Best Winter Elopement Locations in Florida

If you’re looking for the best winter elopement locations in Florida to escape the cold for your wedding, this resource was made for you! There’s a reason that over a million seasonal residents flock to the sunshine state between November and March: the weather. Winters in Florida are mild and pleasant with temperatures averaging in the mid 70s depending on which part of the state you’re in.

As a Florida elopement photographer, I’ve captured dozens of winter elopements across the state of Florida. Everywhere from the Panhandle down to the Florida Keys. With all that travel experience and local expertise, I’ve compiled a list of the best winter elopement locations in Florida. Whether you want to stay sunny and 75 in Key West, have one of Florida’s cold water springs all to yourself, or celebrate at the Night of Lights in St. Augustine, Florida has many amazing winter elopement locations to choose from.

Jump to what you’re looking for…

• Why Elope in the Winter?
• Choosing Your Winter Elopement Location
• Treasure Coast Elopements
• Saint Augustine Elopements
• Florida Keys & Key West Elopements
• Tampa Elopements
• 30A Elopements
• Kelly Park Rock Springs Elopement
• Orlando Elopement
• Meet Your Florida Elopement Photographer

Why Elope in the Winter?

As a Florida native, I can easily say that winters in Florida are hands down the best time to elope. With over a million seasonal residents coming to Florida each year between Thanksgiving and Easter, the winter has the best weather for the state. During winter, you can expect mild, cool temperatures. The best part? The mosquitos and no-see-ums are practically non-existent!

Even though winter is considered the high season for tourism, the weather alone makes it worth it. There are ways around the crowds like eloping during the week, at sunrise, on non-holiday weekend, or while avoiding large events.

Choosing Your Winter Elopement Location

You’ve decided to elope in Florida during the winter to get away from snow back home. But the next big question: where in Florida should you elope? Whether this is your first time visiting the sunshine state or you’re coming back again to celebrate your marriage, choosing the right spot is all about matching the location to your vision.

Here are a few questions to help narrow down for winter elopement location:

• Are you wanting the beach or are you searching for some places to elope that don’t include sand?
• Do you want sunny and 75 (more south) or temps in the low 50s (more north)?
• What kind of activities do you want to do together (boating, paddle boarding, hiking, brewery hopping, etc.)?

Once you know the answers, choosing where to elope in Florida gets a whole lot easier!

Treasure Coast Elopements

Perfect For: Couples who want an intimate coastal elopement away from the crowds.

Florida’s Treasure Coast is located on the east coast about midway up the state. The Treasure Coast is home to Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Stuart, and Jensen Beach among some other great lowkey beach towns. As a local elopement photographer that was born and raised on the Treasure coast, I can easily say that the Treasure Coast is one of the most underrated winter elopement locations in Florida. Since it’s not a large metropolitan area like Miami or Tampa, the crowds will be thinner here while still having great options for beach ceremonies, adventure activities, and great foodie options.

Ceremony Locations: Best known for the beaches and waterways like the Indian River Lagoon
Weather: Sunny and 75 with occasional cold fronts dipping into the 40s/50s.
Elopement Ideas: Water activities like boating, paddle boarding, kayaking; horseback riding on the beach; foodie and cocktail experiences; brewery hopping

Real Treasure Coast Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these Treasure Coast elopements!

Saint Augustine Elopements

Perfect For: History loving couples that enjoy the buzz of a bigger city.

Saint Augustine is the perfect mix of Florida history and modern day fun! My favorite thing about Saint Augustine elopements is the versatility. You can elope on the beach, head to Saint George Street for some exploring, walk up one of the oldest lighthouses, bottle bourbon at the distillery, or head to Ice Plant for celebratory drinks. Like most big cities in Florida, the winter time gets busy with the Night of Lights running November through January. Even with the higher traffic, almost everything is accessible by foot if you’re in the heart of the historic district.

Ceremony Locations: Great for historical locations and beach ceremonies
Weather: Highs in the 70s with lows in the 40/50s
Elopement Ideas: Visiting museums and historical landmarks, sunset cruises, foodie and cocktail experiences, and brewery, distillery or winery experiences

Real St. Augustine Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these St. Augustine elopements!

Florida Keys & Key West Elopements

Perfect For: Warm weather loving couples that want an island experience.

The Florida Keys has tons of Florida-esque adventures for your winter elopement. Each island in the Florida Keys has it’s own unique charm. My favorite thing about Florida Keys elopements is the ease. You can elope almost anywhere and enjoy celebratory time on or off the water. Since the weather is great in the Keys, the winter gets very busy with travel prices being at their all time high. But honestly, the weather makes it worth it.

Ceremony Locations: Great for beach and city/urban ceremonies
Weather: Sunny and 75 (warmest weather in Florida for the winter)
Elopement Ideas: Visiting museums and historical landmarks, sunset cruises, foodie and cocktail experiences, and brewery, distillery or winery experiences

Real Key West Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these Key West elopements!

Tampa Elopements

Perfect For: Couples that love foodie experiences (food halls, dining experiences, craft beer, and cocktail lounges) with an urban flare.

Tampa has everything from big city experiences, nearby beaches and waterways, and a booming craft beer scene. Tampa is great in the winter since everything cools off and you’re able to do more city exploring with worrying about afternoon showers or sweating through your clothes. In January, there’s a huge festival called Gasparilla Piratefest (one of my personal faves), which honors Tampa’s rich history, but the festivities bring crowds and drive up travel costs.  

Ceremony Locations: Great for city/urban ceremonies
Weather: Sunny and 75 with sporadic dips into the 40s and 50s with a cold front
Elopement Ideas: Foodie and cocktail experiences, brewery, distillery or winery experiences, exploring the city’s landmarks

Real Tampa Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these Tampa elopements!

30A Elopements

Perfect For: Couples who want an intimate and upscale elopement with long stretches of white sand beaches.

Florida’s 30A area is well known for its whitewashed architecture, cobblestone streets, and quiet, upscale coastal vibe. As a 30A elopement photographer, I can easily say it’s one of the most romantic and aesthetic winter elopement locations in Florida. And while this is uber romantic, keep in mind that this location is still in the northern part of the state which brings much colder weather.

Ceremony Locations: Great for beach ceremonies
Weather: Low to mid 60s with temps dipping into the 40s and 50s (chilliest weather in Florida for the winter)
Elopement Ideas: Renting a boat, visiting a cocktail bar, having a bonfire on the beach

Real Rosemary Beach Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these 30A elopements!

Kelly Park Rock Springs Elopement

Perfect For: Couples who want a private yet adventurous elopement.

Kelly Park Rock Springs is a perfect winter elopement location! This spot is tucked away in Apopka (just outside of Orlando), and it’s home to one of the most beautiful crystal-clear springs in the state. This location is a hot spot in the spring and summer, but the winter isn’t quite as popular. This makes the location perfect for couples wanting privacy for their ceremony.

Ceremony Locations: Great for epic backdrops for your ceremony
Weather: Low to mid 70s with temps dipping into the 40s and 50s during a cold front
Elopement Ideas: Kayaking King’s landing, floating down the spring, jumping in the water, having a picnic at the park

Real Kelly Park Rock Springs Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these Kelly Park Rock Springs elopements!

Orlando Elopement

Perfect For: Couples who want a fun elopement in a city atmosphere

Orlando is a great option for a winter elopement location! With SO much to do here, there’s quite literally something for everyone. Orlando makes a great winter time elopement since most of the tourists come in the winter. That doesn’t mean there won’t be crowds since this is a huge city, but they will be thinner. Winter travel to Orlando is made easy with it’s centrally located international airport.

Ceremony Locations: Great for urban or garden ceremonies
Weather: Low to mid 70s with temps dipping into the 40s and 50s during a cold front
Elopement Ideas: Theme parks or arcades, cocktail bars, foodie experiences

Real Orlando Elopements

Click the below image’s caption to see the entire day from each of these Orlando elopements!

Meet Your Florida Elopement Photographer