Florida Elopement Guide: 8 Unique Ideas for an Epic, Personalized Day

When you’re searching for ways to make your Florida elopement unique (and totally fun), you’re probably met with more cringe than creativity, amiright? Quick one hour beach setups with zero vibe and no adventure or excitement in sight. After chatting with tons of couples planning their Florida elopement, it’s clear most people think eloping in Florida means something quick and cookie-cutter.

And yeah, while those kinds of elopements have their place, but let’s be real: Elopements deserve more pizzazz. You deserve more pizzazz. Hell, you WANT something with more pizzazz.

After helping dozens of couples plan unforgettable elopements across Florida, I’ve found the actual ways people make their day meaningful, exciting, and full of that good-vibes-only energy.

So let’s dig in. Here are 8 ways to make your Florida elopement totally, unapologetically you.

Want to learn more about how I can help make your Florida elopement unique and fun? Check out the experience!

Table of Contents

• Florida Elopement 101: The Essentials
• 1. Add Your Personalities & Interests to Your Florida Elopement
• 2. Plan a Florida Elopement Adventure That’s So You
• 3. Add a Fun Activity to Your Florida Elopement Day
• 4. Find an Epic Airbnb for Your Florida Elopement Experience
• 5. Make Your Florida Elopement Extra Delicious with a Fun Food Experience
• 6. Bring Your Dog Along for Your Florida Elopement
• 7. Add Meaningful Moments to Your Florida Elopement Day
• 8. Hire a Florida Elopement Photographer Who Gets It

Florida Elopement 101: The Essentials

Before we dive into the fun stuff, here’s a quick snapshot of everything you’ll need to ensure you’ve got everything you need to make your Florida elopement perfect. And if you to read more on everything you need to know about eloping in Florida, check out my how to elope in Florida guide.

• Legal requirements: No waiting period for non-residents and three days for Florida residents. There’s no witnesses needed. You’ll only need you, your partner, your officiant, and your marriage license. Read through my complete guide on how to elope in Florida for more legalities!
• Best time to elope: Late fall through early spring (Novembr through April) for mild temps & fewer bugs without worrying about hurricanes! Read more about the best time to elope in Florida!
• Top locations: There’s so many different landscapes and locations within Florida that I’ve put together a list of the best places to elope around Florida.
• Permits & logistics: Every city, county, park, and location is different. It’s best to check with the particular location’s management for permits and cost.
• Hiring A Photographer: When it comes to hiring a photographer, there’s so many things to consider. Here are two great resources to help you sort through the noise: How to find the right elopement photographer and how many hours to book an elopement photographer

1. Add Your Personalities & Interests to Your Florida Elopement

Sounds obvious, but honestly? Most couples skip this part. If you’re planning a Florida elopement, think about what you two actually love to do together—and find ways to weave that into your day.
Here’s some ideas and things my couples have done together:

• Grab coffee at a cute local coffee shop
• Stop at a brewery or dive bar you love
• Collect seashells on the beach after their vows
• Watch the sunset and have some cocktails on the Gulf coast
• Recreate your first date
• Go to their favorite restaurant or foodie place

This day is about your relationship—it should feel like you from start to finish.

➡️ Looking for someone that can help give you Florida elopement activity ideas? Let me show you how I can help!

2. Plan a Florida Elopement Adventure That’s So You

The real game-changer for a unique Florida elopement? Add a little adventure. And no, I don’t mean hiking a 14er (we don’t even have those, lol). Adventure here could be kayaking through blue springs or renting a boat for sunrise vows. It’s about doing something exciting together that will really make it unforgettable.

Here are some ideas (and here’s the full list of common Florida adventure elopements):

• Hiring a charter boat to take you sport fishing
• Wildlife watching (dolphins, manatees, etc.) in the Indian River
• Kayaking or canoeing at King’s Landing
• Horseback riding on the beach
• Island hopping on the Treasure Coast
• Off-Roading in Central Florida
• Airboating in the Everglades
• Renting a yacht for a few of your friends and family to celebrate with you
• Duval bar crawl
• Renting mopeds in Key West
• Paddleboarding
• Exploring at a butterfly garden
• Booze cruising on a boat
• Hanging on a sandbar
• Hitting up a theme park in Orlando
• Ziplining in Ocala
• Renting a catamaran and swimming in the ocean
• Scuba Diving/Free Diving in the Florida Keys
• Camping on the beach

➡️ Need help sorting through the Florida elopement adventures? Let me show you how I can help!

3. Add a Fun Activity to Your Florida Elopement Day

This seems redundant to number 1 and 2, but hear me out! After you’ve included your hobbies and interests and an adventure, be sure to pair it with an activity! This is something small and fun that you might not do in your normal day to day. For example, after you’ve gone horseback riding on the beach, you come back to a luxury picnic with champagne and munchies. Or maybe after you’ve got morning coffee and went sport fishing in the Atlantic, you can mix up some gin cocktails on the boat and take in the day. Here’s a list of activity ideas you can include in your Florida elopement day:

• Hiring a luxury picnic company
• Mixing cocktails together
• Stopping at a cocktail bar for celebratory drinks (if mixing them isn’t in the cards)
• Making s’mores by the campfire
• Playing a fun card game
• Bottling bourbon at your favorite distillery
• Go to a wine tasting
• Grabbing pizza together at a local dive
• Swimming at the beach
• Rent a vintage car
• Playing mini golf
• Jumping in a fountain at the end of the day for Friends-esque photos
• Jumping in the pool at your AirBnB

➡️ Need help coming up with some Florida elopement activities? Let me show you how I can help!

4. Find an Epic Airbnb for Your Florida Elopement Experience

Your Florida elopement is about the entire experience—not just the vow part. That includes where you wake up and where you wind down. That means booking an AirBnB that feels like an adventure, a luxury, or complete getaway. Look for places with:

• Ocean or water views
• A hot tub or dreamy outdoor shower
• A cozy setup for late-night hangs
• Pretty outdoor spaces
• That “we’re on vacation” energy

Pro tip: when you’re searching for accommodations, opt for a space that has large windows for tons of natural light and neutral tones (white, tan, grays, etc.) in the decor! That way if you’re doing getting ready photos, the space is ready for it and your photos will be stellar. Need some inspo? Check out this blog on the best Florida elopement Airbnbs!

➡️ Need help finding the best accommodation for your Florida elopement? Let me show you how I can help!

5. Make Your Florida Elopement Extra Delicious with a Fun Food Experience

The fastest way to make a Florida elopement feel personal? Food. Whether you’re all about artisan pizza or five-star dining, what matters is choosing a food experience that feels like a treat. There’s no right answer for what you can do for food, but one thing is certain – include a fun food experience that feels memorable!

Here’s some ideas:

• Picnic-style brunch on the beach
• Personal chef at your Airbnb
• Dinner at your favorite local spot
• Food truck tacos
• Picking up pizza and eating in the back of your car
• Getting sushi from a trendy new spot
• Hitting up a food hall and going to as many places as you can handle
• Grabbing dessert at a fun dessert bar

You’re not just feeding yourselves—you’re creating a core memory.

➡️ Want some help finding the best foodie spots for your Florida elopement? Click here to see how I can help guide you!

6. Bring Your Dog Along for Your Florida Elopement

Ugh, if there’s one thing about our elopement that I regret, it’s not bringing our dog, Pepper! Bringing your fur babies is a huge bonus for making your elopement unique. There’s nothing like a good portrait in your wedding attire with your doggo(s). Bringing your dog makes things a little more complicated, but it doesn’t need to be! Finding dog-friendly adventures, activities, and AirBnBs is easier than you think!

➡️ Need help finding dog-friendly beaches, trails, or stays? Here’s how I can help!

7. Add Meaningful Moments to Your Florida Elopement Day

Including small, special moments throughout the day can increase the excitement of your elopement! A special moment is a simple addition to your day that brings joy, happiness, and excitement. Special moments can be anything you want it be. Here are some of my favorite special moments:

• Writing/reading love letters to each other
• Buying a special bottle of champagne or whiskey to drink
• Reading letters from your family
• FaceTiming with your family after you’ve swapped vows
• Adding a unity ceremony
• Elope at a location that has meaning for you (like this groom’s family boat)
• Bringing a polaroid with you throughout the day
• Collecting momentos from each of your stops
• Getting a tattoo together
• Including your kids into some part of your elopement day

These little things = big feelings.

➡️ Struggling to see how you can fit it all together for your Florida elopement? I’m here to help make it flow!

8. Hire a Florida Elopement Photographer Who Gets It

Florida has a rep for cheap, quick elopements—but you deserve something intentional, fun, exciting and beautifully documented. Hiring a Florida elopement photographer (hi, it’s me ?) means:

• You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself
• You’ll get a day planned that reflects your relationship
• You’ll have support with permits, locations, timing, and vendors
• Your moments get captured in a way that feels real

This isn’t just a photo shoot. It’s the start of your next chapter and having someone who knows how to make it stress-free and magical? That’s the move.