Sarasota in August will be hot... and humid. For the wedding, the bridal party will be more formal in suits and long, airy gowns in bright, tropical colors and patterns. For the rest of the weekend, plan to be breezy and casual!
Absolutely! If your invite says "and family" please feel free to bring those cute kiddos! Unless you don't want to, in which case we totally get it.
For ease, we suggest flying into Sarasota Airport and Ubering to Siesta Key, which should take about 25-30 minutes. But it is possible to fly into Tampa or RSW, rent a car and drive to Siesta Key. Those drives will range between 1.5-2 hours depending on the time of day.
Siesta Key Village is a fun, walkable area and all of the suggested accommodations are right at the heart of it all. We have a room block at the Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites where the Big Tiki Lounge is located. Of course, feel to stay at an AirBnb or VRBO instead if that works better for your family! We suggest staying on Siesta Key and close to Siesta Key Village since it will put you right in the middle of the action, across the street from the beach, next to the welcome party location and generally make the trip more fun! But Lido and St. Armands Circle are also in the area and actually the location of our favorite beaches. You will probably need a car or to Uber everywhere if you stay on Lido or in downtown Sarasota.
Rather than a traditional rehearsal dinner, we want the chance to socialize with everyone close to the beach in a very laid back atmosphere. The Big Tiki Lounge is open air and extremely casual. They have live music and we will be in a reserved section out front on the patio. Dress for the heat and a walk over to the beach for sunset. We'll have some tacos, beer and margs, but you can also order whatever you want from the menu. We plan to be there the whole time but you can feel free to come and go as you please! The Big Tiki Lounge is connected to the Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites to keep it easy for everyone.
We have a room block reserved with a 10% discount at the Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites in the heart of Siesta Key Village and next to the Big Tiki Lounge. You must book a minimum of 2 nights to qualify for the 10% discount off the base rate. The rate will fluctuate dependent upon demand, so it is best to book early and guarantee the current availability and rate. There is a 30-day cut off, meaning the discount will not be available within 30 days of the wedding. There is also a 14-day cancellation policy meaning if you cancel prior to 4:00 p.m. 14-days prior to arrival, there will be a $25 credit card processing fee. If you cancel within 14-days of your arrival you will forfeit the cost of your stay. Thursday and Monday have been added as pre and post stay dates to still qualify for the discount if anyone wants to stay a little longer.