any ideas on where to have my wedding?:)

[nikkijl]

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone can help me out with some ideas of where to have my wedding in FL. It is supposed to be around Jan, so somewhere more south probably so that it is warm. Would love to have a sunset wedding on the beach, so west coast? Very low key and laid back, feet in the sand. Want to have the reception outside on the beach too. Somewhere we can have a band past dark. Also, need it to be affordable. Any ideas would help.

[loveangel0610]

What about Key West, FL? I looked up the average high temp in January and it's 75 degrees. I had actually looked into having a wedding there and they seemed to have a lot of nice options. Hope this helped.

[loveangel0610]

I almost forgot here's a couple links:

 

KEYWESTWEDDING.COM

Beach Weddings In Florida/Beach Wedding Miami/South Beach Wedding/ Florida Beach Weddings/Ft. Lauderdale/ Key West

Key West Weddings and Event Speicalists Weddings - A Key West Affair - Wedding Planners, Event Locations, Catering, Photography... Key West Weddings

Key West FL Wedding- Wedding Planning, Marriage and Commitment Ceremonies in the Florida Keys

A Key West Romance - All in one Key West weddings

Key West Weddings - Weather and Planning Information

[Jen_S]

I would also suggest Key West at that time of the year. Key West is so much fun!

[nikkijl]

I have definitely thought of Key West-I love it aside from all of the cheesy touristy stuff. I am from FL and always have a good time there, but not the best beaches. I see some beautiful white sandy beaches in the pics, and I'm wondering where they are. I can't think of a nice beach there except at the hotels, and I don't want to be married there.

[tonyschreiber]

Beautiful, white, soft-sand beaches are the domain of the west coast of FL (Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel, etc)...

[nikkijl]

I like the west coast around Sanibel Island, really anywhere. The problem that I have had is trying to find an affordable place to have a reception. There are none. We have a budget of $10,000 with everything. I would love to rent a house somewhere or a B&B. Have checked out vacation rentals, but don't know how to figure out if they would rent for a wedding reception. Probably 100-120 people.

[FLgator]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyschreiber Beautiful, white, soft-sand beaches are the domain of the west coast of FL (Naples, Marco Island, Sanibel, etc)...

I agree with these options. Just remember that although we are the sunshine state it can get in the 40's so there is always a risk that it may be cold on the beach; however, if you are from the north that may not be cold to you at all. One week you may need a jacket and the next you are back in shorts, you just never know. For this reason The Keys may be your safer bet... although we decided against our January wedding being there, because they too get some colder spells and we didn't want to risk it. Basically I am just a wimp when it comes to the cold. If you are thinking the Keys, I personally wouldn't choose Key West....they just don't have very pretty beaches, but some of the other keys do. I live in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area, and although Clearwater is considered a great beach it just doesn't appeal to me for a wedding...then again maybe I have just been desensitized to it after living here for 26 years. Good Luck!

[tonyschreiber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLgator I agree with these options. Just remember that although we are the sunshine state it can get in the 40's so there is always a risk that it may be cold on the beach; however, if you are from the north that may not be cold to you at all. One week you may need a jacket and the next you are back in shorts, you just never know. For this reason The Keys may be your safer bet... although we decided against our January wedding being there, because they too get some colder spells and we didn't want to risk it. Basically I am just a wimp when it comes to the cold. If you are thinking the Keys, I personally wouldn't choose Key West....they just don't have very pretty beaches, but some of the other keys do. I live in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area, and although Clearwater is considered a great beach it just doesn't appeal to me for a wedding...then again maybe I have just been desensitized to it after living here for 26 years. Good Luck!

One more opinion against Key West. While there is an airport on Key West, I would imagine that most of your guests would arriving at MIA. That's a good 4 hrs from Key West. Blech.

[J.Monet]

I have recently shot some weddings and a couple of engagement sessions at a relatively new private beach resort called Little Harbor in Ruskin, Florida (Just outside of the Tampa area.)

 

It is an absolutely gorgeous little spot, and they have a rooftop, poolside deck & reception area with an outdoor fireplace that was awesome! Not sure what their pricing is like, but I thought I'd share.

 

I think their website is Tampa Florida Real Estate, Sarasota Florida Real Estate, Tampa Bay Real Estate