When a bride and groom envision their wedding day, they look to create an atmosphere that truly represents them as a couple. Whether they are looking for a fairytale that would only be suited for royalty or a slice of adventure, there are thousands upon thousands of venues waiting to fulfill every couple’s wedding day needs. That is why many couple’s choose to Miami, Florida as the setting for their special day. It is truly a town that has a little bit of everything and by choosing the right venue, a couple can create any type of atmosphere they would like for their wedding. When a couple is choosing their reception venue in Miami, Florida, they should consider the theme of their wedding and their necessities.

If a couple would like to get in the mood for their honeymoon and would like a beautiful backdrop for their pictures, they may consider the Coral Gables’ Swimming Pool for an outdoor reception. This reception site provides a romantic and adventurous atmosphere to the wedding. The area is complete with a cobblestone bridge, two waterfalls, and even, a grotto.

For those who are seeking a more traditional atmosphere for their wedding, choosing the Miami Shores Country Club may be a great option. This elegant reception site is indoors and includes all the trimmings to make a bride and groom’s wedding day extra special, such as their famous ice carvings. It is one of the city’s most popular reception venues because of their beautiful backdrops, dedicated staff, and large space. The banquet room may hold up to 500 guests at one time.

Many couples love the beautiful scenery that Miami can provide, but prefer to be indoors on their wedding day. The Kovens Conference Center at Floirida International University has become a popular site for large weddings for just this reason. It provides a panoramic view of the Biscayne Bay and can accommodate up to 300 wedding guests. This venue also gives their couple the option to have their cocktail hour on the grand terrace at the top of the building, if they choose. This venue truly adapts and transforms into any couple’s dream location.

There are many locations across Miami-dade that will take a bride’s breath away, but these are just a few of the most popular and unique. When searching for a wedding venue, a couple must remember to think about the type of wedding they want and what will make them truly happy. It is important to choose a location that includes all the necessities the couple is looking for and that will be a magical place that they will treasure forever.

A wedding in Key West can be a simple or lavish affair. Wedding venues abound in the area, here are three of the best places to hold your unique and special ceremony.

The Oldest House Museum and Garden
Located on Duval Street, The Oldest House is a museum house that was built about 1829. The house is surrounded by a large garden with tropical foliage. Weddings are held in the garden, although you may also negotiate access to the museum’s parlor and dining room. The property features a gazebo and also modern restrooms for the convenience of your guests. The home has an upstairs Bride’s room to allow the Bride and her attendants a special area to prepare before the ceremony. The garden weddings can accommodate up to 120 seated dinner guests or 300 guests for cocktails. Tables, Chairs and Linens are available on the property. The property offers two levels of wedding packages: Full Service and Simple and Sweet.
The Full service event includes garden event use for 4 to 5 hours, a 3hr setup and 2 hour cleanup period, use of the Bride’s room and a security guard. The Simple and Sweet event package includes garden use for two hours, champagne toast for four and chairs for ten guests.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Located on Whitehead Street in Old Town Key West, this was home to Ernest Hemingway. He lived and wrote in the home for ten years. The home has a lavish garden featuring a pool and a koi pond. Package rates for weddings here vary with day time weddings being cheaper. Day packages start at $995.00 for the Cat’s Meow package which includes; Officiant, bouquet and boutonniere, 2 souvenir champagne glasses, ceremony chairs and use of the gardens for one hour for photos. The evening packages start at $1,195.00 and it includes everything in the basic daytime package plus an evening toast. Other packages available include amenities like music, dove releases and wedding cake and service.

Key West Marriott
Planning your event on the lush seven acre hotel property is a breeze with on site catering and several ceremony packages and locations. Tropical gardens decorate this stunning Hotel at the waters edge. The Key West Marriott offers a complimentary suite upgrade to the Bride and Groom and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries on the wedding night. The hotel can accommodate up to 400guests but handles small intimate beach weddings too. Intimate wedding packages are available as well as more lavish affairs. Hammond Beach can host your reception as well as the ceremony. Ballroom Salons are available for smaller indoor ceremonies or receptions. A private dining room is available for rehearsal dinners or private parties. The Grand Ballroom, which is the largest ballroom in Key West is also available for your ceremony or reception. Full catering packages are available with bar service options.

The Orlando Museum of Art offers a center atrium with a skylight and Roman architecture as a backdrop to a wedding. Located in the Orlando Loch Haven Park, it is easily accessible from I-4. The museum offers a range of facility rentals with a capacity from under 100 to 300 plus guests. The Martin & Garcia Anderson Rotunda has a marble floor, 30-foot ceilings and ambient lighting and meeting room A has a view of the park. The kitchen is well equipped, has a preparation area and a dedicated loading dock. The museum offers the option to keep the museum store open after hours for the guests.

The Orlando Museum of Art provides a list preferred vendors along with approved caterers, helping to make the choice of a wedding coordinator or photographer easier.

Wedding packages allow the couple to rent the rotunda alone, a combination of the rotunda and grand gallery, a combination of the rotunda, grand gallery and meeting rooms or the whole museum. The museum schedules one and a half hours for the ceremony. A rehearsal the day before, from 4 to 5 PM, is part of the package price. Additionally, the couple can choose to have the rehearsal at another day or time for an additional fee. Tables, chairs, ceremony columns and a ceremony platform are available for no charge; additional equipment rental incurs additional fees. Ceremonies and receptions are scheduled 6 to 11 pm; receptions alone are scheduled 6 to 10 pm or 7 to 11 pm. The museum will accommodate extended hours for additional fees.

Facility rentals are subject to availability and the museum requires a thirty percent nonrefundable deposit and signature of a contract to reserve a date. The museum also requires and event approval two weeks prior to the event. The Orlando Museum of Art offers a kit outlining its policies, fees and procedures. The facility rental kit can be obtained by contacting the museum at facilityrental@omart.org or by calling the museum directly at (407) 896-4231.

Official Website: http://www.omart.org

Orlando is a beautiful city, filled with warm weather, extraordinary scenery, and all the magic of Disney. When one thinks of a perfect place to have their wedding, Orlando fits all the criteria of what a wedding day should be: magical, unique, and perfect. The only hard part is choosing from the incredible number of venues that one has to choose from for their special day.

Starting with the actual fairytale wedding, Disney Imagineers have created an on-site wedding pavilion for couples who would like to be married “where dreams really do come true.” Couples would have a view of the Cinderella Castle from their wedding and the chapel can accommodate up to 300 of the couple’s guests. And if the bride and groom-to-be are looking for a more magical feel to their day, Disney offers numerous themed wedding packages, which include everything from a Cinderella theme to a safari. Disney truly offers to make a couple’s dream come true.

Another magical place in Orlando is the Orlando Museum of Art located in Loch Haven Park. There are several rooms that can be reserved depending on the number of guests the bride and groom will need to accommodate. It’s custom marble flooring and towering high ceiling set the mood for a romantic night for the wedding. However, they do not have a liquor license or on-site catering so those things are left up to the couple to bring in to the venue.

The Rosen Plaza Hotel is another venue in Orlando that is known not only for it’s beauty, but for their extreme flexibility for the couples getting married at their hotel. They offer several wedding packages, all which include a professional wedding specialist to help the bride and groom plan their perfect day. The hotel is willing to customize any food requests and even change their decor in order for it to be the perfect image for the wedding day.

Lastly, the MetroWest Golf Club is a wonderful place to hold a wedding reception. They can accommodate anywhere from 20 guests up to 150 guests. They will assist in helping the couple find the perfect vendors for their special day. Also, MetroWest offers to host the rehearsal dinner at their restaurant, Westerly’s.

These are only a few of Orlando’s greatest options for wedding venues in the area, but it is safe to say that those who are planning to get married in Orlando will have a beautiful day that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

photo credit: Joshua Duggan