Powel Crosley Estate Wedding
Maggie + John had the most fun and amazing Wedding on St. Patrick's Day March 17, 2019 at the beautiful Powel Crosley Estate
Powel Crosley, Jr. was an Industrialist, Inventor and Visionary.
Powel Crosley built the Florida winter home for his wife, Gwendolyn, in 1929. The two-and-a-half-story Mediterranean mansion was built in the southwest corner of Bradenton on a 60-acre parcel of land on Sarasota Bay adjacent to the John Ringling Estate.
The 11,000-square-foot home has 21 rooms and 10 baths, and an adjacent carriage house has room for three cars and servants' quarters on the second floor. Originally the mansion had a swimming pool, a seaplane dock and yacht basin. The home featured many innovations for its time, including a steel frame encased in cast stone, embedded pipes and wiring, and a 135-day construction schedule.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, Seagate was saved from commercial development and purchased for renovation by Manatee County, which operates it as a meeting, conference and event venue. Take a virtual tour of the Powel Crosley Estate.
I met Maggie during a visit from Chicago to Florida to make her wedding plans. Maggie was so excited and easy going and brought her best friend along. She told me that she wanted and easy, fun and laid back Wedding. Being on St. Patrick's Day I knew it was going to fun!! She went on to explain she said she was not a Pinterest Bride and did not want photographs of things such as her dress, shoes, decor or details. As a Photographer I was a bit surprised. I have learned over the years you listen to your clients. This was to be her Wedding Day and not mine. So we made our timeline and planned to focus on the family and friends she loved so much. She wanted to be present at her Wedding and experience all of the Love and Fun without a lot of posed Photographs interrupting her experience.
On the Wedding Day it was a bit odd to be at such a beautiful venue and not be setting up detail photos and lay flats etc. But it was a very refreshing experience for us. We literally hung out with them all day and watched the sweetness unfold in such a natural way.
Maggie and John had a fun story of how they met. They met at a Bar in Chicago where Maggie slipped a note with her phone number onit to a friend to give to John. The number was passed on, but given to the wrong John. LOL! The makings of a great Movie storyline is what I was thinking. Their meeting in a Bar and all the confusion that followed ended up being a big part of their story and how they eventually came together and knew immediately they were meant for each other. They included their friends that were involved with their meeting in their Wedding Day in so many ways.
Maggie looked gorgeous in her wedding gown she found at David's Bridal She was escorted down the path by her father, to the ceremony site in in back of the Estate, where she joined John at the head of the aisle. There, in front of their family and friends, the couple shared their custom designed ceremony and vows (which included a Thank You to their parents, and the Irish Wedding Blessing); then they exchanged rings and were pronounced husband and wife by Rev Rick Lackore of Sensational Ceremonies. Their fairytale reception was held outside on the back lawn of the Estate, with the shimmering waters of Sarasota Bay as their backdrop. DJ Eric Harding, with Grant Hemond and Associates, provided the audio and played a custom playlist created by the couple for their ceremony music, and then later kept the party going as guests danced the night away, dressed in St. Patrick’s Day accessories. Flawless Wedding Coordination was provided by Anastasia with the Sarasota Wedding Gallery. Special thanks to photographers Tammy and Cali, with True Love Photography, for providing this beautiful picture during their ceremony.
Milan Catering provided both Cocktail and Dinner service and as always amazing service and food. The reception was so beautiful being lit up with Market lights provided by Affairs In The Air who also provide the gorgeous chandelier they danced the night away under.
A few sprinkles did not dampen the night but made for some beautiful photos as we used St. Patrick's Day hats to shield our lenses and get into the party with them for some great in the moment Photographs.
We were so honored to be a part of their dream Wedding. We can't wait to see what the future holds for your sweet family.
