How to Plan a Beach Elopement in Florida

The traditional thought process of an Elopement often coincide with “Vegas Wedding” and not telling anybody. And hey, theres absolutely nothing wrong with that. But you have a ton of options for your Elopement to include your closest friends and family, travelings to breathtaking locations, and saving a ton of money. You can now use that money towards the things in a wedding that matter the most to you like your dream wedding dress or the personal experience for you and your significant other. For those who want to keep their wedding intimate, close-knit, and beautiful on the beaches of Florida this ones for you: 

Here a the next steps to planning your Elopement:  

Determine your Budget: How much do you need to save up for or how much do you need to set aside? A few contributing things to your budget are your Attire, Rings, Marriage License, Travel and Accommodations, Vendors (Officient, Florist, Makeup Artist, Hair stylist, Photographer, Videographer etc), Food, Drink, Permits etc.

Register for your Marriage License in the County you are getting married at: You can apply for your marriage license with a drivers license, state ID card or a passport. You will also need your social security number and pay a fee. In Florida the fee is $93.50. You will have 60 days to have your ceremony after you receive your marriage license.

Research which Beach in Florida suits your style and research which time of the year to come/Set the Date: So if you are from the “sunshine state”, you probably already know that Florida has a variety of beaches that are all different. Some have clearer water than others, some have darker or whiter sands, and some have pathways with plenty of greenery. While Miami has a totally different style than Key West, its important to be self aware of your own personal style and find which locations match better with you. Ask yourself, what type of things can I do in this location? Which locations have the vendors I’m looking for?

Another thing to think about is weather. Hurricane and rainy season is usually during the summer around June to September with its peak of hurricanes in August most of the time. The best times in my opinion to get married in Florida would be in the Spring and late fall for cooler temperatures. 

Pick your Vendors: “It takes a small army”. Even for the smaller weddings you need a tiny team to pull off your Elopement. You will need your hair and  makeup done, photography, flowers, an officiant for your ceremony or even a wedding planner to handle everything if you have a busy schedule. Either way vendors are there to help you make your dream come to life! So take time get to know them with a phone call or zoom call because teamwork seriously makes the dream work. 

Make a Timeline: Nothing is worse than running behind or not knowing what to do ON YOUR WEDDING DAY. Make sure a timeline is created, so you, your family, and vendors know when and where to be. This can save a ton of time and stress, while keeping your day on track. Even if it gets pushed back or there is a weather delay you know where to reference. 

If there are time gaps, fill the spaces with a few things that you might have forgotten to add or something fun! Examples: First Look, First Dancem Champagne Toast, Sailboat at Sunset, Picnic. 

Plan your Elopement Announcement: If your family isn’t going to physically be apart of your Elopement day, still let them know with an announcement. This way they won’t be completely left in the dark and can still celebrate with you at a later date. With this small gesture you can still include everyone to make them feel in the loop and show them you thought about them. 

Plan a Reception: If your family is coming for your ceremony, plan a small reception for late, so that you all can continue celebrating all night long! That way if more people want to come and celebrate with you that didn’t make it to the ceremony they can join. 

LETS ELOPE! I’ll meet ya there ~ Shaya Oliver Photography