Looking for the best places to elope in Florida, but the beach just isn’t your vibe? You’re not alone. Most people think “Florida elopement” means having a beach ceremony. But if the thought of windblown hair, sand in your shoes, and a crowded beach makes you cringe, then you’re in the right place.
As a Florida elopement photographer, I help couples plan stress-free, unforgettable elopements that are curated to who they are as a couple. This starts by finding couples the BEST places to elope in Florida from my location scouting and research all across the state. Whether you want to say your vows at the first place you met, under ancient oaks, on a rooftop overlooking downtown, or even floating on a boat, Florida has so many non-beach options that still feel like an epic escape.
Here are 10+ truly unique places to elope in Florida that bring all the adventure, beauty, and flexibility you’re dreaming of with none of the sand.
And if you need help finding YOUR place to elope in Florida, I’m here to help!
If a lush, tropical backdrop for your ceremony sounds like your dream, a botanical garden would be the perfect elopement venue. With Florida’s warm tropical climate, there’s so many botanical gardens to choose from! Here are my favorite botanical gardens in Florida:
If you love the idea of a Florida botanical garden elopement, but you don’t know where to start with permitting and logistics, then I’m here to help guide you through it ↓
“Anna was great from beginning to end! My fiancé and I reached out to her late August to see if she’d be available for an end-of-the-year elopement (just a few days after Christmas), and despite that already being a crazy time of year, Anna came through and made herself available just so we could have such a special day!
She was super-fun to hang around, and VERY accommodating! She listened and took to heart every request, and indulged our dumb jokes and general awkwardness. She took stellar photos that made us shine, which we will cherish forever!”
Amanda + Justin
View A+J’s Botanical Garden Elopement
Florida has some seriously charming historic spots that make for a stunning elopement setting. Think cobblestone streets, grand mansions, and old-world architecture. With so many historic cities within Florida to choose from, here are some of my favorite historic elopement locations in Florida:
These are hands-down some of the best places to elope in Florida if you love architecture, history, and a little drama (in the best way). From the cobblestone streets of St. Augustine to the grandeur of Vizcaya, I can help you find the perfect spot and make eloping a total breeze.
Florida has over 1,000 natural springs, each offering crystal-clear waters and lush scenery, which make them perfect for an adventurous elopement. If you’ve never been to a Florida spring, imagine your ceremony surrounded by crystal-clear waters and lush vegetation and then spending the rest of the afternoon kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming in the cold spring water.
While Florida has an abundance of natural springs, there are only a couple that made for elopements based on where the spring is located, how easy it is to get there, and the best photo spots. Here are my top picks for a Florida springs elopement:
If you’re dreaming of a wild, adventurous place to elope in Florida, but still want the Insta-worthy pics, Florida springs are it. If you are struggling to find a spring that works for your elopement plans, I can help narrow down the options (plus guide you through all the logistics like permits, timing, and vendors)!
For my brewery and cocktail-loving couples, a ceremony at a brewery or distillery makes it one of the best places to elope in Florida! Many breweries and distilleries offer stylish taprooms or outdoor spaces that can be transformed into an intimate wedding setting. And even if the location doesn’t offer the option for a ceremony, you can always make it one of your adventures for your elopement day! Some of my favorite breweries and distilleries for elopements include:
Good vibes, great drinks, and zero stress. If that’s your kinda day, a brewery or distillery elopement is it. If you’re needing help to juggle where you can and can’t get married at one of these locations, I’ll help you navigate all the logistics.
For couples who want those swanky city vibes, Florida’s metropolitan areas offer iconic landmarks as epic backdrops to your elopement. From historic theaters, art districts, downtown streets, and huge murals, Florida’s got all the best places to elope. Here’s a list of the most iconic cities within Florida:
If you’re eloping just the two of you, you’ll be able to elope anywhere within a city location as long as the site management allows it. There’s great locations within each of these cities from the county courthouse steps, to skylined streets and rooftop bars, to iconic landmarks.
If you love that electric city energy and an urban elopement is calling your name, but you’re unsure what the city allows for elopements, I’m here to guide you through the logistics and find all the best hidden-gem locations for an unforgettable day in the city.
“I can’t say enough about Anna. She literally knocked it out of the park. If you’re contemplating an elopement, do it! If you’re contemplating Anna as your photographer, don’t even think twice, do it. I promise you won’t regret it! I don’t warm up to people quickly and as soon as I met Anna I felt like I had known her for years. Anna is so down to earth and easy to work with. Her ability to make you feel like you and your spouse are the only people that exist in a crowded room is impeccable. Nothing about the day was awkward or felt staged. We just did our thing, had fun and Anna was there to capture all of it. We truly had the time of our life. I love looking back on our photos and being reminded of how much fun that we had.“
Tami + Mason
View T+M’s Downtown Tampa Elopement
For couples who want those urban vibes, but maybe don’t want to go to a huge city, rooftop locations might be the best place for you to elope! Check out some of Florida’s rooftop venues and bars. You’ll have a bird’s eye view of the city as you exchange your vows!
If you love the idea of exchanging vows with an epic skyline backdrop, but you need some help finding that rooftop spot, I’ll help you find the perfect spot and take care of all the details. You just focus on the breathtaking views (and each other).
“Where do I begin?! I came across Anna’s profile on Instagram and immediately loved her style. She captured REAL emotions and personalities of her clients! I couldn’t wait to talk to her about my vision for our elopement in Key West! Once meeting her, I could tell she was a great time and would fit perfectly with my husband and me. She took my vision of re-creating our “firsts” of our first dates all over Key West ( How many people can make a photo by the dumpster of our first kiss look AMAZING??!?!) and absolutely NAILED it. I look at them almost every day. She then planned our Itinerary for the elopement and knocked it out of the park. I cry almost every time because she captured all the love and emotions through her photos and I can not thank her enough! Thank you, Anna! We can’t wait for you to visit us in Massachusetts!”
Krista + Mike
View K+M’s Duval Street Intimate Wedding
With the rise in popularity of elopements and intimate weddings, many wedding venues offer elopement options! Typically venues will rent out their locations during the week for elopements. This allows you to have a gorgeous backdrop at a popular venue without inviting 100+ people to your wedding! #winwin
Here’s my complete list of the best Florida elopement venues!
Want a gorgeous venue, but aren’t sure where to start? I’ll help you find the perfect wedding venue and make planning stupid easy. Sound good?
Immerse yourselves in Florida’s national and state parks with views that only Florida is known for. From the Everglades National Park to the Myakka River State Park or Ocala National Forest, these natural sanctuaries provide the perfect backdrop for nature-loving couples.
If you’re looking for peaceful, nature-y places to elope in Florida, but aren’t sure where the best place to elope would be, then learn more about my elopement experience and how I can help find a location that fits the two of you perfectly.
Add some art to your elopement by eloping at one of Florida’s renowned art museums. The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg showcases surrealist masterpieces, while the Pérez Art Museum Miami boasts contemporary art against the backdrop of Biscayne Bay. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota offers an exquisite blend of art, architecture, and botanical gardens. Maybe the museum part isn’t your vibe? Florida has tons of art districts with murals that bring that pop of art right into your Florida elopement!
Art makes one of the best places to elope in Florida! Need help finding the right museum or art district? Reach out and let me show you how I can make the elopement process easy peasy.
Okay hear me out – you get the views of the ocean WITHOUT the beach with a Florida boat elopement! This is Florida’s version of an adventure elopement and one of my favorites. Whether it’s a sailboat, a luxury yacht, or a charter boat, exchanging your vows surrounded by the serene waters of Florida adds a touch of adventure and intimacy you can’t get on land. Consider eloping aboard in locations like the Jupiter, the Florida Keys and Key West, or the Indian River Lagoon. Want to learn more about how you can do this, too? I’ve created an entire guide on how to elope on a boat in Florida!
Ocean views without the sand? YES, PLEASE. A boat elopement gives you privacy, adventure, and killer sunset vibes. Stuck on where to start for finding the right boat or location? I’m here to help! Read through my elopement experience to see how I can help make your elopement smooth sailing (literally all the pun is being intended).
“It is so hard to put into words how amazing Anna is. As a person, she is so down to earth and kind-hearted. As a photographer, she is out of this world! I never like photos of myself but I cannot stop looking at photos from our wedding day. She not only took the most gorgeous photos I have ever seen, she also helped us plan the perfect day. Not once did it feel awkward. She knew when to let us have our moment and she knew when to direct us to get the best shot and those were some of my favorite moments because she made it so fun! I am forever grateful to her. She delivered on everything I could possibly have asked for in a photographer and a planner. She captured and preserved our day perfectly. Don’t hesitate to book her!”
Vanessa + Harry
View K+H’s Key West Catamaran Elopement
Add some fancy accommodations, upscale dining, swanky cocktail bars, and a little bit of adventure into your elopement and you can make any place in Florida romantic. The locations that make this super easy are Tampa, Miami, Florida Keys, and Key West!
Weekdays hands down! Weekdays offer you so much more flexibility in your locations and vendors – especially if you’re considering snowbird/tourist season (Thanksgiving through Easter). Read through my guide on the best time to elope in Florida to find the best time of year based on your vision!
Getting legally married in Florida is easy! All you need to do is bring your IDs to the Clerk of Court in your area, apply in person (or online for some counties), understand the waiting period (none for out of state residents; 3 days for Florida residents), have someone legally marry you, and return your marriage license! I’ve created an entire guide on how to elope in Florida.
Yes! If you’re an out of state resident, you can apply and get married on the same day. If you’re a Florida resident, you can only get married on the same day if you’ve taken the pre-marital course through the Clerk of Courts approved vendors list.
That’s a tough one! Since all of my elopements are totally customized and curated for the couple, the locations are based on how they are as a couple, which means that every location has something special about it. Butttt if I’m looking for a location that has a little bit of everything (adventure, great food & cocktails, cityscapes, tropical vibes, historic architecture, and Florida charm), Key West and the Florida Keys delivers.
If you’re just starting to plan your Florida elopement and are already feeling super overwhelmed and stressed out, I’m here to help. As a Florida elopement photographer, part of my elopement experience is guiding couples throughout the elopement planning process by recommending the best locations for their vision, offering vendor recommendations, providing planning guidance, and all guides and checklists to make this as stress-free as possible!
I’m Anna, your Florida elopement photographer and good-time guide to make it all happen.
I’m all about helping couples ditch the stress, skip the traditional wedding chaos, and have a day that’s actually about them. Whether that means saying your vows under a canopy of trees, on a rooftop overlooking the city, or booze cruisin’ on a yacht, I’m here to find the best place to elope in Florida that matches your vision!
I geek out over finding the perfect elopement spots, uncovering hidden gems, and crafting an experience that feels exactly like you.
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