Lush with Luxury

30A bride talks finding love, getting married, and posing for the cover

By Rebecca Padgett Frett

For Sarah Bovender, life has been about being in the right place at the right time.

She owes much of the joy in her life to living on 30A. Sarah spent 13 years in Nashville as a singer/songwriter before moving to Northwest Florida in 2018.

“I have such a love for Northwest Florida— the communities, beaches, and lifestyle create something truly special,” says Sarah. “I know I wouldn’t have met my husband if I hadn’t moved from Nashville to find solace at the beach and pursue a peaceful life. This area softened my heart in many ways and made me emotionally available to even have a marriage. I owe this region a lot.”

In 2022, Sarah joined the real estate brokerage Compass, which has a regional and national presence. She was visiting an Atlanta office at the same time as a man named Andy Bovender. The two hit it off , and he invited her to join a company retreat in San Diego.

The connection deepened after that trip, and the two decided to date long distance—he visiting 30A and her to see him in Charlotte and Charleston, where he also works in real estate.

Their first official date was at a farm-to- table, chef-prepared restaurant in Charleston that scheduled private tastings. As they waited to be seated, Andy blurted out to the group of strangers that it was their first date. Throughout the meal, diners joked about their future wedding. The chef was even in on it, giving them a bottle of wine which he told them to drink on their wedding night.

While the two openly laughed about it, Andy stashed away the bottle, which did indeed get poured at their wedding.

After dating for two years, talk of marriage had come up, but Sarah certainly wasn’t expecting her engagement and 40th birthday trip to Europe to coincide.

“We were at dinner in Tuscany when I started telling him how much I loved him, and reached for his hand, but he wouldn’t hold mine back,” says Sarah. “Turns out, he had the ring in his hand during all of dinner. It was the biggest shock of my life, even though I was so ready to say ‘yes.’ It was the most intimate and romantic moment.”

On June 17, 2025, the Bovenders traveled back to Italy, marrying in the countryside of Florence. Once a palace, their venue, Tenuta di Artimino, was like something out of a fairytale, overlooking rolling hills and ancient olive groves.

“The best part of the day was having all of our loved ones gathered in such a stunning place,” says Sarah. “The day was so inclusive, loving, and happy. Everyone had the best time.”

It rained most of the day, up until an hour before the ceremony. As a result, while the ceremony could still occur outdoors, the reception dinner was moved inside because the setup was more extensive.

“That morning, I made up my mind that whatever happens is out of my control, and I won’t let it rob me of my happiness,” says Sarah. “That’s my biggest piece of advice to couples: Don’t let circumstances out of your control dictate your mood.”

For the 2026 cover shoot, Sarah got to have the experience of getting wedding-ready again as she was glammed by Destin Mobile Makeup Box, luxuriated with JA Essence Beauty products, and styled in three stunning gowns from Margaret Ellen Bridal with gems and jewels from McCaskill & Company.

Brittany Sigler, owner of Destin Mobile Makeup Box, Mobile Makeup Box, leaned into the coastal lux look with glowing golden skin and shimmering champagne eye makeup. Her hair was styled in a cascading modern French twist, ideal for a Florida wedding.

The dresses highlighted all of 2026’s hottest trends, including basque waists, corset tops, strapless sweetheart neck- lines, waterfall veils, and add-on accessories such as lace gloves. Each gown was adorned with gold, silver, and diamond designer jewelry.

The classic white roses were given a modern twist with layers of textured greenery in a bouquet curated by Bella Flora 30A.

The talented Lillian Rose Baker of Goldie Wolfe Photography posed Sarah around the beautiful Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel property in Pensacola.

This year’s cover reflects the lush luxury and serene beauty unique to Northwest Florida.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Goldie Wolfe Creative

VENUE

Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel

WEDDING GOWNS

Margaret Ellen Bridal

HAIR AND MAKEUP

Destin Mobile Makeup Box

JEWELRY

McCaskill & Company

FLORALS

Bella Flora 30A

BEAUTY WELLNESS PRODUCTS

JA Essence Beauty