Best Luxury Destination Weddings in Florida
The popularity of destination weddings has continued to grow over the years. The market is expected to exceed $21 billion this year and shows no signs of slowing down.
Destination weddings are exciting. They combine the emotional pleasure and thrill of a wedding with the relaxation of a luxury vacation. But first, you’ll need to figure out the ideal spot for your luxury wedding.
Look no further than Florida. The Sunshine State consistently ranks among the top U.S. locations for destination weddings.
Tips for Choosing Your Florida Wedding Destination
Here are a few fundamental tips to consider when thinking about locations:
- Type of place you’d like for your wedding. Common wedding venue categories include:
- Beaches
- Gardens
- Historic locations
- Focus on a particular region in Florida. The state is large and has distinct environments between the Northern Gulf or Atlantic and Southern Keys.
- Research how close a venue is to a major airport. This will improve convenience for yourself and your guests.
- Determine the size of your wedding party and guests. This will influence your venue and accommodations availability.
- Decide what amenities you and your guests might want or need. Guests who pay to attend a destination wedding usually like to make a short vacation of it. They will appreciate the convenient access to dining, entertainment, and recreational activities.
Enlisting the help of a wedding planner can help ensure you’ve got everything–and everyone–covered.
Dreamy Florida Destination Wedding Venues
1. Hotel Effie, Miramar Beach
On the Emerald Coast up in Florida’s panhandle, striking blue-green waters lap against clean, sandy shores. Luxurious Hotel Effie shines with Southern charm. You can have a beach or indoor ceremony, depending on your choice of indoor ballrooms.
Amenity examples:
- In-room bridal spa services
- Event planning specialists
- Catering
If you want to splurge on your wedding dinner, have the hotel’s celebrity chef prepare your meal.
2. Up the Creek Farms, Melbourne
On the Atlantic Coast in Central Florida, you can opt for a lavish country setting at Up the Creek Farms. Your ceremony can unfold surrounded by giant oaks with Spanish moss swaying from the branches.
Amenity examples:
- Event planning specialists
- Catering
- Floral design
The rustic estate accommodates weddings of up to 175 people but also welcomes smaller weddings. Whatever the size, the bridal party gets access to the lovingly restored farmhouse and climate-controlled barn.
3. Villa Woodbine, Miami
Villa Woodbine is a private mansion built in 1930 located on a bluff over Biscayne Bay. Subtropical gardens surround the Mediterranean-Renaissance-style mansion in Miami’s oldest upscale neighborhood, Coconut Grove.
Amenity examples:
- Music and entertainment
- Photography / Videography
- Catering
- Decorations and flowers
4. The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach
This hotel’s flamingo pink tower rises over a long stretch of white beach on the Gulf Coast near Tampa. Built in 1928 and called the “Pink Palace,” the Don CeSar design embodies old-school Florida luxury. The hotel organizes ceremonies on the beach or its historic courtyard staircase.
Amenity examples:
- Event planning specialists
- Beach house suites
- Custom catering menu
- Photography and lighting
The resort has everything from the rehearsal dinner to the farewell brunch for a complete wedding weekend.
5. JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Island
The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is located along the Gulf of Mexico and includes three miles of private beaches plus two championship golf courses. It is a popular destination for business travelers and families.
Amenity examples:
- 12 restaurants
- Rooftop, oceanfront terraces
- Adult-exclusive accommodation options
The resort includes over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event venues and can accommodate large weddings. You’ll have your choice of ballrooms or outdoor banquet rooms.
6. Casa Monica Resort & Spa, St. Augustine
This historic location on Northern Florida’s Atlantic Coast boasts beautiful ballrooms and crystal chandeliers. The 1888 hotel includes art galleries. If you want to wander, Casa Monica is in the middle of St. Augustine’s Historic District.
Amenity examples:
- Catering
- Event planning specialists
- Photographer
You can plan a wedding for up to 500 guests, but small ceremonies are welcome too. Choose an indoor setting for your ceremony or exchange vows in a lovely garden.
7. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West
Book nerds and cat lovers appreciate the historic estate where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote for years. The descendants of his famous and pampered six-toed cats still occupy the estate.
Key West is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and certainly one of the most unique. The colonial-style Hemingway estate summons a timeless feeling of luxury.
Amenity examples:
- Three separate event spaces
- Garden ceremonies
- Elopement packages
- Rehearsal dinners
Hemingway House, located in the heart of Key West, accommodates small to medium-sized wedding events.
8. Key Largo Lighthouse, Key Largo
Ocean-fresh air is everywhere in the Florida Keys. The Key Largo Lighthouse specializes in private beach-front weddings and receptions.
Amenity examples:
- Hair and makeup services
- Photographer
- Catering
- Wedding favors and gifts
Everything here is about producing the ultimate romantic event that can range from a few hours to a four-day event for you and your guests.
9. Bella Collina, Montverde
We’ve saved the best for last! Everything you need for a wedding is in one beautiful setting at Bella Collina. Located just outside Orlando, Bella Collina is your perfect luxury wedding destination. Mediterranean architecture inspires the clubhouse and wedding venue. Stone walls, sunshine, and elegant gardens can be the backdrop for your nuptials.
Amenity examples:
- Wedding weekend destination experience
- Renowned catering and culinary team
- Multiple, distinctive wedding venues for different experiences
- Complimentary cake-cutting service
Bella Collina offers something truly unique with rare Florida rolling hills, scenic lakes, a manicured golf course, and more. The talented wedding team works with you to plan all your wedding details.