It's pretty fab to be able to host an entire wedding weekend at the venue you love! The night before these two wed in the courtyard of Sarasota's The Ringling, they were fêted on the venue's stunning waterfront terrace with a Tuscan-inspired rehearsal dinner decked out in the colors and foliage of fall. NK Productions orchestrated the day, with Johnna Brynn Photography capturing all the lovely details.
Leanne and Rick met at Stetson University College of Law, and were just friends for more than two years until, in their words: "One day we both woke up and realized we couldn't stand not being around each other every single day or having lives separate from one another, that's when we knew that this friendship had become more than just that." Through graduation and starting their work, they survived a year long distance - he in Orlando and she in Tampa - before Leanne made the leap of faith, and packed her bags to move to Orlando.
Leanne attended grade school in Bradenton, and had always loved the Ringling; with a large guest list and the couple's desire for "something different" near the water, it became the perfect venue for their wedding weekend. They held the more floating-style wedding reception in the museum courtyard, and chose the Ca’ d’Zan Mansion terrace for the smaller, sit-down rehearsal dinner.
Rick's mother chose a Tuscan theme for the dinner, which worked perfectly with the mansion's decor and the Italian honeymoon the couple had planned for after the wedding. Guests mingled on the terrace's broad steps, gazing out over the water and listening to a classical trio of guitar, upright bass and drums. Wine barrel tables and mixed arrangements of pomegranates, pears, olive branches and rosemary brought the feeling of fall, and the Italian-inspired menu looked simply divine.
How amazing are those sunset views?! Heaven.
After Rick proposed in St. Thomas last year, they picked the weekend of October 25, 2014 for their wedding and were over the moon that they did: "We could not have asked for more perfect weather all weekend."
It looked like absolute perfection, you guys - congrats!
Nicole Kaney, NK Productions Wedding Planning says
Thank you for the feature! It looks beautiful and we are honored to be included on your lovely blog!
Teresa Hall says
Beautifully covered and it was a fabulous event. Thank you.
Terri Hall
Leanne’s Aunt