Need some advise: Getting Married in Florida

[OrlandoMagic]

Hey guys,

Okay, so we are set to go to Orlando this September and we have been discussing the idea of getting married while we are out there. We don't want a big fuss, don't want to spend thousands and are happy to only have a handful of people there... so the idea of it appealed to us.

We have been looking on a website http://www.getmarriedinflorida.com/ and the prices seem reasonable and I do like the idea of having someone do all the planning for us but how simple is it to DIY? Are we better off getting someone to do it all for us?

We have seen a few venues we like, Celebration is up there with our favourites as well as Cypress Grove.

Also if there are any other wedding planning companies out there you can recommend? Or just any tips and advice it would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[wayneg]

Sorry I can't help Simon, just wanted to say Congratulations. Shame we come home before the big day.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Sorry I can't help Simon, just wanted to say Congratulations. Shame we come home before the big day.

Thanks Wayne!

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Hey guys,

Okay, so we are set to go to Orlando this September and we have been discussing the idea of getting married while we are out there. We don't want a big fuss, don't want to spend thousands and are happy to only have a handful of people there... so the idea of it appealed to us.

We have been looking on a website http://www.getmarriedinflorida.com/ and the prices seem reasonable and I do like the idea of having someone do all the planning for us but how simple is it to DIY? Are we better off getting someone to do it all for us?

We have seen a few venues we like, Celebration is up there with our favourites as well as Cypress Grove.

Also if there are any other wedding planning companies out there you can recommend? Or just any tips and advice it would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Hi Simon,

Congratulations!

We are also considering an Orlando wedding, but just the 2 of us, but we were looking at Swan & Dolphin (due to costs). From the little info I have gathered so far (which isn't a lot ) if we book via Virgin Holidays, they seem to do a lot of the leg work.

I have been stalking The Dis Weddings & Honeymoons board, although most of the discussions are Disney weddings, BUT there might be some more info there r.e. DIY.

Sorry I haven't offered you anything helpful! Happy planning, would love to hear what you decide to do!

 

[laura_<3]

Hi Simon and congratulations!!

We've booked our wedding through Thomson but have been dealing with Disney direct ever since. I've just had a flick through their wedding brochure and Cypress Grove is in there from £705.00.

There are other companies out there though - I know from speaking to others that Destination Occasion and Just Marry both come very highly recommended and they arrange everything for you

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Hi Simon,

Congratulations!

We are also considering an Orlando wedding, but just the 2 of us, but we were looking at Swan & Dolphin (due to costs). From the little info I have gathered so far (which isn't a lot ) if we book via Virgin Holidays, they seem to do a lot of the leg work.

I have been stalking The Dis Weddings & Honeymoons board, although most of the discussions are Disney weddings, BUT there might be some more info there r.e. DIY.

Sorry I haven't offered you anything helpful! Happy planning, would love to hear what you decide to do!

Congratulations to you too! Hope all your planning goes well!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Hi Simon and congratulations!!

We've booked our wedding through Thomson but have been dealing with Disney direct ever since. I've just had a flick through their wedding brochure and Cypress Grove is in there from £705.00.

There are other companies out there though - I know from speaking to others that Destination Occasion and Just Marry both come very highly recommended and they arrange everything for you

Hi Laura, thanks for the reply. I'll certainly have a look at the two companies you mentioned, also never thought to look at what travel agents can offer so that's another option too. Thanks!

 

[2Tiggies]

Hi Simon

Congratulations! What are you looking to have included in a package? There are some reasonable deals to be had for smaller or simpler weddings, but we found they didn't tend to pop up as easily in a google search and needed a bit more digging around to find the little places. Also, ask about weekday weddings because a lot of venues offer lower rates if you get married during the week. It looked so tempting, but we have family who are at work during the week so we couldn't take advantage of a weekday ceremony.

As a side note, don't forget that you need to apply for a marriage license if you get married in Florida at least 3 days before the wedding. It costs $93.50 and you'll need to have it on the wedding day to pass to the officiant.


Happy planning

Edit to add: If you are going small and simple, you really don't need a wedding planner, unless there is some similar service included as part of your package.

 

[clareyfairymouse]

There are a number of companies that organise Florida weddings.
I got married in Disney nearly 5 years ago and booked through Virgin. I did most of the organising through Disney though as I didn't find Virgin that helpful.
A lot of the resorts have their own wedding planners/coordinators.
My friends got married at the Swan & Dolphin and had a really small wedding and other friends got married in Key West and the venue planner did lol the planning.
Hope you have a fab time, it's the best place to get married!

 

[cheryl.UK]

Don't forget that you will need to apply for a license yourself. We got conflicting advice on how to do this but ended up going in person to the courthouse a few days before the wedding. We took our birth certificates and passports and something to prove our address.

 

[CAROLINE4]

http://www.romanticfloridabeachweddings.com/#!about_us/c1ztv
Rev Diane married us on Cocoa beach in 2009! It was the most beautiful day! She organised everything. The cake, flowers,photographer, harpist! It cost us less than £1600
They were always helpful when I would email them question sect and she organised all of the above with only 3 weeks notice!
Congratulations!

 

[Pinkgirl]

We had a Disney Escape Wedding in 2012. Just the 3 of us. Dealt direct with Disney. Cost around £3500. We were married at the Wedding Gazebo. If you are looking outside of Disney Then Destination Occasion are a well recognised company in the wedding community. The owner Carrie is an ex-pat.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Sorry, I should have also mentioned in my previous post.

We had made preliminary contact with Virgin Holidays about a Disney wedding, and were advised they were not providing them for 2016 & they would be booked direct with Disney.

We were also considering a wedding at the Swan & Dolphin, as it was going to be just the 2 of us, the price was more reasonably for us.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Thanks everyone for your replies, really appreciate it. Lots of good advice and its given us plenty to think about.

I think we are going to have a look at the DIY option, I have emailed a few venues just asking for a price for a 1-2hr slot and go from there!

 

[Chilly]

As a side note, don't forget that you need to apply for a marriage license if you get married in Florida at least 3 days before the wedding. It costs $93.50 and you'll need to have it on the wedding day to pass to the officiant.

You don't need to get your license 3 days in advance as we are international visitors.

For the cheapest option you can get married at the court house. Just $30 on top of the license. Another good wedding planner apart from those mentioned is Helen at Elegant Weddings. A further option is the characters in flight balloon at DTD via Sensational Ceremonies.

If you go DIY you can get good wedding cakes from Its Tasty Too. Randy Chapman is a good and very reasonably priced photographer. Beaute Speciale for all your hair and make up needs. Carolyn Allen for suit hire and wedding dress steaming. STVS for a cheap wedding video. Rev Kev Knox or his wife as an officiant. Take silk flowers with you.

Any other questions just ask.

Congratulations.

 

[wayneg]

. Take silk flowers with you.

Sorry Claire but as a Florist I am sat here thinking "NOOOOOO!" artificial flowers and weddings just don't go together in my eyes.
Personal taste but they don't do it for me

 

[Chilly]

Sorry Claire but as a Florist I am sat here thinking "NOOOOOO!" artificial flowers and weddings just don't go together in my eyes.
Personal taste but they don't do it for me

Well to be honest I'm not a fan either, but I thought they would be easier for them to sort if they were arranging it all themselves

 

[cheryl.UK]

Kev Knox was our officiant. He was lovely. He sent us some example vows and we customised them to suit us. Although he's a christian minister, he was happy to take any mention of religion from our vows which was great.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

You don't need to get your license 3 days in advance as we are international visitors.

For the cheapest option you can get married at the court house. Just $30 on top of the license. Another good wedding planner apart from those mentioned is Helen at Elegant Weddings. A further option is the characters in flight balloon at DTD via Sensational Ceremonies.

If you go DIY you can get good wedding cakes from Its Tasty Too. Randy Chapman is a good and very reasonably priced photographer. Beaute Speciale for all your hair and make up needs. Carolyn Allen for suit hire and wedding dress steaming. STVS for a cheap wedding video. Rev Kev Knox or his wife as an officiant. Take silk flowers with you.

Any other questions just ask.

Congratulations.

Thanks Claire, will definitely check out your recommendations.

 

[Chilly]

Thanks Claire, will definitely check out your recommendations.

if you need any other help just let me know.