Visit Sarasota County Wedding Guide
You said yes and now is the time to plan your dream wedding in Sarasota
Congratulations! Planning a wedding is an exciting time and you have a lot of decisions to make. Visit Sarasota County is here to help you along the way as you prepare for your special day.
What is your wedding dream? Imagine white drapery and Spanish moss hanging from magnificent oak trees, with sunlight seeping through the endless branches — surrounded by gardens of pinkish-white roses. Or how about your toes crinkled in the sand, a fresh sea breeze lightly brushes by and the sun sets on a magical ceremony. Maybe it’s a historic church with big, red doors that open wide to the city where friends and family await, cheering you and meant-to-be.
Every celebration should be worthy of the couple. In Sarasota County, that could be a simple, barefoot beach ceremony, a fantastical “I do” at historic mansions, a waterfront kayak matrimony or a fruit grove nuptial or center stage at a theater with the show all about you. There’s something special to match the occasion, for whatever way the bride and groom might choose to celebrate.
Use our Visit Sarasota County wedding guide as a tool to plan your wedding your way. The following content includes venues, hotels, wedding services and much more. When you are ready, our team is here to help assist you in finding the venue and vendors to fit your budget, hotel room blocks for your guests and wedding party and visitor information for your guests, making the entire event the perfect expression of the love between you and your partner.
Say Yes to Sarasota Weddings
White washed shores featuring turquoise waters and blue skies. Green canopies of tall palm trees, magnificent live oak and coastal mangroves. Best of all, stunning sunsets over a calm Gulf Coast. Sarasota County is the perfect recipe for a destination wedding.
Featuring 35 miles of coastline, 8+ vibrant shopping and dining districts, outstanding waterfront resorts and cozy private rental homes, easy access to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, and a small-town charm metropolitans dream of, there’s nothing Sarasota can’t accommodate.
Known for its great beaches as well as its amazing arts and culture, you can let your personalities shine through with a wedding venue as unique as the two of you. Say “I Do” on the #1 beach in the U.S., host an elegant soiree surrounded by replicas of ancient statuary at the Ringling Museum, or choose an all-natural ceremony in the lush wild splendor of Myakka River State Park.
Whether you’re beginning a new life together or renewing your vows, you’ll discover that Sarasota County provides the perfect backdrop for your wedding or honeymoon love story. The staff at Visit Sarasota County is here to make your once-in-a-lifetime event a memory to last a life time!
Thank you for your interest in Sarasota County as the setting for your special day! Contact us for more details on a Sarasota Wedding at 941.955.0991 x122 or visit us at WeddingsSarasota.com
LICENSED TO WED IN SARASOTA
In order to ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch, here is important information for before and after your wedding day.
• Sarasota County welcomes and recognizes marriages of all couples.
• To obtain a marriage license, apply in person or at self-service kiosks at the Clerk of Court. There are 2 locations to serve you: 2000 Main Street, Sarasota or 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.. Fees apply. For more information visit www.SarasotaClerk.com
• Bring Driver License, Passport or state-issued Identification card. Proof of marriage end date is required for previously married applicant(s).
• Both applicants must be 18 years of age to apply without parental consent. If either applicant is under 18 years of age, but at least 16 years, a birth certificate and proof of identification is required a well as a notarized written consent of the parents or guardian. Consent forms are available at the Clerk’s office.
•A blood test is not required; Witnesses are not required
•Marriage License fee is $86 in the State of Florida. The application fee will be reduced by $25 if a valid certificate of completion from a premarital course conducted by a registered course provider is furnished.
•Marriage licenses for non-Florida residents are valid day of purchase. Florida residents are valid three days after purchase. If 1 or both applicants voluntarily complete the State of Florida-approved premarital provider course, the state waves the typical three-day waiting period.
• Marriage license is valid for sixty days from the application date and is valid in any county in the State of Florida.
• The executed license must be returned within 10 days to the county in which it was issued. You will receive a certified copy of the marriage certificate needed for proof of marriage for name change or legal purposes
• Marriage licenses recorded in Sarasota County can be viewed on SarasotaClerk.com/Official records. You may print uncertified copied copies for free from your own computer. Certified copies can be obtained from the Clerk’s Public Records Department. If your marriage license was issued in another county or state, you must search the records in that county or state.
• The State of Florida is one of three states that authorize Notaries Public to officiate at weddings.
• If you choose to be married at the Courthouse, an additional $30 fee is required.
• Ceremonies are performed by a Deputy Clerk at the Historic Courtroom of the 1920’s Historic Courthouse in downtown Sarasota, Florida or by the fountain at the R.L. Anderson Administration Center in Venice, Florida. Ceremonies are performed Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. no appointment is necessary.
• Permits through Sarasota County Parks & Rec are strongly recommended for beachside weddings. This ensures the space you want for your special day. Siesta Beach weekend permit fee: $75/hour (2 hr. minimum); Other beach permits: $40/hour (no minimum). Purchase at 941.861.9930.
Getting Here
Centrally located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Sarasota County is serviced by Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and located off Interstate 75 (I-75). It is easily accessible whether you are driving or flying.
DRIVING DISTANCES & TIMES FROM NEARBY FLORIDA DESTINATIONS
Tampa: 60 miles via I-75 South, 1 hour
Fort Myers: 75 miles via I-75 North, 1.5 hours
Orlando: 131 miles via I-4 West & I-75 South, 2 hours
Miami: 230 miles via I-75 North, 3 hours
Jacksonville: 252 miles via I-75 South, 4 hours
Tallahassee: 329 miles via I-10 and I-75 South, 5 hours
MAJOR ACCESS ROADS:
Interstate I-75 (North-South) and US Highway 41 (North-South)
AIRPORT INFORMATION
Sarasota-Bradenton Airport (SRQ)
• 5 miles from downtown Sarasota
• Air Canada, Allegiant Air, American, Delta, Elite Airways, Jet Blue and United
• Year-Round Non-Stop Destinations: Atlanta; Charlotte; Indianapolis; New York City; Newark; Pittsburgh; Washington D.C.
• Seasonal Non-Stop Destinations: Boston; Cincinnati; Detroit; Portland, Maine; Toronto; Westchester/White Plains
Additional Airports:
• St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) – 45 miles North, 1 hour
• Tampa International Airport (TPA) – 55 miles North, 1 hour
• Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) – 60 miles South, 1 hour
• Southwest FL International Airport (RSW) – 90 miles South, 1.5 hour
HOW VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY CAN HELP
Visit Sarasota County looks forward to making your wedding vision a reality and we can make your planning process easier. Let us help you save time and effort, so you can focus on what’s truly important.
Our complimentary services include:
Securing accommodation room blocks for you and your guests
From a range of private homes sleeping up to 25 people, to urban downtown hotels, to beachside luxury resorts, our selection of accommodations will please every preference. Tell us your specific needs and we will contact the appropriate properties to check room rates and availability to save you time.
Recommend the experts
Whether you live in the area or are having a destination wedding, let us make recommendations on anything you need for your big day. Flowers? Invitations? Transportation? Photographers? Planners? Check, check, check and check! We have the connections to the reputable and reliable vendors you need.
Provide welcome bags and destination information for your wedding guests
Your guests will want to make the most out of their time in Sarasota County. Upon request, VSC will provide your visiting guests with local maps and guides, attraction information and coupons for some of the most popular things to do. We are here to answer any questions that you may have. Contact us at 941.955.0991 x122 or visit WeddingsSarasota.com.