If you’re getting married in the Sunshine State, don’t book your big day until you check out our picks for the best lesbian wedding venues in Florida!
From stunning resorts to quaint gardens, from popular hotels to country clubs, we’ve rounded up the best of the best.
We’ll also talk a bit about LGBT rights in Florida, especially as they pertain to wedding planning
Let’s get started and find you your dream venue! But first, let’s dive into the must-know.
Things you must consider before booking a lesbian wedding venue
1. Figure out your budget
It is 2023 already, and it is without a doubt that there are several great lesbian wedding venues spread across Florida. However, renting out the most expensive wedding venue doesn’t always translate to having the best wedding.
When it comes to your wedding venue, it is important that you take a calculative approach to how much you should be spending on renting a space.
You must also realize that you have a whole life ahead, and you should be economical with any expenditure, as that money could be put to better use later on. So, do well to have an extensive discussion with your partner, and any other chipping in financially.
2. The time available for wedding planning
As much as we would like it to be the norm, your preferred wedding venue may not always be available. That is because you aren’t the only one interested in using that place to host a wedding.
Thus, you must confirm if the venue would be available on the date (month or time of the year) that your wedding is slated for.
3. Venue capacity
Of course, you would want the venue to be able to accommodate all of your guests. Oftentimes, venues tend to overexaggerate how many people they can accommodate in order to make themselves appear more attractive. Just because a venue says it has the capacity to fit 200 people doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
Going along with that could lead to guests feeling cramped throughout the event.
As such, it would be in your best interest to ascertain if the capacity of the wedding venue matches that of your guest list. An excellent way to meander into getting this information is to ask the venue what number of guests they find most successful.
This gives you an idea of how many guests the venue can comfortably hold, which helps you narrow down your guest list. That is if you’re sure that’s the venue you desire.
4. Extra facilities
Parking space for your guests, restrooms, and other of your top priorities are some of the inquiries you should make before paying for a wedding venue in Florida. The presence of these facilities raises the comfort level of your guests, ensuring everyone has a good time.
You also want to make sure that the venues do not impose any restrictions that may affect your big day.
Overall, you should only make a payment after confirming all of the things on the list. That way, you and your guests do not run into any hiccups during the entirety of the wedding.
LGBT Wedding Rights in Florida: What You Need to Know
While the 2015 Supreme Court ruling made same-sex weddings legal, it hasn’t gotten around to stopping some vendors from discriminating against LGBT couples.
In some parts of the country, it’s still legal for vendors to refuse to serve same-sex couples.
Just this week in Arizona, the high court ruled that businesses can discriminate against same-sex couples, while over in California a winery is making news for canceling a same-sex ceremony.
It’s not the first such ruling and sadly won’t be the last.
But what about your rights in Florida? Can a venue deny you because they don’t like who you’re marrying?
According to Equality Florida, yes, by law, they can.
However, they also note that “75% of Floridians support fully inclusive laws, ” and local ordinances provide protection for 60% of Floridians.
So, while Florida as a whole won’t stop vendors from discriminating against you, the majority of vendors (and residents) are LGBT-friendly.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s take a look at the best lesbian wedding venues in Florida.
Note, these venues are not necessarily LGBT-owned and run, but rather open to all couples.
Related: Best LGBT Wedding Venues in Atlanta
Best Lesbian Wedding Venues in Florida
If you’re dreaming of a beach wedding, you really can’t go wrong with Florida!
However, the Sunshine State isn’t just about stunning beaches and sunset weddings.
Below, you’ll find a great mix of options, including beachfront properties as well as gorgeous “inland” venues.
FYI, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.
1. Bayou Club in Largo
Located near Tampa and just a short drive to the beach, the Bayou Club is an LGBT-friendly venue that’s open to everyone (not just members).
Let nature do the decorating for you by getting married in their outdoor ceremony area, or avoid the famous Florida bugs and wed in their stunning ballroom.
The offer all-inclusive wedding packages, so you can just focus on each other and leave the details up to them.
2. Pelican Grand Beach Resort
The Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a dream venue for couples who want to get married to the sound of waves lapping the shore.
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, the hotel prides itself on bringing back the beauty and majesty of old-time Florida hotels.
Arrive early and spend a relaxing afternoon on their Lazy River (Ft. Lauderdale’s only one) or wading in the zero-entry pool.
Their on-site wedding professional can help you plan the wedding of your dreams, whether it’s for an intimate gathering of 10 or a grand guest list of 100!
3. Sun & Sea Beach Weddings
Sun & Sea Beach Weddings is a one-stop shop for all things wedding related, from beautiful venues to total planning packages.
They have locations all throughout Florida, from sandy beach venues to stunning botanical gardens.
Packages range from an incredibly reasonable $895 for a small affair up to just under $4k for a larger event.
4. Old Town Manor
Located in beautiful Old Key West, Old Town Manor is proud to serve the LGBT community.
AS a B&B, it’s a smaller venue, so it’s really only ideal for up to about 50 guests, but if you’re going small it’s definitely one to consider.
The Victorian manor is surrounded by historical gardens and other stunning sights that will make for some truly gorgeous wedding photos.
It’s even pet-friendly, in case you’re thinking of including your dog in your wedding!
5. The Powel Crosley Estate
If you’re dreaming of a Mediterranean wedding but can’t quite swing a trip to Greece, the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota is the next best thing!
The 21-room mansion has it’s own romantic history, as it was built for Powel Crosley’s wife back in 1929.
The mansion is on the Historical Register, making it a fabulous location for history lovers, too.
Do yourself a favor and plan a sunset wedding. The grounds are supposed to be incredibly stunning again the setting sun!
6. The Ringling
If you’re looking for something a little more unique than a garden or beach wedding, consider getting married at The Ringling museum!
With numerous gardens to choose from- including the intimate Rose Garden- you’ll be surrounded by spectacular architecture and breathtaking tropical views.
If you prefer to get married indoors, they have three options available after 6PM.
While two of the options are fairly pricey ($10K plus), the smaller Circus Museum is only $1,500 and can handle up to 50 guests.
7. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a dream come true if you want a garden-themed wedding.
With so many stunning locations throughout the property, you won’t have to worry about decorating!
While it’s a fantastic venue for an intimate wedding, you’ll want to read their policies very carefully, as they’re a bit strict on what you can bring in and what caterers you have to use.
That said, if you’re looking for a place to host a small quiet wedding, you can’t go wrong here.
8. The Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach
If Lido Beach is your dream destination, the Sandcastle at Lido Beach is a fantastic place to hold your wedding.
Get married ocean-side with one of their beach-themed weddings, or stay safe from the rain inside their ballroom.
I love that they have so many options for your reception menu, including a full-service buffet!
I’m all about the buffet and think every wedding should have one, but if it’s not your idea of classy, they do have a more traditional menu.
9. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
I stayed at a Hyatt Regency in Chicago once, so I can attest to the beauty of their hotels.
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is even more beautiful than that center-city location that I visited!
The 1,500-acre resort offers plenty to do before and after the wedding, while their 68,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space gives you plenty of ceremony options.
Wedding packages start at a fairly reasonable $155 per guest and include a complementary stay for the happy couple (subject to availability).
10. Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
I saved my personal favorite for last! If you spent your childhood dreaming of getting married at Disney World, you definitely want to check out the Swan Hotel!
It’s located right in the heart of the most magical place on Earth, so you’ll feel like fairy tale princesses.
The hotel has three different ceremony locations, and the outdoor options have a rain backup plan in place so nothing can ruin your day.
They offer four different packages ranging from inexpensive intimate weddings to epic celebrations.
Each package includes a licensed officiant, so you truly don’t have to worry about a thing.
Conclusion
From the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to the Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, there are plenty of amazing places for two brides to tie the knot in Florida.
No matter what your style is, you’re sure to find a venue that suits your needs on our list. All of these picks for the best lesbian wedding venues in Florida offer something uniquely different from the others.
It’s hard to tell you which one is the best of the best because it really depends on what type of wedding you want.
If you ask me, though, you can never go wrong with Disney World!
Do you have any other favorite lesbian wedding venues in Florida? Share below!
Nicole is the editor-in-chief and regular staff writer for LoveYouWedding. What does that mean? Basically, she handles all the day-to-day tasks related to managing writers and bringing you stellar content on planning the LGBTQ+ wedding of your dreams.
She loves writing about quirky and unique wedding ideas, probably because she’s pretty quirky herself!
