A Florida beach wedding costs anywhere from about $1,500 for a small ceremony to $15,000 or more for a full wedding with a reception, and most small Destin and 30A beach ceremonies come in at about $2,500 to $3,200 through a package company. The beach itself can be almost free. The costs are everything around it: the permit, the officiant, chairs and an arch, flowers, photography, and above all the reception. Here’s the line-by-line picture for the Gulf Coast, so you can build a real budget.
I’m Korbin, the photographer and videographer behind KDH Weddings, covering the coast from Mobile to 30A. I’m one line on this list, not a beach wedding package company, so this is the whole budget laid out honestly, with my own prices where they belong.
Florida beach wedding cost: the ranges
| Size | Typical guests | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elopement package | 2–10 | $300–$1,500 | Florida Weddings (2025) |
| Destin & 30A beach ceremony package | small groups | $1,500–$4,000; most couples $2,500–$3,200 | Seas the Day (Jan 2026) |
| Mid-size beach wedding | 20–50 | $2,000–$8,000 | Florida Weddings (2025) |
| Large beach wedding | 50–100+ | $8,000–$15,000+ | Florida Weddings (2025) |
| 30A beach-house wedding weekend | large group | $45,000–$80,000 all-in (with lodging, catering, rentals) | The Wedding Dossier (Aug 2026) |
The package prices cover the ceremony: the officiant, setup, an arch, chairs and coordination, sometimes with basic photos. The big numbers come from adding a reception, lodging and full-day coverage.
The line items
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Florida marriage license | $86 (about $61 with a premarital course) | Any Florida county clerk. Valid 60 days. |
| Beach permit | $0 to about $1,000 | It depends on the county and guest count (see below). |
| Officiant | Often a few hundred dollars | In Florida a notary can marry you. |
| Ceremony setup (arch, chairs, aisle, sound) | Often included in packages | Rentals must come off the beach right after the ceremony. |
| Flowers | $175 to $2,500+ | Bouquet only, up to full ceremony florals. |
| Photography | $1,500 to $4,500 with me (3, 6 or 9 hours) | Package-company photos are often 1 hour. More in the Florida photographer cost guide. |
| Videography | $1,500 to $4,500 with me; 10% off both when the hours match | More in what wedding videography costs. |
| Reception | The biggest variable | From a restaurant dinner to a catered beach house. |
| Rain backup | $0 to a pavilion or venue fee | Don’t skip it from June to September. My rain plan guide |
| Buffer | 10–15% | For the things nobody lists. |
Beach permit costs by area
| Area | Permit for a small ceremony |
|---|---|
| Pensacola Beach public beach | Small, simple ceremonies are low-paperwork. Details in my Pensacola Beach permit guide. |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore (Fort Pickens, Opal Beach, Johnson Beach) | NPS special use permit (at least 2 weeks’ notice), plus $25 per car entry. |
| Navarre Beach Marine Park | No ceremony permit for a small, simple wedding. Pavilions rent from Santa Rosa County. |
| Okaloosa County beaches (Okaloosa Island) | No permit under 50 people. |
| City of Destin beach parks | Permits for groups of 20+, limited to certain parks. |
| Walton County / 30A public beaches | Required for every wedding. Visit South Walton lists $150 for up to 30 guests, up to $1,000 for 76+. |
| Florida state parks | Contact the park. They run their own permits and fees. |
| Gulf Shores, AL | No weddings on public beaches. Gulf State Park pavilion or beach areas need a permit. |
Couples apply for their own permits (or their planner does). The fees change, so confirm the current figure with the county before you budget.
Is it cheaper to have a beach wedding?
Usually, for the ceremony. There’s no venue fee for the sand, and a small group needs little setup. It stops being cheaper once you add a reception venue, lodging for a whole group or a rented beach house. The best-value beach weddings I see are small: a beach ceremony, then dinner at a restaurant or a rented house, with 3 to 6 hours of photography.
Four ways to spend less
- Pick a no-permit or low-permit beach. Navarre Beach Marine Park and Okaloosa County beaches are the simplest. Where to elope on the Gulf Coast
- Go on a weekday. Florida Weddings puts Tuesday to Thursday ceremonies at 15–30% less than weekends.
- Choose the shoulder season. Late October, November and March are quieter, with fewer peak-date prices.
- Put the money where it lasts. Keep the decor simple and spend on photos and video, the only things you’ll still have in 20 years.
Sample budgets
| Elopement (2–10 guests) | Small beach wedding (30 guests) | Full beach wedding (100 guests) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| License and permit | $86–$250 | $86–$300 | $86–$1,000 |
| Officiant and setup | $300–$1,500 package | $1,500–$4,000 package | $3,000+ |
| Flowers | $175 | $500–$1,500 | $2,500+ |
| Photography (KDH) | $1,500 (3 hrs) | $3,000 (6 hrs, second shooter) | $4,500 (9 hrs, second shooter) |
| Video (KDH, optional) | +$1,200 with the 10% bundle | +$2,400 with the 10% bundle | +$3,600 with the 10% bundle |
| Reception | Dinner out | Restaurant or house | Venue and catering |
| Rough total before the reception | about $2,000–$3,500 | about $5,000–$9,000 | $10,000+ |
The video figures are what video adds once 10% comes off the combined package: for example, 3 hours of photo and video is $2,700 instead of $3,000.
FAQ: Florida beach wedding costs
How much is a beach wedding in Florida?
From about $1,500 for a small ceremony package to $15,000 or more with a reception. Small Destin and 30A beach ceremonies through a package company mostly cost $2,500 to $3,200.
Can I get married on the beach for free in Florida?
Almost. Some beaches need no paid permit for a small, simple ceremony (Navarre Beach Marine Park, Okaloosa County beaches under 50 people). You’ll still pay for the $86 license and usually an officiant.
Can I legally get married on a beach in Florida?
Yes, with a Florida marriage license and an officiant, on any beach that allows ceremonies. Some beaches need a permit and some private beaches need the owner’s permission.
Is $5,000 enough for a beach wedding?
For an elopement or a small beach wedding, yes: a ceremony package, flowers and 3 to 6 hours of photography fit. For 100 guests with a reception, it usually isn’t.
Where is the cheapest place to get married on the beach in Florida?
On the Panhandle, Navarre Beach Marine Park and the Okaloosa Island county beaches, because there’s no permit for a small ceremony and access is free.
Do beach wedding packages include a photographer?
Many include a short session, often an hour. If you want getting ready, family photos and golden-hour portraits, book a photographer for 3 hours or more. Sources: Florida Weddings 2025 price guide; Seas the Day Beach Weddings (30 January 2026); The Wedding Dossier (4 August 2026); Walton County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, City of Destin and City of Gulf Shores permit information; Florida clerk license fee. KDH prices as of September 2026.
