4 Must Have Florida Wedding Essentials For A Perfect Day

There are already many good articles out there about the generic basics that you’d need for any wedding essentials, like a budget and reservations. 

So, we’re going to make this list mainly about the other wedding essentials that you’ll need, specifically if you’re going to be having your wedding here in the Sunshine State. 

These are things which will probably sound obvious to locals, but perhaps not to people who are coming in from other parts of the country where climates and conditions are different. 

Don’t worry, though, because we’re very welcoming here in Florida, and you’re not under any pressure to be very serious. 

If you’re local, you’re probably already pretty laidback, and if you’re a visitor, you’re probably coming here to unwind and have a bit of fun. 🙂

*Note: By the way, if you are a Florida local, the wedding essentials in this article should still be helpful to you.

1. Sunscreen & Sun Hats

This one is first on the list because it’s possibly the most important and probably also the most frequently forgotten. 

Staying out in the sun too long can be dangerous and harmful for your skin, especially if you have a lighter skin tone. 

So you need sunscreen. 

You should probably bring a pair of sunglasses, too. 

In fact, why not get at least one photo in which everyone is wearing sunglasses?

2. Lots of Water

Florida is hot and humid, so you’ll probably be sweating at least a little bit. 

No, it’s not just your nerves; you really are in a subtropical climate zone (tropical if you’re in South Florida). 

And even if you aren’t sweating yet, you should still be fairly aggressive with your hydration because your body needs water to function, particularly in the heat and when you’re moving around a lot. 

A good rule is to try to drink at least 10-20% more water than you normally drink because, since you’re at a wedding, you’ll probably be spending more time outside and/or moving around than you usually do.

3. Loose Clothing Made of Light Fabrics

A wedding dress is a wedding dress, and a suit is a suit. 

We won’t tell you to completely dispense with wedding tradition on that front because we know many people want to have that traditional look in their wedding photos. 

However, you may want to bring an extra set of clothes in your wedding essentials bag and change out of those traditional clothes after you’ve gotten your most important photos taken. 

That’s because those traditional wedding clothes tend to be thicker and have layers, both of which will make the already hot weather feel even hotter to you. 

Comfortable Can Also Mean Stylish

As for changing clothes, consider classic Florida wedding essentials like sun dresses, polo shirts, and khakis. 

Basically, you just want to make sure that whatever you change into is stylish while also being comfortable and appropriate for the local climate. 

Maybe don’t go all the way for the athletic shorts and tank tops, though, as you’ll probably still want to take some more photos even after you’ve changed into your climate-appropriate attire. 

In general, just look at what people wear on a golf course or in a Bachata music video (depending on your personal style), and try to get some ideas from that. 

4. A Backup Plan In Case of Rain

This is Florida. 

You know that, we know that, and everyone else knows that. 

This is a subtropical (or tropical) peninsula that’s mostly coastline. 

It’s absolutely stunning and one of the funnest states in the entire Union, and a huge part of that is down to our nature and climate. 

But when you come to Florida to enjoy that nature and climate, remember that you are actually coming into it. 

That means that your life may be affected by the weather. 

In almost all cases, this doesn’t mean anything bad or crazy. 

Rain is just rain. 

But you’ll probably want to put together a plan to move everything inside just in case it does start raining and it’s not one of our regular daily showers (more on that below). 

*Note: If you’re hosting your wedding at a hybrid venue (a venue that has both indoor and outdoor spaces), you should be fine because you won’t actually need to move anywhere. 

A Regular Plan In Expectation of Rain

Keep in mind that, in most of Florida, it is likely to rain every day or almost every day. 

However, these showers usually last for only a short time (like, under an hour), and then the sun returns to the sky. 

On these days, you probably won’t need to bring everyone and everything inside for the rest of the celebration, but you might need to do so for about half an hour or so. 

Don’t be upset, though, because the sky is often at its most beautiful during the hours after these midday rain showers.

Umbrellas

One pro tip we can give you is to provide umbrellas and/or rain ponchos to everyone. 

If you’re a fun couple, you can have a good time with this and get some really cute photo opportunities out of it. 

That’s especially true if you get some cute or quirky umbrellas or some transparent ones (since those always look great in rain photos). 

Even if it doesn’t rain, you can still have a lot of fun with umbrellas, and they protect your pretty skin from the sun as well. 

In any case, no list of Florida wedding essentials is complete without umbrellas.

Wrapping Up

We know this has been a few more than the 5 things we promised in the title, but we figured we’d give you a few extras for free. 😉

We hope that this article has helped you and reminded you of something you might have forgotten (like sunscreen). 

We’re excited for you, and we’re thrilled that you’re planning to have your wedding here in Florida. 

Have a great time, have fun with it, and best of luck on your new life together!