By Casey Holley
Say "I do" at the beach.
A Florida
beach destination wedding can be the wedding you have always dreamed of. The marriage license requirements in the state of Florida aren't as strict as in some other beach locations---plus, no passport is needed. As is the case with any destination wedding, planning and a little thought can go a long way toward having your dream wedding without having a headache afterward.
Wedding Service
Whether you are a Florida resident or from out of state, a wedding service can help you pull off the perfect Florida beach destination wedding. A Wedding Dream in Paradise recommends deciding on the date of the wedding or at least have a general idea of when you want the wedding before you contact a wedding service. When you are looking for a wedding service, choose one that offers multiple venues, just in case your first choice is already booked for your preferred date. Barefoot Weddings states that you should ensure your wedding service has a license to operate as a beach wedding vendor, as this is required by law in most cases.
A Wedding Dream in Paradise
16950 Colony Lakes Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-489-4886
https://www.floridaweddings.com/index.html
Barefoot Weddings
P.O. Box 25421
Sarasota, FL 34277
850-244-9277
http://www.barefootweddings.net/index.html
Licensing Requirements
According to the Broward County Clerk of Court website, Florida doesn't have blood-test requirements to obtain a marriage license. Both parties must be 18 years old or older. The marriage license is issued at the time of application, as long as both the bride and groom to be have valid identification that includes a photo and date of birth. However, Florida residents can take a four-hour preparation course that includes a discount on the filing fee. If the applicants don't want to complete this requirement, full price will be charged, and there is a three-day wait for the license.
Wedding Guests and Your Honeymoon
Having your parents, family and friends along for your honeymoon may seem like a nightmare; however, that is usually how it will happen. One way to minimize the impact this will have on your honeymoon is to call the hotel ahead of time and explain that you would like your honeymoon suite away from the rest of your guests. If the hotel states that this isn't possible, consider booking a honeymoon suite at a different hotel. Another thing you can do is to plan out your guests' days to maximize your one-on-one time with your new spouse.
About the Author:
Casey Holley is a medical writer who began working in the health and fitness industries in 1995, while still in high school. She has worked as a nutrition consultant and has written numerous health and wellness articles for various online publications. She has also served in the Navy and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in health administration from the University of Phoenix.
Photo Credits:
beach wedding image by chinatiger from
Fotolia.com
