Q. Who may perform marriage ceremonies in Florida?
A. The following officials are authorized by Florida law to perform marriage ceremonies:
Notaries Public of the State of Florida.
A regularly ordained minister or other ordained clergy;
Elders in communion with some church;
All judicial officers (judges) of the State of Florida;
Clerks of the Circuit Courts and their deputized employees;
Q. If I am from out of state do I need a Florida Marriage License to get married?
A. Yes!
Q: We are planning a wedding for just the two of us? Are we required to have witnesses?
A. The Florida Marriage License has a place for witnesses but it is not required.
Q. Do we need a license to renew vows?
A. Florida does not require a license to renew vows.
Q. Do you file the marriage license after the wedding?
A. I will file the marriage license after the wedding for recording. You will then receive a certified copy in the mail approximately 3 weeks later.
Q. How long have you been in business?
A. I have had a successful wedding business since 2004 .
Advice- Before you choose a company find out how long they have been in business. Experience matters when you only have one wedding day.
Q. I have spoken to other companies and they outsource their business. Do you do that also?
A. No I officiate and my husband photographs my weddings. The only time I would not officiate is if I was already booked for that day and time. If I already have that day and time booked I will give you the option to have a different officiant. I work only with one other officiant and very close friend so I know you will be in good hands.
Q. How do we book our wedding?
A. Once you have confirmed that we are available for your event - we require the appropriate deposit/ payment for the services requested. We will send you a contract for wedding services that needs to be signed and returned with the payment.
NOTE- We require 1/2 of the total amount of contract to reserve the day and time. The remainder of the fee is due 30 days before the wedding date.
Q. What form of payment do you accept?
A. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, Cash, Checks; and Money Orders.
Q. Are you licensed and insured?
A. Yes! Any "legal" wedding company should be able to provide a copy of City/ County Occupational licenses, as well as liability insurance certificate. Any companies or individuals, using Florida State Park Recreational facilities as well as other venues for weddings and/ or receptions may need to show proof of liability insurance. This includes, and not limited to, wedding decoration, rental companies, DJs, caterers, etc. Our insurance does not cover any decorations or services other than what is provided by An Unforgettable Wedding.
Q. Do you charge extra for consultations?
A. No. Some companies charge a fee for this service but we do not. We feel its really important to get acquainted with our couples so we can make sure their wedding day is truly unforgettable.
Q. Do we get to choose our vows or write our own?
A. Absolutely! Once the contract and payment is received a packet of vows will be given to you for you to choose from. You may also write your own if you wish.
Q. Do you choose the location?
A. The location is your choice. Rental and beach wedding permit fees are NOT included in any of our packages. If your chosen location requires a permit we can provide that for you for an additional fee.
Q. Should I do a sunset wedding or sunrise beach wedding?
A. A sunset wedding is often more fun, as you’ve had the whole day to prepare for it, and after the ceremony you are able to get some fantastic photos, and afterwards its always easy to go to an evening dinner or reception. During the summertime, we highly recommend a wedding around sunrise or sunset with 10am to 4pm being the hottest part of the day – and dehydration and heat stroke can occur. We have a great climate, but do have some months when it is cold or very hot and humid.
Q. Do I need a permit to get married on the beach?
A. There are some State Parks, and some locations that now charge a permit fee. For most beaches, the beach is free and open to the public. You just need to make sure you are not set up on the property of beachfront condos or a beach house without permission first.
If it’s just the two of you, a photographer, and an officiant - you're probably not going to have any trouble anywhere. However, if you plan to bring 40 guests, set up tables and chairs, fire up a DJ, and start serving drinks - you may need a special use permit.
Another thing to keep in mind is use of hotel grounds and beaches. Again, as a paying hotel guest you generally have free run of the grounds, so if it's just the two of you, you are probably fine (but it's always common courtesy to ask). But don't plan on using the hotel courtyard or even the beach for a large group without going through the hotel first.
Q. Will there be people on the beach during our wedding?
A. The beaches are first come first serve. Unfortunately you cannot block off any section of the beach. We suggest you have your ceremony close to sunset. By this time most of the beach goers will have packed up headed home for the day.
Q. Can we serve alcohol at our beach wedding?
A. No! Alcohol is not permitted on the public beaches.
Q. We are going to have tiki torches as decoration. Can they be lit?
A. That would be a beautiful touch to any wedding but unfortunately they cannot be lit.
Q. What should I do in case it rains or the weather is bad?
A. You should have a backup plan already set in place. We suggest that your backup location is within 5 miles of your location. This way your quests will not need to travel far and your wedding is not delayed too much. Worst case scenerio we can break out the umbrellas or change the day.
PLEASE NOTE Refunds are NOT given due to bad weather.
Q. When will you arrive the day of my wedding?
On your wedding day I will arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your ceremony. You won't have to remember anything - it's just "Repeat after me." You can be completely in the moment, enjoying your special day.
