Florida Beach Weddings – 6 ways to beat the summer heat

Florida is called the sunshine state for a reason – when you’re planning ahead for your beach wedding there are ways to make sure you beat the summer heat – your guests will appreciate the attention to detail and the photos will be filled with smiles no matter how hot the beach is 🙂

Parasols

Instant shade and instant style. These look great in the wedding portraits, too!

Water

Make sure there are water bottles on hand for yourselves and your guests. Although you may not be out on the beach for very long, if someone wants a chilled drink, it’s easy to have a cooler or water station nearby.

Dress Code

Although some weddings are formal attire, most of our happy couples and their guests opt for lighter fabrics and a semi-formal or tropical dress code. This translates into summer dresses, shorts, sandals, flip flops, or sandy toes 🙂

A morning ceremony

Temperatures tend to be cooler in the morning hours and the skies are often the brightest blue. A morning ceremony can be followed by a celebration brunch and there is the rest of the day to celebrate!

Fans

Providing a fan on each chair will help with the heat – they can be found in a number of styles and shades – also a great prop for the photos. A popular twist on the ‘fan’ theme is to print a card program and attach it to a holder so it doubles as a memento.

The waves

When you’re steps from the shoreline, it’s hard to resist! Make time for some cooling fun in the sun with a dip in the Gulf of Mexico

If you’re ready to start planning your beach wedding or vow renewal, give us a call to start planning. 727-443-0039 or visit us online at http://www.suncoastweddings.com

Erick and Erica’s Beach House Wedding

Amidst a confusing and unprecedented time for the US and the entire world, weddings, travel, and the very way we all interact has been altered more than we could have imagined. As the coronavirus swept around the world, plans inevitably changed and shifted as families quarantined and everyone had to seek a new way of navigating these difficult and often traumatic times. At Suncoast Weddings we see it as our role to support our couples as we focus on wedding planning. We would like to share a story of love which saw Erick and Erica say “I Do” at the Sunset Beach House last week. All of the social distancing rules were followed and the wedding was a smaller, more intimate ceremony than had been planned.

Erick and Erica

It was three and a half years ago that Erick and Erica fell in love. This is their story.

If ever there was a poster child for a positive that could come from the effects that COVID 19 has had on the wedding plans of thousands of couples, then Erica would be it.

Like many couples, Erica and her fiancée  Erick were devasted when the realization dawned that the big, beautiful beach-front wedding and reception they had planned was in jeopardy as the whole country began to lock-down.  

But one thing they were 100% certain of was that their wedding was going to happen on the day they had planned.

“It didn’t enter our heads to cancel the wedding, not at all.  I am a firm believer that tomorrow isn’t promised so no matter what happened, even if it was just the two of us he wanted that day and I wanted that day.

“True, we had to make a lot of changes and as time went on there was the gradual acceptance that our wedding day was not at all going to be as planned.  But we wouldn’t let it get us down.  After all, weddings should be a positive – Erick and I were not going to let it turn into a negative because of what was going on.

“The  last few weeks would normally be that perfect time to enjoy all the last minute planning and  all the fun stuff that you usually do just before a wedding.  But we had to cope with a lot, including people we knew who passed away.  It was a prayerful time.

“When the day came, it was to us both,  the true meaning of what marrying the love of your life is all about and just what really is important on your wedding day.

“Because our ceremony had become so small we were able to really involve our kids in the day, we had so much more time for them on the day too – it was the true meaning of family.  

“Our vows to each other were very deep and so emotional and intimate, a true exchange of love and I think all the more so because of what we’d been through to make the wedding happen.

“I’m not an overly religious person, but I believe that not only did God bring Erick and I together,  I truly believe that He was present on the day.  It was just all so very special. 

“So yes, our wedding day was entirely different from what we had planned, but I wouldn’t go back and change a thing.  There’s a reason why things happen in your life”

Photo credits: GMP Photography (thank you for allowing us to share them, Erica)

If you have a story that we could share with our Suncoast Weddings family, drop us an email to sue@suncoastweddings.com

 

Bouquet inspiration for your Florida beach wedding

Bouquets are so varied and unique, it’s fair to say they all look great as the bride walks down the aisle. Seeing so many Florida beach weddings over the years, we want to share some of our all-time favorites – many are inspired by the beach and the ocean. It’s an opportunity to stamp your personality on a key accessory for the day.

 

Shell bouquets

Whether all shell or with shell accents, these bouquets are sure to be perfect on the seashore

For the bridesmaids, shells can also make a dramatic statement

 

Starfish

Did you know you can buy starfish in a variety of colors and sizes? Here we also feature crystal starfish pins adorning beautiful bouquets

 

Pearls

A great theme for a beach wedding, pearls are a traditional element woven into a modern setting

 

Exotic flowers

This is an opportunity to wow your family and friends with exotic blooms and amazing bouquets

 

Brooches and crystals

It’s time to bring the bling! Brooches and crystals pick up the sunlight and shine brightly. The outdoor setting of a beach wedding illuminates the jewels, elevating their shimmer.

 

It’s always worth looking for seasonal flowers and thinking ahead to the time of year you are planning to say “I Do”. Seasonal flowers are often more affordable and certainly in their prime. Traditional favorites like roses and lilies can be transformed with a few shells or starfish and we hope you’ve found some new ideas here today 🙂

 

If you’re ready to start planning your own Florida beach wedding or vow renewal, give us a call at Suncoast Weddings, we’re always ready to make the magic happen.

727-443-0039

Boutonniere Inspiration for a beach wedding groom

We’re lucky to see many stylish grooms at Suncoast Weddings. Traditional boutonnieres work well at a beach wedding, although sometimes running with the seashore theme can lead to unique and memorable details. With so much planning and so many details coming together for the big day, here is a dash of inspiration for the groom-to-be.

Seashells on the sea shore

Delicate and so varied, choose from bold to subtle, and scalloped to spiral. Seashells are reasonably priced and naturally enchanting.

Starfish

With varying colors and textures, starfish blend in or stand out, versatile additions to a stylish boutonniere

Pearls

Another seashore reference and a traditional theme for a wedding day

Sand Dollars

The one that didn’t get away

This lure is a super creative accessory for the groom that loves to fish or perhaps a nod to the fact there will be two less fish in the sea

Exotic elements

From orchids to lilies and peacock feathers to succulents, there are so many ways to add color and charisma to your beach wedding day.

If you’re ready to start planning your own Florida beach wedding or vow renewal, give us a call at Suncoast Weddings, we’re always ready to make the magic happen.

727-443-0039

10 ways to help your guests relax at your Florida beach wedding

1. A wedding rehearsal

If you have a large wedding party and especially if some of your group aren’t familiar with the traditional order of the processional, a fun, light-hearted (but ultimately informative) rehearsal one or two days before the ceremony will help relieve stress on the big day.

2. Keep cool

It can get warm in the sunshine state so planning ahead with fans or bottles of water for each guest during the wedding can help guests stay hydrated and cool.

3. Have an ‘unplugged’ ceremony

Trusting your professional photographer takes the pressure off family and friends. Taking this one step further, an ‘unplugged’ ceremony invites guests to leave their phones and cameras so that they can be fully present and enjoy every moment with the happy couple.

4. Pick a seat, not a side

Traditionally, families and friends of the couple sit on opposite sides of the aisle. A beach wedding is the perfect opportunity to let people mingle, bringing a modern and stress-free twist to the seating plan. For something totally different, banish traditional rows of seats and choose one of our spiral seating plans.

5. Sandy Toes!

Enough said! Nobody can be stressed when they’re barefoot. Sandy toes rule on the beach.

6. Bring the fun

In place of confetti (which damages the beach), think out of the box when celebrating the “I Do’s”. Beach balls are great fun for everyone and they make fantastic photo portraits.

7. Make the fun

Selfie stations and props are the perfect excuses to not just smile for the camera, but to genuinely laugh! Oversize sunglasses, hats, masks – let your imagination run wild, let the good times roll and end up with some crazy keepsakes to remember the fun.

8. Hire a professional

A day-of coordinator will help smooth any bumps in the road as your wedding takes place. They have the experience to remain calm, the local connections to formulate a ‘Plan B’ and your guests will know that everything is in hand and they don’t need to worry or step out of their comfort zone.

9. Choose a fun soundtrack

To get your guests’ toes tapping and get the children rocking, choose some upbeat songs which everyone will recognize. A little dancing goes a long way to having a memorable and fun day.

10. Have fun yourselves!

Everyone else is here to celebrate your special day. When your family and friends see you having a great time, they will, too! Don’t sweat the small stuff and make sure everyone understands how much better the day is with their company. Love, laughter and Happily Ever After!

 

If you’re ready to start planning your own Florida beach wedding or vow renewal, give us a call at Suncoast Weddings, we’re always ready to make the magic happen.

727-443-0039

10 Ways to bring Bohemian Flair to your Florida Wedding

Boho style has never been more popular and it’s easy to see how a bohemian theme fits well with a wedding ceremony in the great outdoors. For those who love nature and want a free-spirited day, we have some ideas on channeling boho-chic for the modern day bride

Flower Crowns

From intricate to simple, these stylish accessories can transform a wedding day outfit from formal to whimsical and can pair with your color scheme or contrast.

 

For a bold and colorful look, fresh flowers like roses look romantic and dramatic.

Baby’s Breath Accents

Dreamy and ethereal, baby’s breath (or Gypsophila) brings billowing clouds of tiny blossoms to the aisle or your bouquet.

Dream Catchers

Favors for your guests, table markers, or incorporated into the decor, dream catchers are a symbolic and decorative element on such an important day.

 

She wore flowers in her hair …

Flowers can be worn as accessories to reinforce the natural beauty of the beach setting. Quirky and individual, it’s a great look to play around with.

A twist on the theme is wearing starfish in your hair, perfect for the beach!

Say Yes to a Boho Dress!

We’ve seen beautiful boho-inspired dresses on our Suncoast Weddings brides! Especially in the summer when the temperatures are soaring, non-traditional wedding gowns look great on the beach and pair well with sandy toes.

Barefoot Sandals and Foot Jewelry

Stylish and fashionable, sandy toes can be dressed to impress! Many of the styles feature pearls which fit in perfectly for a beach bride.

Bridal Headpieces and Headbands

If there is one day in your life to feel like a princess, this is it! Headpieces and headbands glitter and dance in the Florida sun, making great bridal portraits.

A Naked Cake

Simple, elegant, and fuss-free!

Add Asymmetrical Florals to your Arch

Chic styling brings florals, and boho chic styling mixes up the traditional arch styles and throws away the rulebook. Think colorful, think asymmetry, think laid-back, and natural. Cascading vines, draped chiffon, an aisle of lanterns, the only limit is your imagination.

Be unique!

You’ve seen hundreds (or thousands) of Pins on Pinterest, pictures in magazines, albums of friends, they were all great. Now think about what you haven’t seen, but want on your big day. Break the rules, be unique, plan a day that will make you and your guests joyful. When you aren’t afraid to let your personality shine, everyone will have a great time.

 

If you’re ready to walk down a sandy aisle as a boho bride, we’re here to start planning! Call us at Suncoast Weddings to get started. 727-443-0039

Florida beach weddings in shades of pink

Florida destination wedding packages are available for vow renewals, elopements, and weddings on the west coast of Florida in the Clearwater, St Pete Beach, Treasure Island area. Here, we look at some of our favorite images in shades of pink – from a subtle blush chiffon to hot pink pomanders. We’re ready to start planning if you’re ready to say “I Do”

Florida Beach Weddings – 2017 Review

As we look forward to 2018, it’s time to reflect on some of our favorite moments of 2017. Thanks to all our wonderful couples who have made 2017 such a romantic year!

Wedding Day Regrets

With so much focus on wedding planning, it’s important to also learn from others. When regrets occur on a such a carefully orchestrated day, there are lessons to be learned and we know a few tips and tricks to help the wedding day stay a regret-free zone!

Make time to interact with your guests

Let’s face it, the day is primarily about the two of you. Having said that, if you choose to invite family and friends who are important to you and your future, taking time just to say a quick hello should figure somewhere in the day. Traditionally, this was in the form of a (sometimes stuffy and awkward) receiving line. Do you have to do that? Absolutely not! The more modern approach is to mix and mingle either on the beach after the ceremony or when you have eaten at the reception. Beach weddings are perfect for this as they tend to be a more relaxed setting anyway. A few heartfelt words will be remembered forever and you won’t regret not saying how wonderful it is they made the effort to celebrate with you.

Too many cooks

We’ve all seen the pictures where the bride is looking straight at the camera and the groom is looking at someone at a slightly different angle! When you hire a wedding photographer, trust them and let there be one focus. This is especially important when there are group portraits. Well-meaning guests trying to catch your attention and get their own snapshots will result in confusion and will compromise the professional shots. If you are not hiring a photographer for the reception, then designate someone you know who loves to take pictures and let them snap away!

1-2-3 Eyes on me!

It is a sign of the times that many people now regard life through the lens of their phone. If you want people to see the details and engage in person, consider an ‘unplugged ceremony’. Not only will they not feel any pressure to try and capture the perfect moment, your pictures will look better without a sea of phones in the image.

Not taking notes

When you’re opening the gifts, make sure to make a note of who gave what. It sounds basic but will enable you to personalize each thank you note instead of sending a generic ‘thank you’ to everyone.

Not hiring a professional

Not everything may go to plan. It could be the weather, it could be an extra few guests being able to attend, it could be the florist is late, it could be that the paperwork is missing … the list goes on. Did you know you need a permit to marry on many of the beaches, even though they are public beaches? This is a one-off event for you and an important day. We are finding that more and more couples are hiring a coordinator for the day just to make sure that if something unexpected crops up, they are not the ones who have to troubleshoot and save the day. Professionals who have coordinated many weddings are more likely to have ready-made solutions or know the local vendors and venues to remedy any issues. As we often say – “Go be a bride” – it’s hard to enjoy the day when you’re worrying if a vendor has arrived.

 

Breaking the budget

We’ve seen a lot of advice on this subject and still, it often gets broken. Perhaps the best we’ve heard from our couples is to set a budget, then build in 5-10% ‘wiggle room’ for the unexpected. It’s a day that shouldn’t feel about compromise so plan carefully and look for beach wedding packages or deals that will help with overall costs. A couple of really easy ways to potentially save money:

• Rent beach wedding signs instead of buying them
• Use silk floral accents in your decor
• Re-purpose bouquets as centerpieces at the reception
• Ask about military / first responder discounts

Do you have any more ideas to share with couples? We’d love to hear them! If you’re looking to say “I Do” in sunny Florida, give us a call to start planning. 727-443-0039

 

 

10 Fun Ideas with a Beach Wedding Theme

If you love planning and playing with a theme, beach weddings give a perfect opportunity to think outside the box and have fun with the details.

Here are some of our favorite ways to take inspiration from the beach and incorporate them into your wedding.

1. Message in a Bottle

A great way to send ‘save the date’ invites is a ‘message in a bottle’. Here, the addition of a sand dollar adds extra charm.

2. A nautical centerpiece

A net, shells, and starfish transform the table with style and whimsy. Easy to set up, yet effective and appealing, this popular choice works for indoor and outdoor receptions.

3. A seashore inspired sign

Everyone loves being at the beach, and there are so many ways to personalize your wedding day.

4. Themed Coozies

Because once you say “I Do” they’ll be …

5.Sandy Favors

This is a really nice idea to create a personalized keepsake for guests. Shells can be picked from the beach or locally bought and the sand can be from your special location 🙂

6. Fisherman’s Frivolity

For the couple that loves to fish, we have unexpected ideas like starting your aisle with fishing poles!

And for symbolism and theater during the ceremony, tie a fisherman’s knot together.

7. Beach ball shower

No confetti is allowed on the beach and a shower of beach balls creates a fun mood and a great backdrop for pictures

8. Tropical Music

Everyone is transported by the distinctive and uplifting steel drums. Get ready to dance down the aisle!

9. Wedding cake – beach style!

No need to compromise on flavor or impact – a beach inspired wedding cake can be a show stopper!

10. Beach bouquets

We love seeing these creative and beautiful bouquets and boutonnieres – look forward to great portraits and style points from all your guests.

If you’re ready to start planning, we’re here to help! Call us today to get started 727-443-0039