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Great Local Places for your Wedding/Reception/Rehearsal Dinner.... and lots more great photographs (ours!), links and contacts! Be sure to see our web-specials and tell these folks where you saw the images! ***************************************************************************************
The Powell Crosley Estate is a marvelous bay front mansion with great 20s architecture. Inside/outside possibilities with wedding and reception there. Contact Dawn @ 941-722-3244 x227.
One of the beautiful "back rooms" often used as an hors d'oeuvres & Cake room. This stunning presentation is from Nellie's Deli. Contact Fredda at 941-921-4571. They also did the reception in the photo below.
*************************************************************************************************** Below> Michael's on East.
Phil Mancini 366-0007 @ Michaels on East (Restaurant, Ballroom, wedding site, and Off-Site Catering) @ www.bestfood.com/. You can even do your wedding here in the beautiful atrium...which is often used for pre-function cocktails. Michael's has the ability to provide full catering-kitchen facilities for sites without or minimal kitchens.
************************************************************* If beachside is more your style these offer a great location for weddings and/or receptions.
Call Pam Eustace at the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort at (941) 383-6464 x 2902 or visit www.colonybeachresort.com. She make sure you have a sunset as beautiful as the ones above...OK, maybe not guarantee it. ********************************************************************************************** If you have a smaller party, or just looking for something really intimate, check out the Harrington House on Anna Maria. One of the very few B&Bs on Florida's Gulf Coast! The island ambiance really shows! Call Patti at 941-778-5444. http://www.harringtonhouse.com
**************************************************************************************************** Longboat Key Club has both Gulf side and Harbor side locations. (Not to mention "Island House"....a terrific golf course/garden view facility.
The patio of Island house is adjacent to the golf course. Note the cool ice sculpture.
The magical twinkling of the fairy lights in the main dining room of Island House. LBKC: Harborside, Islandside or on the beach. Call: Chloe Drapkin in Events at (941) 387-1621. ********************************************************************* Moving back to landside....
Classic Bayside Elegance at the Payne Mansion at Selby Botanical Gardens.
This "hand tinted" photo shows the north dining room inside the Payne.
Call Lea Patmagrian at 366-5731 x 224. They also have a great gazebo and larger "activity" hall. Visit their site> www.selby.org ****************************************************************************************************************
University Park Country Club has just undergone a beautiful restoration of it's facilities. Bobbi Richman, with many years of experience is in charge. Call her at 941-355-3888 x225. *************************************************************************************************************
And now to an elegant new player in the field-The Ritz Carlton & The Ritz Carlton Beach Club... We have a complete wedding album from a Ritz Courtyard wedding on level up. Click the @The Ritz button. Contact Kim Pate or Chris Starman at 941-309-2072. As well as the main hotel, there is a splendid Beachfront location as well. By the way, go for the coconut encrusted baby lobster tails as an hors d'oeuvre...ummmm.
The black & white theme was carried throughout in the above evening garden reception.
Becki @ Flowers by Fudgie (349-9212 or 800-338-5983) really "pulled out all the stops in this grand affair at the Ritz. There a lots of wonderful backgrounds for pre-wedding bridal portraits, formal and spontaneous photographs.
And of course a wedding this "splendiferous" needed a top notch coordinator...and so do you! Call Mary Kenealy 941-927-4762. Wait till you see her credentials! You can email her too; maryken421@aol.com **************************************************************************************************** Of course our Grande Dame of grace is the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art From the terrace of Ca'd'Zan to the elegant courtyard. Weddings also in the Rose Garden or Bayfront. There's lots of changes, construction & new building around, so be sure check for availability with Holly Hall @ 941-359-5700 x5703. email her at hhall@ringling.org
This traditional Iberian Long Table look is perfect under the loggia. ************************************************************************************* And now to St. Pete...
We recently got back to "The Don" for 3 weddings in a 6 week period! Loew's Hotel Group had taken over management and the changes are terrific. Give Kristin Connell a call 727-363-2110 (direct) or 866-728-2206 or email her at kconnell@loweshotels.com to get the details. **************************************************************************************************************** The Renaissance Vinoy, is an historic property in downtown St. Petersburg. Contact: Jennifer Links 727-824-8032 directly for more info. You can see a complete album from there (wedding and reception both on property) done in our traditional classic romanticism style. Click> The Vinoy. ****************************************************************************************************************
The Laurel Oak County Club has recently undergone a huge renovation...and is definitely a class act. Call Kara Kinghorn 941-378-3608. See more at www.laureloak.com. (as well as some of Gary's lifestyle/golf imagery. ********************************************************************************************************************** Mixon's Fruit Farm has a wonderful new outdoor wedding/reception pavilion. Call: Amy Costantino Imerman 941.748.5829 x280 ********************************************************************************************************************** There a lots of others too, that eventually will make it to our website; meanwhile, you'll just have to come to the studio to look at all this terrific work in person. The feel of the leather albums, the majesty of a 30x40 Bridal portrait in person...the web is "an appeteaser." Maybe you're considering the Phillippi Mansion or possibly one of the many country clubs in the area....we are proud to have such terrific choices in our area. Here is a list of vendors: that we consider top notch. Ones that will help make your day hassle free and beautiful. This is just a sample....we have a rather incredible list of wedding service providers from "butterfly release" people to "bagpipers with an antique Bentley." Off Site Caterers?: As you have seen in the above photos, many locations allow catering. Mattison's is certainly one of the winners! Contact Jennifer Ahern-Koch @ 941-955-9868. The Tibbals opening below was one of their recent events. Note the attention to detail in the vegetable carving.
Many location/food combination locations (Such as the Ritz, the Colony, Longboat Key Club, and of course Michael's on East) offer off-site catering as well. Other caterers that we like to recommend for small to medium affairs with personalized service are Wild Monkey at 941-761-4466, Harry's at 941-383-0777, & Nellie's (contact Freda and see her work in our Crosley Mansion interiors) at 941-921-4571. **************************************************************************************************************
Above...a very stylish new player in the market is Artistic Occasions. (Call Christine Fenner @ 941-685-1680.) This was down at the Chelsea Center in Sarasota. ************************************************************************************************************ Lakewood Ranch bound? As well as the beautiful Lakewood Ranch Country Club (Sarah Desgrez @ 907-4700) Fete Ballroom (Polo Grill) has opened a ballroom with full catering. www.caterfete.com Contact Jaymie Klauber or Shannon @782-0899. email Jaymie@caterfete.com
************************************************************************************************************* Our list goes on...looking for a intimate place in downtown Sarasota for a rehearsal dinner or medium size reception? Try Bijou Cafe at 941-366-8111. Speak with Susan. Below are two examples of a recent party.
If only you could taste their lobster bisque on the web!
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Officiants? Are you planning this from out of town? Need help in finding a minister? These gentlemen are comfortable from barefoot on the beach to "tying the knot" in full vestments. Call Rev. Stephen Lortz 941 922-8258. or www.weddingsinsarasota.com. or Rev. Vince Carroll at 941-351-0986. Jennifer Blanco, 941 923-3551 provides unique ceremonies tailored to your needs...not a "cookie cutter" ceremony. Visit her at www.notarytogo.com. Brenda Lynas, 941 748-6858, of Heavenly Vows "brings lives together for a lifetime". Videography? David Flom @ 941-497-5744 flomvideo@msn.com or Ed Culp with Creative Video Productions at 877-80-VIDEO or Leslie Harris Senac @ 941-925-9253. Entertainment? Jay Goodley can help with entertainment (he is an agent with VAST resources!) www.jaygoodley.com or 941-480-9600. When you come in for your consultation, you can view our resource book of many other entertainers....we even have an Elvis impersonator. Dave Brown owns DJ for Rent 800-262-3547...you wont' be disappointed. A terrific group than can "grow" from 4 musicians/singers to a small orchestra (regularly heard at Ritz Black-Tie fundraisers) is DeLeon...Call Anthony or Sheila at 813-933-3924. Flowers? Euro-Elegance: Ron Carter @ Mr. Florist has been providing outstanding floral services for our brides since 1972 and can be reached at (941) 365-1701. Contemporary Beauty: Becki Creighton at Flowers by Fudgie. 349-9212 Romantic? Louise Josie at Josie's Posies 792-6770. Trendy & Timeless: Janet @ Flowers by Don 748-6810. Transportation? Need an antique Rolls-Royce? How about a horse and carriage. We can help! There are lots of limos in town, but a company that really caught our eye with some extra touches (like a "carpet-boot" that covers the rear wheel so the bride's gown can't even think about getting dirty) to spotless, smoke-free cars, is AllStar Limos. You can reach Denise at 800-345-6614. Cakes? A winner in his field is Ron Zammit at 941-365-2991. Planners? As well as Mary Kenealy mentioned above in the Ritz info, we can recommend DeNett or Scott at Party Plan-It @ 761-0940. They recently orchestrated a mega-50th Birthday party at Van Wezel complete with fireworks and amazing decorations...see below.
And if all the above still has you "wanting more," just call us! |
