What areas do you service?
We are located in North West Florida called the panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico servicing Destin, Sandestin, Crystal Beach, Miramar, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Seagrove Beach, Panama City Beach, Walton County, Okaloosa County and all points in between.
Where is your office located and what are your working hours?
We are fortunate to be able to work from our homes so we do not have an outside office. We will meet with you at your hotel/condo or at the beach location site for your convenience. We also meet at the office of Barefoot Weddings, our parent company, in Fort Walton Beach. Our business phone is a cell phone and we typically take phone calls between 9am and 9pm central standard time. If you do not reach us right away, we are usually on the phone with another hopeful couple so please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. You can also email at any time at enchantedbeachweddings@gmail.com.
What do we do first?
First, call 850-502-6838 or e-mail enchantedbeachweddings@gmail.com for your desired wedding date and time availability as soon as possible......
we will "pencil" you in for that date for 72 hours.......you do not have to wait until you have your accommodations secured because we can set the location at any time.....sometimes it will take longer for you to find where you want to stay than to book the ceremony with us
Keep in mind that Friday & Saturday sunset ceremonies are the first to be booked .
We will be able to provide you the sunset time for the date upon your inquiry.
Once the date and time availability is confirmed -- pick the package you are interested in and pay the Deposit that is required with that package.....this will save your date and time. Deposits are non-refundable if you cancel your event but will apply to postponements. Please read our Terms and Conditions We accept personal checks, money orders, and credit cards.
After the payment is received, a contract will be sent to you via email or mail along with other information regarding the ceremony. You will receive a ceremony format with examples of music selection, a packet of vows to choose from, marriage license information as well as directions to the courthouse and offices.
You may call or email as often as you like with your questions and concerns.
As the date approaches we will contact you about a week ahead of time to set up an appointment to meet with you the day before your ceremony for the "final consultation". At that time you may bring your marriage license, we will go over the ceremony, review any vows that were chosen, and finalize any other details. Feel free to bring friends and family if you want. This is not a formal rehearsal. You can schedule a formal rehearsal if you like for an extra fee.
Tell me about your packages and what you offer.
Enchanted Beach Weddings is a ceremony wedding planner. We strive to provide you with a stress free environment by handling all the aspects of your wedding ceremony on the beach. All of our packages provide you with our standard services such as:
*A heart and aisle mounded in the sand as your alter area
*An Officiate performing our beach ceremony which includes
*A Wedding Day Director to help facilitate everything from start to finish (this may be the officiate or separate person at times)
*Legal Filing of marriage license
*Photography
*Free 60 day Online Photo sharing/ordering
(please note the KISS package is the Officiate and ceremony only)
Our decorations proudly are one of a kind. The original White Lily Arch, Tropical Arch, Rose Arch, and Bamboo Tripods were designed by Barefoot Weddings in Fort Walton Beach and we are proud to be a licensed company. Although many have tried to replicate the designs, nothing can compare to the detail and beauty of our set ups out on the beach. Many people comment on how beautiful we compare to others that are seen on the beach. All the flowers used on the arches are high end silk and every arch is constantly refurbished to keep a fresh clean look. We will not fall short on the amount of flowers or ferns used to decorate with. There are many "trade secrets" used to ensure that everything stays put even with the strongest of winds. You will have confidence in knowing that all you have to do is arrive ready to say "I do".
We do offer other services if you choose for us to do so. We can provide chairs, music, bouquets, additional decorations, catering, reception decorating, ect. Just take a look at the packages page at the ceremony enhancements to see what we offer.
Do you provide reception services?
We are now providing Catering services for your reception. We will decorate your buffet table. It is your responsibility to find your reception venue. We are striving to provide more information on the accommodation pages to list hotels, condos, and beach house that have venues for receptions and allow outside catering services. We will conduct a phone or email consultation with you to get an idea of your wants, desires and budget to plan a menu and price for you. Take a look at some of our easy set menu packages on our Catering page
What about the location of the ceremony....do you pick the location or do we?
The location is ultimately your choice. We first ask where your accommodations will be. If they are on the beach side then we like to have the ceremony there. Always ask the hotel/condo that you are staying at for permission to have a ceremony and ask if there are any FEES for the use of the beach. The couple is responsible for any FEES that are charged. Do not rely on the "reservation desk" to give you permission......ask for the event coordinator, catering manager, ect. We have run into last minute "head honcho's" not aware of a ceremony going on:(
If it is not convenient at the beach side hotel/condo OR you are not staying on the beach OR you just do not want to THEN we locate the NEAREST PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS for you to drive to. We do not want to recommend a location and find that you are staying 30 minutes away. Sometimes the public beach accesses are more convenient in the fact that they have more parking, pavilions in case of rain, restrooms, ect. Please take a look at the LOCATIONS page to view a few of the public beach venues.
Okaloosa County will require a permit for the county public beach access for weddings with over 49 people. This fee is $250 ($100 refundable deposit) We are required to file for that as we show our proof of liability insurance as well as accessing permission from other agencies and a notarized hold harmless agreement. Walton County will require an event permit for EVERY ceremony on their beaches. This fee is $0-$50. We will file all the necessary paperwork for you. Permit fees have to be collected up front as we send that with the paperwork. If you are booking months ahead then we will wait until about 60 days out to file.
Will there be other people on the beach...do you have a private beach?
Please remember that others are here to enjoy our beautiful beaches just like you and most likely there will be people on the beach and all beaches in the State of Florida are public beaches. We cannot “rope off” any part of the beach. There are obviously certain times of the year when the beaches have more beachgoers than others. "Most" people are “packing up” and leaving the beach around 4:00. Then there are usually couples going for strolls along the beach. Many of them “watch” from a distance. In all of the weddings that we have done we have not had any interference with beach goers. WE, AS A COMPANY, CANNOT ASK PEOPLE TO MOVE AWAY, LEAVE, ECT. Many hotel/condos are advertising "PRIVATE BEACH ACCESS".....this may be true in that the "access" would be a private gate with a code to GET to the beach but by no means will you be on a PRIVATE beach with no one around. Especially in the summer months. Our photographers make every effort to angle the shots so that people are not in the background. Photoshop is a wonderful thing! We have taken out a whole beach full of people before and it looks as if you were the only two there in the middle of July!----of course this comes with your edited CD and will cost a little bit:)
Where will you set up on the beach?
The location on the beach is usually not determined until we arrive to set up. Some locations will not allow us to begin set up until the beach chair/umbrella service has started picking up. We will look around for the best spot at that time taking into account where the boardwalk ends, where people are still lounging, ect. We do not want the guest or the bride to have to walk too far in the sand. The arch or decorations with the heart shaped alter area is usually set at an angle towards the sun for best lighting for pictures. We will always do our best to angle shots as to eliminate any people or distractions in the background. Again, Keep in mind that photo programs like Photoshop can always take care of unwanted things in your pictures.
What happens if it rains?
No, we do not watch the weather channel...hahaha Seriously! Florida weather can change very quickly. It can rain all day, the sun come out for your ceremony, and then the bottom falls out again right after! Our motto: Positive Thinking with a backup plan.
It is the responsibility of the Couple to have a "back-up" location in case of inclement weather.
This means checking with your hotel/condo/beach house if they have pavilions, rooms, ect to move the ceremony to and if it would have to be rented or booked ahead of time. Also, keep in mind when choosing your venue like a public beach access if it has pavilions to move under. If you are having a reception, check to see if the ceremony can be moved to that location. If we are able to, you can choose to postpone to the next day. If you decide this early and we have not left for the ceremony then no extra charges will be accessed....but if we have already set up and then you decide to postpone, we will add an additional set up fee to cover the labor. Usually, when it is postponed to the next day, it is for the next morning as most sunset times are already booked. The final decision will be left up to you. We will perform in a "light rain" and we will do our best to still take pictures. I always say: "I will get you married, we just might not get all the best pictures we wanted" but if we are able to, we will go back out the next day and take photos of the couple on the beach.
Where is the best place to stay....do you do cakes....where can we have a reception....what is there to do.....who can do my hair....ect?
Enchanted Beach Weddings is focused on providing you the best beach ceremony. At this time we only provide those services listed in our packages and ceremony enhancement menu. We do however have a page of VENDOR REFERRALS.. These are local vendors providing what they do best. Everything is listed by category and we hope that this will help get you started in finding your accommodations, cakes, salons, restaurants, ect. You can also visit the Okaloosa County Tourist Information Website****Enchanted Beach Weddings now offers catering services (for our clients only). Please let us know if you are interested when you call or take a look at our Catering page.
Who will be at our ceremony to take care of everything?
We are a family business and everyone participates and wears many hats. We may be your setup crew that day or performing the ceremony or taking the pictures. We believe we should know every aspect of the ceremony. In the busier months we hire outside help but only people we know and trust. Set up usually begins an hour to two hours (depending on how big) before the guest start to arrive. We call you once everything is in place to reassure you that we are there and there are no problems.
Who performs the ceremony?
We provide an Officiate with all of our packages. They will be a Florida Notary Public and/or Ordained Minister. Most of the ceremonies are performed by the owners which are female but you may request a male officiate for an additional charge of $150.00 We are ordained with a non-denominational affiliation as to accommodate all areas of faiths. You can have your ceremony as religious, non-religious, or spiritual as you like....it is your ceremony:) You may contact area churches if you are interested in a certain faith minister or practicing pastor/minister in a church.
Can we bring our own Officiate?
Certainly, as long as he/she is Ordained (does not require a specific state) or a Notary for the State of FL to sign the license.
NOTE: We will not release our ceremony which includes the verses for the Unity Sand ceremony and the Blessing Stones ceremony. Only Officiates directly affiliated with Enchanted Beach Weddings are provided this information with whom a confidentiality agreement has been signed.
Can we write our own vows?
Yes, we encourage couples to be creative.. We also send a packet of different vows/ ring vows to choose from upon receiving deposit. Also, if you choose longer vows it is more meaningful if you read them to each other.
Do we have to do vows?
Vows are optional. Some couples get very nervous thinking about having to speak too much or want a very short simple ceremony. The traditional "I do's" are a part of every ceremony and the extra marriage vows do not have to be performed.
Can we add to the ceremony or take away?
Yes, many couples want a poem read, or a prayer said, or a special scripture inserted. You can also request a more religious ceremony traditionally heard in the church.
Will we have time to take all the necessary pictures based on the time that was set for us? We don't want all "dark" pictures.After doing hundreds of ceremonies, we have determined the appropriate time necessary needed to facilitate your ceremony and pictures. Based on our experience, we usually set the time of the ceremony 45 minutes to an hour BEFORE the sun sets according to how many guest and bridal party you have. Sunset is when the sun goes behind the horizon and cannot be seen. There is approximately 10-15 minutes of "twilight" after this. This can vary based on cloud coverage, overcast, rain, ect. The majority of the pictures are taken while the sun is still high and bright (again clouds can change things up). If we start too soon then we end up finishing too soon for the sunset. If you provide your own photographer, the time we set is a suggestion only. You may adjust your time according to your photographers needs.
What should we expect for pictures taken?
A few pictures are taken before the ceremony of the groom, groomsmen, ect and then the bride at the boardwalk with dad or bridesmaids. Several shots are taken during the processional, all through out the ceremony (rings, sand ceremony, vows, close ups, ect) and during the stones throw at the water. We then get a group shot at the water and bring everyone back to the set up if you have decorations (otherwise we stay at the water) Family shots are taken, then friends, then bridal party, the the couple. If we see that a beautiful orange sun is going to be lost behind some clouds then we will put the family shots on hold and go ahead and get the couple first with the beautiful backdrop and go back to family and friends and bridal party after that. We also like to get more photos of the couple than too many combinations of family members. Large groups wanting a "single shot with the bride" will eat up a lot of the package photos. We overshoot by almost double of what the package list. You receive the the printed photos only. You may purchase a CD ("negatives") of all your printed photos and more. These will all be edited. You are able to make copies of that CD and/or print as many photo copies as you wish. If you would like for our photographer to spend extra time with you like taking pictures in your room getting ready, more time on the beach (we will adjust the ceremony start time), at your reception, ect. then you can add additional photo time to your package.
Please NOTE: If you are late for your ceremony time this can gravely affect the picture quality as well as the amount of photos taken. When it gets too dark the flash of the camera can fail, the backdrop is totally black, and the photographers are paid for their time.
Can we provide our own photographer/ videographer?
Yes- we will deduct $100.00 from the cost of the “package”..If you do hire another photographer we ask that we are informed as we will automatically discount the package and let your photographer shoot. If we are not informed and there is another photographer then we will automatically stop taking pictures
and no discount will be given.
Please NOTE: Some photographers/companies have policies that will not allow another photographer to shoot along side of them.
We have found that most of the guests come with a camera/ camcorder in hand.
*** Here's a Camcorder Tip for Friends and Family-****
Be sure to take your Camcorder equipment out of the A/C at least an hour prior to the ceremony... when you go from A/C into the heat- the dew condensation will not allow most camcorders to work. Also, tell them not to put it on "pause".. you can always edit it...
Can we bring our own decorations for the beach?
We do not mind if you bring your own decorations. We do ask that you make appropriate plans for setting up your own decorations and/or items that you bring yourself (potted flowers, aisle runners, water tubs, programs, memorial items, leis, guest books, ect) If you plan to add something of your own to our decorations we still ask that you appoint someone to set that/those items in place as to not have any confusion as to where those items were intended to be by you. Please keep us informed of what you will bring to help us facilitate the flow of the ceremony. ** Our insurance DOES NOT cover any decoration/ services other than our own**
Do you provide music?
Yes. Music is an a la carte item- the fee is $70.00. We choose to use an IPOD as it does not skip like some downloaded CD's. We will play “mood music” as the guests arrive on the beach, the processional, bridal march, and recessional, then put the mood music back on during the photos being taken. You do not have to create a long timed list of songs for the mood music as we have a great deal already to play. If you do not wish to use anything on our selection list, you must provide us with a CD of your song selections.
We play the IPOD using an amplifier with great levels of sound!!! Any instrumental music to sing needs to be provided by you. To learn more and sample our selection: CLICK HERE
Do you provide chairs?
Yes, we do have chairs available on the ala carte list. We have a maximum of 30 white "plasic" garden chairs. We also provide the white wooded padded chairs.
We have a maximum of 50 of the white folding chairs. You can contract with A Chair for the Derriere for white wooden chairs if you need more than 50. The chairs are placed and pressure applied to allow for "sinking" in the sand.
How do we obtain the Marriage license?
Both of you must apply in person, together at the Clerk of the Court. Both of must have a State issued photo ID (Drivers license)** make sure it is not expired- if you are not a FL resident there is NO waiting period, you will receive the marriage license the same day- Fl residents have a 3 day waiting period. The fee is $93.50 paid to the court house. If either of you have been divorced within the past 6 months- you must bring a copy of your divorce decree. If it has been more than 6 months- you will be asked the County/ State and date the divorce was finalized. Read about obtaining your license by mail .Click here to read more and get directions
What happens to license after the ceremony?
Enchanted Beach Weddings will hand deliver the license to the local County Clerk's office where the license was obtained (Shalimar ONLY) the following business day, otherwise it is MAILED to the courthouse it was obtained at.The clerk's office will then mail the couple the certified copy. We do suggest that IF you will be in town the next business day after the ceremony AND IF you need your certified copy right away that you should take the license in person back to the court house and get your certified copy immediately to take home with you. Please check with the courthouse you obtained your license from directly if you wish to inquire the status of your certified copy being mailed.
What happens if we have to “postpone”?
Any deposits/ payments will be applied to your new date. Please remember to plan your new date as soon as possible so that the date and time can be reserved. Your deposit does not guarantee your new date. ( please do not wait 9 months to book your new June date as we would most likely already be booked)
What happens if we have to cancel indefinitely?
All deposits are non-refundable. If you paid in full at the time of booking you will be refunded minus the deposit along with any other costs incurred (c/c fees, special items already purchased, ect) PAYMENTS HAVE TO REFUNDED TO THE PERSON WHO MADE THE PAYMENTS (friend, parent, fiance, family member) We legally have to refund a credit card, check, cash, ect to the person who made the payment.
