If your style is classic, but you still love modern and on-trend moments, this impeccably styled Ringling Museum of Art wedding will soon be on your Pinterest board. Choosing Sarasota was an easy decision for Alyssa + Tim, as both have family ties to the area and knew it would make a lovely stateside destination for guests to get to know.
With the goal to create an ambience that was “formal but not stuffy, traditional but memorable,” they hired planners NK Productions to coordinate the affair, not to mention, help them overcome the decision fatigue that comes with planning. From there, new guide member Count in Threes Photo made the big day relaxed and fun, while capturing both the traditional wedding shots they wanted and the essence of the day itself.
Not only did Alyssa’s Peter Langner gown fit her beautifully, it also complemented their wedding décor and venue with its classic, Italian style.
Designing A Ringling Museum of Art Wedding
Alyssa tells us, “The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was right under our noses in Sarasota. Its European architecture felt just as special on our wedding day as it did the first time we saw it—there are “wow” factors everywhere you turn. We didn’t want our decor to detract from (or compete with) the museum in any way, so we kept our decor complementary to each space. At our ceremony, for example, the chairs mimicked the rounded shapes and chestnut colors of the Ca’ d’Zan façade, and the florals emphasized light pink and cream tones in the terrace’s tiles. As a result, we did not have “wedding colors”. The “theme” we were always striving for was more of a feeling. Put as simply as I can, we wanted a refined and perfect balance of: simple yet memorable, European yet Florida, formal yet fun, traditional yet updated, summery yet spring!”
Alyssa made their petal fan programs and dinner menus using a printer, Cricut machine, cardstock, grommets, tassels from Amazon, and an embosser from Etsy. Such an impressive DIY!
Love this unique take on traditional wedding flowers in an array of pastels, from Victoria Blooms in Sarasota, who is an expert at producing gorgeous florals for Ringling Museum of art weddings.
Wedding Saves vs Splurges
When it came to the wedding budget, they prioritized their venue, band, photography, and the dress. While a Ringling Museum of Art wedding is a splurge, it’s also beautiful without added florals and décor, so the couple were able to get by with less.
Alyssa says, “I cannot underscore enough the big impact of live music and that it is absolutely worth the spend. We were extraordinarily lucky that Party Down from Nashville was available and willing to travel to celebrate with us. They are not a wedding band… but they perform at weddings. We had them on a stage elevated from the dance floor and to this day, our guests tell me that our wedding felt like a concert.”
A few money-saving moves included creating their signature cocktails out of ingredients they knew were already stocked behind the bar, DIY programs and dinner menus, and chocolates as favors sprinkled throughout the venue so guests could treat themselves them or stash away for later.
You know we love us some colorful black-tie wedding guest fashion around here.
Pro Tip: Wedding Communication
The wedding was a multi-day affair and a destination wedding for many guests, so they collected phone numbers with their RSVPs and used the Text My Wedding to send out info all weekend (which they scheduled in advance). That way everyone knew where to be, when to be there, and what to wear.
With such a large venue, it was also helpful to use QR codes from Text My Wedding’s “Please Find Your Seat” service, which the couple made into little signs at the bar.
All-white tables, chairs, and place settings with just hints of blush in the florals looked right at home at The Ringling.
When the bride first contacted Julie Deffense for their wedding cake, she wasn’t sure how they’d ever decide on a single design—Julie is that talented. But after sharing inspiration back and forth, they landed on a classic three-tier design covered in intricate sugar flowers to really show off her artistry in the details.
On choosing their photographer, Count in Threes Photo: “So much love and effort went into creating the experience of our wedding day, and we needed a trusted professional to capture it all. I’ll always be grateful to the Instagram algorithm for connecting me and Count In Threes Photo. I fell in love with her work immediately and knew that she would understand our style. What we didn’t know is that she would make us feel so comfortable in front of the camera! Even before guests arrived, our wedding day was FUN thanks to Kim and her team. I’m absolutely floored by the results, too.”
Congratulations, Alyssa + Tim! Engaged friends, be sure to check out our vendor guide to discover your own dream team.
Planner: NK Productions | Photographer: Count in Threes Photo | Florist: Victoria Blooms | Venue: The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL| Content Creation: Wedding Tales Co. | Band: Party Down | Violinist: Pasha via SRQ Entertainment | Videographer: Belisi Moments | Cake: Julie Deffense | Wedding Dress Boutique & Veil: Wedding Atelier | Dress Designer: Peter Langner | Heels: Christian Louboutin | Reception Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Tuxedo: Suit Supply | Hair & Makeup: Tara Schwartz | Rentals & Lighting: SoStaged Events, US Tent Rental, Palacios Events, Stella Rose Events | Wedding Trolleys: SRQ Trolley | Hotel: The Sarasota Modern | Spray Tan: Little Miss Sunshine | Stationery: Elefant Press | Illustration: Illustrated by Mia | Caterer: Simply Gourmet by Metz | Chocolates: Burke Candy |Late Nite Pub Subs: Publix
