Budget-Friendly Wedding Ideas That Don’t Sacrifice Style

There are so many ways to save money when you are planning a wedding, from opting for a brunch instead of dinner, to using your own playlist instead of booking a band.

Reception venues can get pricey. So, getting creative with your wedding venue can be much easier on your pocketbook too. For instance, what about a fancy, outdoors afternoon tea? Or…

There’s gorgeous foliage in Florida. So, why not take advantage with a garden party? From a casual affair to a formal evening event, a garden party can be whatever you make it. Imagine an expansive, wooden, farm-style table topped with colorful, fruit filled pitchers of sangria and strewn with wildflowers. Showstopping! 

Or your wedding, wedding reception or both could be held in a local park that is not only brimming with nature’s majesty, but may hold special meaning for you.

Instead of spending a fortune on a designer gown, there are also some stunning secondhand vintage dress options available. Plus, you might want to scale back your guest list to just close friends and family. 

Don’t forget that the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet areas offer some of the world’s most beautiful beaches…and fortunately, Affordable Beach Wedding, Central Florida’s premier wedding planning company, provides a wide array of cost-effective beach wedding packages from intimate occasion to an elaborate celebration.

In fact, the experienced professionals at Affordable Beach Wedding can manage your event from start to finish – no matter what the venue or details! Call 386-428-0777 to learn more.

 

Wedding Decorations From Aisle to Arch

As my mother used to say, “It’s all in the presentation.” To be honest, I’m pretty sure she was talking about how you present yourself to the world, but a beautiful wedding celebration is also definitely hard to beat!

With Affordable Beach Wedding premiere wedding planning services, you can be certain your special event will be a memorable one and all types of wedding decorations, such as aisle markers from lanterns to driftwood, flowing ribbons made of high quality material on guest chairs, your wedding canopy, welcome flags, seashells and petals on the sand may be included. 

…and, with 28 color options from Victorian gold to the colors of the sea, we do a great job at matching your wedding color choices. At Affordable Beach Wedding, we can help you reflect your personal style and set the tone for your entire wedding day. 

Maybe you live out of state and are wondering how you might coordinate all your wedding details from your officiant, to flowers, your cake, music, invitations, table linens, centerpieces, place cards, the perfect wedding and more. With an extensive network of reliable vendors and years of experience, we can help you with all of it and bring your vision to life.

We work hard for you here while you enjoy peace of mind there. So, whether your wedding is an elaborate celebration or an intimate one using the natural beauty of the majestic ocean as your backdrop, the professional wedding planners at Affordable Beach Wedding can take care of every detail so that you may focus on enjoying one of the most important days of your life.

Weddings: What’s Trending

Weddings…everyone wants theirs to be unique, reflecting their own style; and there are a bunch of things that are currently trending which achieve exactly that!

Let’s start with first things first. Many brides are opting for gemstones or lab grown diamonds (which are engineered to match the visual quality and physical properties of mined diamonds, but can be half the cost to up to 70% less expensive) to replace the traditional diamond engagement ring.

Some very cool offerings, which may surprise and delight your guests, are chef assisted fire stations where you can grill your own fruit, zero-proof beverage bars where you can order your favorite mocktail or dial it up for any of your personal favorites with options like a cannoli cart, a shrimp tower or a wall of donuts!

Channel the celebrities with a wild, late night after party for those who dare to attend. Drone photography for candid aerial shots is big now too.

Environmentally conscious? Have an eco-friendly affair where you local source things like food to lower your carbon footprint and then donate leftover food to charities after the event.

Find the next day brunch ho-hum? Offer an alternative such as a wine tasting or pickleball tournament!

And how about off-beat bridal party gifts that they can all appreciate – like maybe custom sneakers or courtside tickets?

Shoes Can Make the Dress: 2024 Wedding Shoe Trends

If you’d like to add just a touch of rebellious flair to your bridal attire, consider making a bold statement with your choice of wedding shoes. Plus, imagine how much more fun the removal of the garter will be when your guests get an eyeful of your pretty kicks. Here are some of the wedding shoe styles that are trending in 2024…

You may have heard that wedding décor with an abundance of flowers is all the rage. Well, the flower-packed wedding theme has – you guessed it – reached bridal shoes. So you may want to opt for a wedding shoe in a floral design or adorned with floral ornaments such as pretty rosettes or 3-D petals.

Brides are also choosing comfort over pain this year, with everything from adorable ballet flats, to stretchable mesh, extra soft cushioning and even bridal sneakers with sequins, beads and bows are big! For high heels, everything from sexy stilettos, to edgy platforms will do.

As far as color, metallics including rich gold and shiny silver are trending in wedding shoes too, as well as romantic blush tones and – believe it or not – bold, cherry red. If you’re looking for something blue, how about a blue insole?

Retro 60s and 70s beads and tulle are in, as well as the 90s-inspired wedding mule with a cone heel. Today’s brides are maximizing with sparkling crystals, rhinestones, pearls, French lace, bows and even feathers and ruffles, and minimizing with elegant silks.

Don’t forget that all those beautiful beachside wedding venues here in Florida scream for bedazzled flip flops and strappy sandals!

Wedding Attire for Men

Wedding attire for men can depend on time of day – with evening being more formal than daytime. Appropriate wedding attire can also differ depending upon the wedding venue. For instance, a beach resort wedding will usually only require a jacket and trousers, with lighter colors being acceptable; while is it better to be overdressed for a ballroom venue or a religious environment, where you should always be respectful. More unique venues, such as an art gallery or a winery, are perfect for cocktail attire. 

While we are on the subject, wedding cocktail attire for men allows for optional neckwear, but a jacket should still be worn.

The most formal wedding attire option is white tie, requiring a black tailcoat, white shirt, white vest, white bowtie and back trousers. Can’t you just imagine a precious little ring bearer walking down the aisle in that? Oh my.

Formal wedding attire, requiring a black tuxedo, white shirt, black bowtie and black dress shoes, is referred to as black tie. Semi-formal is black tie optional, allowing for a dark suit, white shirt, tie and dress shoes.

Since we are located in the land of beautiful beach weddings, beach formal would be light colors such as tan or gray, light materials, such as linen and with or without neckwear.

A suit or jacket is best for vineyard or garden wedding attire, while dark colors are also usually avoided.

Casual wedding men’s attire would typically be trousers and a button-up shirt, but this is the one wedding attire option where – if you feel comfortable and think your hosts would be comfortable, that Hawaiian shirt might fly.

 

Tiara Styles

Heavy is the head that wears the crown? Not always! From minimalist, barely-there tiara styles, to traditional tiara styles and to those modern tiara styles that really make a statement, there are numerous sizes and shapes with or without gemstones arranged in many different ways to meet every bride’s particular tastes and meld perfectly with your wedding style and theme.

Of course, you have the regal tiara, that tiara everyone pictures in their mind’s eye…the tall tiara resembling a royal crown and descended from kingdoms past.

Possibly more reminiscent of fairy tales, the delicate wreath tiara is one which forms a circle of flowers or vines around the crown of the bride’s head.

There is a wishbone tiara which meets at the back and frames the head, extending around the sides in a V-shape to frame; and a double band tiara, which is an overlapping of two crisscrossing metal or gemstone laced bands.

The headband tiara, resembling its namesake is simple and elegant, while a Russian headdress tiara is a massive wall of gemstones that is nothing short of show-stopping.

A circlet tiara encircles the head. An example is the famous Oriental circlet of opals and diamonds set in high arches, which was upgraded by future royalty to include rubies as well.

A gorgeous wedding attire accessory, tiaras can range from very inexpensive (yet still lovely) rhinestone and plastic tiaras to the real deal made from precious metals and gemstones.

Honeymoon Destinations

Well, it pretty much goes without even saying that a Florida beach wedding has its own amazing honeymoon built right in. In fact, you can find several remarkable beach wedding spots right here along Central Florida’s glorious coastline. 

For instance, say you say, “I do” on Daytona Beach, “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” along charming New Smyrna Beach or within the tranquil serenity of Ponce Inlet, you will be surrounded by the best of all worlds. Aside from remarkable dining and shopping venues, numerous challenging golf courses and miles and miles of pristine beaches, you have all the world’s best theme parks to your west, the historic cobblestone streets of St. Augustine to your north and Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach just to the south.

Some of the best honeymoon destinations are beach vacations and aside from Florida, which offers so many levels of entertainment and enjoyment, there are a multitude of exotic options from which to choose – such as Italy’s Amalfi Coast, offering Moorish architecture and a short boat ride to the Island of Capri; the rich culture and beauty of Hawaii; the South Pacific paradise of Fiji. There’s Costa Rica, Bali, Greece, Turks and Caicos; Madagascar, the Maldives and Morocco. Or cool things off on the lush highlands of the Scottish coastline or Cape Cod for quaint Nantucket or impressive and lovely Martha’s Vineyard.

Like things French? Visit the romantic city of Paris, the French Riviera or French Polynesian Bora Bora. Go for the glitz of Las Vegas; experience the big easy allure of New Orleans or sip your way through California’s Napa Valley. The choices are endless!

How to Change Your Last Name

There are a lot of changes that take place after you get married. One of the first is the bride’s name should she choose to take her husband’s surname or take a new hyphenated last name. Every state has its own particular laws and procedures for changing your name, but – all in all – the process is a similar one. 

The good news is that if you are changing your name due to becoming newly hitched, there is no legal process other than the wedding itself. You can use your new name as soon as you are married, but the documentation could take a little longer.

To change your name, you will need your marriage certificate, which you can request from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Depending on where you go, you will most likely also need a valid ID and the documentation associated with that particular office. For instance, when you visit the Office of Social Security, you will need your original Social Security card when applying for your new one and your current driver’s license at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

When changing your name, don’t forget your passport, bank accounts, investments and vendors such as your mortgage company, credit cards, utility company, cable, phone, etc. Your employer will also need to be made aware of your new name.

If you are working with a premier wedding planner such as Affordable Beach Wedding, you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing that there is someone in your corner to help answer all of your questions.

Daytona Hotels for Your Wedding Party and Guests

With numerous beachfront resorts and wedding venues, Daytona is a glorious locale for a destination wedding…the perfect place to hold your wedding as well as provide exceptional accommodations for all of your guests. Here are a couple of Daytona hotel options to consider:

Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach offers its beachside terrace for wedding services for small or large events. So, whether you want to rock it out with an extravagant celebration or keep things intimate, this is a beautiful wedding venue and hotel.

Listen up race fans! If racing is your thing, how about The Daytona Autograph Collection, located in One Daytona at 1870 Victory Circle? This is a Marriott hotel also offering event space for up to 300 guests and top-notch catering services.

If you are simply a fan of Marriott, there are also two beachfront Marriott hotel options, including the Residence Inn by Marriott at 3209 South Atlantic with an outdoor oceanfront terrace accommodating up to 200 wedding guests, and Delta Hotels by Marriott at 2505 South Atlantic.

Hampton Inn also offers a couple of great wedding party and guest accommodation options, including Hampton Inn Daytona Beachfront at 1024 North Atlantic or Hampton Inn Daytona Shores at 3135 South Atlantic.

Hilton provides its Hilton Daytona Beach Resort at 100 North Atlantic with its beachside wedding and hosted bar options or the Hilton Garden Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront at 2560 North Atlantic.

Max Beach Resort at 1901 South Atlantic offers weddings and a beachfront restaurant with ocean view too. 

The list goes on and on. So, for more detailed information and options, turn to the experienced wedding planner you can trust for your special day – Affordable Beach Wedding!

Five Things to Do After the Big Day

From lounging on the warm, white sand of “The World’s Most Famous Beach” to strolling Daytona Beach Boardwalk hand-in-hand, the Daytona Beach area offers plenty of things to do after your wedding that are romantic and fun.

You may want to start your day enjoying sweets with your sweetie at Sweet Marlays’ Coffee in Daytona Beach, which specializes in steaming cappuccinos, creamy lattes and delicious pastries.

If you want an excuse to hold on tight, you might want to opt for the thrill of the Daytona Slingshot Ride, an airboat ride in search of gators or a zipline adventure.

Or how about listening to your favorite tunes performed live at the iconic Daytona Beach Bandshell which always has a great schedule of concerts and dazzling fireworks displays scheduled?

Like things wet and wild? Visit Daytona Waterpark, which is brimming with waterslides, wave pools and a fun park or Sun Splash Park in Daytona for access to interactive fountains and decorative walkways.

If you prefer soaking up culture, with museums, romantic restaurants and gardens galore, you’ll find that Daytona Beach is not just a pretty face.

And if the excitement of racing is more your speed, take in some NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway, meander through the Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum or take a drive on Daytona’s Beach where it all started…because Daytona Beach IS home to the World Center of Racing, of course.