There are many wonderful new things newlyweds receive following their wedding. Presents, wedding rings, a new last name, just to name a few. One thing newlyweds don’t want to acquire is a load of wedding debt. Traditional wedding expenses can leave couples drowning in debt before even walking the aisle, and that’s not even counting your honeymoon. Is a destination wedding any cheaper? The answer is yes, it can be if you choose wisely and stay in the USA. Two of the most popular destinations are Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. In fact, Tripadvisor has named St. Pete Beach the top beach in America for 2021! So let’s talk these beautiful Tampa Bay beaches and how to have a Florida Beach Wedding on a budget. Do the words affordable budget and wedding planning even belong in the same sentence? Yes!
$ Crunch the Numbers $
Before beginning any planning, do your homework. What is your budget? Planning Clearwater Beach Weddings on a budget can mean different things for different couples. However, even if you have the slimmest of funds, a little creativity and a small beach wedding package can work together for the beach ceremony of your dreams. Once you’ve established your bottom line budget, it’s time to get to planning the best Florida beach wedding!
Consider Your Costs
Think of all the non-negotiable items involved in your Florida Beach Wedding Budget. It’s a common mistake to skip right to the wedding planning and neglect travel and lodging costs. So avoid any sneaky, costly, surprises with your wedding budget by considering the following expenses. There’s a great tool to get an estimated cost calculator for traveling. And with Clearwater Beach near Tampa Bay, you can get even more accurate budget costs by city.
Travel Expenses
Flying? Driving? Check out travel costs, bearing in mind calendar dates may cause variations in price. Websites, like Trip Advisor, allow you to search for by date, airport, and travel preferences. Driving? Google Maps allows you to type in your location and destination for mileage estimates and food, hotel, etc. along the way. Right now, air travel is more affordable than ever and passengers named Tampa as one of North America’s most hygienic airports!
Lodging
The average cost for a hotel in Florida is around $100-$200/night. Of course, you can find more budget friendly places or live the luxurious life and go all out. So that’s a starting point. Again, check out the cost calculator by city to get a better idea. The Tampa Bay area offers so many choices that it’s easy to find your preferred type of accommodations. Check out the Holiday Inn Harbourside an ideal location for couples that want to enjoy an all-inclusive Clearwater Beach wedding venue since you can book a wedding reception there too. Want beachfront? The 3 Palms Retreat is an ideal location for an entire bridal party. This rental property has beautiful views of the ocean. What makes this house even more extraordinary is the separation of the main house and the duplex: it provides separate areas to get ready before the wedding. It can be less expensive than you think for family and friends when sharing.
Food
This is a budget point that will sneak up on you before you know it. The average cost for food is $44/day! However, finding a hotel with a kitchen/kitchenette can cut down on that price substantially. So if you’re on a tight budget, add a hotel room kitchen to your must have list and you can save hundreds on food. If you are planning a beach wedding reception you will have to add that to your budget as well.
Entertainment
The great thing about Florida Beach Weddings on a budget is you have built in free entertainment- the Gulf beach! So a bathing suit and sunscreen could be your only expense here. The sun and sea are priceless especially on the white sand of Clearwater Beach! But if you’re looking to hit up a concert, visit a theme park, book a fishing charter, or other fun Florida activity, consider those costs as you plan.
Wedding Dress & Accessories
Bridal gowns and suits vary greatly in price. Some of the pricier gowns can be in the thousands, but the great thing about a Florida Beach Wedding is the laid back atmosphere. That means lots of options for the bridal dress code. Love Boho or a short wedding dress? You can find a casual beach wedding dress for less than $100. Or check your local swip swap and resale stores if you are set on that traditional wedding dress without breaking the bank. Same goes for the groom. A nice pair of khakis and white button down fits right in on the beach and your budget.
Invitations
In an age where technology is king, the e-vite is a perfectly suitable and cost efficient means of inviting guests for your Clearwater Beach wedding on a budget. That should cover just about all the non-negotiable wedding costs. So now, let’s move onto your big day.. choosing your budget friendly wedding package.
Wedding Package
Now that you’ve calculated costs for all the “other” wedding planning items, it’s time for the best part! Florida Beach Wedding Packages! Florida Beach Weddings offers intimate elopement packages all the way to upscale beach wedding packages! Everything you need for your special day is provided. Some packages even include our professional wedding photography, like the Beach Beginnings package pictured here.
The next step is to visit our complete Wedding Packages page and find your perfect wedding day set up. Our Beach Wedding Specialists are waiting to help you. Complete package prices start at $699 and go up to around $2,500. You show up to the beach with your marriage license and Florida Beach Weddings does the rest. Best of all our family and friends operated beach wedding company handles the setup and breakdown. You don’t have to lift a “ring finger”.
“I Do!”
Now that you have a clear budget outline, it’s time to make the “free” decisions. Wedding date, specific location, vow choices, color schemes…Contact us today to start planning the Florida Beach Wedding of your dreams.