Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Do We Have To and How Do We Get Our Florida Marriage License?

Photo of newlyweds in front of seagrassTo get married in Florida, no matter what state, or country for that matter, you live in, you have to have a Florida Marriage License.  Obtaining your license is a quick, simple process. The online resources for this information can be contradictory, so we've compiled accurate guidelines here and are happy to go over this info with you!

The bride and groom must apply together, with valid state or federal identification, in person at a Florida County Clerk's office during regular business hours. The Clerk's office keeps federal and state business hours and observes all federal holidays. HERE is a list of federal and state holidays.

There is no waiting period, no blood test, and no class/counseling program required. Your Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days. If either of you are a Florida resident you must apply for your license at least 3 days in advance of your wedding date. You will need to know your SSN, date of birth, address, and (if) divorce decree date. You will not need your birth certificate, SSN card or, divorce papers.

The Florida application fee is $93.50 in most counties (some have small additional charges). Witnesses at the ceremony are optional. Non-Florida residents can receive a marriage license without going to the clerk's office for a fee by contacting Sherry Matthews Consulting, click HERE.

Recommended locations by beach area (a marriage license can be obtained from any Florida County Clerk however):

**Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach, Florida**
Bay County Clerk's Office
300 East 4th Street
Panama City, Fl 32401
(850) 763-9061

**Beaches of 30a, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, East Destin, Florida**
Clerk of Court
Marriage License Recording
Walton County Courthouse Annex
31 Coastal Centre Boulevard
Santa Rosa Beach, Fl 32459
(850) 267-3066

**Destin, Okaloosa Island (Fort Walton Beach), Florida**
Clerk of Court
Marriage License Division
Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex
1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite B110
Shalimar, Fl 32579
(850) 651-7200

**Navarre, Florida**
South Santa Rosa County Service Center
5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
(850) 981-5570

**Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key, Florida**
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Marriage Division
MC Blanchard Judicial Building
190 Governmental Center
Pensacola, Fl 32501
(850) 595-4170


--
Ken and Heather Delo
Sunset Beach Weddings
(850) 366-8054
sunsetbeachwed@gmail.com

www.sunsetbeachwed.com
www.delobeachweddings.smugmug.com
 
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Thursday, February 13, 2014

From CNBC - 8 ways to cut your wedding costs without looking cheap

Trying to cut some costs on your Florida Beach Destination Wedding?  Here are some ideas that CNBC wrote about in a recent article.  This was posted on Yahoo News as well.

Summer is just around the corner, and that means the peak wedding season is too. If you or your child is planning a wedding, get your checkbook ready.

After plummeting in the wake of the financial crisis, spending on nuptials resumed its rise in 2010, and is once again approaching record levels.

The average cost of a wedding is as high as $28,400 by one estimate, and close to $26,000 by another. And depending on where you live, like the Big Apple, average costs can top $70,000. That's higher than the median American household income. 

To help you save, CNBC has gathered eight money-saving tips that you'll need to keep handy as you plan your big day.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Cut Down Number of Guests

Size matters. "The number one thing you can do to keep your wedding costs down is to keep your guest list down," said Dena Davey, director of marketing for the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Average spending per guest reached $204 in 2012, according to the wedding websitetheknot.com, which conducts an annual survey of wedding costs.

If that sounds like a lot, remember that each invitee gets an invitation, a catered meal, a piece of very pricey cake, and a whole lot of champagne—and that's without a lot of frills.

So the potential savings from a smaller ceremony are clear.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Think Outside the Box

Another way to save is to be flexible about timing. Saturday evening weddings tend to be the most expensive, Dena Davey said, since they usually involve a dinner reception and event spaces often charge more for that time.

"Fridays and Sundays are really popular right now," added Davey.

June and December are the most popular months for weddings, so vendors may be more willing to negotiate if you are talking to them at other times of the year.

Time of day can make a big difference too. A buffet lunch is less expensive to provide than a sit-down dinner—and appetizers and champagne in the afternoon cost even less.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Compare Your Options

The Internet is your frenemy when it comes to wedding planning. Websites like Pinterest are full of enticing images of all kinds of wedding paraphernalia—with no price tags attached.

There are also lots of sites that point to ways to save. Bridalbrokerage.com lets you buy up the fixings from weddings that got cancelled, andtradesy.com offers a range of almost-new wedding dresses.

Projectwedding.com offers tips on how to resell things, like unused table linens.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Stay in Season

It's possible to spend a bundle on flowers for a wedding, when you realize that you'll need blooms for the bride, the ends of the aisles, the centerpieces, and more.

If you stick with flowers that are in season, your costs will come way down. Even November offers calla lilies, and March is a fine time for freesia.

And within the season, be careful what you choose. Peonies can be even more expensive than roses.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Step Out for the Reception

You don't have to spend a fortune on an elaborate catering hall. There are many other kinds of places where you can have a lovely ceremony or reception.

In the right season, municipal parks and beaches can be great options—and they offer a beautiful backdrop for your photos as well. Churches usually have reception halls where you can celebrate after you exchange vows. Some restaurants can host wonderful receptions as well.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Keep the Food Casual

There is no law saying you have to serve surf and turf. An informal menu of comfort food, like macaroni and cheese or even sliders, can add an element of fun.

If your heritage includes an exotic cuisine, serving some of your favorite dishes helps to personalize your event. Looking for a wedding favor? How about purchasing italian cookies from your favorite bakery, dividing them up into little baggies, and adding ribbon and a wedding tag label to personalize.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


Keep Your Eye on the Prize

The biggest savings suggestion? Focus on what you're doing, not the things you'll have around you. Perfect flowers or not perfect flowers, your wedding day is likely to be magical.


8 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs


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Thursday, February 6, 2014

An Article - 7 Steps for Setting a Wedding Date from Bridal Guide

Here's an interesting article from Bridal Guide on the steps to choosing your wedding date.  Some couples have trouble with this, because they want a date that's memorable and significant to their history, but it sounds like it might be wise to consider other factors when planning your wedding.

7 Steps for Setting a Wedding Date

By  | 

Choosing a wedding date is one of the most important planning decisions that you'll have to make as a couple - it will impact every other aspect of your big day. You may have an idea of where you envision yourself walking down the aisle or what you want your cake to look like, but until you decide when you'd like to get married, you can't commit to anything. You might be asking yourself, "How do I pick a date that works for everyone and is still special to me?" or "Where do I even start?"

For every couple, the process is completely unique and that's part of what makes your wedding date so special to you. I hope that by sharing some planner insight - as well as my experience as a real bride - I can help you find the perfect time to say "I do."

Step #1: Take the weather into account. 
The basics: The most popular months to get married are June, September, and October and it's no surprise why - the weather is absolutely beautiful in early summer and fall. In general, you can plan for weather based on past records and standards, but always remember to continue to track it throughout your planning process as well.

I've planned weddings where we've encountered some unseasonably strange weather - those of you who live in California remember that December/January heat wave we had! - and the best way to deal with it is to add some cushion in your wedding budget for items like throws or fans. Think about your guests and their comfort level.

My take: I love every season for its unique beauty, but I knew that I didn't want to wear a wedding dress in mid-summer and that there was no way I could get my fiancĂ© Jesse to wear a suit in 100 degree weather! So, we peeled back the layers of each season and ended up with spring. The weather won't be too warm and everything is so lush and pretty during that time of year.

Step #2: Consider all the factors of an off-season date. 
The basics: Getting married in January or March might help cut your rental venue fee down but you have to be prepared to make sacrifices in other areas. For example, let's say that peonies are your absolute favorite flower and you can't imagine having a bouquet with anything else. Depending on the time of year, it may be hard (if not impossible) for your florist to find them at a price that fits your budget. (In general, off-season flowers are incredibly expensive.)

The same concept applies for Friday vs. Saturday weddings. Although a venue might be able to give you a break on their minimums for a Friday reception, be aware that the rest of your wedding vendors might not be able to.

My take: Since I'm getting married in the springtime, I am willing to spend a little extra on guest comforts such as throws, extra heaters, or a hot chocolate station. Bonus: Those amenities can serve double-duty as personalized guest favors or interactive activities throughout my wedding day.

Step #3: Lead the date selection process by creating a list of what you envision for your wedding day. 
The basics: Imagine that your wedding day has finally arrived - what do you see? A lush rose garden as the backdrop for your ceremony? Vineyards dripping with grapes ready for harvest? Snow-covered mountaintops? By narrowing down your potential wedding date to one season (or two) you can cut down your options in half.

My take: This is where the girly side of me comes into play! Jesse loves fields and greenery - he's Irish, so it's in his blood - and I'm a total flower girl. As much as I love November and December, I knew that flowers would be slim pickings during those months. So for me, it came down to wanting to create a beautifully lush setting for the entire day, ideally in a field in the middle of nowhere.

Step #4: Think twice before getting married on a major holiday. 
The basics: In addition to Christmas, Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, you may also want to reconsider tying the knot on religious holidays, event weekends (depending on your location), major sporting events, Father's Day and other holidays of this nature, and September 11th.

Although holiday weddings can be super fun and festive, your wedding date is something you want to celebrate for years to come because of the meaning behind it - not because it was also NYE. Another thing to keep in mind is the significant costs that are associated with holidays weddings. For example, the price of roses during Valentine's Day is unbelievable, so having them at your big day could really put a dent in your overall budget.

But perhaps the biggest factor to consider is your guests. As much as they love you, do they really want to spend a major holiday celebrating you instead of being able to celebrate them? Yes, your wedding is about the two of you, but you also want to make it an event that your guests are excited about and can afford to attend. Hotels, flights and car rentals can all get very expensive, especially during a holiday weekend.

My take: Once we narrowed it down to springtime, Jesse and I had to decide whether we would get married in March, April or May. March is St. Patrick's Day, and as much as I love a good themed party, I don't see myself having a St. Patrick's Day wedding. May is Jesse's birthday month, so that was out! April it is.

Step #5: Focus on what you want your wedding day to be and how to portray that in a date.
The basics: At this stage, you should have your potential dates narrowed down to a month or two and this is where it gets fun! Within the months that made it to the final round, are there any dates that are meaningful to you as a couple or as individuals? Do you want to honor a family member who is no longer alive by getting married on their birthday or anniversary? Are there any dates you want to avoid?

My take: For this step, I started by asking Jesse if there were any dates in April that were special to him individually since we couldn't think of any for the two of us. (We started dating in March and we got engaged in January, and those are both already out.) He couldn't come up with anything, so I asked him what he thought about getting married on my grandparents' wedding anniversary, which is April 30th. They've been married for over 50 years now and have taught us how to love and enjoy life, so it seemed fitting that we could honor them. We both agreed that our wedding should take place on that day.

Step #6: Give yourself plenty of time and don't rush it!

The basics: I have planned full weddings in just a few months and we've all seen how weddings can be pulled together within weeks on TV. However, what you might not be aware of is the cost that it takes to ensure that a big celebration can be executed quickly.

When a bride reaches out to me and asks if we can plan her big day in a short amount of time, I always tell her that anything is possible, but there might be areas that she will have to sacrifice. For example, a custom wedding gown can take over a year to create, depending on what you want. Also, your custom logoed favors, centerpieces or invitations may not end up exactly how you had planned.

The moral of the story is to make sure you give yourself enough time to plan for the things that are truly important to you, whether it's incorporating lace from your mom's dress to use in your own gown or getting hand-crafted favors from your favorite travel destination.

My take: Being a wedding planner, my life is scheduled WAY in advance - I already have events booked for early 2015 - so I knew I needed to pick a date with enough time to really block everything out, especially if I want to be able to go on a honeymoon. Jesse and I knew that we would be looking at late 2015 to early 2016 for our wedding. This will give us plenty of time to bring in a number of custom details and let my creativity completely take over!

Step #7: Think about other aspects of your wedding and how they will all play out.

The basics: Now, depending on what other aspects of your wedding are important, you might want to keep an open mind to a few dates. What if your dream venue is booked or your favorite photographer is out of town? Better yet, what about the important people in your family? You will want to make sure they can attend!

My date: I wanted to make sure we had my grandparents' blessing, so the first thing we did was call them to ask if we could honor them by getting married on their wedding date. Of course they said yes and they were so thrilled! Next on the list was letting immediate family know. Since the date is so far out, we aren't officially announcing it with save-the-dates or an engagement party just yet, but more so, being respectful of them in letting them know that we do have a plan.

-- 

Ken and Heather Delo

Sunset Beach Weddings
(850) 366-8054

 
Like us on Facebook for more photos: www.facebook.com/sunsetbeachwed
Twitter: @sunsetbeachwed

Monday, February 3, 2014

We won the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards!

Sunset Beach Weddings was selected for the 2014 WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards!  Visit our WeddingWire page to see our reviews and other info about us! www.weddingwire.com/sunsetbeachweddings

WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards recipients represent the top five percent of wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism.



--
Ken and Heather Delo
Sunset Beach Weddings
(850) 366-8054

 
Like us on Facebook for more photos: www.facebook.com/sunsetbeachwed
Twitter: @sunsetbeachwed

Sunset Beach Weddings http://www.sunsetbeachwed.com - florida wedding, destination weddings, beach weddings, florida beach wedding, destin wedding, elopement packages, beach destination wedding, beach weddings in florida, eloping, panama city beach wedding, cheap beach weddings, barefoot weddings, pensacola beach weddings, destin beach wedding, destin florida beach weddings, panama city beach weddings, beach wedding pictures, sunset beach weddings