New to this forum!

[madmumof2]

Hi everyone, I'm normally found on the UK trip planning board but we're seriously considering getting married in Florida this October!

We keep trying to get married but things keep getting in the way, kids, pregnancy, money etc

So we though while we're there we may as well!

The only downfall I can see is we'll have no family there but we can always have a party when we get back.

I've had a quick look through the threads here and I'm already lost with the wedding jargon, so thought I'd start a thread and ask for advice instead.

I'm a total newb and haven't the foggiest idea about how to get married there, what you need, what you can and can't do etc

We're fairly easy, we want a simple (cheap!) wedding, on the beach, even if it's an artificial one, mainly for the photos. Not Disney, I've looked at the prices and it's not what we want to pay.

Our UK wedding planning was also a small budget cost wedding before we had to postpone, we don't want frills or lots of extras, but we'll want to spend more money in other place.

Eg the photographer. This will probably be the biggest expense, I want perfect photos and lots of them. Apart from that, very simple.

I've seen websites that offer the wedding venue, planner, brides bouquet, registrar, grooms button hole, cake and bubbly in the price, is this the norm?

Would be have to give notice of marriage? If so where and how far in advance?

To sum up, it'll be me and the groom and our three children. Beach, real or artificial, good photographer allowing us to keep the maximum amount of photos, low cost, that's about it!

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me

 

[madmumof2]

Anyone? Where to start?

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Try looking at the swan and dolphin. They have a beach option and are much cheaper than disney.

 

[lt90]

Hi there from another Leicestershire Bride and Mummy
We are getting married September at Star Island resort on their beach there
http://www.star-island.com/
Very cheap (cheapest we could find anyway!) but lovely and really nice wedding team. We are having Randy Chapman as our photographer -
http://www.chapmanphotography.com/
V.popular on these boards and reasonably priced and our having caterers come and do us a meal at their dock.
They have a really good package which includes floral, cake, champagne, officiant etc. If you have any questions PM me and Im happy to help.
Happy Planning!!!!

 

[madmumof2]

Hi there from another Leicestershire Bride and Mummy
We are getting married September at Star Island resort on their beach there
http://www.star-island.com/
Very cheap (cheapest we could find anyway!) but lovely and really nice wedding team. We are having Randy Chapman as our photographer -
http://www.chapmanphotography.com/
V.popular on these boards and reasonably priced and our having caterers come and do us a meal at their dock.
They have a really good package which includes floral, cake, champagne, officiant etc. If you have any questions PM me and Im happy to help.
Happy Planning!!!!

Oh wow thanks!

There'll just be us there in October, me, fiance, and our three children. Are they ok with just a very small wedding and no catering? We'd be happier to just have a nice meal afterwards since it's only the 5 of us?

 

[lt90]

Oh wow thanks!

There'll just be us there in October, me, fiance, and our three children. Are they ok with just a very small wedding and no catering? We'd be happier to just have a nice meal afterwards since it's only the 5 of us?

Yeah we paid extra to add on the recpetion package it seems quite normal for smaller groups to just go for a meal. Theres only eight of us but we thought we'd spalsh out considering the huge saving in comparison to Disney!! They have been more than helpful

 

[MrsDuck]

Definitely look into Swan and Dolphin!! They are planned by www.justmarry.com

Randy Chapman will probably be the best bet on photography!

 

[Chilly]

Also try:

http://www.destinationoccasion.com/

Carrie is a Brit living in Orlando and I know loads of people on the DIBB rave about her.

Randy Chapman did my wedding photos, he is awesome, nice and not expensive.

 

[madmumof2]

I'm looking here, are these ok?

http://www.royalchapel.com/CocoaBeach.html

and

http://shop.romanticfloridabeachweddings.com.

 

[Chilly]

I'm looking here, are these ok?

http://www.royalchapel.com/CocoaBeach.html

and

http://shop.romanticfloridabeachweddings.com.

Don't know either of those companies.

 

[madmumof2]

Don't know either of those companies.

The above is the kind of thing I'm looking for, very simple beach wedding, no frills needed as it'll only be the 5 of us?

 

[Chilly]

The above is the kind of thing I'm looking for, very simple beach wedding, no frills needed as it'll only be the 5 of us?

Why don't you drop Carrie a bell and see what she can quote you, she's really lovely.

 

[madmumof2]

I looked on that link but there are no prices listed which put me off. I'm being quoted around $750 ish so far so want to stick to around that.

 

[Chilly]

I looked on that link but there are no prices listed which put me off. I'm being quoted around $750 ish so far so want to stick to around that.

She does custom quotes so that you can pick the things you want rather than a set package where you might end up paying for things you don't want.

 

[Chilly]

I looked on that link but there are no prices listed which put me off. I'm being quoted around $750 ish so far so want to stick to around that.

What are they including for $750?

 

[madmumof2]

What are they including for $750?

Registrar (or the equivalent there), bouquet and button holes, decorated certificate which they'll send off which will then get sent to us, sand ceremony and a cd of all photos taken in an hours session, not just the 50-75 I've seen elsewhere.

So everything we need really. I can add on extras if we want them.

Is $750 a good price then?

 

[Chilly]

Registrar (or the equivalent there), bouquet and button holes, decorated certificate which they'll send off which will then get sent to us, sand ceremony and a cd of all photos taken in an hours session, not just the 50-75 I've seen elsewhere.

So everything we need really. I can add on extras if we want them.

Is $750 a good price then?

Seems quite good. No music included? It depends how good the photographer is though.

You'll need to add on the cost of your marriage license which is around the $90 mark.

 

[madmumof2]

I don't think there's music with that but I think I can add that on

I saw the licence fee, would I have to go to a court, apply for a licence and pay and wait while they do it?

 

[madmumof2]

Just checked, it's $50 extra for music

It's this one I'm looking at, wondering if anyone had ever used them?

http://shop.romanticfloridabeachweddings.com

 

[Chilly]

I don't think there's music with that but I think I can add that on

I saw the licence fee, would I have to go to a court, apply for a licence and pay and wait while they do it?

Yes its really easy to get your licence, takes 5 mins, but sometimes you have to queue for a little bit, you just need your passprt.

Just checked, it's $50 extra for music

It's this one I'm looking at, wondering if anyone had ever used them?

http://shop.romanticfloridabeachweddings.com

Most people on here use DFTW or Just Marry. And on the DIBB its DFTW or Carrie.