An unforgettable dreamy Beach Wedding Ceremony and super fun Wedding Reception Party came true in Sarasota, Florida on December 29, 2019. We love a challenge and know that weddings are very popular on Florida’s West Coast. Tiki Go Go had created many exquisite Wine Country weddings in Northern California over the years and quickly became an expert at finding every possible venue place available in this region. I grew up in this area of Florida so you could say I have gone back to my roots. The magical memories of childhood bliss swimming at Whitney Beach on Longboat Key stay with me forever. The Bride had her heart set on finding the perfect spot to have this December Wedding, after a lifetime of Summer vacations to Sarasota. The Dallas Texas couple was thrilled to check out all the various locations we lined up. Gone are the days where your choice of wedding venue is limited to a church or hotel ballroom. From Historic Spanish Point to Selby Gardens we scouted out them all. We found the perfect spot back in my own stomping grounds on Longboat Key – Hurrah!
The birch wooden arch framing that precious moment in time for the Bride and Groom to take their wedding vows beneath. Simple wooden padded chairs set up in rows help to define the focal point in the endless natural surroundings of this beautiful beach wedding ceremony.
We built a one of a kind Wooden Arch out of White Birch branches draped loosely with a sheer peach colored fabric and attached a rustic arrangement of wedding flowers & greenery to the top center. Sometimes designing flower arrangements is not so much about the volume, as it is about strategic placement. We all love over the top flower arrangements and they do have their place at a wedding. However, the thoughtful placement of these flowers is super important to coordinate with all the other aspects of the wedding – and they help in enhancing the natural beauty of the shoreline at this beach wedding.
The sea scape accents that Tiki Go Go used in the Bayfront Mid Mod Pavilion helped set the tone of causal fine dining for the wedding reception at the start of the Cocktail Hour “Meet & Greet”.
The all white fresh flower arrangements on these main hors d’oeuvre tables made it feel elegant yet simple. The 10 long pavilion tables were all carefully lined with perfectly pressed matching cream colored natural canvas table linens and layered with long rustic textured table runners –adorned with driftwood centerpieces and detailed with a selection of beautiful sand dollars, starfish and large conch shells. All the rustic beach elements of display helped to highlight the tasty assortment of appetizers presented on various large white ceramic platters. My vintage wooden ice buckets added a playful element of interest, filled with big bunches of white garden roses next to tall glass cylinder vases filled to the rim with small seashells. The great juxtaposition of shells, driftwood, rope and common wedding flowers together create table designs that become living works of art.
Meg Lawson Photography
The wedding party & guests arrived on an open air trolley from the beach ceremony a few miles down Gulf Drive.
Our Bartender was busy greeting guests with a choice of either Specialty Cocktails: a signature Tropical Mai Tai chosen by the Bride or the classic Margarita favored by the Groom. Another smaller satellite bar was set up in the pavilion for Happy Hour in addition to the main full bar located in the dining tent. The waterfront pavilion was the perfect magical spot to set the mood of the rustic beach wedding prior to a big catered sit down dinner served in the wedding tent.
After a few hours of enjoying a surf & turf dinner and the traditional wedding cake cutting ceremony, we ushered the wedding party and guests across the meadow to a fun dance party in the Rec Building. We kept true to the nautical theme of the day and all the dance party tables had a similar seascape look of assorted pillar candles in hurricane globes on marine blue table linens, adorned by dozens of sand dollars, starfish, and jars of beach glass.
The always sensational Bride & Grooms “first dance” officially got the dance party started. Guests danced the night away to the special playlist selected from the couple’s favorite tunes curated by DJ & MC of the evening -Tom Hawks. A major part of the planning was to make sure that plenty of Food & Drinks were available. There was another full bar upstairs in the nautical themed rec building. A bonus extra buffet table filled with various late night snacks, hot coffee and of course, extra wedding cake slices.
After a few hours of enjoying a surf & turf dinner and the traditional wedding cake cutting ceremony, we ushered the wedding party and guests across the meadow to a fun dance party in the Rec Building. We kept true to the nautical theme of the day and all the dance party tables had a similar seascape look of assorted pillar candles in hurricane globes on marine blue table linens, adorned by dozens of sand dollars, starfish, and jars of beach glass.
The always sensational Bride & Grooms “first dance” officially got the dance party started. Guests danced the night away to the special playlist selected from the couple’s favorite tunes curated by DJ & MC of the evening -Tom Hawks. A major part of the planning was to make sure that plenty of Food & Drinks were available. There was another full bar upstairs in the nautical themed rec building. A bonus extra buffet table filled with various late night snacks, hot coffee and of course, extra wedding cake slices. 
The final hours of nonstop dancing and tropical bliss come to a close. The wedding party and guests lined up and down, shoulder to shoulder forming an unforgettable sparkler farewell as the bride and groom dashed down the front steps. Driving off into the night – this happy couple starts their journey toward a lifetime of love.
Sparkler Send Off
