FAQ

We suggest making your reservation as soon as you have decided on a date for your ceremony. The closer we get to your date the more limited our availability gets.

We accept reservations 1 year in advance.

How do we book our wedding?

There is a Request Form available on this site that should be printed, completed, and faxed to us. Call us for the password, when you are ready to place your reservation. Once we receive the request form we will call you for your deposit. When we have both your request form and deposit your date will be held until your final payment is due. (30 days prior to ceremony). For your convenience we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards for your initial deposit.

What happens after we reserve our date?

Once your reservation has been made you can call or email us anytime with questions. We will contact you for any information we require.

You will receive a reservation confirmation along with your welcome packet. You will find a few forms that help us plan your wedding ceremony. Please print, complete, and email/fax those forms to us at least 60 days prior to your ceremony.

We will contact you during the week prior to your ceremony to confirm your ceremony's details.

We will call you the day prior to your ceremony to ensure you are in town or on your way and ready to go!

Note: We understand you may live out of state and don't have the time to travel to Florida to meet with us & every other vendor. We like to make this really easy for you so all of the planning is done over the phone and via email.

Do you pick the location for the ceremony or do we?

The location is your choice. We are able to set up at most public & private beaches with the proper permission.

There are $ minimums that must be met for weddings outside Sarasota County. The minimums vary depending on the location and date, please call for details.

Some of the locations do charge a fee for the use of the beach. These fees are NOT included in any of the wedding packages.

What happens if it rains?

It is the responsibility of the Couple to have a "back-up" location within 15 miles of the beach location in case of inclement weather. You may want to consider WEDDING INSURANCE. A popular company is www.wedsafe.com.

Many public beaches have a pavillion or covered picnic area that can be reserved. This is a great inexpensive back up in case rain prevents setup in the sand. It keeps you from having to contact all of your guests to tell them where to go for bad weather.

If you are having a reception we may be able to move to that location.

We may suggest adjusting the ceremony start time to avoid any inclement weather scheduled to interfere with the ceremony. We stay flexible and ask that you do to!

Will there be other people on the beach?

Yes. All beaches in the State of Florida are public beaches. We cannot “rope off” any part of the beach.

There are some areas that are less populated than others. In all of the weddings that we have done we haven’t had any interference with beach goers.

We are very familiar with the times/dates that the beaches get busy, we will work with you to make sure you pick the right date & time to avoid a busy beach.

Who performs the ceremony?

A Florida Notary and/or Ordained Minister.

Can we bring our own Officiate?

Certainly, as long as he or she is Ordained Minister or Florida Notary.

We will offer a $100.00 credit towards any of our in house services if you choose to provide your own officiate.

NOTE: We will not release our ceremony which includes the verses for the heart of sand and the Blessing stones. Only officiates directly affiliated with Seashell Beach Weddings are provided this information with whom a confidentiality agreement has been signed.

Who takes the photographs?

All of our packages include photos by “our“ photographers. We have many couples ask if they are “professional”- Yes they are “free-lance" and shoot for Seashell Beach Weddings as exclusive providers.

Couples will receive their photos via online gallery.

We strive to provide our clients with quality photos... however weather conditions may affect the outcome. If you are scheduled for a sunset wedding and arrive more than 15 minutes late you will be fined $50.

Can we provide our own photographer/ videographer?

Yes, we will offer a $100.00 credit towards any of our in house services if you choose to provide your own

*** Here's a Camcorder Tip for Friends and Family-****

Be sure to take your camcorder/photo equipment out of the air conditioning at least an hour prior to the ceremony... when you go from air conditioning into the heat- the dew condensation will not allow most camcorders to work. Do not "pause", you can always edit your video after the ceremony.

Can we bring our own decorations for the beach?

Any person(s), companies or individuals, using state park recreational facilities for weddings and/or receptions may be required to show proof of liability insurance. Our insurance does not cover any decoration/services other than our own.

If you are bringing your own rose petals to drop on the beach you are responsible for making sure they are cleaned up before you leave.

"Fake" rose petals are not allowed at any Florida Public Beach.

If you order petals from us we do the clean up!

What about music for my processional?

We can provide you with a Speaker, you provide the mp3/iPod with the songs you'd like played..

It can be added from the a la carte menu. Music is often played for the processional and recessional, and while the photos are being taken following the ceremony.

Do you provide chairs?

Yes, they are available on the a la carte list. However keep in mind that most of the guests will have a camera/camcorder in hand and do not “sit” in the chairs provided.

We recommend providing enough chairs for your parents, grandparents, and anyone that may need one. Typically 10-25 chairs are requested.

We do not recommend having a chair for each guests as most people choose to stand at a beach wedding.

How do we obtain the Marriage license?

You must apply in person, at the Clerk of the Court. Call us directly for details.

What happens wtih the marriage license after the ceremony?

We will forward the signed license to the local Clerk of Court, provided this is where the couple obtained it from.

After the wedding...

The newlyweds will receive a recorded copy mailed to their address from the County clerk that issued their license.

What happens if we have to “postpone”?

Any deposits/payments will be applied to your new date.

If a postponement is made within 60 days of wedding, for any reason, there will be a $350 fee.

If postponement is made more than 60 days prior to wedding, there is a $100.00 fee.

Reservations can be postponed once and up to 1 year from the original date.

What happens if we have to cancel?

All deposits are non-refundable. You will be given the option of moving your wedding to the day of your choice, schedule permitting.

If you cancel your wedding within 60 days of the date, all package monies and a la carte fees are due and payable.

Do you handle the receptions?

No, however we are more than happy to refer you to our preferred referral partners including area restaurants, reception venues, and caterers.

Can we get married on a holiday?

Yes, based on availability. Please note we automatically charge a $200.00 holiday fee to perform a wedding on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday either before or after a National Holiday. This is non-negotiable. Please check your calendars prior to reserving dates!

We enjoy spending time with our families and know you do too so if you are having our staff work when they will miss "family time" this charge will be incurred.

Thank You!