton! Water, Water and More Water Picture this- you’re in your breathtaking gown with your new husband standing on the beach and the calming sound of the waves is the soundtrack to your gorgeous sunset pictures! In 2011 and 2015, Sarasota’s Siesta Key Beach was rated the #1 beach in the U.S by Dr. Beach and Trip Advisor; it was also 2nd place in 2009 and 2010. The flour like sand, crystal clear waters and hot rays of sunshine are an ideal location for any destination wedding! Bradenton is also home to some spectacular salt water shorelines. Anna Marie Island is a 7 mile stretch of beach with several specialty venues that cater to brides, grooms and their guests! Location Sarasota and Bradenton are located just 60 miles from Tampa International Airport. Direct flights from all major cities around the world allow for convenient travel plans for you and yours. Did I mention that Mickey and Minnie are only a jump, hop and skip away? You can get to Disney in Orlando about 2 hours! Tampa, which is about 1 hour away, is also home to several attractions such as Busch Gardens, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! Miami and Key West are also popular [...]
Venue // John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art - Circus Museum Caterer // Mattison's Performers // Todd Zimmerman // Odd O T's Entertainment // Coney Island Chris Photographer // Jacquelyn Marie Event Planner // Swanky Soiree Brandon and Dustin had their special day on August 15, 2016 at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art- Circus Museum! Working with these two amazing people on their circus themed wedding was beyond fun and enjoyable!! There were surprises at every turn that kept guests entertained the entire night! Congratulations to you both!
Thought we were done?? We were just getting started! Let’s keep things rolling with more of the top trends for the upcoming year!! Macramé Now is the time to wish you had paid closer attention to your grandmother while she knit you a scarf! 1970 might have had its highlighting moments with macramé, but it has been making its way into more and more weddings in renewed and unexpected ways! It is a perfect accent for the bride who is looking to keep a boho flare to their special day! Rompers In our last blog, we talked about floral bridesmaid dresses- well the fun doesn’t stop there! Everyone knows that the bride tribe is the best possible team of ladies you could ask for. So, here’s a new flare to keep your ladies comfortable and ready to party all night long- ROMPERS! I’d have to say my favorite part about romps is the ability to wear normal bras! Everyone hates having to tug up a strapless or worry if the sticky part on your sticky bra will make it through the night! The only ‘bad’ part about the one piece is a little added effort in going to the ladies’ room, but it’s well worth the cute and versatile look! Geodes & Agates Weddings Rock! Literally. Yes, rocks…but not the dirty ones in your backyard. Geodes, rocks with sparkling crystals on the inside; and Agate slices, which have a unique pattern of vibrant and soft colors and a rich tone and texture to any wedding. From table numbers to place cards to cake toppers, these gems have been found at elegant ballrooms to rustic barns! Stained Glass Cakes Stained [...]
