Florida Destination Wedding Planning – Making Things Easier!
Getting married far from home can be a truly romantic way to say “I do,” whether you choose a tropical beach locale or a gorgeous backdrop of mountains. But no matter how lovely your chosen location, Florida destination wedding planning requires a significant amount of planning—sometimes even more planning than a wedding at home!
If you have your heart set on a wedding in another city or state…like Orlando, Florida ( 😉 ) , we’ve put together some tips to help you make the most of your wedding planning and ensure that you have an unforgettable ceremony.
Choose the perfect location
Where you choose to have your wedding will determine not just your planning details, but your décor and colors as well. The locale of your ceremony, whether on a beach in New Smyrna Beach, Destin or Clearwater or beside a mountain lake, will affect your dress choice, your activities and can even reflect your shared interests or history as a couple. You can return to your romantic proposal spot or the site of your first vacation together to take the next step in your journey as a pair.
If you’re looking to have your Florida destination wedding in Orlando, you can check out the Top 5 Wedding Venues HERE. Florida has some of the most beautiful and largest variety of “styles” of locations. Literally within a short drive, you can go from beautiful beaches to farmland. You literally can have your pick of anything you dream of for your Florida destination wedding!
Take the time of year into consideration
If you choose to take your wedding out of your hometown, be sure to choose the right season for your nuptials. Unfortunately, the best weather in your destination may also be peak tourist season, meaning hotels will be booked and venues hard to come by. However, if you choose to get married in the off-season, you can save money both for you and the guests you choose to invite while still enjoying lovely weather. Just be aware of what sort of weather to accept during the time of year you choose so you can prepare accordingly.
For the Sunshine State, wedding season is anytime EXCEPT June thru September. These are some of the hottest months of the year for anyone either living here or visiting! You could always opt for a completely indoor wedding but you’ll miss out on all the beauty that is in Florida!
Announce your plans ahead of time
Before you ask anyone to be a part of your wedding party, make sure they know that you’re planning a destination wedding. The same goes for your guests as well—the sooner they know that you’re headed overseas or out of state, the sooner they can book their flights and accommodations, helping them to save money. Be sure to announce your wedding date and location as early as possible—at least eight months in advance—and be prepared to get quite a few declined invites. Remember that the cost of traveling outside of the country can be prohibitive for some people, so be understanding of anyone who is unable to attend.
Another option for family and friends that can’t make the haul with you for your destination wedding is doing a Zoom wedding! This option was probably around somewhat prior to 2020 but it REALLY made an impact with the appearance of our buddy, Covid-19. Zoom make sit super easy for your guests to “attend” your destination wedding but from a distance!
Enjoy a planning vacation with your partner
Planning a wedding from a distance is a huge challenge and one a wedding planner can help out with a lot. But if you’re planning to handle all the arrangements yourselves, be sure to schedule a trip to visit your location so you can tour venues and meet with potential vendors in person. Even if you do hire a professional wedding planner, it’s a good idea to take at least one trip to your location so you have a clearer idea of how everything will look and what you want.
Research local marriage requirements
Getting legally married in another state or country can be tricky, so be sure to read up on the requirements for obtaining a marriage license in your country of choice. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of getting legally married in another country, consider having a quick courthouse wedding at home and making your destination wedding your proper celebration with your loved ones.
As Florida is such a huge location for Florida destination weddings, there are TONS of great contacts to help you with all of your marriage license needs! One of the best is Florida Marriage License By Mail! They know their stuff and help make the process quick and easy
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Planning a Florida destination wedding brings more challenges than a local wedding, so don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family members for help finding vendors or recommending activities in the area. This is where a wedding planner and/or coordinator can be a huge help, using their connections to help you find the right vendors to make your dream destination wedding a reality.
