Some weddings stay with you long after you pack up your cameras. Lisa and Justin Pappas’ day at The Westin Sarasota is one of those, not because of excess or spectacle, but because of how grounded it felt in who they are together.
The Westin sits in Sarasota’s downtown waterfront district, a pocket of the city where a cluster of hotels rises above walkable streets and open views toward the bay. It feels modern, coastal, and calm, a fitting setting for a couple who values the quiet moments just as much as the celebrations.
I began the day with Lisa in her room, where her mom and sister were already there, sharing in those early hours that always feel a little suspended in time. The palette was clean and timeless, whites paired with soft green accents. One of the most meaningful moments of the morning happened when Lisa’s dad came into the room for a first look. The emotion was immediate and unguarded, the kind of moment that reminds you how much history lives inside a wedding day. We made a few portraits as natural light filled the room and the pace stayed unhurried.
Lisa and Justin met at work, and their relationship grew in the everyday spaces. They love being able to fully be themselves together, always having an accepting place to land. Whether it’s cooking at home, working out, or sitting outside watching the sunset with a glass of wine, their connection lives in the simple things. Justin proposed in one of those same intimate settings, on the patio of the home they share, just the two of them.
There was no first look between Lisa and Justin. Justin’s first time seeing Lisa was as she walked down the aisle. The ceremony took place on the sixth floor, overlooking downtown Sarasota. It was short, intimate, and deeply personal, centered around the vows they wrote for each other. That walk down the aisle and the words they shared became the emotional core of the entire day.
As the light shifted toward evening, we headed up to the nineteenth floor terrace for portraits. Golden hour wrapped the city in warmth, and Lisa and Justin slipped easily into their own rhythm. It felt like one of those moments they love most, quiet, connected, and unforced.
Afterward, we returned to the ceremony space for family portraits. Family was at the heart of this wedding, and the emphasis on including and honoring those closest to them made the day feel especially meaningful.
The reception unfolded with intention and ease. Lisa and Justin shared their first dance, followed by dances with their parents, a moment they had been looking forward to all day. A few heartfelt toasts followed, along with the cake cutting, bouquet and garter tosses, and then the night opened up into celebration. The dance floor stayed full, laughter filled the room, and everyone did exactly what Lisa and Justin hoped for, they simply had fun.
Elegant, simple, and honest.
Lead Photographer | Jeff Mitchell
Associate Photographer | Aysia Pagan
Cake | Publix
Caterer | The Westin
Ceremony Site | The Westin
Florist | Flowers by Fudgie
Hair Stylist | Art by Izzy
Make-up Artist | Art by Izzy
Reception Venue | The Westin
Wedding Gown | The Perfect Dress
