Getting married in the Florida Keys doesn’t always mean you have to do a huge, expensive resort wedding. There are actually a lot of different options for getting married in the southern most part of the USA. Whether you want a simple ceremony or an over-the-top event, there’s a wedding for everyone.
So, how much does it cost to get married in the Florida Keys the way you want?
Well, get ready and take a deep dive into the hard costs.
WEDDING EXPENSES TO CONSIDER
The first thing you need to consider is the type of ceremony you want. Are you looking for something quick and easy, or do you want to go all out? No matter what you choose, there are lots of things to consider. We’re talking about the venue, moving people around, hiring a planner, and on and on it goes.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help. Let’s start with the venue.
A VENUE TO DREAM ABOUT
When it comes to any sort of wedding, be it a full-on 200-guest wedding, an intimate elopement, or something in between- one of the most significant chunks of your overall expenses might be the venue rental. Some of the busiest top wedding resorts in the Florida Keys can demand $5,000 - $10,000 just for the venue site. On the other hand, more quaint hotels offer beach wedding sites that cost less than half of the larger resorts (just $1,500-$3000) you just need to know where to look! Resorts aren't the only venue option in the Florida Keys. Save on the whole venue fee itself when you book a private beach estate for your wedding venue where your accommodation costs is your venue. I have done all the hard work for you and put all the wedding essentials into one all-inclusive wedding package,
including the best kept secret wedding venues in Marathon Florida Keys.
Beautiful elopements spots don't have to break the bank either and can be just a few hundred dollars for a wedding reservation. I know exactly where to find these gems- that’s my passion. With my
Best. Day. Ever. Wedding Planning Upscale Elopement Package the site is included at a great price.
GETTING YOU AND YOUR GUESTS AROUND
The average cost of a sprinter van in the Florida Keys is about $130 per hour. So if you are looking to help your guests get to and from your venue choice, it could add a few hundred dollars to your wedding expenses. Of course, other more modest options are also available such as taxis to help your guests get around. Hosting your wedding day at a resort offers the added bonus of offering your guests the option to stay onsite.
MAKING THINGS OFFICIAL
Now, how much does it cost to get married in the Florida Keys when we add in the making-it-official costs? All weddings, no matter where they take place, need that marriage license. Thankfully, this one’s not too bad with the license cost in Florida coming in at $86. Want to learn more about how to make it official? Check out How To Get Married In The Florida Keys: The Complete Guide
OUTSOURCING THE WEDDING STRESS
BY HIRING A PLANNER
If you want a truly stress-free wedding, then you’ll want to consider hiring a wedding planner. The average cost of a Florida Keys wedding planner is around $2,000 - $5,000 but it can be well worth the money if you want to avoid any messes on your wedding day. They can also be a great source and guide to help you avoid costly mistakes or bad vendors. Choosing an all inclusive package that already has all the best Florida Keys vendors will save you massive headaches. When you know all the costs up front, you can stay on budget and stress free!
CAPTURING THE MOMENT WITH A
PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER
When it comes to capturing the memories of your wedding day, you definitely want to make sure you have the best possible professionals on hand. After all, these are memories you’ll want to look back on for a long, long time.
So, how much does it cost to get married in the Florida Keys with a team of talented photographers? It depends on the number of hours and their experience, but professionals can start at around $400-$500 per hour but it’s well worth the investment. They’ll typically come in teams and can cover everything from the bride getting ready to the first dance.
Elopements and intimate ceremony's may look for 1-2 hours of photo time to capture the moments during the ceremony and allowance for extra shots at the venue for more posed romantics. More traditional weddings and reception should budget for 4-6 hours of photo time to insure everything from getting ready to dances are captured. And don't forget about allowing time for the beautiful sunset shots in the Florida Keys. Most great photographers will want to spend about 15-20 minutes before the scheduled sunset time on your day to get those amazing shots.
If you want to add videography to your wedding package, then you’re looking at an additional cost of about the same per hour. However, it’s important to note that this is an estimate and the actual cost will vary depending on the length of your wedding video and any special features that you want to include. Pro tip: if you know you want both photo and video, search for a company that can offer you both. You often will get discounts or better rates if you hire the same company to do it all.
FLORALS FOR YOUR WEDDING
The Florida Keys is known for its natural beauty, but you may want to add some beautiful flowers to make your day yours. Decorating with florals can go as minimal or as big as you like. Your basic bride and groom florals can range from $150-200 total. If you are looking to spruce up a ceremony arch with florals, it can run from $150-$250 per spree. Groomsmen flowers generally run around $15-$25 each and bridesmaids bouquets $45-$65 per gal. Trending vase floral arrangements at the ceremony instead of an arch will run you $250-350 each. Best part is they are easy to reuse at another part of the venue or reception. Floral centerpieces and sweetheart table arrangements can run about $150 -$175 each.
Looking for more cost saving wedding decorating ideas? Couples are choosing to decorate tables with more natural items like fresh fruit - think cute pineapple centerpieces! Some rental items, like lanterns, make a classic look feel luxurious without the large expense.
PREPARING FEAST AND DRINK FOR YOUR GUESTS
This is another big chunk of where you might need to put your wedding budget to. Full service resorts can offer great upscale catering and bar options around $200-$250 per plate. You will also want to consider how much the service fee and taxes will be. Service fees at a fine resort can be 23% - 25% of your total food and beverage cost. But don't worry, there are other options too! When you choose more unique venue options, you get more catering and bar options too. Venues that allow you to bring in your own catering can help save $100-$150 per person!
For couples seeking a more fun and laid back vibe, the Florida Keys offers some great food truck and mobile catering companies that bring everything you need that is more affordable than you think.
And don't forget about the bar! Venues that offer bar service onsite on average for a 4hour open bar will run you $60 per person plus taxes and service fees. This is a great stress free way of getting the party started. If you want to save even more on the bar budget, private vacation rentals allow you to buy your own alcohol, saving you thousands of dollars.
HAIR AND MAKEUP
On your wedding day, you want to look and feel like the best possible version of yourself. And you should. It’s your WEDDING day! So, while you could do your own hair and makeup, most brides go with a professional. Bridesmaids and family makeup can run around $100 and hair $95-120 - depending on how long the hair is. Bride's makeup can run $150-200 and bridal hair $150 and up. You can choose to have the professionals come right to you and get ready in the convenience of your hotel room or vacation home. Don't forget to ask if there are any other travel fees you may need to cover.
FINAL THOUGHTS: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET MARRIED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS IN 2023?
So, when it comes to answering the question, “How much does it cost to get married in the Florida Keys?” it turns out the answer is as much as you want it to. And that’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it?
It’s your big day. YOURS! Yes, you should be responsible and work within a budget, but you only get to do this day once, so spend a little and have some fun while you’re at it. And if you’re looking to save, and have a stress-free wedding then let’s start talking and I’ll help you plan out a great wedding at an affordable price. I look forward to hearing from you soon!