My fiance and I want to elope and get married on Miami Beach. Do we need a witness?
Do you perform same-sex marriages?
Is it difficult for out-of-state couples to get a Florida marriage license?
I can't get to the marriage license bureau when they are open. What do I do?
Do I need to show my divorce decree when I apply for a marriage license in Florida?
Can I get married on Miami Beach before I leave on a cruise?
What kind of music do you use, and what does it sound like?
Are there any other costs or charges involved in your beach ceremony packages?
What should I wear to my beach wedding ceremony?
What is a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony?
Can I have any guests at my beach wedding ceremony?
Do you provide chairs or decorations?
How long are your ceremonies?
What is the best time of day to have a ceremony on Miami Beach?
1. My fiance and I want to elope and get married on Miami Beach. Do we need a witness?
We specialize in casual romantic beach wedding ceremonies with just the Bride and Groom! No, you do not need any witnesses to get married in Florida.
2. Do you perform same-sex marriages?
Yes! We are happy to say that we can legally marry gay and lesbian couples.
On January 6, 2015 the state of Florida allowed same-sex weddings, and began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples throughout the state.
We help gay and lesbian couples have a stress-free wedding day by offering a romantic beach marriage ceremony package and Florida marriage license by mail service.
3. Is it difficult for out-of-state couples to get a Florida marriage license?
Getting a marriage license in Florida is very easy for out-of-state couples (and couples from other countries). There are no medical exams, no blood tests, and no witnesses required.
All the Miami Marriage License Bureau needs from you and your fiance is a current identification with your names, signatures, birth dates, and photos (like your driver's licenses or passports).
You will also need to fill out a simple form which asks for your names, address, place of birth, social security numbers, and if either of you have been married before, the exact date (Month, Day, Year) your previous marriage ended.
The Miami Marriage License Bureau is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.
We would send you a map & directions from your hotel to the Marriage License Bureau before you arrive (along with a link to the form that you need to fill out).
If both you and your fiance do not live in Florida, there is no waiting period for you to get your marriage license. They would issue you a marriage license right away, effective immediately (so if need be, you could get your marriage license on the same day that you get married).
For Florida residents, there is a 3-day waiting period before the marriage license goes into effect (unless you both take a premarital course).
We would take care of the legal filing of your marriage license after the ceremony, and the Miami-Dade County Marriage License Bureau would send you a certified copy of your marriage license after it gets recorded.
4. I can't get to the marriage license bureau when they are open. What do I do?
NOTE: We are not processing Florida Marriage Licenses by Mail at this time.
If you can't get to the Marriage License Bureau when they are open, or you just want to get your marriage license taken care of before you arrive to Miami, we can process your Florida Marriage License by Mail, so all the paperwork is complete before you arrive into town.
It takes about 4-6 weeks to process all the paperwork for U.S. couples (6-8 weeks for International couples).
Only non-Florida residents can get their license by mail.
With our Florida Marriage License by Mail service, all you need to do is send us a copy of your photo IDs and your Marriage Pre-Application Information Form (either by regular mail or as an attachment by e-mail).
Then, we would apply for your marriage license on your behalf, and mail it to you for you and your fiance to sign in front of a Notary Public.
Then after you both get your signatures notarized, you would mail the license back to us in the envelope provided, so that we can get it validated and issued with the effective dates.
5. Do I need to show my divorce decree when I apply for a marriage license in Florida?
No. All the Miami Marriage License Bureau requires is the exact date your marriage ended.
They do not require you to provide your divorce decree. Only the final judgment date on your divorce decree (which is the date of divorce) is what you need to provide.
6. Can I get married on Miami Beach before I leave on a cruise?
Yes, we have many couples that come into town a day or two before they depart on a romantic honeymoon cruise. Most like to get married the day before their cruise, others the day they arrive into town. Either way, we can arrange to have your ceremony (marriage, commitment, or vow renewal) at a beach closest to your hotel, or the beach closest to PortMiami.
FYI: Most cruise ships have their passengers board a few hours before their scheduled departure time, usually between 1:00pm and 5:00pm (always check your particular cruise line to find out your specific boarding time).
Note: During holidays and hot weather months, we do not have mid-day ceremonies due to the numerous sunbathers on the beach, and the high temperatures which are more extreme and very uncomfortable at that time of day.
7. What kind of music do you use and what does it sound like?
We play recorded steel-drum "Here Comes the Bride" before we begin the wedding ceremony. Then, after the pronouncement as "husband and wife" (and you kiss), we play steel-drum "The Wedding March".
We also play other romantic and festive instrumental steel-drum music during the photo sessions, before and after the ceremony. This gives the event its casual tropical feel. (We do not play music during the ceremony because it can be distracting and interfere with the words spoken).
James Wist is an extremely talented steel drum musician from Key West, Florida. For more information, please visit: www.keywestcalypso.com
8. Are there any other costs or charges involved in your beach ceremony packages?
Our Package 1 (Beach Marriage Ceremony) does NOT include the cost for a Florida Marriage License (which is $86.00). If you get this package, you will have to get your Marriage License in person.
Our Package 2 (Beach Marriage Ceremony & License by Mail), and our Package 3 (Beach Commitment Ceremony or Vow Renewal) are all-inclusive.
The only other costs that you may incur are if your ceremony day falls on a weekend or holiday, or if you have more than 4 guests attend your ceremony.
We have a $200.00 surcharge for ceremonies that are on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday.
If you have more than 4 guests, we have a $10.00 per person surcharge for each additional guest (adult or child) that attends your beach ceremony (marriage, commitment, or vow renewal). Maximum 10 Guests.
9. What should I wear to my beach wedding ceremony?
During the winter and early spring months, you can wear anything you want to your beach Marriage Ceremony, Commitment Ceremony or Vow Renewal.
However, for ceremonies during the late spring, summer and fall months, you may want to wear something light, loose-fitting, casual and cool. (Remember, Think Tropical)!
Some of our couples dress formal, in a traditional wedding dress and suit. While others dress informal, in shorts and a sun-dress (and everything in between). We even have had couples get married in their bathing suits and a sarong!
Most of our brides and grooms want to be comfortable and relaxed on their special day. Since our ceremonies are on a soft sandy beach with a tropical theme, we recommend wearing something light-weight and casual, and to go barefoot.
Also, your wedding day is not a time to experiment with a new hair-do! We advise wearing your hair as your normally would, for the best look on pictures.
10. What is a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony?
We use beach sand to symbolize your union with a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony. We perform this ceremony after the Vows and Ring Exchange.
Beach sand is collected from below your feet (where your vows were spoken).
We use two coconut half shells (one for the bride and one for the groom) to scoop up and pour the sand into a decorative keepsake heart-shaped glass bottle.
Each of the two coconuts of beach sand symbolizes your separate lives.
The pouring of the sands at the same time into the bottle symbolizes your joining in matrimony.
Your Wedding Sand-in-a-Bottle is remembrance of your special occasion and your loving commitment to each other.
11. Can I have any guests at my beach wedding ceremony?
Yes, you can have guests.
All our packages include 4 guests in the price. We perform small intimate ceremonies (marriage, commitment, and vow renewal), usually with only the Bride and Groom (the Couple).
If you have more than 4 guests, a Guest Surcharge of $10.00 per person will be added to the package price for each additional guest (adult or child) that attends your beach wedding ceremony. (Maximum 10 Guests)
12. Do you provide chairs or decorations?
No. We perform our romantic tropical wedding ceremony on the beach close to the shoreline, but we do not provide chairs or decorations.
In keeping with the casual tropical theme, our ceremonies focus on the natural beauty of the beach.
Any guests attending, gather around the couple. Since our ceremonies are not that long, they usually do not mind standing to witness the joyous occasion.
13. How long are your ceremonies?
Our beach ceremony itself (Marriage, Commitment, or Vow Renewal) with the vows, ring exchange, unity beach sand ceremony, and pronouncement as "husband and wife" ("spouses for life, united in love, and legally married" or a "couple united in love") is about 20-30 minutes long.
We take photos before, during, and after the ceremony. So with the photo sessions, the whole event takes about an hour and a half.
14. What is the best time of day to have a wedding ceremony on Miami Beach?
We have found that having a beach ceremony (marriage, commitment, or vow renewal) about 1-1/2 hours before sunset is best.
At that time of the day, the temperature is nicer, the beaches are less crowded, and we still have enough good daylight for the photos.
Romantic Tropical Beach Ceremonies Performed by Monique N. Gilbert, Wedding Officiant
