The two coasts are vastly different, so it’s all going to boil down to what’s most important to you and your guests.  The waves on the Atlantic are usually much higher than they are on the Gulf, but the Gulf is very shallow for a considerable distance out. The water around the keys is known to be crystal clear.

In the 6 panels below are links to  32 splendid public beaches in Florida that would be great for weddings. Some are near major cites and others are more isolated. Check out the links.

In general, larger cities and towns are going to have more choices of hotels, motels, and bed & breakfast inns (as well as restaurants, bars, and entertainment for your guests) than remote locales. But don’t avoid considering those remote beaches. They are often far less populated, which will give you more privacy and fewer worries about gawkers and potential party-crashers.

BEACH PERMITS:
Some municipalities and will require you obtain a special permit in order to hold your wedding on their beaches. They may also require you to show proof of liability coverage before issuing a permit. The permits are generally very modest in price, but vary widely among communities (starting at $0.00).

Florida requires that you have picture ID such as a driver’s license and your Social Security card or a valid passport number or I-94 card. You may be asked for a certified copy of your birth certificate. You do not have to be a Florida resident to obtain a marriage license here.

If you have been previously married, the date of your divorce or your spouse’s death must be supplied. If these occurred within the past 30 days, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is required.

There is no waiting period for Florida residents who have both completed a state sanctioned marriage preparation course within the last 12 months. There is a three-day waiting period for Florida residents who have not taken the course.

The license fee is $93.50. Many locales accept credit cards now, but be sure to check with the local county clerk to make sure.  

In addition to clergy, the marriage ceremony can also be performed by a Notary Public.

Because marriage license requirements can change, please do not regard this guidance as legal advice.

 

Atlantic Beach
Jacksonville Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach
South Ponte Vedra Beach
Villano Beach
St. Augustine Beach

Vero Beach
Palm Beach
Boca Raton
Fort Lauderdale
Miami Beach
Key West

Destin
Panama City Beach
Fort Walton Beach
Pensacola

Cape Coral
Sanibel
Fort Myers
Naples
Marco Island  

Planning so far in advance for a beach wedding means that you need to arm yourself with facts about the weather (temperature and possibility of precipitation) for the beach location that you have in mind.

Although there certainly are exceptions, when it comes to weather, the past is a pretty good predictor of the future. and it will almost always be better than a wild guess. This link provides historical weather data over nearly 50 years for thousands of locations in the world. 

You won’t want to have the bridal party standing at the water’s edge for the ceremony if the tide’s coming in. But when will that be? Find the time of the high tide for your beach location for any day in 2009  with this link.

What if a major storm occurs or the groom has an accident that requires the wedding to be postponed or even canceled? What if an important vendor goes out of business before the wedding and you can’t get back your deposit for the cake or the music?

Consider wedding cancellation insurance. It is available online for as little as 1 cent for every dollar of insurance, and it  can cover the honeymoon, too.

Here’s one site that  has designed a special insurance policy just for coverning wedding -related events: http://www.wedsafe.com/