You’re thinking of planning a destination beach wedding, but where do you start? Julia Timmins of Blue Water Weddings in the Florida Keys, spoke to me about the first vital decisions that go into planning a destination wedding.

Julia reminds us “destination weddings aren’t just about the wedding, they’re about the whole weekend or sometimes the week!”

To start, Julia asks a bride “what do you envision for your wedding?

Finding a destination wedding venue

“Finding room blocks for guests right away is really important. Researching discounted rates for different hotel options to offer the guests are key to managing a larger destination guest list” says Julia.

Julia helps the bride decide between venue options with pros and cons of these choices:

1. Private Inn
2. Hotel
3. Private House
4. 1-Day Rental

Wedding hire of a Private Inn

A stunning, lesser-known option in the Florida Keys are the beautiful Inns for hire. Brides can hire out 18-20 rooms for two full days, creating a luxurious, private wedding experience. This also allows you to provide your own alcohol which hugely lowers costs. Julia loves working with the Coconut Palm Inn.

Hotel Weddings

Countless amenities and activities for your guests, a hotel is a comprehensive option, but it can be more expensive depending on the bar option you choose.

Often top shelf open bars can be more expensive than the food itself.

Renting a Private House

Privacy and value for money makes this a great option for beach weddings, as many private houses in the Florida Keys also have private beaches.

If you wish to provide your own alcohol and want some guests to stay for 10 days, the value in this option is formidable.

The 1-Day Rental

Perfect for brides wanting a low-pressure, low-stress option, this helps you plan the wedding of your dreams, without having to worry about entertaining guests longer than one day. Stunning one-day rentals are available in the Florida Keys for a beautiful event.

Budgeting for a destination wedding

Julia can help you work with your budget, along with whoever is paying the bill! Countless cost-cutting ideas like hiring a wedding planner to make the most of local deals, trimming the guest list and cutting down the bar to beer & wine all help lower costs. Next it’s time to send your save the date cards!

How to create a wedding website

If you don’t want to receive a thousand phone calls with questions about the event after sending ‘save the date’ cards, create a wedding website. Introduce yourselves and the magical story of how you met. Introduce the bridal party, the dress code, wedding theme and details about the wedding: Venue, accommodation and costs, taxi and shuttle services and a summary of the destination. A simple website can stop a bride from being asked non-stop questions, making the entire process smoother and more fun! Next it’s on to planning the details!

Julia of Blue Water Weddings works with couples from around the world, throughout the US and even local Florida Keys couples to plan their ideal event.

She has countless contacts in the industry to help her clients get the best deals from the highest quality vendors, and she works with interior designers to create your ideal wedding set up from custom linens to draping, lighting and design.

We’re so excited to feature Julia & Blue Water Weddings on the Jasmine Sky Blog!