A perfect beach wedding...in 30 days or less
1. Plan your event off-season. Ceremonies in the late fall and winter can be breathtakingly beautiful along the Florida Gulf Coast. In most cases, you'll have many more options available. Many vendors cut their prices in the winter months, as well. Just picture an outdoor Florida winter setting, complete with hot chocolate (spiked!) for your guests and thousands of twinkling white lights on palms or ancient oak trees trimmed with Spanish moss. Florida Nuptials has off season rates, and great convenient discounted packages available to accommodate the bridal couples.
2. Get married on a Thursday…or any weekday. Who made the rule that weddings need to be on weekends? And don't worry that people won't attend if it's during the week. All kinds of important events occur during the week--births, deaths, Christmas, presidential inaugurations, the first day of pre-school. It's your wedding day-they might grumble a little-but they'll be there. Some of them will even thank you for an excuse to leave work early. The staff at Florida Nuptials can officiate your weekday event at the location of your choice.
3. Keep your numbers low. It's difficult to plan a wedding for 125+ guests in 30 days, especially if folks are coming from out of town. Make it easy on yourself and keep the guest list to 75 or less.
4. Supermarkets and grocery stores have gorgeous flowers and talented arrangers who can make up bouquets and boutonnières in a day or two. Professional florists can also put something together for you quickly if you are ordering flowers in-season. Florida Nuptials offers complimentary use of several different types of silk bouquets and boutonnières for bridal couples that would like to save on expenses.
5. Likewise with cakes. Large-chain grocery stores can whip up something gorgeous and delicious in less than a week's time.
6. Your Florida Wedding can be a beautiful beach themed event. It is good to have a back up plan in the event of weather issues. Consider a non-traditional wedding venue as a back up plan. Traditional wedding venues are usually the first to be booked, so consider alternative options. The parlor of a B&B is an excellent idea, as often they will let you use this for free if your wedding is small and your guests book their rooms there. Consider recreational centers, restaurants with small private rooms (also free much of the time if you order off their menu), or how about a restaurant that is closed for the day (usually Mondays)-a perfect win/win opportunity. Know any real estate agents? They may know of some vacant (even posh!) properties in the area that you could rent from the owner for an afternoon or evening.
7. If you can't find a photographer on such short notice (and if your wedding is on a weekday, this shouldn't be a problem) then schedule a professional photo shoot at their studio-complete with your bridal attire-so that you have some professional-quality photos. Then, let the amateurs (i.e. your guests) handle the day of wedding shots. Florida Nuptials has several photographers available at very reasonable rates to accommodate your event.
8. Traditional bridal shops don't always take forever to order your dress. Approach them with your request and ask what they can do for you. They may have something off the rack and their alterations department can work wonders. Also consider bridal consignment shops, and general formal wear stores. Emerald Coast beach events can be casual or semi– casual affairs with Hawaiian attire, white shirts and khaki pants, Guayabera Shirts, slip dresses, and white cotton sun dresses. Throw a Great Gatsby wedding and wear vintage. Do Halloween and come in costume.
9. As far as your bridesmaids go, simply pick a color (black is easiest, but any color will do) and tell them to buy a dress of their choosing in that color. Or be even more flexible and let them pick out their own dress in whatever color and style they wish. This lends interest and variety to your wedding.
10. Plan an eBay afternoon at your computer and completely blitz the task of shopping for favors, cake toppers, guest book, cake-cutter, bridal party gifts, place-card holders, garter, unity candle, disposable cameras, tiara, jewelry and any other wedding day accessories you might want.
11. Getting someone to marry you with 30 days notice might be a stretch (But again, not on a weekday, or in off-season). Florida Nuptials has a staff available that service the greater Florida Gulf Coast region. Our staff members have been able to Officiate events within 1 1/2 hours of initial contact, and have stepped in at the last minute on several Florida “emergency” wedding situations when other officiants booked were unable to carry out their responsibilities.
12. Delegate. Delegate, Delegate. A brilliant and talented person like you has equally brilliant and talented friends and family members. Put your cousin in charge of flowers, enlist the help of your best friend to create your ceremony programs. Your future mother-in-law offers to find the wedding Officiant. Let her! You can't expect to handle all the details yourself in this timeframe. Let them have at it and refrain from micro-managing. We've found that grooms excel at getting the Officiant and planning the honeymoon, so give him those two tasks for sure! Florida Nuptials has several convenient and economical packages available to relieve some of the decision making and details of your ceremony.
13. Hire a wedding coordinator for a few hours, even during their busy time, They will be willing to work with you on the planning aspects of your wedding and they have wedding resources like you wouldn't believe. They will find you a photographer in a day, a DJ in two.
14. Music shouldn't be a time-consuming factor. In addition to professional DJs and musicians (ask your other vendors for recommendations) contact the music departments of local colleges and private music schools. Anyone who travels in music circles will have contacts, so try high school music teachers as well. Don't overlook the simple solution of a boombox with some decent speakers; the sound quality will amaze you. Florida Nuptials has this service with various choices of processional and recessional music available at a minimal cost and tremendous convenience to the bridal couples.
15. Invitations do not have to be ordered months in advance, and can be made easily on any computer with a decent printer. Delegate this project to your best friend, and let his or her creativity flow!
16. Pick out your wedding rings at any reputable jewelers (they can be sized) and have the engraving done after your wedding.
At the end of your wedding day when you find yourselves alone, pop some Champagne and congratulate yourselves. You've pulled off the perfect day and remained best friends through the process! Cheers!
2. Get married on a Thursday…or any weekday. Who made the rule that weddings need to be on weekends? And don't worry that people won't attend if it's during the week. All kinds of important events occur during the week--births, deaths, Christmas, presidential inaugurations, the first day of pre-school. It's your wedding day-they might grumble a little-but they'll be there. Some of them will even thank you for an excuse to leave work early. The staff at Florida Nuptials can officiate your weekday event at the location of your choice.
3. Keep your numbers low. It's difficult to plan a wedding for 125+ guests in 30 days, especially if folks are coming from out of town. Make it easy on yourself and keep the guest list to 75 or less.
4. Supermarkets and grocery stores have gorgeous flowers and talented arrangers who can make up bouquets and boutonnières in a day or two. Professional florists can also put something together for you quickly if you are ordering flowers in-season. Florida Nuptials offers complimentary use of several different types of silk bouquets and boutonnières for bridal couples that would like to save on expenses.
5. Likewise with cakes. Large-chain grocery stores can whip up something gorgeous and delicious in less than a week's time.
6. Your Florida Wedding can be a beautiful beach themed event. It is good to have a back up plan in the event of weather issues. Consider a non-traditional wedding venue as a back up plan. Traditional wedding venues are usually the first to be booked, so consider alternative options. The parlor of a B&B is an excellent idea, as often they will let you use this for free if your wedding is small and your guests book their rooms there. Consider recreational centers, restaurants with small private rooms (also free much of the time if you order off their menu), or how about a restaurant that is closed for the day (usually Mondays)-a perfect win/win opportunity. Know any real estate agents? They may know of some vacant (even posh!) properties in the area that you could rent from the owner for an afternoon or evening.
7. If you can't find a photographer on such short notice (and if your wedding is on a weekday, this shouldn't be a problem) then schedule a professional photo shoot at their studio-complete with your bridal attire-so that you have some professional-quality photos. Then, let the amateurs (i.e. your guests) handle the day of wedding shots. Florida Nuptials has several photographers available at very reasonable rates to accommodate your event.
8. Traditional bridal shops don't always take forever to order your dress. Approach them with your request and ask what they can do for you. They may have something off the rack and their alterations department can work wonders. Also consider bridal consignment shops, and general formal wear stores. Emerald Coast beach events can be casual or semi– casual affairs with Hawaiian attire, white shirts and khaki pants, Guayabera Shirts, slip dresses, and white cotton sun dresses. Throw a Great Gatsby wedding and wear vintage. Do Halloween and come in costume.
9. As far as your bridesmaids go, simply pick a color (black is easiest, but any color will do) and tell them to buy a dress of their choosing in that color. Or be even more flexible and let them pick out their own dress in whatever color and style they wish. This lends interest and variety to your wedding.
10. Plan an eBay afternoon at your computer and completely blitz the task of shopping for favors, cake toppers, guest book, cake-cutter, bridal party gifts, place-card holders, garter, unity candle, disposable cameras, tiara, jewelry and any other wedding day accessories you might want.
11. Getting someone to marry you with 30 days notice might be a stretch (But again, not on a weekday, or in off-season). Florida Nuptials has a staff available that service the greater Florida Gulf Coast region. Our staff members have been able to Officiate events within 1 1/2 hours of initial contact, and have stepped in at the last minute on several Florida “emergency” wedding situations when other officiants booked were unable to carry out their responsibilities.
12. Delegate. Delegate, Delegate. A brilliant and talented person like you has equally brilliant and talented friends and family members. Put your cousin in charge of flowers, enlist the help of your best friend to create your ceremony programs. Your future mother-in-law offers to find the wedding Officiant. Let her! You can't expect to handle all the details yourself in this timeframe. Let them have at it and refrain from micro-managing. We've found that grooms excel at getting the Officiant and planning the honeymoon, so give him those two tasks for sure! Florida Nuptials has several convenient and economical packages available to relieve some of the decision making and details of your ceremony.
13. Hire a wedding coordinator for a few hours, even during their busy time, They will be willing to work with you on the planning aspects of your wedding and they have wedding resources like you wouldn't believe. They will find you a photographer in a day, a DJ in two.
14. Music shouldn't be a time-consuming factor. In addition to professional DJs and musicians (ask your other vendors for recommendations) contact the music departments of local colleges and private music schools. Anyone who travels in music circles will have contacts, so try high school music teachers as well. Don't overlook the simple solution of a boombox with some decent speakers; the sound quality will amaze you. Florida Nuptials has this service with various choices of processional and recessional music available at a minimal cost and tremendous convenience to the bridal couples.
15. Invitations do not have to be ordered months in advance, and can be made easily on any computer with a decent printer. Delegate this project to your best friend, and let his or her creativity flow!
16. Pick out your wedding rings at any reputable jewelers (they can be sized) and have the engraving done after your wedding.
At the end of your wedding day when you find yourselves alone, pop some Champagne and congratulate yourselves. You've pulled off the perfect day and remained best friends through the process! Cheers!
