Weddings

Crossing the John Ringling Causeway from Sarasota to the 12-mile barrier island of Longboat Key, time starts to melt away. You’re on island time now, which means you can rest and relax before the celebration to come. Once settled into your beachfront-view, one-bedroom suite in the Escalera Tower—pausing to enjoy the Gulf breezes on your private balcony.

It’s time to toast to forever at Viento Kitchen + Bar, the resort’s wine-focused hideaway. Enjoy “Floribbean” fare, full of Caribbean flavors and Mediterranean influences, such as crab cakes with mango chutney or house-pulled mozzarella with fresh heirloom tomatoes.

The name Zota comes from a Native American word meaning “blue waters,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find at the resort’s infinity-edge pool and sparkling white-sand beach. Make the most of it all by reserving a poolside cabana complete with a refrigerator, flat-screen TV, towels, water, and food-and-beverage service. Sip a spicy chile margarita, and nibble on jumbo Gulf shrimp with cucumber gazpacho between dips in the pool and leisurely walks along the shore.

You’re rested and refreshed—now it’s time to greet your nearest and dearest. After a brief ceremony rehearsal down on the beach, settle in for a night to remember under the resort’s lush sea grape tree, which is a species that thrives in coastal Florida’s loamy soil. Tucked between the lapping waves and chic pool deck, this magical space can host a seated dinner for 60 or a cocktail reception for 100.

You’re preparing for the greatest adventure of your life, so why not set the tone for the day with a little seaside adventure? Gather your girls and guys, and let off some steam by kayaking through the mangroves and lagoons on the southeast side of the island, or rent paddleboards and explore the shallows along the resort’s beachfront. Lunch awaits in a poolside lounger, brought to you by the folks at Cascades Pool Bar. While you’re getting ready in your suite, your guests can relax poolside or beachside, or head inland to explore St. Armands Circle and the new (and impressive!) Sarasota Art Museum.

The moment has arrived, and we’ve got the perfect spot for you to set eyes on your spouse-to-be: the alfresco terrace at Viento Kitchen + Bar. Share a blissful moment together and then reunite on the sand, where you’ll say your vows with the glittering Gulf as the backdrop. Then, it’s back to the terrace for a festive cocktail hour that’s served with a side of one of our legendary Longboat Key sunsets—the perfect start to your happily ever after.

As the sun sinks below the horizon, it’s time to head indoors to the stunning Zara Zota Ballroom for dinner, dancing, and delight. The ballroom’s neutral colors, soaring ceilings, and sculptural chandeliers provide the perfect blank canvas for your dream-come-true reception. Savor local seafood—crab-stuffed grouper, perhaps—or delicious steak, then dance the night away with your loved ones. Should you prefer to spend your first night as a married couple with your toes in the sand, the Sunset Sand Garden beckons, and you can instead retreat to the ballroom for a convivial after-party.

Just because the big day is over doesn’t mean the celebration has to end. Keep the magic going for you and your guests with a festive brunch, held on the breathtaking terrace at Viento Kitchen + Bar. Then, invite your loved ones to unwind together beachside or poolside in the resort’s lush cabanas. The pressure’s off—now you just get to soak it all in.

One of the greatest things about Longboat Key is that it combines the best of the beach with easy access to all Sarasota and the surrounding area has to offer. Encourage your guests to extend their stay so you can experience all that you didn’t have time to do during the wedding weekend, or just use this time to ease into newlywed life while still on island time. Either way, you’ll have plenty of options to add to your to-do list—sunset cruises, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, deep-sea fishing, botanical gardens, museums—or you can choose to do nothing but linger at the resort, lounging hand-in-hand on a beach that will forever hold special meaning to you both.