Top 5 Places To Elope in Florida
Looking for the best places to elope in Florida? Then you’re in the right place! Some of the best Florida elopement locations are off the beaten path and are included within this guide.
Do you imagine your dream elopement filled with salty air, gorgeous sunsets, jumping in some water, and hitting up local craft breweries with the love of your life, but don’t know where to go? You’re in the right place. Let’s get inspired.
If you want to learn more about how you can elope in Florida, take a moment to check out my “how to elope in Florida” guide!
Best Florida Elopement Locations
This is a list of all my favorite Florida elopement locations covered within this blog!
- Saint Augustine, Florida
- Stuart, Florida
- Vero Beach, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Florida Keys & Key West, Florida
- BONUS locations at the bottom!
Need help figuring out which location best suits your Florida elopement vision? Let’s start planning!
What to Consider For Your Florida Elopement Location?
So you know that you want to be in Florida – a totally tropical paradise with so many different things to do! Perfect. Now where in Florida do you want to go? Perhaps you’ve never been to Florida and you want to find the place that is the perfect fit for your vision. Or maybe you’re a seasoned visitor that wants to find a new spot. Either way – here’s some questions to consider when thinking about your elopement location:
- Do you want to be close to an airport? Or are you okay with traveling further away?
- How important is it for you to be near or on the beach?
- Do you want to be in a major city or a low key beach town?
- Do you want to be here for a certain season (i.e., lobster season, etc)?
- What type of activities do you want to do (snorkeling, boating, hiking, paddle boarding, etc.)?
Once you have the answers to those questions, it makes finding the perfect location a breeze! Check out the below locations to see if any of them fit into your vision! Still need some help? Feel free to reach out to see how I can help bring your elopement vision to life!
1. St. Augustine, Florida
Saint Augustine is the perfect mix of Florida history and modern day fun! There’s something for everyone here – shopping, bar hopping, breweries, distilleries, good eats, and plenty of museums. My favorite thing about Saint Augustine elopements is the versatility in what can be done in one day. You can elope on the beach, head to Saint George Street for celebratory drinks, walk up one of the oldest lighthouses, hike a cool new trail, or head to a distillery – just like we did for J+G’s elopement. There’s so much to do here that you cannot get bored!
Closest Metropolitan Area (Airport): Jacksonville (JAX) – approximately 1 hour
Perfect For: Couples that want to be near the beach, but still enjoy the buzz of a bigger city. Saint Augustine has found the perfect balance between laid back beach town and buzzing nightlife. BONUS: If your’e into history, this is the place for you!
When To Go: The best time of year for this location for the cooler weather is winter. Like most places in Florida, the winter time gets busy! In Saint Augustine in particular, the Night of Lights in December is a huge attraction for locals and tourists alike. It gets pricy and makes traffic heavy, but it is worth it if you love Christmas time!
Favorite Spot: Ice Plant (get a reservation ahead of time!)
Pro Tip: Plan a walking route! Almost everything is accessible by foot if you’re in the heart of the historic district. It makes everything super easy and less to worry about without a car. Parking tends to be between $15 to $20 for the day and can go higher based on the season.
Where to stay: Stay as close as you can to Saint George Street for easy access to all the attractions. If the beach is more your style, there’s tons of great options. Here’s some of my favorites:
Casa Monica Resort (classic St. Augustine Hotel; right in the heart of downtown)
Homewood Suites by Hilton (Near San Sebastian Winery; Uber to downtown)
The Renaissance (near the Castillo; close to downtown)
Embassy Suites (right on the beach; perfect for an elopement on the beach/pier)
Have your heart set on Saint Augustine, but don’t know what’s next? Let me show you what’s next!
2. Vero Beach, Florida
Closest Metropolitan Area (Airport): Orlando (MCO) approximately 1.5 hours, Melbourne (MLB) approximately 1 hour, or West Palm Beach (WPB) approximately 1.5 hours.
Vero Beach is definitely one of those small hidden gem laid-back beach towns. The beaches aren’t super crowded so it makes it the perfect spot for an intimate vow exchange. One of the best perks about eloping in Vero Beach is having a variety of scenery just minutes from each other like in E+C’s elopement! One minute you’re having a picnic on the beach and the next minute you’re walking under some huge oak trees before meeting up with friends at one of Vero’s best breweries.
Perfect For: Couples that want a low key, intimate Florida beach elopement.
When To Go: The best time of year for this location for the cooler weather is winter. Like most places in Florida, the winter time gets busy! There’s typically a beer festival the second or third week of February, which brings together tons of local Florida craft beer and national brands.
Favorite Spot: Sol Mar Cocktail Lounge & Southern Social
Pro Tip: Reach out to a local picnic vendor to set up a picnic on the beach post-vow exchange!
Where to Stay: Vero has some cute AirBnB’s as well as luxury resorts. Here’s a few of my favorite:
- Vero Beach Hotel & Spa (right on the beach with a fantastic spa) micro wedding packages available!
- Costa d’Este (right on the beach and walking distance to some great restaurants)
- Renovated Designer Bungalow (perfectly located downtown with amazing amenities)
- Mid-Century Modern Home with Pool (great for a little larger tribes or if you just want a pool)
- Coconut Casita (honestly, it’s just the design for me, fam)
- Aloe Vero (clean, comfortable, and super close to the beach)
- Dog-Friendly Beach House (right off A1A and perfect for couples bringing their dog)
Ready to relax in Vero Beach, but don’t know what’s next? Let me show you what’s next!
3. Stuart, Florida
Closest Metropolitan Area (Airport):
Right down the road from Vero Beach is another hidden beach gem! Stuart, Florida is one of the United States best big game fishing centers while also keeping a low profile. Here you’ll find a town deeply immersed in ocean culture. Book a charter to reel in a mahi in your wedding dress or just to hang out in the ocean with local craft beer like T+H’s elopement.
Perfect For: Couples that want to be a little adventurous and incorporate fishing or boating into their elopement.
When To Go: For the best weather (not super humid or hot), the best time of year for this location for the cooler weather is winter. Keep in mind that if you want to go off-shore fishing, there may be a season you need to follow. Check with your charter captain to coordinate the fishing seasons.
Favorite Spot: Stuart Sandbar – a local spot that pops off on the weekends. Only accessible by boat, this spot is best for a ice cold beer and soaking in some sun.
Pro Tip: Find a charter that can help bring your vision to life! Know in advance what you’d like to do before calling around. Most fishing charters run on the weekends; however, some may be willing to accommodate your vision if you just want to booze cruise and take in the views.
Where to stay: Stuart has great rentals, but this is definitely one of my all-time favorites:
- Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa (right on the beach with a great pool bar)
Can’t wait to jump in the Stuart waters, but don’t know what’s next? Let me show you what’s next!
4. The Florida Keys, Florida
Closest Metropolitan Area (Airport): Miami (MIA) approximately 1-3 hours
The Florida Keys is home to so many different adventures there’s something for everyone! Each island has it’s own unique charm that creates the Florida Keys vibe. If you want to have more adventures and less of a party crowd, stay on islands outside of Key West. If you want to enjoy some adventures, but keep it a little more fast paced, Key West is the place. No matter which island you end up on, you’re going to enjoy being on island time.
Perfect For: Couples that want the island experience with the option adventure Florida-style
When To Go: The Florida Keys is a year-round paradise; however, it can get hit hard during hurricane season. If you want want to deal with the worry of hurricane season, plan your elopement between November and May. Keep in mind that it gets pricier in the winter months.
Favorite Spot: Mallory Square at sunset – a total tourist trap, Mallory Square has so many unique things going on all at once that it makes it the perfect spectacle. Check it out before doing the Duval Bar Crawl.
Pro Tip:
Where to stay: There’s hundreds of AirBnB/VRBO places throughout the Florida Keys! It all depends on where you want to be. Here’s a couple AirBnB’s scattered around the islands:
- Key Largo – Kona Kai Resort
- Islamorada – Cheeca Lodge & Spa
- Islamorada – Post Card Inn & Marina (only place for Key Lime Coladas!)
- Big Pine Key – The Hideaway
- Cudjoe Key – Venture Out
- Summerland Key – Oceanfront Villa with Pool
- Key West – John Truman’s Hideaway
- Key West – Casa Marina
- Key West – Crowne Plaza
- Key West – Margaritaville Beach House
Are you ready to rip it in the Florida Keys, but don’t know what’s next? Let me show you what’s next!
5. Tampa, Florida
Closest Metropolitan Area (Airport): Tampa (TPA)
If you want a city with amazing local craft beer, super close and convenient airport, and beaches right around the corner, Tampa is your city! Tampa has everything from big city nightlife, college feels, and a booming craft beer scene. It’s everything you could want for a downtown Florida elopement.
Perfect For: Couples that craft beer and big city life with nearby beaches.
When To Go: For the best weather (not super humid or hot), the best time of year for this location for the cooler weather is winter. In January/February timeframe, there’s a huge festival called Gasparilla which may drive up travel costs, but adds a whole lot of fun.
Favorite Spot: Bern’s Steakhouse (best steak in Florida)- get a reservation early!
Pro Tip: Driving and parking can be a bitch in downtown. Plan a downtown walking route or Uber from location to location during your elopement. This also allows you to enjoy all the craft beer while being safe!
Where to stay: There’s so many chain hotels and AirBnB’s in Tampa, but I would have to say that this is my all-time favorite location:
Are you stoked to drink some local Tampa craft beers, but don’t know what’s next? Let me show you what’s next!
Other Florida Elopement Locations
Here are some other elopement locations to check out! These are in no particular order.
Need help figuring out which location best suites your Florida elopement vision? Let’s start planning!
Panhandle
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Destin Beaches – Destin, FL
Ichetucknee Springs State Park – Fort White, FL
West Coast of Florida
Amelia Island State Park – Amelia Island, FL
Cayo Costa State Park – Cayo Costa, FL
Sunken Gardens – Saint Petersburg, FL
Weeki Wachee State Park – Spring Hill, FL
East Coast of Florida
Big Talbot State Park – Jacksonville, FL
Blue Springs State Park – Orange City, FL
Bok Tower Gardens – Lake Wales, FL
Castillo de San Marcos – Saint Augustine, FL
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park – Fort Pierce, FL
House of Refuge – Stuart, FL
South Florida
Bahia Honda State Park – Big Pine Key, FL
Fort Zachery Taylor State Park – Key West, FL
Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden – Key West, FL
Kona Kai Resort – Key Largo, FL
Secret Garden – Miami, FL
Smather’s Beach – Key West, FL
Literally Anywhere On A Boat
Florida Elopement Photographer
I’m Anna, your Florida elopement photographer, planner + biggest fan to make it all happen.
I l o v e showing rad folks like you just what makes this place special. In fact, I geek out over discovering what makes every place special when I’m planning elopements, whether you’re hoping for city vibes in Miami or low key springs of central Florida.
Tell me what you want your day to feel like, and I’ll take the wheel. I legit can’t wait to start researching and planning to create exactly what you want.
