A Fun Vintage-Inspired Wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida

Nine months after Amina El-Yousef (39 and an executive assistant) and Brian Yarborough (32 and in construction) met at work and started dating, he popped the question with a New Year’s Eve picnic lunch along the beach. Brian proposed with a handwritten note that explained all the reasons why he loved Amina before he dropped to one knee. With a two-year engagement, the couple had plenty of time to plan their fun gold and black Great Gatsby-inspired wedding in the The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota's garden. White hydrangea along a white flower petal-filled aisle led the way to the couple’s crystal accented vine-wrapped wedding arch. While the couple planned their wedding together, Amina walked down the aisle with a surprise for everyone - a red organza Vera Wang ball gown and birdcage veil. “It was a unique choice and quite untraditional, which pretty much is me in a nutshell - a nonconformist,” she says. After Amina and Brian said “I do,” their 170 guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and reception in the same location. Glass-topped round tables surrounding a checkerboard-designed dance floor were met with black chiavari chairs, crystal candelabras, gold linens and low white floral centerpieces in gold vases. String lighting was hung overhead as the couple and their guests enjoyed a roast chicken dinner and four-tier gold wedding cake topped with a bold white composite flower. All were entertained by a DJ and "Zaffa" belly dancers before the couple left their reception under an archway of sparklers.