Resort Weddings in Florida

By Julie Landry Laviolette

Having your wedding at a Florida resort can be the easiest decision you make, bringing your dreams of a magical ceremony and celebration together all in one place.

Whether you’re looking for a wedding resort with majestic ballrooms, an exquisite garden terrace or a spectacular oceanfront view, Florida is your go-to.

With award-winning international resorts, eclectic boutique hotels, historic properties, mansion venues and unique inns, there’s something for every wedding theme and budget.

Miami

One of the world’s most famous vacation spots, Miami oozes a polished vibe with a tropical twist. Its international flavor and stylish cityscape lend itself to world-class resorts with acclaimed culinary and wedding planning expertise.

The Biltmore Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, is legendary in Miami, with sophisticated Mediterranean architecture, a golf course and timeless elegance. There are Old World ballrooms, gardens, event lawns and an expansive pool area.
Faena Hotel Miami Beach is a glamorous resort with decadent event spaces and outdoor celebration areas, including a Mammoth Garden with a whimsical gold-encrusted mammoth centerpiece.
Four Seasons Hotel Miami, a cosmopolitan pick on trendy Brickell Avenue, offers ballrooms, a sky bridge with Biscayne Bay views and a rooftop pool overlooking the city.

South Beach

South Beach, part of Miami Beach, deserves some attention on its own. If you’re looking for a glam location with a fabulous Art Deco district, trendy night spots and posh restaurants, you can find it at iconic South Beach, the crown jewel of Miami.

Loews Miami Beach Hotel is a luxe Art Deco boutique hotel with intimate event spaces, an elegant pool-side patio and a lush garden courtyard. Its glamorous Americana ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic ocean views.
Mondrian South Beach is a stylish contemporary hotel overlooking Biscayne Bay. Exchange vows in the Kissing Gardens or the rooftop penthouse. The glass-enclosed ballroom has an attached terrace.
The Ritz-Carlton South Beach is an Art Deco landmark overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with an opulent ballroom, menus that reflect Miami’s diverse culinary scene and chic spots for indoor and outdoor ceremonies.
Other popular wedding resorts are Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 1 Hotel South Beach and National Hotel, (an adults-only resort).

Fort Lauderdale

Known as “The Venice of America” with picturesque, winding canals and a stunning beach, Fort Lauderdale is home to many resorts.

Pier Sixty-Six – After an extensive renovation, Pier Sixty-Six, a swanky, modern gem that sits on the Intracoastal Waterway, specializes in high-end events. The iconic property has elegant accommodations and sweeping views.
Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club, on a palm-filled 10 acres along the Atlantic Ocean, with a large private beach and a conference center, offers beach wedding ceremonies, poolside receptions and indoor event spaces.
Four Seasons Hotel and Residences offers sophisticated, beachfront elegance, with terraces, reception venues and ceremony options that take advantage of ocean views.
Other popular wedding resorts are the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, B Ocean Resort Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa.

Palm Beach

Chic Palm Beach offers a sumptuous mix of historic and contemporary resorts, world-class beaches and all-round elegance, with gorgeous waterfronts and refined accommodations.

The Brazilian Court Hotel is a charming Spanish Colonial style resort with the acclaimed cuisine of Chef Daniel Boulud at Café Boulud Palm Beach. Tropical courtyards with fountains and discreetly elegant private dining rooms can be found here.
PGA National Resort is a world-class destination anchored by six championship golf courses, with beautifully landscaped gardens, a lakeside lawn, pavilion and ballrooms.
The Colony Hotel, known as the “Pink Palace,” has been a chic part of the Palm Beach landscape since 1947. Fashionable and fun with access to world famous Worth Avenue shopping, the resort has stylish ballrooms, plus outdoor settings.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, a Forbes five-star rated resort and spa, has 30,000 square feet of flexible picture-perfect event space.
Founded in 1896, The Breakers, a favorite of the wealthy during The Gilded Age, offers private beachfront, sumptuous ballrooms and refined finishing touches.

Orlando

With Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and conventions galore, Orlando is a mecca for resorts – from massive complexes to simple, family-friendly properties. Whatever you’re looking for in a wedding resort, you’ll find it here.

Gaylord Palms Resort is a grand choice, with a 4.5-acre tropical garden atrium under a soaring glass ceiling and 500,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and The Ritz-Carlton share a lake and golf course, and both specialize in events and weddings, with lawns, terraces and opulent ballrooms.
Rosen Shingle Creek, set on 255 acres along picturesque Shingle Creek, has more than 1,500 guest rooms in a Spanish revival setting. Ballrooms and outdoor spaces are available for big or small events.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando, a luxury resort withing the gates of Walt Disney World Resort, has gracious ballrooms and outdoor settings for your special day. (And you get to see Disney’s fireworks every night!)

Tampa Bay

At the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast is the Tampa Bay area, which combines a thriving city with a Riverwalk on Tampa Bay, to outlying beach areas with waterfront views. Area resorts offer wedding choices whether you’re looking for a city vibe or fun in the sun.

Hotel Flor Tampa, built in 1926, is a historic landmark that has been restored to its original splendor. Located in downtown Tampa, the site has period-style ballrooms.
Tampa Marriott Water Street on the Riverwalk has elegant ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Tampa Bay.
Le Meridien Tampa is a century-old historic federal courthouse that has been transformed into a boutique hotel, with iconic courtrooms that have been remodeled into event spaces.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is indeed a grand property on Tampa Bay with serene styling and wedding spaces including a waterfront deck and patio, a pavilion, and ballrooms in multiple sizes.
Clearwater has Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach, Sandpearl Resort, JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort and Opal Sands Resort.
St. Petersburg (known locally as St. Pete) has The Don CeSar Hotel, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club and TradeWinds Island Resort.

The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys feel a world away, with its ocean and gulf views, natural wonders and colorful history. Each region along the scenic 110-mile Overseas Highway has a character of its own, offering resorts from fabulous to funky, all with an island vibe.

In Key Largo, you’ll find Bungalows Key Largo, an intimate all-inclusive adults-only resort, Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, with multiple ballrooms and outdoor spaces, and Playa Largo Resort & Spa, with a private beach, ballroom and courtyard.
In the Middle Keys, luxury properties Hawk’s Cay Resort and Cheeca Lodge & Spa offer elegant indoor and waterfront outdoor event spaces with lots of perks. Islander Florida Keys and Isla Bella Beach Resort are oceanfront spots with several tropical event spaces.
In Key West, upscale resorts Sunset Key Cottages and Southernmost Beach Resort have private beachfront and palm-fringed gardens.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is on an exclusive private island and specializes in over-the-top and elegant weddings for up to 60 guests.

Jacksonville

A little bit Southern and a whole lot of sunshine – Jacksonville, on the northeast coast -- offers Old Florida charm and a riverfront business district. Graceful Amelia Island to the north and 22 miles of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean are dotted with upscale resorts and quaint inns.

In downtown Jacksonville, Marriott Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk offer ballrooms and convenience.
Amelia Island is dripping in Southern charm and boasts grand resorts like Omni Amelia Island Resort and The Ritz-Carlton.
Jacksonville beach has a Jimmy Buffet vibe at Margaritaville Beach Hotel, or Casa Marina Hotel, a historic wedding venue that opened in 1925.
Ponte Vedra Beach has several storied wedding destinations, including Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa, Serenata Beach Club, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, and The Lodge & Club.
Atlantic Beach has One Ocean Resort and Spa, an oceanfront oasis and retreat.

St. Augustine

Travel back in time to St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, with its narrow walkways and historic landmarks. You’ll find resorts with mesmerizing architectural detail in the city center, and more relaxed properties with ocean views along the beach.

Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel, nestled in the heart of the historic center, has charming architecture and event spaces.
Casa Monica Resort & Spa, built in 1888 and in the historic district, has vintage Moroccan charm and luxury amenities. It has indoor and outdoor wedding venues.
Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach, close to beaches and Spanish landmarks, overlooks the historic downtown and has lots of event space, including a rooftop poolside veranda.
Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort has an oceanview ballroom and three event lawns.
Guy Harvey Resort Oceanfront is a relaxed destination with a patio terrace and ballroom.

Naples

Known for its fashionable shopping district and exclusive golf resorts, Naples on the southwest coast is fringed by miles of white beaches along the Gulf of America.

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort offers celebrations on the beach, in contemporary ballrooms or in lush gardens overlooking the ocean.
Naples Grande Beach Resort has terraces with water views, stunning ballrooms and spaces overlooking the pool.
Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort is an iconic venue for classic ceremonies, with picturesque beaches or gardens, refined ballrooms or a terrace with golf course views.
Nearby Marco Island features JW Marriott Marco Island Beach and Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort.

Naples

Known for its fashionable shopping district and exclusive golf resorts, Naples on the southwest coast is fringed by miles of white beaches along the Gulf of America.

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort offers celebrations on the beach, in contemporary ballrooms or in lush gardens overlooking the ocean.
Naples Grande Beach Resort has terraces with water views, stunning ballrooms and spaces overlooking the pool.
Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort is an iconic venue for classic ceremonies, with picturesque beaches or gardens, refined ballrooms or a terrace with golf course views.
Nearby Marco Island features JW Marriott Marco Island Beach and Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort.

Destin/Fort Walton

Take in the storybook setting of Destin and Fort Walton Beach along the Emerald Coast, known for turquoise Gulf of America waters and sugar white sand beaches.

The Henderson, with sweeping gulf views, has lovely ballrooms, a candlelit terrace and a Grand Lawn overlooking Henderson Beach State Park.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort spans 2,400 acres from the beach to the bay and has scenic indoor and outdoor settings.
Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village has a sunset deck with gulf views, ballrooms with views of Destin harbor and a private beach.
The Island Resort, Fort Walton Beach is a laid-back resort with beachside, garden and poolside spaces.
Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island on the gulf has a scenic pool area with a waterfall, plus indoor and outdoor event space.