The Ultimate Guide To Planning A South Florida Wedding

South Florida is a dream destination for couples seeking a wedding that's as diverse as it is stunning. With its mix of vibrant urban landscapes, pristine beaches, lush countryside, and luxurious private estates, the region offers a plethora of options to suit every couple's vision. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of planning a South Florida wedding, including timelines for booking vendors, venue options ranging from urban chic to tropical paradise, and average budgets broken down by vendor type to help 2024 brides navigate the planning process with ease.

Timelines for Booking Vendors and Planning:

Planning a wedding requires careful coordination and timing, especially when it comes to booking vendors. Here's a general timeline to guide you through the process:

12 - 18 Months Before The Wedding

- Start researching and touring potential venues.

- Book your venue and set a date.

- Begin researching and booking key vendors such as photographers, caterers, and planners. Remember that wedding vendors are often booking dates a year in advance, so be sure to book and place deposits for vendors you like early.

- Start compiling your guest list and creating a budget.

8 - 10 Months Before The Wedding

• Finalize contracts with vendors.

• Select and order your wedding attire.- remember that wedding dresses are often custom order pieces that will require alterations. Allow additional time for such alterations if you’re going to be ordering during peak wedding season.

• Send out save-the-date cards to guests.

• Start planning the ceremony and reception details, including décor and entertainment.
  

4 - 6 Months Before The Wedding

• Order wedding invitations and other stationery.

• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests and determine how these will be shared,
  

• Work on building a wedding website, or utilizing a wedding platform to create a registry and share important details with guests.

• Schedule hair and makeup trials.
  

• Finalize menu selections and cake design with your caterer.
  

2 -3 Months Before The Wedding

• Apply for a marriage license.

• Finalize seating arrangements and create place cards. - even if you’re still waiting for straggler RSVPs .

• Confirm all vendor details and contract requirements. Schedule any necessary touch base calls with vendors to review timelines, needs, shot lists, song lists, and floral stems.

• Arrange transportation for the wedding day.
  

1 Month Before The Wedding

• Have final fittings for wedding attire. Schedule any last minute alterations with trusted vendrs only, even if costs are higher than budget options nearby - there is no room for last minute mistakes,

• Work with your planner or day of coordinator to create a timeline for the wedding day and distribute to vendors and bridal party.
  

• Pack for the honeymoon.
  

1 Week Before The Wedding

• Confirm all details with vendors and venue, Have one last recap call with your day of coordinator or planner, making sure that all changes to your written plan have been updated and initialed by all parties, including third party vendors.

• Delegate any last-minute tasks to trusted friends or family members.
  

• Take some time to relax and pamper yourself before the big day. Avoid making any drastic changes, like major haircuts or color changes, that could ruin your view of your wedding photos, even if you look stunning.
  

Budgeting For Your Big Day: A Breakdown

While wedding budgets can vary widely depending on factors such as guest count, location, and personal preferences, here's a breakdown of average costs for key vendor categories in South Florida:

Venue: $5,000 - $15,000+

Full Service Planning: $7,000+

Day Of Coordination: $1,500 - 2,500+

Catering: $50 - $150+ per person

Photography: $2,000 - $5,000+

Videography: $2,500 - $6,000+

Floral and Decor: $2,500 - $8,000+

Entertainment: $1,000 - $5,000+

Wedding Attire: $1,500 - $5,000+

Stationery: $500 - $2,000+

Transportation: $500 - $2,000+

Miscellaneous (e.g., rentals, lighting, favors): $1,000 - $3,000+