Weddings in paradise; no stress, of course
With first Wedding Expo, working with local businesses, Sunset Grill at Little Harbor seeks to become a one-stop destination shop for weddings in paradise.
By MITCH TRAPHAGEN
The sunsets are stunning, perfect and each one is unique. Which provides an ideal setting for the perfect and unique day in every couple’s lives together: Their wedding day. Weddings on the beach at Little Harbor Resort have long been popular, but now the resort is working to help reduce the stress and to make things as easy as possible for the brides and grooms to be.
The Sunset Grill at Little Harbor itself is unique, not only for the beach and the perfect sunsets but also for the amenities available, including a highly regarded restaurant and a small army of employees to look after every detail, from the wedding itself to the joyous moments after, with the new couple celebrating with friends and family over food and drinks in one of Florida’s most beautiful settings.
On Sunday, the resort held their first ever Wedding Expo, which brought together local businesses from hairstylists and cake makers to photographers and videographers, along with florists to show their wares and services to future married couples and their parents.
For the Sunset Grill at Little Harbor, the goal is join with the area businesses to take the stress out of one of life’s most special days. The resort becomes a one-stop destination where every last detail can be arranged, with every need catered to.
“The expo is where we will be show-casing our whole property to all brides,” said Rachel Vincent, assistant events and banquet director with Sunset Grill at Little Harbor. “The brides will be able to see how my director, Abby Endel, and I, coordinate weddings at Sunset Grill.
I have personal experience with this type of one-stop shopping for a wedding. While it certainly is supposed to be among life’s most special days, it is frequently also one of life’s most stressful days. When my wife and I were planning our wedding, back in 1997, we began with the traditional route. But we were in Florida, and our families and some of our friends were in Minnesota. We had nearly decided to simply elope before paying a visit to a resort on Captiva Island. There, they organized everything down to the last detail, and we booked rooms for a weekend for our guests. The beach wedding was perfect, as were the accommodations. There was no stress, and everyone had a great time, with everyone commenting that it was one of the best weddings they had attended.
And now, that type of full service is available at Little Harbor Resort; including accommodations for out-of-town guests and, of course, a great and convenient place for a honeymoon stay.
But even for the staff it is no small feat, depending on the number of guests and the expectations of the couple, but they demonstrated their abilities at the conclusion of the expo in holding a mock wedding on the beach, with professional wedding photographers Davis and Janice Lauderdale of “Head Over Heels Photo” recording it all. And afterwards, everyone was invited, like for an actual reception, for hors d’oeuvres and drinks near the iconic pier stretching out into Tampa Bay and towards the sunset. A complete formal setup for dinner service was also provided. Having a large and professional staff certainly makes large feats seem easy.
“We will want to make Ruskin proud and show off our gem,” Vincent added.
Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful. Before giving up and booking flights to Las Vegas, stop by Little Harbor Resort to see if they can make things easier. After all, a wedding in paradise, by definition, should be free of stress.
For more information contact Little Harbor Banquet and Catering Director Abby Endel at 813-574-1615 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sunsetgrillweddings.