The natural beauty of a beach wedding evokes pictures of the bride and groom silhouetted by a glorious sunset, sealing their union before family and friends. For many couples, Florida beach weddings are a fabulous idea as a destination wedding. Of course, couples that live near the cities of Tampa, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale or Jacksonville need not travel very far to exchange their vows on a beautiful beach, even though they may live in a teeming metropolis.
What is a Florida Beach Wedding?
Having a beach wedding in Florida means that the couple will exchange vows at the water’s edge, but the reception will most likely be elsewhere. Generally there are 2 ways to get married on a Florida beach.
Getting Married at a Resort
You can arrange for your wedding on a Florida beach to be at a large sea-side resort, that is right on the sand, that offers beach wedding packages. The resort will take care of the details of your ceremony on the beach (except the marriage license) and your reception in the hotel itself. Many coastal hotels will host wedding receptions in a room with windows overlooking the waves, though sometimes a tent may be set up outside for the festivities. Naturally, the bride, groom, wedding party and guests will have luxurious overnight accommodations right there.
Working with a Wedding Planning Company
You can contract with one of a number of private wedding planning companies that specialize in organizing beach weddings in Florida. These companies will schedule your date and time with the beach’s jurisdiction, get all the required permits for you (except the marriage license), set up an officiant, arrange for chairs and arches, etc. Some of these companies offer packages with extras like unity sand ceremonies and keepsakes like a framed copy of your vows. Often the company will help arrange for a dinner or brunch in a nearby restaurant or even help the wedding party rent a beach house.
What the bride and groom do after the wedding ceremony can run anywhere in cost and size, from having a reception in a hotel or restaurant, taking a reception cruise on a private yacht or ocean liner, enjoying a reception back in your home town to allow everyone to attend,or having no party at all!
Where Can You Have a Florida Beach Wedding?
If you live in the South Eastern United States, you and your family can easily drive to one of the many beach areas of Northern Florida, both on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic without the expense of plane tickets. But don’t let air fare dissuade you from your idyllic beach wedding.
In Northwest Florida, also known as “the panhandle”, popular locations of the “Emerald Coast” that offer weddings on the beach are Destin, Panama City, Navarre beach, Fort Walton Beach’s Okaloosa Island as well as Pensacola Beach. On the Northern Atlantic coast of Florida, the beaches just outside the historic city of St.Augustine and just south of Jacksonville, host many weddings on the sand.
The central Gulf Coast offers sea-side weddings in places such as Clearwater Beach in the Greater Tampa Bay area, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, just west of Ft. Myers and Naples and Siesta Key and Lido Beach, 5 minutes from Sarasota.
South Florida beach weddings on the Atlantic coast, take place anywhere from the beaches of Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach all the way down to Key West.
Things to Keep in Mind
You will need to obtain a Florida marriage license which can be from any county. The couple will typically need to apply together in person, though there are provisions for acquiring a license by mail. If you are a U.S. citizen from a state outside of Florida, you may get married on the same day that you get your license. But Florida residents have a 3 day waiting period. It’s best to talk to a wedding professional or county clerk for specific details.
So start early with the planning of your perfect Florida tropical beach wedding and you will be feeling the sand between your toes before you know it!
