A Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast Wedding on the Manatee River

We first photographed Janelle and Brandon at their engagement session in May 2025, and on Saturday, April 25, 2026, we were back for their Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast wedding in Palmetto, Florida. They said “I do” under the oak trees on the Manatee River, with live music for the ceremony and cocktail hour and golden hour portraits on the pier.

Marykate of Events by Marykate planned every detail, and the whole day ran so smoothly. Thank you, Marykate!

A Historic Riverfront Venue in Palmetto, Florida

Julius A. Lamb built this house in 1913 from a Sears and Roebuck kit. Today Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and run by innkeepers Wim and Mieke, right on the north bank of the Manatee River. Old oak trees, a white gazebo and a 200-foot pier over the water make it a beautiful setting, less than 30 minutes north of downtown Sarasota and about an hour south of Tampa.

Bridal Details and Getting Ready

Janelle got ready at the inn, and Jennie’s Flowers dropped off her bouquet early so I could start on the details. Her strapless gown from The White Closet hung in a doorway of the historic house, and I photographed her bouquet of white hydrangeas and roses, mimosas on a silver tray, and her shoes and veil in the soft window light. (Planning your own? Here’s my wedding detail shots guide.)

Meanwhile, Brandon and his groomsmen got ready in the inn’s sitting room with Ben, in tan suits from Jos. A. Bank and light blue ties. Brandon’s handkerchief was embroidered with a sweet note from his bride.

Back with Janelle, hair and makeup by Just Beauty were soft and timeless, and then her mom buttoned her into her gown in a room full of windows. That light!

A First Look with Dad

Before she saw Brandon, Janelle shared a first look with her dad outside the inn. His smile says it all.

A First Look and Love Letters by the River

Then it was Brandon’s turn! Janelle walked up to him by the white picket fence, and afterward they read letters to each other with the Manatee River behind them, Brandon wiping away happy tears. Real, candid moments like these are exactly what Janelle and Brandon wanted from their photos.

Wedding Party Photos Under the Oaks

The bridesmaids wore light blue and the groomsmen wore tan, right in line with the couple’s white, cream and light blue colors and their coastal semi-formal dress code. Against the green lawn and those huge oak branches, it was so pretty!

A Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast Wedding Ceremony Under the Oaks

An arched welcome sign with their names and wedding date greeted guests. The aisle ran under a sprawling oak, lined with white hydrangeas and roses from Jennie’s Flowers, with the white gazebo and the river at the end, and Joe Farren played live music on the keys for the ceremony.

Janelle and her dad walked down the front steps of the 1913 house together, and Brandon was wiping away tears before she even reached the aisle.

Then came the kiss! Brandon dipped Janelle right in the aisle as their guests cheered.

Cocktail Hour with Live Acoustic Music

For cocktail hour, Joe traded the keys for an acoustic guitar, and guests mingled over crostini and caprese skewers from Sarasota Catering Company. Spunky Spirits ran the bar, with a framed menu of wine, beer (including 3 Daughters Florida Orange IPA from St. Pete), spirits and a signature drink.

Even the cocktail napkins were personal, with a sketch of their pup and the words “I do, too! Love, Shelly,” and Shelly’s photo framed right beside them.

For their guest book, guests signed a canvas banner with the couple’s new last name and “Est. 2026,” a keepsake they can hang at home. Kendall Anne Collective was there capturing content throughout the day, too.

Reception Decor in White, Cream and Light Blue

Round tables filled the travertine patio under string lights and palm trees. The head table sat under the covered pavilion in front of a carved stone fireplace topped with white flowers, and long tables lined the covered porch beneath lantern chandeliers and a sky blue ceiling.

Jennie’s Flowers filled silver bowls and glass bud vases with white hydrangeas, roses and greenery, and each place setting had a cream napkin and a menu card in the same soft, timeless palette.

Toasts, a First Dance and Dinner on the Patio

The toasts had Janelle and Brandon laughing at the head table, their first dance was right on the patio, and dinner from Sarasota Catering Company came out beautifully plated.

Golden Hour on the Pier

As the sun started to go down, we took Janelle and Brandon out on the pier over the Manatee River, then over to the tree swing on the lawn. Soft evening light on the water, and two people completely relaxed in front of the camera!

Her Grandmother’s Cake Knife and a Packed Dance Floor

Janelle and Brandon cut their white cake from Publix Bakery with a very special knife: the same one Janelle’s grandmother used at her own wedding, wrapped with white flowers and pearls. Janelle asked ahead of time for a close-up of it. We don’t just capture pretty photos… we capture memories.

Then everyone headed to the dance floor under the string lights, with Joe Farren on the music for the rest of the night!

Janelle and Brandon, thank you for having us back after your engagement session. What a beautiful, smooth wedding day! And thank you to Marykate and the whole vendor team below.

Planning a Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast wedding, or a celebration anywhere from Sarasota to Tampa? As Sarasota wedding photographers and Tampa wedding photographers based near Lakeland, Ben and I would love to hear about it, so check our availability.

Wedding Vendors

• Planning | Events by Marykate
• Venue | Palmetto Riverside Bed & Breakfast
• Photography | Mary Anna Photography
• Florals | Jennie’s Flowers
• Wedding Dress | The White Closet
• Menswear | Jos. A. Bank
• Hair and Makeup | Just Beauty
• Ceremony Music, Cocktail Hour Music and DJ | Joe Farren
• Catering | Sarasota Catering Company
• Bar | Spunky Spirits
• Cake | Publix Bakery
• Content Creator | Kendall Anne Collective