2021 Anna Maria Island Weddings

wedding association

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CONTRIBUTORS

ChrisAnn Allen

Liza Kubik

Jocelyn Vedder Greene

Karen Riley-Love

Kristin Swain

MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES

If your wedding-related business would like to be considered for membership, please contact the Anna Maria Island Wedding Association at love@amiweddingassociation.com

annamariaislandweddings.com

to ourCouples

With the last name of Love, it only fits that my destiny is to be in the wedding business, and I am thrilled to be ushering in 2021 with our new edition of the Anna Maria Island Wedding Magazine! In this issue, you will find resources for every element of your destination wedding featuring wedding professionals from the Anna Maria Island Wedding Association. Seeing the need to showcase our tight-knit, local community of wedding professionals and couples needing a simple, one-stop solution to beach weddings, we formed the Anna Maria Island Wedding Association.

Keeping the group small and only inviting vendors that we would use personally was our secret to success. We formed partnerships with the best island vendors, on Anna Maria Island and inside Manatee County, specializing in destination beach weddings. Based on vendor reviews, experience, and standing in the community, our invitation-only association has a goal of living up to Anna Maria Island’s reputation as The Wedding Capital of Florida. Our members include Visit Florida award winners, Anna Maria Island Chamber Business of the Year winners, Manatee County Destination Ambassador winner, and Best of awards from The Knot and Wedding Wire, honoring wedding professionals highest ratings and most reviews from real couples. Our wish in 2021 is to celebrate your love story on our white, sugar sand beaches, your spouse next to you, your loved ones around you, and the sunset as your background.

Karen Riley-Love Editor

Funding for this publication was provided in part by Visit Florida, through a generous grant. We highly appreciate their support.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND WEDDINGS © 2021

Karen Riley-Love, AMI Beach Weddings Anna Maria Island Chamber’s 2021 Business of the Year

Cover Photo by Love and Style Photography

Photo by Love and Style Photography

10 Breanna & Christopher Love & Style Photography

22 Jenn & Brian Sandhill Photography

32 Em & Kyle Sandhill Photography

56 Mark & Melissa Love & Style Photography

48 Carlie & Preston Love & Style Photography

56 Alyssa & Jess Love & Style Photography

70 Katie & Rich Sandhill Photography

Destination WEDDINGS

Article by Liza Kubik

Thinking of a Destination Wedding?

Here are some helpful I Do’s and Don’ts

I Do’s

DO - enlist a local wedding planner

DO - consider having a weekday wedding

DO - use a professional for photography

DO - find local favors and gifts for your guests

DO - hire an experienced florist

Don’ts

DON’T - choose a Vacation Rental or the beach as a reception venue

DON’T - use out of town vendors

DON’T - forget your marriage license

DON’T - trust social media for permit advice

DON’T - sweat the small stuff

Handwritten sign by Gnarly Mangrove Designs adds whimsy to this beach wedding.

Photo by Love & Style Photography

the Couple

Isabel Henry &

Isabel always wanted a lavish wedding, but after two rounds of elaborate planning and a guest list that went from 50 to 200, her husband-to-be had an idea: Anna Maria Island. With 40 of their best friends and closest family members, Isabel and Henry took their vows Gulf-front; then, everyone headed for an intimate party set to the sounds of acoustic guitars, with décor made from local seashells, rustic natural wood and the shimmering waters of Anna Maria Sound. “It was really the way to go for a stress-free wedding with little planning,” Isabel says. “You just bring the dress and the rings, and relax.”

A skyrocketing trend, Destination Weddings have become a veritable force in the industry in the past ten years. These days, one out of every four weddings is considered a Destination Wedding. “Couples want their weddings to be different and downright memorable,” says award winning event coordinator Brandy Hudson. “Above and beyond anything, couples also want their guests to have fun. With friends and family already scattered around the country, why not have them travel to a fabulous locale, where they can make a vacation of your wedding?”

For Isabel, Henry and their guests, the wedding on Florida’s Suncoast became the culmination of a weeklong vacation filled with kayaking, sunsetwatching and unrushed evenings together. “We really got to spend quality time with our good friends,” says Jennifer, who stayed on Anna Maria another week to enjoy her honeymoon.

the Couple

&

Breanna Christopher

Chicago, IL

the Vendors

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Blooms by the Beach floral design

Love and Style Photography photographs

Casey Hoffman Promotes  live streaming of ceremony & videography

Hometown Desserts cake

The Doctor’s Garden venue

Salon Salon hair and makeup

Breanna and Christopher planned a large wedding held at a vineyard in California. Loved ones prepared to fly from all across the country to toast the happy couple. First, wildfires threatened the venue; next, it was closed due to the pandemic.

Undeterred, they planned a micro-wedding with only immediate family present and live-streamed the event to two hundred friends and family. As the bride and groom kissed, they could hear the cheers and clapping from the guests watching from afar.

In the words of Breanna and Christopher, “All of these trials have brought us closer together as a couple and given us wisdom and experience beyond our relationship’s age. We are more than ready to face life’s future challenges hand in hand.”

Surprise

Proposal...

Photos by Island Photography

Caitlin Kyle & the Couple Arlington Heights, IL

The Donahue family has vacationed on Anna Maria Island for over thirty years, sharing their love of the island with their ever-growing family. Photographer Dara Caudill, of Island Photography, was introduced early on as the Donahues are big fans of her husband, musician Chuck Caudill. Dara watched the family grow, and as the kids became adults, they continued to make their yearly visit to vacation on Anna Maria. Kyle planned a secret engagement photoshoot, and Dara was there to catch Caitlin’s surprise and joy with an intimate photoshoot. Not to be outdone, Cailtin’s younger brother enlisted Dara to capture his surprise proposal as well!

the Couple

Joette

Adrian &

Elkhart, IN

the Vendors

Flowers by Edie floral design

The Loft 5 personal chef

Through The Roots from San Diego music

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Love and Style Photography photographs

Adrian planned an unforgettable celebration for his wife, Joette. She knew they would be vacationing on Anna Maria Island with their children and grandchildren, but not that he planned a vow renewal to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Each detail was carefully crafted, from the personal vows, floral color, and private chef. There was, however, one surprise remaining; Adrian had flown her favorite musicians in from San Diego to serenade her. The whisper of the waves resonated with the guitars’ strumming as the sun dipped into the Gulf.

Photo by Love and Style Photography

the Couple

Austin, TX

We tell our brides and grooms to be prepared for surprises when they are married on our beaches, but this takes the (wedding) cake! A gentleman overheard that the wedding couple loves the Tampa Bay Lightning, so he came out to say hello during their sunset photos. The well-wisher was none other than Jon Cooper, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was celebrating the Lightnings NHL win and walked out to offer his congratulations bringing with him the actual Stanley Cup. The expression on Lindsay’s face says it all; Go Bolts!

the Couple

Jenn Brian &

Charlotte, NC

the Vendors

Tortuga Inn Beach Resort venue

Luke Andrews musician

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Sweet Blooms Cupcakes cake

Flowers by Edie floral design

Sandhill Photography photographs

Neptune Room reception

Two former Southern Californians with a love of the Dodgers, the pair fell fast in love, and Brian orchestrated a surprise proposal on Anna Maria. They returned to the island for the wedding of their dreams. Jenn meticulously chose every detail, from the hand-painted watercolor cake to the Pink Panther calla lilies in her cascading bouquet. Brian looked dapper in his navy suit, the color a complement to the dreamy bridesmaid dresses.

Styled Shoot

Powel Crosley Estate

the Vendors

Flowers by Edie floral design

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Island Photography photographs

Tie the Knot Boutique wedding gown

America Classic Car Service automobile

Our Gatsby-inspired styled shoot is the Bee’s knees! Featuring the Award-Winning 1935 Hudson Terraplane Touring Sedan and an exquisitely handcrafted gown by Enzoani, we put on the Ritz at the historic Powel Crosley Estate.

With its celebrated automotive significance, this One-of-a-Kind Classic Car could have been used by gangsters and bootleggers at the height of the Great Depression of the 1930s, so set aside a few clams to rent this for your ceremony.

Our model’s gown is the cat’s pajamas- the Nanci- from the Enzoani collection, on loan from Tie the Knot Boutique. Along with the largest selection of Enzoani bridal gowns on Florida’s West Coast, they also offer a line of bespoke wedding gowns from the Knot Collections.

The Powel Crosley Estate

If you are looking for an Old Florida wedding, you will find it at the Powel Crosley Estate.

Powel built the two-and-a-half-story Mediterranean mansion as the Florida winter home for his wife, Gwendolyn, in 1929.

True romance.

“My darling, I built this for you,” Powel said to Gwendolyn. Art deco gorgeousness – the perfect location for a vintage-styled wedding on Florida’s Gulf Coast. An unbelievable estate created for his true love. The setting is the epitome of romance, built in a time when luxury ruled, and cost was not an issue for the Crosley’s.

Now, the space provides a beautiful environment for the perfect vintage wedding.

Sarasota doctors Monet Sexton and John Hopper chose the location based on its charm and how it would fit the theme of their 1920s wedding.

Article by ChrisAnn Allen

“We could not have been happier with the coordination,” Sexton, a life-long Floridian, said. The duo provided their own flowers and music for the wedding party of about 100 people, and Polo Grill — recommended by the venue — provided the food.

“We loved the beautiful style representing another era, like stepping back into the 20s,” Sexton said. “Additionally, we loved that it is on that water, and they were so willing to allow us to provide our own entertainment vendor.”

Sexton said the staff was easy to work with and provided the couple with a list of vendors, “I was so impressed that they seemed genuinely invested in my wedding. I really felt like they were looking out for my best interests.”

Photo by Island Photography

the Couple

Em Kyle &

Indianapolis, IN

the Vendors

Sandhill Photography photographs

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Blooms by the Beach floral design

Say “I Do” on the Suncoast officiant

The Sandbar Restaurant venue

Cedar Cove Resort prewedding photos

Salon Salon hair and makeup

Casey Hoffman Promotes video

Chuck Caudill dj Trevor Bystrom musician

Hometown Desserts cookies

Olive Oil Outpost welcome bags

Sometimes it takes a village- or an island- to pull off the perfect wedding. Em and Kyle planned a tropical adventure on Hope Island in the Bahamas, but sadly, Hurricane Dorian destroyed their wedding venue. Not to be deterred, they found Anna Maria Island and planned a new celebration here. Wanting to support the local island businesses, they sourced welcome bag gifts from local businesses, including champagne from Olive Oil Outpost and scrumptious hand-decorated sugar cookies custom made from Hometown Desserts.

Personalized touches abounded; hand-stamped votive candles made by the bride’s mother and smooth sea glass with guests’ names written in script as place cards. The weather forecast called for heavy rain at precisely the time of their ceremony. This time, the rain held off until after the couple tied the knot before a short shower came thundering down on the beach. A spectacular night sky also rewarded Em and Kyle as they embraced for their final couple photos.

Pirate’s

It’s a Wedding For Me

Article by Kristin Swain

Say “Aye-do” with Pirates at your wedding!

Avast, me hearties! Here, there be pirates.

Have you ever dreamed of sailing the seven seas on a ship, going where the wind takes you and living the life of a pirate? Welcome to Anna Maria Island where a group of privateers can make your dreams come true.

The island of Anna Maria is held by a band of seadogs and scallywags known as the Anna Maria Island Privateers. And if you play your cards right, they might even be willing to escort you down the aisle.

Sail the streets of the island with the Privateers on their land-bound pirate ship the Skullywag. For a piece of treasure, the Privateers will ferry you and your wedding party from the wedding ceremony venue to the reception or any other destination on your itinerary. Why depart your ceremony in a car when you can sail off into the sunset with a private trip on a pirate ship.

Time your pirate wedding right and you can take your wedding party and guests along on the Skullywag for one of the group’s legendary pub crawls where participants can dress in their best buccaneer garb and even walk the plank for bragging rights.

The pirates of Anna Maria Island form a volunteer group with a focus on the local community. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Anna Maria Island Privateers work toward improving the community for local children through scholarships, family fun days, holiday parades and other outreach programs. To help fund their community outreach, the pirates host parties, pub crawls, Thieves Market sales, formal balls and the occasional wedding party for a donation.

So grab your favorite swashbucklers and wenches and prepare to gain your sea legs aboard the Skullywag with the best group of privateers you’ll ever meet.

Styled Shoot

The Doctor’s Garden

the Vendors

The Loft 5 event styling

Flowers by Edie flowers

AMI Beach Weddings

event coordination

The Doctor’s Office cocktails

Linens by the Sea linen rental

Love & Style Photography photographs

We let love grow in this bohemian themed styled shoot at The Doctor’s Garden. This new venue from Sean Murphy, owner of the awardwinning Beach Bistro, is an enchanted garden tucked away in the heart of Holmes Beach. Vendors enhanced the natural beauty of the garden with luxury linens, bountiful blooms, and bespoke touches.

the Couple

Carlie Preston &

Cumming, GA

Carlie and Preston wanted a simple beach wedding, surrounded by a close circle of friends and family, followed by a small reception at Carlie’s family home on Anna Maria. The soft hues and delicate florals, along with natural greenery, complemented the couple’s laid back style. Their daughter, one-year-old Saylor, almost stole the show until Carlie walked down the sand aisle on the arm of her mother and took everyone’s breath away.

the Vendors

Salt and Scissors hair

The Loft 5 personal chef

The Loft 5 floral and event styling

Love & Style Photography photographs

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Insulated engraved tumblers by Gnarly Mangrove and handcrafted ties by Dapper Bowtique.

Photos by Love and Style

Photography

It’s all in the

Specially selected items add a uniquely personal touch to your celebration. Details

Everyone wants their wedding to be a unique, memorable celebration for themselves and their guests. When planning an unforgettable wedding, couples tend to focus on the larger pieces of the planning puzzle and forget the little things that make it an exceptional experience. Perfecting the details of your wedding creates a personal experience for you and your guests.

When planning a destination wedding, a personalized gift is one little detail that can mean so much to those traveling for your special day. Select a gift or cultivate a gift basket from items particular to your wedding location that you can’t get anywhere else. Taking the time to

create a thoughtful gift helps your guests to know their presence is acknowledged and appreciated.

Here on Anna Maria Island, we have local artisans that create distinctive items to elevate your guests’ experience and provide a lovely keepsake from your wedding.

The staff at Gnarly Mangrove create exquisite, customized pieces guaranteed to make you and your guests feel special. Share your love of Anna Maria Island by presenting your guests with engraved insulated champagne tumblers or personalized wine glasses perfect for your reception or first toast. Owner Amy Talucci is ready to help

Article by Kristin Swain

create a beautiful, personalized gift for your guests, cherished whether used at the reception or in a welcome gift basket.

If you’re looking to dress up your wedding party with a unique accessory for the special day, look no further than The Dapper Bowtique, where owner Travis Roy is ready to create a bow tie and kerchief combination perfect for your celebration. Specializing in creating wearable handcrafted works of art with ties and accessories, Travis infuses each piece with pops of color and loads of personality to reflect the style and taste of each client.

the Couple

Melissa Mark &

Lamar County, GA

the Vendors

AMI Beach Weddings event coordination

Flowers by Edie floral design

Love & Style Photography photographs

Hometown Desserts cake

Tortuga Inn Beach Resort venue

From Lamar County, Georgia, Mark and Melissa planned an intimate ceremony with their children that highlighted the family’s adventurous and joyful spirits. Melissa found herself drawn to Anna Maria Island after many happy years of vacationing on the island with her grandparents and wanted the tradition to continue for the children. The ceremony featured a unity blessing, in which they each poured a different color of sand into a glass vessel, representing their individuality and blending into one inseparable union.

The portraits were full of activity; first, photobombed by a sandhill crane, yet the family welcomed his tenacious participation. Next, the images took a watery turn in the Gulf with everyone wearing full wedding attire and Mark donning his favorite team cap. The results were stunning, creating dreamy moments such as the couples’ romantic kiss in the waves and playful moments with all laughing in the surf.

Plan Like a Local Pro

Article by Kristin Swain

Planning a wedding, especially a destination wedding, can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking advantage of resources at your wedding destination, including hiring a professional, can help keep the stress away while keeping the magic in your special day. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you navigate the planning of your destination wedding.

Photos by Karen Riley-Love

One of the first things you’ll need when planning a destination wedding on Anna Maria Island is a local resource, who can be your boots-on-the-ground expert. A local wedding coordinator makes sure that everything flows perfectly, turning your dream wedding into a reality. Hiring someone local can also help you find some of the best talents on Anna Maria Island, from musicians to photographers, videographers, wedding cake bakers, to a bridal dress boutique.

Let’s face it; no one wants to try to juggle flower arrangements on an airplane or attempt to transport a delicate wedding cake masterpiece over a long distance. If you plan to ship some items to the destination site that won’t fit in your luggage, make sure to send them to your wedding coordinator a month in advance.

Take into account the local rules and regulations when choosing your wedding destination. Though beautiful beach weddings are always welcome on Anna Maria Island, not all activities are allowed on the beach.

While furry friends are always welcome here on vacation and perfect for including in your getting ready photos, your pet will not be able to take part in a wedding ceremony on the beach. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island beaches as Anna Maria Island is a sanctuary for nesting turtles and shorebirds.

Sea turtle nesting season takes place May 1 through October 31 on Florida’s West Coast. Local wedding planners know that lights on the beach are not allowed at night during this time to protect the nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Additionally, suppose you are staying at a beachfront property. In that case, all lights visible from the beach must either be shaded or turtle-friendly, amber or red, at night.

Quiet hours on Anna Maria Island start at 10 p.m. every night, so plan for your wedding ceremony and reception to end before that time. Nothing ruins a beautiful beach wedding more than a visit from your friendly neighborhood police officer telling your guests to quiet down. Keep in mind when booking reservations that you will likely be staying in or adjacent to a residential neighborhood where loud late-night noise isn’t permitted.

Communication with your guests is key to a successful destination wedding. Make sure to send out your Save the Date cards eight to twelve months before your wedding date. The Save the Date offers more than just the location and date. They let guests know what to do with wedding gifts, give information regarding a wedding website or Facebook group, and allow guests to coordinate travel plans.

Couples are encouraged to send invitations three to four months in advance of the wedding date. Set up your wedding website or Facebook page as soon as the Save the Dates go out to give your guests a central location to find information

about the wedding, destination, and plans to attend. You can also include any wedding gift registry information or set up a place for guests to contribute online to a honeymoon fund. Another option is to not ask for gifts at all, letting your guests know that their presence on your wedding day is the best gift they could give you.

Sometimes with destination weddings, it helps to keep the guest list small. For a more intimate wedding ceremony that doesn’t exclude any of your extended family, friends, or coworkers from participating, consider limiting the guest list yet including everyone by live streaming your event. Hire a local videographer who can both video your wedding for a lovely memento and also share the magic of your special day with anyone who cannot be there in person. It’s a great way to keep the wedding guest list small without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Keep your sanity intact and your stress level low by getting organized as early as possible. Your perfect destination wedding is within reach on Anna Maria Island.

the Couple

Jess

Alyssa &

Cold Spring, KY

the Vendors

AMI Beach Weddings ceremony

Flowers by Edie floral design

Love and Style Photography photographs

Elopements distill the essence of a wedding- the joining of two soulsinto its purest form. For brides

Alyssa and Jess, the natural elements found on Anna Maria Island, handwritten vows, and a pair of Christian Louboutin red sole pumps completed their bespoke ceremony on the island’s north end. Through joyful tears, the ceremony concluded with the words, “You hold each other’s hearts in the palms of your hands. Be gentle caregivers, honoring this trust. Let this be a marriage that enhances your individuality and allows you to know the greatest gift given to us is the ability to love one another and to be loved.”

Article by ChrisAnn Allen

Sea Turtles Support Love on AMI

Under the moon and stars, on the crystal white sands of Anna Maria Island, sea turtles — mostly loggerheads — nest May-October. And newlyweds on the island could help support the survival of these ancient creatures.

The island is fortunate to be the host to

hundreds of sea turtles, of which only the females emerge from the water at night to nest. The males never leave the Gulf of Mexico after hatching.

The females, which reach maturity at about 35 years, lay about 100 eggs each time they nest, sometimes nesting several times during the season.

And Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring ensures the hatchlings are as protected as possible and make it to the Gulf when the entire nest hatches as a whole and crawls to the water, beneath the night sky.

The organization has a program in which people can adopt sea turtle nests and plaques are placed at the adopted nest to commemorate holidays, birthdays, weddings, memorials and other occasions.

Adopting a nest could serve as an excellent way to provide a wedding favor that would support both the memory of your special day and a local charity that benefits the environment.

When your adopted nest hatches, AMITW volunteers provide the plaque to the adoptee, with information, including how many baby sea turtles emerged from the nest and the date of the hatch, as well as a personalized message of commemoration.

Funds from the nest adoptions support the nonprofit organization, including maintenance of ATVs used to patrol the beach to spot and secure sea turtle nests and conduct shorebird surveys, as well as educational materials.

Those interested in adopting a nest for the 2021 season can contact the organization at https://www. islandturtlewatch.com/get-involved/ adopt-a-nest/

“Adopting a sea turtle nest is a beautiful way to show love, both for the environment and the event you are memorializing,” Suzi Fox, AMITW executive director, said. “And all of the money goes back to supporting our organization.”

Adopting a sea turtle nest is a beautiful way to show love, both for the environment and the event you are memorializing.” - Suzi Fox

Left: Hatchlings use the light of the moon to guide them to the Gulf.

Right: Nests are cordoned off for protection.

Photos by Karen Riley-Love

Photo Courtesy of Visit Florida

the Couple

Lino Lakes, MN

the Vendors

AMI Beach Weddings ceremony

Sandhill Photography photographs

Katie Rich & Rich proposed to Katie on the City Pier on Anna Maria Island, and they both wanted a low-key elopement when they returned to Anna Maria a year later. The perfect spot for the ceremony? The beach with the pier in the background.

Choosing simplicity, Rich and Katie opted out of the traditional bouquet, allowing nature’s beauty to be the focal point. The couple also decided on an intimate and heartfelt script for their ceremony designed by AMI Beach Weddings.

In pursuit of capturing the perfect images, Emma-Rose from Sandhill Photography was not afraid to climb rocks or venture into the water to frame the perfect photo. Her clear directions and confidence coaxed shy Katie and dapper Rich into a stunning photo session to memorialize their wedding day.

Ask Anna

Dear Anna,

My fiancée thinks the cake smash is a fun surprise, but I think it is definitely a no. What should I do?

- Frosting-Free Face in Ohio

Dear Frosting-Free,

A cake smash can be cute for a one-year-old birthday party, but cake on your dress, in your hair, and on your face could make your wedding day memorable for the wrong reasons. Be firm for the wedding day, but can you have a cake smash at home with a real cake for the two of you? For more shenanigans, add in an adult beverage and clean up with a bubble bath. Now that sounds like a sweet surprise!

Dear Anna,

I've always dreamed about the perfect beach wedding, but what happens if it rains on my wedding day?

- Weather Worried in Indiana

Dear Weather Worried,

I'm a big believer in if you bring an umbrella with you it won't rain. What I mean by that is if you have a weather backup plan, you will have more time to dedicate to the joy of planning your wedding and less time stressing out to the Weather Channel. Your coordinator can suggest a backup site, or your reception venue might have a space for your ceremony in the case of inclement weather. If it is a small wedding and a passing storm, wait fifteen minutes, and the rain will likely pass. You can also choose to embrace the raindrops while protected by a clear umbrella that also makes for a great photo op!

XO Love, Anna

XO Love, Anna

Love & Style Photography

Sandhill Photography

Dear Anna,

I'm overwhelmed with the choices and prices for flowers. What is the best advice you have for me as a destination bride coming to Anna Maria Island?

- Indecisive in Texas

Dear Indecisive,

For this one, we reached out to Mark from Flowers by Edie to gain some expert advice. He suggests, "Look at magazines and Pinterest for photos you like, but don't get discouraged with the price of recreating the exact floral combination. Many times a very similar look and feel is achieved with more budget-friendly florals."

He also suggested picking a style and color and being more flexible with the actual blooms. Market conditions and seasonal plantings determine the stock and pricing of individual flowers. If you give your florist flexibility, you may even find their buyer could source a typically expensive stem at significant savings, and they will pass that onto you.

Thanks Mark!

XO Love, Anna

Dear Anna,

I need to relax before the big day! Do you have any suggestions for my partner and me?

- Stressed Out in Seattle

Dear Stressed Out,

We do! Picture yourself and your fiance in a tiki hut directly on the beach, enjoying a couple’s massage. Book with a local favorite, Sea-renity Spa, which offers the Island’s only open-air tiki hut right on the beach.

Next, enlist the services of the Island’s own “Director of Contagious Enthusiasm,” Susanne Arbanas, and her company AMI Concierge. Susanne knows all the hidden gems on the Island and can craft your perfect day to capture the true spirit of island time.

XO

Love, Anna

Photo courtesy of Sea-Renity Spa

Sandhill Photography

we’ll make sure everything is perfect.

www.amibeachweddings.com

We are destination wedding experts located on Anna Maria Island, Florida, specializing in wedding ceremonies directly on the beach.