8 Tips for Having a Florida Wedding
Photo by Taylor Shea Photography
As someone who has lived in Florida for 25 years, my whole life, I can speak from personal experience: Each month in Florida can differ year to year based on the rain and the heat. Each venue can also differ based on what they do to prepare as well as what they offer to help prevent some of the things I talk about. I encourage every couple to talk to their venue or their wedding planner about the things below before making their decision on a venue as well as what their plan is on wedding day. Here are some tips that I have learned as a Floridian and as a wedding planner since 2020:
1. Have plenty of water on wedding day. This tip should be for any state but especially in Florida. It can be very hot and it is so easy to get dehydrated, especially if you are having any alcohol. I always tell my couple to have extra water on wedding day. Get one whole case for the bridesmaids and one whole case for the groomsmen if your venue doesn’t provide drinks before the wedding. There will be times throughout the wedding that you won’t be able to drink anything so getting hydrated before the wedding can help a lot. The last thing we want is for you or your bridal party to pass out from dehydration or heat stroke.
2. Have a Plan B. When you choose your venue, no matter the month, make sure they have a plan b in case it rains. Florida weather can be extremely unpredictable. We had a tropical storm in the middle of November. Even if their plan b is to bring in a tent, that is still a plan b. Be sure to ask them when they will make the final decision on whether to rent the tent or move the ceremony or reception.
3. Choose your ceremony time wisely. Depending on the month, your ceremony time can look different. With daylight savings time, 5pm during February can look different during September. You also want to be mindful of your guests when choosing your ceremony time. If there is no shade during the ceremony, you don’t want to have it during the heat of the day because your guests can be uncomfortable or even pass out, depending on the length of the ceremony. Also remember that guests tend to arrive 15-30 minutes before the ceremony even starts so they could be spending up to an hour in the direct sun. Of course we have to account for the timeline and how long the reception will take but be sure to talk to your wedding planner about the ceremony time or whether a venue is right for you.
4. Avoid the heat and the rain. I always encourage couples to avoid the summer months if they are planning an outdoor wedding. Summer in Florida is considered June-August with August being one of the hottest, most humid months. Some summer weather can start as early as April or May and go until September or August. The summer rain happens almost every day right around 3pm or 4pm which is usually when the ceremony starts. It also can be extremely hot getting up to 97 degrees and only goes as low as 80 degrees. If you are planning on having an all indoor summer wedding, then this doesn’t apply to you. But if you are wanting an outdoor wedding, do us all a favor and avoid June through August. *note that even if you avoid these months, the same heat and rain can happen during any time of the year. Florida weather always changes which leads me to point number 5.
5. Keep an eye on the weather. Florida weather can change in a moment. Even through the winter months I encourage couples to check the weather because if there is a cold front, us Floridians are not used to the cold so we may need to rent heaters. Florida cold is also slightly colder than most places because of the wind and the humidity. It may be 65 degrees out but could feel like 55 degrees. Same with the rain, storms come out of nowhere, so I am always checking for rain even if it normally doesn’t rain that time of year. You may also see that it can be hotter than anticipated so you can have a water station set out for your guests during the ceremony, have fans on the seats, or even get clear umbrellas for the bridal party in case of the rain. The weather can determine a lot of last-minute additions or changes.
6. Allow extra time in your timeline. This should be a standard no matter the state as things usually take longer than anticipated on wedding day, but I always have extra time in my timeline for AC breaks and water breaks. Pictures can take a while and if you want the gorgeous outdoor shots, you may need to take a break and head inside to cool off or hydrate. I also usually allow for a little snack break during cocktail hour so my couple can enjoy the Hors d’Oeuvres they may not get because of pictures.
7. Always bring bug spray. Because of the humidity, bugs, specifically mosquitos, can be out way more than most states. If you are having any part of your wedding outdoors, I always encourage having extra bug spray for your guests and bridal party, as well as yourself. Typically they don’t come out until it’s dark but there have been times where guests have been swarmed during the ceremony. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially for your guests sake. You can also ask your venue what the bugs are like during the time of year you are getting married, every venue is different.
8. Prioritize sunset photos. The last thing I would recommend is to set aside time in your timeline specifically for sunset photos. Most photographers in Florida will recommend this too, but as a wedding planner, I add it to my timelines. Florida has some of the most gorgeous sunsets, like the picture below. This can also help cut down the time needed for photos during cocktail hour. If you are doing a first look, you could possibly eliminate all couple portraits from cocktail hour and just do family photos, getting your couple portraits done during the first look and sunset. If you are not doing a first look, you could do half of your couple portraits during cocktail hour and then the rest during sunset. However you do it, you'll be happy you did.
Photo by Grace Dreim Photography, Grace River Island Resort