EDDY ALMAGUER PHOTOGRAPHY

Eddy Almaguer is a wedding photographer who believes that the best photos come from real connections. His approach centers on making couples feel comfortable, seen, and genuinely celebrated, capturing moments that are true to their story. With a warm, relaxed style—and a dash of humor—Eddy creates a stress-free experience, allowing couples to be fully present on their big day and look back on photos that bring those emotions rushing back. 

IMAGERY WEDDING FILMS

Imagery Wedding Films is a luxury wedding videography brand co-owned by James and his wife Katie. Before filming weddings, James was a camera operator in New York City for reality television shows such as Project Runway, The Celebrity Apprentice and My Fair Wedding with celebrity wedding planner David Tutera. James started filming weddings in 2010 and to date has filmed over 400 weddings across the country. 81st Meridian Films was born from James and Katie's desire to deliver an unmatched, elevated wedding film experience that tells stories worth holding on to and passing on for generations to come.

WILDER MIND EVENTS

Delaney is a talented coordinator with a deep love for the industry. She places a strong focus on creating positive, long-lasting relationships with her clients, helping them to enjoy their special day sincerely. Understanding that every wedding is different, she takes a personal approach to each event, creating a unique celebration fitted to her client’s personal style.

Wilder Mind Events offers a range of packages to clients, letting them choose the services that best suit their needs. From day-of coordination to full-service planning, this expert organizer is here to help you.

MDP EVENTS

Lauren Gertz is the Owner and Lead Event Planner at MDP Events. Growing up in Rhode Island, she always loved planning and organizing. After years of experience in Newport, she realized event planning was her dream career. With over 11 years in the industry, including managing a venue and catering company in Boston, she moved to Sarasota, Florida, where MDP Events was founded in 2020. Named in honor of her best friend, MDP Events thrives on passion and inspiration, making each celebration truly special.

THE RESORT AT LONGBOAT KEY CLUB

Ayla Goggin is the Director of Events at The Resort at Longboat Key Club and has been at the resort for about eight years. Originally, she hails from the Midwest (shoutout to the other cheeseheads out there), but moved down to sunny Sarasota in 2013. Her background is in hospitality and started in the restaurant industry when that passion for food transitioned to the event world. Her degrees are in Culinary Arts, Food Service Management, and a Master’s in Business Administration and she has a passion for all things event-related.

SWEL EVENTS

Jordan is the owner and president of Suncoast Wedding & Event Leaders (SWEL). His core belief is that relationships are the most important factor for creating revenue and achieving true career satisfaction.

Before co-founding SWEL, Jordan worked in venue sales and planned events at multiple venues including The Ringling.

KELLY KENNEDY WEDDINGS & EVENTS

After more than a decade of planning events, Kelly Kennedy founded Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events in 2016. Her passion to serve others is fulfilled by being in this industry. She specializes in thorough planning, detail and design. Kelly loves to create breathtaking experiences for couples who want a planning process that is effortless.

STELLA ROSE EVENTS

Jenna McCoy, owner of Stella Rose Events and Lets Jump Events, is an expert in the event rental industry. With over 13 years of experience, she has been a part of over 15,000 rentals. Though her list of qualifications extends well beyond the event space, her unwavering commitment to quality has earned her a rock-solid reputation of reliability, leading clients to return for all their milestone events from weddings, baptisms and birthday parties to galas and grand openings.

As a Sarasota resident since childhood, Jenna has forged a solid relationship with the community and understands the climate of our region, both in weather and in culture.

JW MARRIOTT & TAMPA MARRIOTT WATER STREET

Jessica, Senior Catering Sales Executive for the JW Marriott & Tampa Marriott Water Street, began her 15-year hospitality career as a banquet server in her home state of Illinois after graduating from the University of Central Florida with an Event Management degree. With a passion for creating exceptional experiences, Jessica worked her way up through various roles with Marriott in Illinois, honing her skills and building meaningful relationships along the way. Recently, she returned to Florida to continue her journey at two of downtown Tampa’s most prestigious venues. Jessica thrives on connecting with clients and ensuring their milestone events—whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, or special celebration—exceed expectations. Her dedication to delivering memorable experiences is at the heart of everything she does.

TRADEWINDS ISLAND RESORT

With over three years of experience at TradeWinds Island Resort, Hannah Poff serves as the Wedding Catering Sales Manager, helping couples create unforgettable wedding experiences. Passionate about weddings and events, Hannah thrives in a dynamic environment, combining expert knowledge with a deep love for the wedding industry. Building strong relationships with other professionals in the event planning field is a priority, as she believes networking plays a key role in delivering the best experiences for clients.

WEDDING PRO VA

Sophie is a systems strategist who transforms wedding pros' businesses through intentional automation and elevated workflows. With a decade of industry expertise, she helps wedding professionals reclaim their time while delivering exceptional client experiences. She offers custom support packages, from one-time setups to ongoing assistance. Beyond the systems magic, you'll find this Tampa mama exploring the city with her toddler, rating the best tableside guac.

SIMPLY GOURMET BY METZ

Becky Souflis, Director of Catering and Events, joined Simply Gourmet over 10 years ago as the catering manager and currently serves as the Director of Catering and Events for Simply Gourmet by Metz in Sarasota. As a seasoned catering expert, Becky is passionate about setting a standard of excellence for her clients and guests. Gaining experience and expertise throughout the past decade, Becky has provided catering services for companies such as Tesla, Saks Fifth Avenue, Adidas, and Taylor Made Golf, to name a few. Becky truly believes that “you are only as good as your last event”.

PIER 22 | GROVE

Kim is the Director of Catering and Events for Pier 22 | Grove. She is an expert in crafting unforgettable events, meticulously planning and flawlessly executing each occasion to reflect her clients' visions with precision. Her dedication to client satisfaction is evident in her personalized approach, striving to exceed expectations and leave lasting impressions. Her passion for event planning shines through in her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to navigate any obstacles that may arise. Her experience ranges from private intimidate dinner parties and elaborate weddings, to banquets and sporting events.

With over 20 years of hospitality and event services, she relishing the opportunity to collaborate with new clients, venues, and ideas while nurturing longstanding community relationships. She brings creativity, enthusiasm, and forward-thinking innovation to every project she undertakes.

THE PHASE 5 BAND

Josh Walther is an award winning vocalist and frontman of The Phase 5 Band, a high energy event band known for their dynamic performance style and versatile musical repertoire. With a passion for music that ignited at a young age, Josh has honed his craft over the years, captivating audiences with his voice and charismatic stage presence.

Under Josh's leadership, the Phase 5 Band has become a sought-after act for weddings, corporate events, and high-profile parties across the country. His ability to connect with audiences and deliver unforgettable performances has earned him and the band a stellar reputation in the live music industry.

MELISSA WHITNEY FLORALS AND DESIGN

Melissa Whitney is the Owner and Head Designer at Melissa Whitney Florals and Design, a luxury event & floral design house in the heart of South Tampa. After years of fascination with beguiling arrangements and throwing her own elaborate parties, Melissa decided to feed her passion and attended Flower School in New York City. To further broaden her creative depths, she also earned her Certificate in Event Design at Flower School New York with Martha Stewart’s Contributing Editor, Claudia Hanlin.