Florida Elopement Packages

Florida is the famous sunshine state filled with beautiful beaches and gorgeous ocean views. Many couples want to elope in Florida or plan their romantic honeymoon there. This state has many gardens, parks, and beaches to choose from. Our Florida Elopement Package goes over locations, vendors, and tips for you to be aware of when you elope in Florida.

Are you recently engaged? Do you want to elope somewhere beachy and fun? Then you came to the right place to build your Florida Elopement Package. 

*While we don’t offer bundled elopement packages in Florida, we do provide you with all of the information and resources you will need to create your perfect elopement package. Our Wandering Weddings members are also amazing vendors to ask questions. These members have plenty of experience curating awesome elopement experiences for couples. 

How to Elope in Florida

This is a very long resource, use the links below to jump right to the section you’d like to check out.

• Vendors For Your Florida Elopement Package
• Best Places to Elope in Florida
• Permits for Florida Elopements
• Best Places to Stay in Florida

Vendors For Your Florida Elopement Package

When putting together your Florida elopement package, you want to consider your overall elopement budget. Elopements have a pretty big range when it comes to an average price because it all depends on what vendors you decide to include on your wedding day. Please note that you are not required to include every vendor type in your package.

Are you ready to start planning your Florida elopement?

Check out our vendor categories to consider when thinking about your elopement package:

Photographers

These vendors are where most of your elopement budget will be going towards, but for good reason. On average, our photographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. This depends on how many hours of coverage (half-day versus full-day) a couple is looking for their Florida elopement package.

Videographers

Like elopement photographers, videographers are going to be a great investment for your elopement day to document your adventures together. On average, our videographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. Keep in mind, this depends on how long you want your elopement footage to be. For example, a full-day video coverage would cost more versus covering just your elopement ceremony.

Officiants

On average, our officiant members will charge $500-$800 per elopement. Officiants are great to orchestrate your favorite traditions and wedding vows. It’s also important to note that some other vendors are also officiants, so we recommend always asking.

Elopement Planners

You don’t necessarily always need a wedding planner for your elopement adventure, but having a planner does help if couples have a very clear elopement vision. The average price for our planner members is $1,000-$3,000. Planners are also great for couples who don’t want to DIY or worry about anything, or couples who live far from their elopement destination.

Florists

Since you’re planning an elopement, you’ll need less floral arrangement than your average traditional wedding in Florida. If you aren’t down to DIY your own bridal bouquet, then a florist in Florida can average to $300 to $600.

Venues

Are you looking to elope in Key West, Miami, West Palm Beach, or St. Augustine? Even though there are plenty of public land options to consider eloping to in Florida, there are also some pretty neat private venues in Florida too. Our team loves private venues because they do offer you more privacy and flexibility when you two are going to elope. Private venues, on average, will charge $300 to $4,000, depending on the location.

Best Places to Elope in Florida

Did you know Florida has over a thousand miles of coastline? With that said, there so many gorgeous places to plan your elopement. Florida is popular for its beaches and gorgeous, year-round weather.

Rainbow Springs State Park or Any Florida Springs!

If you’re looking for a stunning location in Florida, then Rainbow Springs State Park should be on your Florida elopement package list. The water here is incredibly clear, allowing you to admire the different fish that roam through the springs. This state park is packed with years of history and hidden nooks of wildlife and waterfalls. There are also many springs around Flordia to explore including DeFuniak Springs and Ginnie Springs.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

If you are looking for a more affordable option in St. Petersburg, then Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a good option. This 2450-acre area is protected and isolated beauty. The preserve is also located on the shores of Lake Maggiore, which can make for a beautiful ceremony location.

Sunken Gardens

The Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum. With 100 years of history, this botanical oasis is home to more than 50,000 tropical plants, waterfalls, gardens, and animals. Since this is a museum, there is a fee for intimate elopements and photography access. For an hour, this Florida venue charges $250 for up to 10 people, including the photographer.

Harry P Leu Gardens

If you are looking to elope in Orlando, then Harry P Leu Gardens is a gorgeous place to exchange vows. Their gardens are filled with tropical flowers and plants. Different flowers bloom during each month, and their website has a handy guide to help you see what’s in bloom. Since this is private property, there is a fee to hold a small ceremony.

Playalinda Beach

A couple of miles from Orlando, you will run into Playalinda Beach. This beach is also one of America’s national parks. This is 24 miles of untouched, beautiful shoreline. Enjoy the serene crashing waves, and plan a sunrise or sunset elopement with stunning panoramic views.

Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve is an oasis just 45 miles from Miami on the Atlantic coastal plain. This is a gorgeous National Park that is more than 2,400 square miles where swamp buggies and airboats roam. Plan a camping trip with your honey here and enjoy a gorgeous scenic drive together.

Key West

There are multiple areas to discover at the Florida Keys. We love the keys for couples who enjoy boating and any other water activities. Aside from the amazing view, you can get from the Florida Key’s 7-mile bridge, you can also rent adorable waterfront hotels.

Smathers Beach

Key West is a getaway from Miami’s more touristy beach sites. Smathers beach is the largest public beach in Key West, and it is about a half-mile long. This is a great option if you are thinking about eloping at Key West, but you don’t want to pay the extra fees that come with private resort locations.

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

If you are looking for a tropical garden to plan your elopement, then Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is a gorgeous option. Filled with native plants, you and your honey can enjoy the biodiversity and learn about its rich history.

Bahia Honda State Park

Bahia Honda State Park has breathtaking views of the Florida Keys. Enjoy the palm trees, clear waters, sunsets, and sea breeze during your elopement day. This is a great place to find multiple areas to plan your special day.

Deerfield Beach

If you haven’t noticed already, there are a lot of beaches in Florida! We love Florida from the number of beaches you can find within each county. Deerfield Beach is in Broward County and has the most epic shoreline views. Remember, however, these beaches are public, so we recommend planning early, week-day ceremonies.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

If you want to elope in Miami, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a secluded hotel beach spot, then consider Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This park is minutes from Miami and has an epic historic 1825 lighthouse. There’s a little bit of everything at this Florida elopement destination.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

If you are looking for something intimate garden escape, then Coral Gable’s Fairchild Tropical Garden is your best bet. You will also find multiple rare tropical plants and beautiful trees and vines within this 83-acre garden.

The Secret Garden

Near Miami, you will find The Secret Gardens in Miami. This location will make you will like you have walked into a fairytale. Its crystal clear lagoons, waterfalls, and wildlife will make the perfect backdrop for your wedding portraits. This location is private and does have photography fees starting at $255, but this location also provides a private bridal suite to get ready.

Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park is a 1.5 million-acre wetland in South Florida. This terrain has coastal mangroves, sawgrass, marshes, and pine Flatwoods. Hundreds of animals live here, and it has thousands of nooks and crannies to explore and celebrate your marriage together.

Any Florida Beach

When creating this list, we quickly realized that if we named all the beaches we love in Florida, we would have provided a very long list. Thus, we provided some, but keep in mind that there are so many beautiful and public beaches in Florida to discover. Beaches in Miami, such as South Beach, will be more touristy, but there are other beaches we love in Florida including beaches in St Petersburg or Tampa! Remember, plan ahead and avoid holidays, weekends, or festivals.

Permits for Florida Elopements

When it comes to permits, you have to do a bit of research to make sure you cover any requirements. We suggest hopping over to the homepages of these locations to find the most up to date information for the locations you are loving. If you plan your elopement ceremony on public land in Florida, you may need to obtain a permit. Even with a permit, these public places are not private during your elopement, so we suggest planning sunrise and weekday elopements for some public beaches.

Make sure to have a witness if you are looking to have a legal marriage ceremony during your adventurous elopement. You will also need an officiant during your ceremony. Florida wedding ceremonies can be officiated by Florida notaries, clerks of the circuit courts, ordained ministers, judges, and judicial officials. We suggest teaming up with one of our Florida vendors because not only do they have awesome experience in elopements, but some of them may be able to officiate your marriage too!

Top 5 Things to Remember When Planning an Elopement in Florida

1. June through September is the rainy season/ hurricane season.
2. Northern Florida is more budget-friendly and less touristy than South Florida.
3. Top cities to plan your elopement include Miami, St Petersburg,  Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and the Florida Keys.
4. Remember to obtain permits and pay location fees (if applicable).
5. Have fun, and enjoy Florida’s year-round sunshine.

Places to Stay in Florida