After the initial excitement of being engaged, wedding planning reality hits. There is so much to do! You found your soulmate; but now you need to find the venue, pick the perfect dress, select people to capture your big day, have makeup and hair trials and eat way too much cake during tastings.
I’ve been there. I know that the excitement can turn into feeling overwhelmed with all of the important choices that you have to make. That’s why we’ve decided to give you our inside tips and ideas (from a bride and a photographer) to help make your wedding planning go as smoothly as possible!
To get started, I thought I’d talk about our all time favorite wedding venues in Florida. These venues range from grand ballrooms to quiet intimate spaces, because we believe that every wedding is different and unique. Not everyone likes the same things, so I’ve included something for everyone.
This darling family owned avocado farm is oozing with personality and charm! We’re talking horse and carriage kind of charm. Located not too far outside of Miami, FL, this wedding venue is one of our all time favorite spaces. Not only is the space beautiful for any type of wedding, but the staff is incredible. They are so warm and inviting and make you and your guests feel right at home. This venue is an all-in-one venue, meaning you can get ready there, have the ceremony there and party into the night!
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel is truly a Miami experience! With it’s modern design, this place is the perfect venue for the trendy couple! Since this is also a hotel, it’s a great all-in-one venue. You can get ready for the big day and then walk downstairs to all of your waiting guests. The pool, beach and multiple picture perfect indoor locations are a photographer’s dream for stunning and creative wedding portraits. There are multiple ballrooms and ceremony space locations, so the sky’s the limit with this hotel. The Fontainebleau is also known for the world famous LIV nightclub, so you can party even after your reception has ended!
We venture all the way to Naples, FL for this gorgeous Country Club turned wedding venue! This venue had the best food that we had ever tasted at a wedding..I mean meat carving stations..hello! The staff was really helpful and even let us cruise around golf carts the whole day! Not only is this venue beautiful on the outside, but they have a large bridal suite for you and your girls to get ready in! Down the grand staircase sits the ceremony location with it’s fountain and string lights. It’s beautiful! The whole golf course is yours for photos, and even the outside of the building is full of character for photo backdrops.
The Addison, located in Boca Raton, FL is another great ceremony and reception venue! With their oversized 100 year old Banyan Trees, their outdoor ceremony space is a gorgeous backdrop for any ceremony. They have multiple ballrooms to fit any sized wedding, so even intimate weddings can happen here! We’ve worked at The Addison on multiple occasions and their staff is always so helpful. After the ceremony, guests walk just a few steps to the cocktail area and then into the reception for a great party! They even like to end the evening with very well organized sparkler exits, how fun!
This charming Country Club is tucked away in a gorgeous Deerfield Beach community! It’s floor to ceiling ballroom windows pour in natural light during the day, and display your party at night. Giant chandeliers cover the ceiling and give off a grand appearance. This is a very large ballroom, so it can fit a large number of guests and the golf course is yours to explore for the perfect photographs. With the ability to have an outdoor ceremony, this venue is high on our favorite venue list!
Old School Square Cultural Arts Center
This wedding venue is like no other that I’ve seen, it’s so neat! The Old School Square is perfect for couples who are looking for a unique wedding venue. This vintage gymnasium is the perfect backdrop for teachers, artists, and anyone who loves vintage! Have your ceremony indoors our out in their multiple locations. When the ceremony is over, you can even take photos on the merry-go-round outside and view your guest having a great time from the balcony.
This classic hotel is pretty famous for it’s history and of course for it’s iconic look. Just walking into the building, you get a sense of wonderment! The rooms are perfectly lit for getting ready, and the view from each room is breathtaking! Explore the grounds and you will see many amazing backgrounds for photos and timeless class with each section of the hotel. The best part? It’s just a hop, skip and a jump to a beautiful church that many people get married in!
The first part to planning your wedding is selecting the date and venue, so don’t hesitate to research and know the inside and out your potential venue. Ask questions so that you know what to expect on your big day!
Tune in next week when I discuss tips on how to make your wedding day go smoothly!
We are South Florida’s favorite Wedding Photography and Wedding Cinematography team! We specialize in capturing your important day and work together to ensure the best wedding day coverage! Serving luxury weddings in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Miami, Deerfield Beach, The Florida Keys, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Orlando, and we travel for destination weddings too! We love to capture weddings, engagements and commercial projects!