How to Get Married on Anna Maria Island
You dream of getting married on a white, sandy beach with the golden sun setting on the horizon, and Anna Maria Island in Florida seems like the perfect setting. Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be if you do your research and plan ahead. Not only will you need to choose a date and a location, but you'll need to book other wedding services as well to make your day special. Learn how to get married on Anna Maria Island, and have the wedding you've always dreamed of.
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Instructions
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Decide what type of ceremony you'd like to have for your Anna Maria Island wedding---civil, religious or nondenominational. Search for and book an officiant on Anna Maria Island to perform your ceremony and seal your vows.
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Plan the time of year you want to have your wedding. Daytime temperatures on Anna Maria Island range from 71.2 to 90.9 degrees. High season is between January and April, and the warmest months are June through September.
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A beach wedding is a romantic way to start your new life together. Choose which beach on Anna Maria Island you'd like to get married on. Popular beaches are Coquina, Cortez, Bradenton, Manatee, Holmes and Anna Maria. Coquina Beach is the most popular, Holmes Beach offers a quiet setting and Anna Maria Beach is fairly remote. Learn about each beach by visiting bestbeaches.org/annamariaislandbeaches/.
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A marriage license in Florida is required. Get a valid marriage license from the Manatee, Florida Circuit Court clerk's office or from any other county in Florida. You can also save time by filling out an online application at clerkofcircuitcourt.com.
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Book a hotel or resort, a photographer, a florist, a band or DJ and a caterer from reputable Anna Maria Island vendors. Ask for references. Talk to people who've used their services before, and avoid booking services based only on information on their websites. Make sure that you know the costs up front, and get contracts in writing.
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A municipal permit is required in certain circumstances. Contact the local police department to apply for a municipal permit if you're going to have a large wedding with a band, if you need lots of parking or if you'll be renting tents or putting up other structures. Small weddings without all the extra frills don't require a permit.
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Tips & Warnings
Blood tests are not required to get married on Anna Maria Island.
Book your wedding early if you want to get married between January and April.
Ask your hotel concierge for recommendations for wedding services on Anna Maria Island.
Wedding service prices can fluctuate on Anna Maria Island depending on the season.
Check with your airline ahead of time to find out how to transport your wedding gown.
Avoid wedding vendors who don't have a tax identification number. That means they're cheating the state out of sales tax.
Stay away from fly-by-night vendors who work out of their car or who don't have a physical address.
Book all of your services early to avoid potential problems on your wedding day.
Anyone younger than 16 who doesn't have parental consent can't get married on Anna Maria Island.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit beach wedding image by chinatiger from Fotolia.com beach image by Amjad Shihab from Fotolia.com the marriage image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com permis image by JMDZ from Fotolia.com
