March 4, 2025
Nobody told you that Florida has crystal-clear springs that look straight out of a National Geographic shoot. That you could exchange vows on a sailboat at golden hour off the Gulf Coast, or wander cobblestone streets in the oldest city in America with just the two of you and a camera. That Universal Studios is a real, legitimate option. That a courthouse elopement in downtown Orlando can be one of the most badass, most personal things you’ve ever done.
Florida elopements are not “sunset on a crowded beach or nothing.” Not even close.
I’m Shannon, a Florida-based elopement photographer and planner who has helped couples elope across 36 countries and 47 national parks. I live and shoot here. I know the permits, the timing, the hidden spots, and every single backup plan when the weather decides to be Florida about it. This is your full guide to the best places to elope in Florida in 2026, so you can stop scrolling and start actually planning.
Why Florida Is One of the Best Places to Elope in the Country
People sleep on Florida. They picture spring break crowds and tourist traps and they write it off. But Florida has genuine wilderness. Ancient springs. Miles of undeveloped coastline. Historic architecture that rivals anything in Europe. A city skyline that hits different at sunset from the water.
The best part? Florida has year-round elopement weather. No snowstorm is going to close a national park on you. No frozen toes, no icy roads. You pick a date in January, you’re getting 70 degrees and blue skies. Try that in Colorado.
The best places to elope in Florida span from lush subtropical forests and mineral springs to open ocean and old-world city streets. Here’s how to think through your options.
The Central Florida Springs: Your Secret Weapon
If you haven’t seen the natural springs of Central Florida, you’re missing the most underrated landscape in this entire state. Crystal-clear water in shades of blue and green that don’t look real. Ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. A stillness that makes you feel like the rest of the world stopped for a minute.
This is consistently my number one recommendation for couples who want something genuinely different for their Florida elopement.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Located just north of Orlando, Wekiwa Springs is one of my absolute favorite elopement locations in Central Florida. You’ve got the spring run, the old-growth trees, the wildlife. Depending on your vibe, you can exchange vows in a cathedral of oak canopy or right at the water’s edge. After the ceremony, swim. Kayak. Spot a turtle or a black bear. This isn’t just a photo location. It’s an experience.
Blue Spring State Park
If you’re eloping between November and March, Blue Spring is a must-mention. Manatees gather here in the warm spring water during the cooler months, and watching them drift below the surface while you stand on the boardwalk is genuinely one of those Florida moments you can’t manufacture anywhere else. The surrounding landscape of the St. Johns River is beautiful for portraits too.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
A little further north, Ichetucknee is worth the drive. The river winds through the park past swimming holes, hardwood hammocks, and wildlife like otters and beavers. Couples who want a tubing adventure built into their elopement day? This is your place.
St. Augustine: History, Architecture, and Actual Romance
St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. It has narrow cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, and a coastline that backs right up to centuries of history. It’s also, in my strong opinion, one of the most underutilized elopement locations in the entire state.
This is for the couple who wants something that feels distinctly different. Old world. Textured. Something you’d expect to find in Europe, not Florida.
Castillo de San Marcos
A 17th-century Spanish fortress overlooking Matanzas Bay. The coquina stone walls, the cannon mounts, the view across the water. This is one of those locations where you show up and the photos take care of themselves. Ceremony at the fortress, then you walk the old city streets, pop into a coffee shop, wander. No rush. No production.
The Historic District and St. George Street
St. George Street is pedestrian-only, which means no cars cutting through your portraits. The surrounding streets are full of lush courtyards and gardens tucked between buildings that have been standing for three hundred years. This is hands-down one of the best places to elope in Florida if you care about architecture and atmosphere.
Florida’s Beaches: Where and How to Do It Right
Yes, the beaches. Of course the beaches. But let’s be specific, because “Florida beach elopement” covers everything from a packed resort strip to a deserted barrier island where you won’t see another soul.
The Gulf Coast: Siesta Key and Sanibel Island
The Gulf Coast beaches are something else. The sand on Siesta Key is quartz-white and cool to the touch even in summer. The water is calm and turquoise. Because the Gulf is to the west, you’re getting the most incredible sunsets. These are the photos people stare at.
Sanibel Island is a little more secluded, a little more wild. Shelling beaches, wildlife refuges, no high-rise hotels blocking the horizon. If you want the beach without the crowd, Sanibel is the answer.
The Florida Keys
Paradise is a word that gets overused. The Florida Keys have actually earned it. Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, each island has its own energy and its own look. The water is turquoise going into blue going into deep teal. If you want to incorporate snorkeling or a sunset sail or even an underwater ceremony (yes, I’m scuba certified and I will absolutely shoot that), the Keys are your place.
I’ve been to 36 countries. The Florida Keys hold their own.
A Sailboat Elopement Off the Coast
This one is worth its own mention because it’s that good. Chartering a sailboat and eloping on the open water is something couples don’t think of until someone suggests it, and then they can’t imagine doing anything else. No backdrop. No competing noise. Just the two of you, the ocean, the horizon. Golden hour on a sailboat off the Florida coast hits differently.
Urban Elopements: The City Options That Actually Deliver
Not every couple wants a forest or a beach. Some couples want a city. A skyline. A bar with good cocktails immediately following. Florida has that too.
Downtown Tampa
The Tampa Riverwalk gives you waterfront views and the city skyline from the water’s edge. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park puts green space right against the urban grid. Ybor City, just a few miles away, brings historic brick streets, murals, and a neighborhood energy that makes for genuinely interesting portraits. Tampa elopements work especially well for couples who want to build a full day around the city: ceremony, food, music, whatever you love most.
A Theme Park or Resort Elopement
Universal Studios Orlando and the surrounding resort hotels are legitimate elopement venue options. You can work with Universal directly to incorporate themed spaces into your day, and the surrounding resort hotels have incredible grounds for portraits. Walt Disney World’s resort properties are similarly available for photography. This is for the couple who met at a theme park, who has been going together for years, who wants their most personal place worked into their most personal day.
Bold move. Best move.
The Courthouse Elopement
Courthouse elopements get underestimated constantly. Here’s the thing: the courthouse is just the paperwork. The day is whatever you build around it. Grab your license in the morning, then spend the rest of the day doing exactly what you love. Downtown Orlando. Brunch. A bookstore. A brewery. Somewhere that’s yours.
One of my favorite elopements ever ended at a Waffle House. The first dance was in the parking lot. The photos are incredible and the couple cries every time they look at them. Do what’s actually you.
Design Your Full Elopement Day. Seriously.
Here’s something I want every couple reading this to actually hear: this is your wedding day. Not just your ceremony. The whole day.
The elopement couples who end up with the photos and memories they treasure most are the ones who treated the whole day like an event. They built in things they genuinely love to do together. A picnic on the spring run. Kayaking before the ceremony. Getting on bikes and riding to a slurpee. Going to their favorite fast food joint still in their wedding clothes. Whatever would bring you two the most joy on any given day together, that’s what your elopement day should look like.
The photos from those moments? The ones between the vows and the sunset portraits? Those are often the ones that get framed.
When I help plan an elopement, we don’t just talk about ceremony location. We talk about the whole arc of the day. What do you love? What makes you feel most like yourselves? What would make you look at the calendar a year from now and feel something? That’s what we build.
Florida gives you so many tools to work with. Crystal springs you can kayak through. Beaches you can walk barefoot. A city with a rooftop bar and a skyline. A sailboat. A theme park. A fortress from 1695. A courthouse with good coffee three blocks away.
The best places to elope in Florida are wherever you’re most yourselves.
Ready to Plan Your Florida Elopement?
I handle the permits, the timeline, the backup plans, the vendor recommendations, the location guides, and every logistical detail that would otherwise keep you up at night. You show up, you get married, you actually live it.
All Florida elopement packages include my Full Planning Experience. No extra charge. No navigating it alone. If you’re ready to start, reach out here.
FAQ: The Best Places to Elope in Florida
Do I need a permit to elope in Florida state parks?
Yes, most Florida state parks require a permit for ceremonies, and some have restrictions on group size or specific locations within the park. The requirements vary by park and by date. This is one of the things I handle as part of the planning process for every elopement client, so you never have to figure it out yourself.
What time of year is best for a Florida elopement?
October through April is the sweet spot. Temperatures are in the 65-80 degree range, humidity drops significantly, and you’re out of hurricane season. That said, Florida summers can absolutely work with the right timing. Sunrise elopements in July are stunning, and afternoon storms typically clear by evening. I build weather backup plans into every elopement for exactly this reason.
Can we elope in Florida without a lot of guests?
That’s the whole point. Florida elopements can be truly just the two of you, or you can have a small handful of people who matter most. No catering minimums, no venue head counts, no pressure. You define what intimate means to you.
What’s the most unique place to elope in Florida?
The Central Florida springs are consistently the answer I give to couples who want something genuinely different. Wekiwa Springs especially. Crystal-clear water, ancient oaks, wildlife, and a landscape that doesn’t look like anything most people picture when they think “Florida.” A sailboat elopement off the Gulf Coast is a close second.
How far in advance should we book an elopement photographer in Florida?
For popular locations and peak dates (fall and spring especially), 6-12 months out is ideal. That said, I do take last-minute bookings when the calendar allows. Reach out with your date and let’s see what we can do.
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