Florida is a state full of surprises. As someone who has trained specifically in underwater photography in Florida and in Floridian scenery, I can safely say that it isn’t like any other state in the US. From the Everglades to the Keys, the vibe here is unique and unmistakable, which makes it an amazing place to elope full of one-of-a-kind activities.
One of the best places to elope in Florida is Key West, which is the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys and of the United States! This is as close to tropical as you can get without leaving the mainland. Think dream vacation vibes with teal water, palm trees, blue skies, and white sand beaches.
Florida is also home to more variety than you’d think, including some of the coolest and most unique national parks! If you love the ocean or the landscapes of the south and want to elope somewhere special, you’ll find tons to explore in Florida. I’m including my list below of some of my favorites around the state!
(Want to take the search into your own hands? Check out my interactive map! Search and filter to your hearts content with nearly 600 locations. Click here to be taken directly there!)
The Florida Keys, Florida
The Florida Keys are a well-known spot for vacationers all over the world—including folks looking to get married or celebrate their honeymoon. The islands are rich with palms, coral reefs, white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the kind of picturesque tropical beauty it’s hard to imagine without being there. Visit a sea turtle hospital, go to the top of the Key West lighthouse, and eat key lime pie instead of wedding cake. There are seaside bungalows on every key, so you won’t have a hard time finding a place that feels special to stay in.
Best for: Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Snorkeling
Everglades National Park, Florida
The Everglades are an ode to swamp life and ecosystems. This is a super easy park to get to from Miami! Guided tours are a great way to experience this park and get to relax with your partner and take in the scenery. If you’re an astrology fan, it may be worth it to elope here in the month of April when the annual Everglades Dark Sky Celebration is going on. There are also canoe and kayak trails here that will let you explore the nearly ⅓ of the park that’s made of water on your own, at your own pace.
Best for: Coast, Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking
Wedding permit details are available from the National Parks Service at Everglades National Park
Miami, Florida
If you’re looking for tropical vibes with lots of city-life amenities, Miami is calling you. Packed full of gorgeous beaches, an incredible culinary and arts scene, vibrant nightlife, and endless activities, Miami holds so much in one easily accessible location! Avoid fall here during hurricane season, but pop by the rest of the year for warm sand and temperate waters with a distinct cultural flair. And with Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park nearby, you can get a taste of all that Florida has to offer in one trip.
Best for: City. Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Helicopter, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a barrier island saddled between the city of mainland Miami and the Atlantic Ocean, forming the beautiful Biscayne Bay. With wide sandy beaches right next to towering high-rise buildings, Miami Beach delivers on both paradise and city vibes. It’s also so easy to have a luxury elopement here—you can stay in any of many resorts that will make every second of your stay feel like your honeymoon after you’re done with spending your day Michelin dining, taking in the arts, and sunbathing. Nearby Biscayne National Park offers a great chance to reconnect with nature whenever you’re ready.
Best for: City. Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Helicopter, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Biscayne National Park, Florida
Biscayne is a great park pick if you’re looking for mangrove lined waterways and great coral reefs. Most of the sights that there are to see are in the water, with 95% of the park being made of it. The Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail is a divers paradise made up of six different shipwrecks. Or go snorkeling over one of the largest reefs in the world and experience the colors of the fish, coral, and other sea life! You can camp here on two keys only accessible by boat to get a full retreat from real life.
Best for: Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Snorkeling, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Wedding permit details are available from the National Parks Service at Biscayne National Park
Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach has been called ‘The Hamptons of the South’ by multiple publications for a reason. Picture stunning Spanish architecture, gorgeous beaches, and streets filled with fine art and dining. This would be a perfect fit for the couple who wants to relax and soak in the beachside vibes but also make sure that their elopement makes them feel truly celebrated. What better location than one that so many people use for their honeymoon? There’s plenty to do here, from high-quality golf courses to manatee encounters, you can make the exact day you want.
Best for: City, Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
This is one of the top ten least visited national parks, but once you get there, you’ll see that’s got nothing to do with what Dry Tortugas has going on. It’s because this park can only be accessed by seaplane or ferry from Key West… which sounds like a pretty great elopement day activity, if you ask me. You can camp here, snorkel, explore historic Loggerhead Key, take a kayaking tour, and walk along the moat wall of Fort Jefferson. You can also night dive here under the stars.
Best for: Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Seaplane/Floatplane, Boating, Hiking, Snorkeling
Wedding permit details are available from the National Parks Service at Dry Tortugas National Park
Key West, Florida
This is Florida at its most idyllic. Key West is the southernmost tip of the chain of islands known as the Florida Keys, giving you a distinct separation from the mainland while still being accessible. Here you’ll find turquoise waters, towering palms, white sands, and incredible sunsets. The island is lively, colorful, and vibrant, and you’ll be spoiled with options for things to do! The snorkeling and scuba diving around the coral reefs here is next level. If you’re a sea life lover, this is also a prime spot to see dolphins and sea turtles. An elopement here would have the perfect relaxed, tropical beach vacation vibe. Added bonus: this is a great jumping off point for Dry Tortugas National Park.
Best for: Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Snorkeling
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Florida
Located close to the mainland, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a great way to get super scenic views for your elopement without straying far from Miami. Due to its proximity to the city, this beach can get crowded, but it’s worth venturing during an off-time for the fine white sands, teal waters, and tall lighthouse. Palm trees line paths through the park and are great to bike on. Or you can get out on the water and boat camp or kayak. There are waterfront restaurants and other dining options in the park, which makes it super easy to enter for your elopement and not have to leave until you’re done for the day!
Best for: Beach, Coast, Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Hiking, Kayaking
Wedding permit details are available by contacting Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Silver Springs State Park, Florida
Silver Springs State Park is super famous for their glass bottom boat tours! Get a guided tour and peer down through the glass floor in the middle of the boat at manatees and other wildlife in the turquoise waters below. This is the site of one of the biggest freshwater springs in the world, so the nature in this area is no joke.
Best for: Forest, Springs
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Hiking
Wedding permit details are available by contacting Silver Springs State Park
Blowing Rocks Preserve, Florida
So called because of the epic sea spray against ancient limestone rocks, Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island is a natural wonder. If you’re looking for a reason to head to Florida in the winter, you’re in luck—this area is at its best during the rougher waters of the winter season, sometimes sending plumes of water up to 50 ft in the air. The dune trails through the preserve are perfect for a ceremony, forming natural arches and aisles through sea grape leaves. This is also a nesting site for four different species of sea turtles!
Best for: Coast, Beach, Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Destin, Florida
Destin is situated in the Florida Panhandle, which means the beaches here give you access to the warm, bright blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With the contrast against the white sands of the shores, you’ll think you’re in a wildly different locale than Florida. Boat tours are super popular here understandably—from dolphin cruises, to glass bottom boats, to paddle boards. If you visit Henderson Beach State Park, you can get dunes and stunning campgrounds right by the water. This is a great beach town to choose for your elopement if you’re hoping for gorgeous beaches but with a lively atmosphere!
Best for: Coast, Beach, City, Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking
Saint Augustine, Florida
Founded in 1565, the history of St. Augustine goes back for centuries, giving it a grounded and deep-rooted feeling in a state that has changed so many times. This is such a unique city—kind of like Colonial Williamsburg on the beach. Take a guided tour on a golf cart, boat, bike, or led by ghost experts to have a fun way to relax and take it all in on your wedding day! Locations like the lighthouse and Anastasia State Park have great backgrounds for your photos.
Best for: Coast, Beach, City
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Kayaking
Saint Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg and nearby St. Pete Beach are two halves of the same incredibly enjoyable coin. This is a quieter area than Tampa while still having access to all of the beauty that comes with Tampa Bay. This is a super vibrant city that is a great choice for anyone who wants to make their day stand out or wants unique photos from their elopement. You can stay at the Don CeSar, known for its bright pink walls. If you love art, you can make the Salvador Dalí museum, glass art museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts a stop. State parks, nature preserves, arboretums and gardens, and animal sanctuaries are plentiful here, too!
Best for: Coast, Beach, City, Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking
Lake Louisa State Park, Florida
It’s sort of hard to believe that Lake Louisa looks how it does while still being located so close to Orlando. Its trails are perfect for hiking and biking and the lake is a perfect place to kayak! Get married under a huge tree dripping with moss on the edge of the lake, go for a horseback ride down wetland trails, have a picnic lunch under the shade of an oak tree, and then end your day at a glamping set up for a getaway that still feels celebratory. You can get beaches, lilypad dotted lakes, and winding trails through ancient trees all at the same park, kind of like a one-size-fits-all for Florida nature.
Best for: Beach, Forest, Lake
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Kayaking
Wedding permit details are available by contacting Lake Louisa State Park
Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel and its attached sister, Captiva, are beautiful crescent islands off the western coast of Florida. A Sanibel elopement could be super special given how small the island is at just 15 miles long and 5 miles wide. This area is known for its brightly colored sea shells—waking up early, sinking your feet in the sand, picking out special shells with your partner and then getting them made into commemorative jewelry would be such a special elopement activity.
Best for: Beach, Forest, City
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating
Florida is ancient, beautiful, and totally distinct. But if it’s not what you’re looking for or you need more information on what locations like these have to offer, I’ve made a map to help you out! Browse through nearly 600 locations from all over the world while using filters like scenery, season, and activity so that you can get a list that’s tailored to your tastes.
I’m here to help—I’m ready to bring my years of travel and photography experience to your day to turn your dream day into a concrete plan with the best timing, locations, and activities. Leave your elopement day in the hands of a permit pro so that you can stop worrying and start enjoying!
Click here to be taken to my contact form and send me a message so that we can get to planning! I can’t wait to talk to you.
