By Iris Alon, about.com
Miami is one of the most beautiful places to get married. The ocean and many of the city’s gorgeous hotels provide a lovely backdrop for weddings. Whether you decide on a big or small affair, rest assure that Miami will be able accommodate it. The only problem you’ll have is narrowing down the choices of venues. Should you decide to get married or know anyone who’s planning a wedding in Miami, pass along these helpful tips to make the ordeal a little less stressful.
Miami is one of the most beautiful places to get married. The ocean and many of the city’s gorgeous hotels provide a lovely backdrop for weddings. Whether you decide on a big or small affair, rest assure that Miami will be able accommodate it. The only problem you’ll have is narrowing down the choices of venues. Should you decide to get married or know anyone who’s planning a wedding in Miami, pass along these helpful tips to make the ordeal a little less stressful.
Deciding on a Venue
If you’re a bride-to-be, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing a place
to get married. Miami presents a variety of options from destination
type weddings that are intimate in nature, to large, high society-like
events that are often held inside grand ballrooms of luxury hotels.
In order to narrow down your choices, decide on your budget first.
According to wedding preparation website “Cost of Wedding.com,” the
average couple who plans to get married in Miami will spend an average
of $25,000 for every 100 guests and approximately 40% of that budget
will be allotted for the venue alone.
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To give you some perspective of the going rates for
venues, a courthouse marriage will only cost a couple a little over
$200 in fees while having it at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens will cost a whopping $30,000 at the very least.
Choosing a Wedding Dress
This
is a decision that requires thorough assessment and just like deciding
on the venue, one of the most important tasks in planning a wedding.
Fortunately for you, Miami is a shopper’s paradise with plenty of
boutique bridal shops lining the streets of Coral Way in Miami’s Miracle Mile.
Pay a visit to Coral Cables Bridal where you can find a selection of
traditional and elegant designer gowns or check out Leggenda Bridal, a
full-service boutique store that offers one-of-a-kind dresses for all
formal occasions. Look to spend a few thousand dollars should you decide
to peruse these stores. If you’re on a budget however, consider
Alessa’s Bridal, also in Coral Gables, where dresses won’t cost you a
month’s salary.
Bachelor and Bachelorette Party Themes
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there’s one part of the wedding planning in Miami that’s a guaranteed
hit, it has to be the bachelor and bachelorette parties. The city caters
to a diverse group of people so you’re sure to have a good time here no
matter what theme you ought to choose. Guys can have a sports-themed
affair starting with 18-holes at one of the area’s best golf courses
followed by a Miami Heat or Miami Dolphins game. For the more adventurous types,
try your hand at deep fishing or learn to fly on water through Miami
Flyboard. The ladies too have a wide selection of bachelorette party
themes starting with the ultimate spa packages at premiere places like
Espa at Acqualina or Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach.
Shopping and dining themes are also popular with the girls especially
since they are spoiled with the variety of shopping centers and
award-winning restaurants available at their disposal. Those who love bargain shopping
will need several hours at outlets like Sawgrass Mills or the Dolphin
Mall while those looking for a more quintessential Miami experience with
local stores to boot ought to check out CocoWalk in Coconut Grove. As
far as dining options go, one can indulge on seafood at Joe’s Stone Crab, Ceviche 105 and Zuma.
Things to Keep in Mind
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when planning a wedding in Miami.
First, be mindful of the seasons. Summer might be the perfect time for
most of the country to have a wedding but in Miami, summers typically
mean high humidity, the occasional thunderstorm, and hot weather. This
might prove to be detrimental especially if you’re having the wedding
outdoors. On the upside, summer is the city’s low season so rates are
likely to be cheaper for venues. Second, be smart when it comes to
logistics. Miami is a very large city with several neighborhoods.
Consider the distances, the traffic, and time of day when finalizing
your venues for the wedding and reception.
Now that you have a little wedding planning help, good luck and have fun!
