While there are many beautiful beaches to choose from for your dream wedding day, beach weddings in South Florida have some added benefits. Florida is not too expensive to fly to and southern Florida, dipping into the warmer Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic waters, is not as affected by the same cool weather patterns that may reach the north and central beach areas of the state.
The Florida coast is steeped in history and boasts beautiful sandy beach stretches, grand hotels, public parks and incredible sunrises and sunsets.
There are two primary ways to have a South Florida beach wedding.
1) Have your ceremony on the beach without any planned reception or other wedding day events.
2) Follow your ceremony with a reception, pampering and a stay at a grand beach front South Florida resort.
Arrangements for South Florida Beach Wedding Locations
If you just want to exchange your rings on a beautiful beach and not have a formal reception or you just want to sail right away on your honeymoon cruise, then be assured that there are many sites available for south Florida beach weddings. A number of professional wedding planning companies and wedding officiants can handle all the details of staging your ceremony on the beach. Possible Atlantic locations could be in or near Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Key Biscayne, Jupiter and Key Largo. Among many other spots, the Jupiter Lighthouse is a very romantic and photographic location for weddings.
These professionals will arrange for an officiant as well as scheduling & beach permits (Many county beaches and state parks along the Atlantic allow beach weddings). Beach wedding packages may also include seating for guests, custom vows, flowers, photography, decor such as an arch, champagne toasts, cake, and additional ceremony elements such as for a unity sand ceremony. If you are staying at a beach house or condo on the beach, then your wedding ceremony could be arranged to take place on-site. You package service will also be able to file your completed Florida marriage license.
Typically all that the bride and groom will need to do is arrive dressed for the wedding with their Florida marriage license. Your wedding consultant will be able to direct you to other wedding related vendors if, for example, you want a videographer or other extra services. They can also suggest a restaurant for your wedding dinner or a hotel for your overnight stay.
Beach Wedding Venues in South Florida
Alternatively, if you want the beach wedding, the ballroom reception or candlelit dinner and overnight accommodations, all in the same beach front locale, then here are many resort hotels for beach weddings, South Florida, to consider. Here are but a few:
- South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island on the Gulf of Mexico is a lovely facility on the southern Gulf Coast, just minutes from Fort Myers.
- In Miami, the Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach is a splendid location for a South Florida wedding. This amazing setting will allow the bride and groom to personalize their unique beach wedding experience.
- B Ocean in Ft. Lauderdale, one of the B Hotels & Resorts, can host an intimate wedding for a few or extensive events for many guests, in a variety of inspirational settings.
- The Crowne Plaza, Hollywood is another possible venue for a dream custom wedding in Hollywood Beach, Florida. Their very experienced staff will not miss any detail.
- Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, in Miami, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean offers creative solutions for all wedding budgets and styles, from intimate to 500 guests. They offer complete reception packages.
What Next?
We have just touched the surface of beach weddings in South Florida. So, start researching your dream wedding place on the beaches of Florida, well in advance of your desired wedding date. Then, before you know it, you’ll be packing!
