Sara Palm and Lucas Higman

By Shelley Green | Photography by Aaron Lockwood Photography


A whirlwind courtship from a surprise engagement at Lake Tahoe to a romantic sunset ceremony, all in a little over a year, set the stage for one fairy tale wedding.

An introduction that could potentially have been penned by Nora Ephron, Sara and Lucas attended rival St. Petersburg high schools and never met. After high school, both attended the University of Florida and never met. In the summer of 2006, while out with mutual friends at MacDinton's in South Tampa the two finally met and that was all she wrote. "We became so entirely engrossed in conversation the night we met, we ignored the rest of our friends," remembers Sara. "I guess you can say it was love at first sight. He took me out on a date the following evening, and we've been inseparable ever since."

One night while having dinner for Sara's birthday at Capital Grille, after only a month of dating, she had an overwhelming feeling the man across from her would some day be her husband. Little did she know Lucas not only felt the same way, but he would soon be asking her parents for her hand in marriage. On a trip to Lake Tahoe for New Year's Eve, Lucas popped the question. "I definitely hoped for it, but it was a total surprise," exclaimed Sara. "We called all our friends and family right away that we wanted as our attendants in the ceremony and we had our colors picked out by the time we left Tahoe."

An elaborate, black tie optional, outdoor, evening wedding on the terrace of the Ca d'Zan Mansion at the Ringling Estate was amiably agreed upon along with the other details of the wedding.

When it came to the dress, the bride fell in love with a Henry Roth gown she found while flipping through a bridal magazine. The image of the perfect dress burned on her brain, when CC's Boutique announced a Henry Roth trunk show she immediately scheduled an appointment. "I tried on several dresses, and they saved my favorite for last," recalls Sara. "I closed my eyes while they zipped up the dress, and the second I opened them and saw my reflection in the mirror, I nearly fainted! It was 'The Dress'." Stuart Weitzman shoes and Swarovski crystal headpiece completed Sara's bridal ensemble--and took care of her something new, or so she thought. "Lucas bought me a pair of sapphire earrings and matching necklace to go with an antique ring and bracelet set I borrowed from my grandmother," said Sara. "For Luke's wedding gift, I had a custom made ring with his fraternity seal, as he is a past fraternity president."

At sunset, over 250 of the couple's friends and family gathered for the waterside ceremony conducted by Lucas' uncle, the Reverend Allan Holte. "The ceremony his uncle prepared for us was extremely touching and personalized," said Sara. "We laughed, we were teary-eyed, it was simply a beautiful experience."

Guests were transported by trolleys from the terrace to the courtyard at the front of the estate for the reception. The couple's signature cocktail Stoli Doli's--pineapple and vodka martinis--beef carpaccio pirouettes, macadamia nut shrimp and other hors d'oeuvres were passed during the cocktail hour. As a special treat, the museum's galleries were open for tours during the cocktail hour too.

Sara and Lucas danced for the first time as husband and wife to the Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky. "We took waltz lessons and had a dance choreographed for us," exclaimed Sara. At the end of the night, the couple entered happily ever after in style, leaving in a white 1960s Rolls Royce.