With a variety of beaches along three separate coastlines, Florida is a major destination for beach weddings. Brides and grooms who plan to have a wedding on or near a beach in Florida are in luck, because Florida seems to specialize in beach weddings, and Florida communities try to make the wedding experience as easy as possible. The first step is choosing the perfect location, and because Florida abounds in beachfront options the bride and groom should have no trouble finding exactly the right spot for their wedding.
Anna Maria Island
Located in Central Florida, just north of Sarasota, Anna Maria Island remains a popular beach wedding destination due to its romantic atmosphere and white sand beaches. Anna Maria Island is actually composed of three separate cities--Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach--and all are known for a relaxed ambiance that creates the type of setting that many couples prefer for a beach wedding. Resort locations for weddings near the beach include the Tradewinds Resort near Anna Maria and the Tortuga Inn Beach Resort near Bradenton Beach.
Panama City
Panama City is located along a 27-mile stretch of coastline in the Florida Panhandle, and it has earned the nickname "Emerald Coast," due to the color of the water. With beaches that are renowned for their sugar white appearance, Panama City has a variety of options for holding a beach wedding along or near the coastline. Locations in and around Panama City include the laid-back community of Grayton Beach where the bride and groom can hold a wedding in one of the area's historic cottages, the town of Mexico Beach where the bride and groom can have a quiet ceremony in a small chapel near the beach dunes, and Inlet Beach, which is a quiet historic community known for its seclusion and romantic setting.
Sanibel Island
Located west of Fort Myers, Florida, Sanibel Island, and the nearby Captiva Island, are known for a lush and exotic atmosphere that draws many couples looking for a tropical beach wedding spot. The islands--which are connected by a long causeway--are teeming with tropical plants and shell-covered beaches, but they also provide a range of beachfront and beach-adjacent locations for holding wedding ceremonies. Area resorts include the Sundial Beach & Golf Resort, Casa Ybel Resort, and the Sanibel Island Hotel, which also offers a number of cottages.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, or St. Pete, specializes in a casual and romantic atmosphere for beach weddings--not to mention a variety of beach options for selecting the perfect wedding location. Near St. Petersburg is Treasure Island, which has a variety of local and chain resorts to choose from; Madeira Beach, which is close to a number of area locations such as museums and gardens; and Redington Beach, which features a variety of local parks that are near the area beaches.
Fort Myers
Fort Myers might be near Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, but the city--and its beaches--provide a different opportunity for a beach wedding along Florida's Gulf of Mexico coastline. Fort Myers is a fairly large community with a variety of hotels and resorts that a bride and groom can choose from, not to mention a range of beach options for wedding ceremonies. What is more, Fort Myers is known for its beautiful sunsets, so the bride and groom can plan for wedding pictures as the sun is going down. The city also offers a number of museums, parks and beachfront event locations for the bride and groom who prefer a wedding near the beach but not on it.
