Best Hotels in Daytona Beach

Take a dip in a pool offering one of this country’s best oceanfront views. Enjoy a relaxing massage after some quality beach time. Dine in your choice of a variety of delightful gourmet eateries. Then, watch the sun set over a pristine white sand beach from your private terrace. Have I piqued your interest yet? If so, it’s time to spend some off-the-charts vacation days in one of the best hotels Daytona Beach has to offer.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the number one ranked hotel in Daytona Beach is The Shores Resort and Spa. This luxury resort boasts an unbeatable location between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean and an oceanfront, heated saltwater pool. There are cabanas for lounging, spa services and an open air restaurant with coastal fare directly on the beach.

Number two in the U.S. News ranking is Hilton Daytona Beach/Ocean Walk Village, including seven dining venues with everything from fresh seafood and steaks to burgers and deli sandwiches. This Hilton also offers luxurious suites with separate parlors, wet bars and ocean facing patios or terraces.

U.S. News also gives Catalina Beach Club four stars and 3.5 stars to Plaza Resort and Spa, Tropical Suites and Wyndham Ocean Walk.

What Makes a Wedding Memorable

Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life and should be a memorable one. There are some things you can do to make your wedding day light the corners of your mind – just like the song says.

One of the things that you can do to make your wedding memorable is to make it beautiful. Colorful floral bouquets with cascading ribbons, a lace train and bow ties, shrimp canapes, bubbly champagne, and all the people you love in one place. These are the things from which the most beautiful memories are made.

Location can also play a big part in making your wedding memorable. If you are a casual couple, your favorite seaside venue could do the trick or cater your reception on the beach and dance among the tiki torches. Or pick the best, most fancy venue you can think of to pay proper tribute to your special day.

Lack of stress is also very important. Proper planning and preparation can go a long way toward making your day one a smooth, stress-free one. Granted, a bunch of stress and catastrophes can make some memories too, but not the kind you want.

And one of the most important things that make a wedding memorable is sentiment. Writing your own vows, a toast that tells a sentimental story, a reception in a place that means the world to you, remembering those who can’t be with you…all make your wedding memorable.

Daytona Beach Events for 2018

Daytona Beach is not just a pretty face with a sunny disposition. It is a place full of exciting, fun things to do year-round.

In February alone, there is the Daytona Beach ½ Marathon on February 4th which starts and finishes at the World Center of Racing – Daytona International Speedway. Feb 18th is the 60th anniversary of the Daytona 500 – where the world’s best NASCAR drivers are pitted against each other in a battle of skill, speed and determination.

Bet you didn’t know that Daytona Beach is the Festival Capital of the World! The Blues Festival, held at Jackie Robinson Ball Park, is three full days of music from the biggest names in blues, plus up and coming artists – 2018 dates to come. Halifax Art Festival, the second oldest continual arts festival in Florida, is held in early November and showcases art from ceramics, to water painting, to oil paints and more! Immerse yourself in Greek culture and traditions during the Greek Festival in November. There will be food, music, dancing and a marketplace for shopping.

If it’s music you adore, free Bandshell concerts are held every Friday and Saturday from May through September on the oceanfront. Coke Zero 400 Weekend, 400 laps on America’s most iconic track followed by the largest fireworks display in the Southeast, will take place July 6-8. Motorcycle rallies include Bike Week in the spring and Biketoberfest in the fall – both offering entertainment, music, food and thousands of bikes to behold!

The holidays are also a glorious time in Daytona Beach. The Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade, with an endless stream of boats decorated for the season, is also a spectacle to behold. Then, Main Street Daytona shuts down and livens up for New Year’s Eve. The ball will drop, fireworks will be set off, live music will ensue and street vendors will provide a constant source of entertainment.

We Put the “Affordable” in Affordable Beach Wedding

It’s your wedding. You are about to embark on a lifetime journey, so depleting your entire lifesavings at the start is a terrible idea. Never fear! It is entirely possible to have the wedding of your dreams without busting the bank.

A beach wedding with Affordable Beach Weddings is the perfect way to get the wedding that dreams are made of…and get it affordably. Think about it, you already have nature’s most majestic scene as your backdrop. The rest is gravy! All you really need are you, the love of your life and the people who mean the most to you. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make it, but whatever you decide, a beach wedding is always a beautiful thing!

It sounds simple, but there are still a lot of details to coordinate and Affordable Beach Weddings can handle those cost-effectively while you relax and enjoy your day. You will need the proper permits, legal documents to file, an officiant, chairs for your guests. You may want music, an arch that is artfully decorated with your favorite flowers, a welcome table and canopy.

The start of your life together is exciting, and there are plenty of things you may want to do, like paying off your student loans, buying a house or maybe just setting some rainy day money aside so that you are safe in the case of any unexpected expenditures. Why not have the wedding of your dreams AND keep your savings safe? Affordable Beach Weddings will enable you to have your wedding cake and eat it too! For more information, call 386-428-0777 or 386-279-1179. Ask about our special wedding package pricing!

 

Beach Wedding     Beach Hair     We Do Both!

Hair – it’s the crown glory…the first thing that people notice when they glance your way.

A Wedding – if it’s done right, it is the event of a lifetime…a day dreams are made of.

Affordable Beach Weddings does both and we do them expertly.

There’s hairsprayed high 80s hair. There’s short, spiky, bleached blonde hair. There’s librarian bun hair. There’s pink, purple, blue or green hair. There’s rasta hair. Then there’s beach hair…hair without a care…hair with that effortless tousled, sexy look. Tousled styles tend to work well because when the breeze blows, your hair is – of course – already tousled! Some argue that pinned up or pinned back hair is best to combat beach weather. Sleek, slicked back hair is a good option as well because it tends to remain in place. Whatever beach hair you desire, Affordable Beach Weddings can beautifully create that style for you.

Affordable Beach Weddings also provides elegant, professional wedding planning at an affordable price. We work with you to create the wedding of your dreams, and handle every detail – from elegant arches and canopy displays, to on-site hair styling and make-up, the finest photographers, videographers, florists, wedding cake designers, bands, DJs and more. We can even help you choose the perfect wedding officiant and vows, and take care of your wedding license.

Wedding coordination and all that goes with it can be pretty hairy. Affordable Beach Wedding is Central Florida’s trusted source for wedding planning, and who better to style your hair for your special day than the people who are showcasing your style on your special day? Hair’s to a lifetime of happiness!

What Type of Music to Choose for Your Wedding

The type of music you choose for your wedding should be reflective of your style, but appealing to your guests as well…at least for the most part.
Are you a little bit country? Think “God Gave Me You,” by Blake Shelton; “I Loved Her First,” by Heartland; or “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack.
Or a little bit rock and roll? Think “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” by Savage Garden; “Sunday Morning,” by Maroon 5; or “You and Me,” by Life House.
Don’t deviate from your song to please anyone else. Your song should be YOUR song. You should also include your favorites from your playlists. Remember to try to keep things upbeat to keep people dancing, and mix it up so that couples and older folks get a chance to slow dance.
It’s also important to appeal to the masses. In other words, consider your audience. Try not to pick anything too “heavy” or to stick to one genre. It’s a pretty good bet that old Aunt Ethel won’t be tapping her toes to Five Finger Death Punch, and your younger cousins most likely won’t be inclined to listen to Patsy Cline belt out “Crazy.” They may even think that YOU are crazy. Keep things varied, but keep it fun for you too. Remember, it’s your day!
If you need help with your selections, Affordable Beach Wedding – Central Florida’s premier beach wedding company – can help. In fact, the wide array of what they can help you with – from the area’s finest photographers and videographers, to florists, caterers, bakeries, DJs, bands and more – will bring music to your ears!

What we offer

Every wedding should be reflective of the bride and groom’s personal style. At Affordable Beach Wedding, we tailor every detail to your specific vision and budget. We can custom design anything you need, and we also offer a variety of wedding packages:

Cinderella’s Dream – This is our most requested package, suitable for any princess, including a canopy, heart in the sand, sand ceremony, up to 40 chairs, lanterns lining with flowers the isle, music, photos, wedding flags, a welcome table, slideshow, rose bouquet and boutonniere, wedding officiant and filing of all the legal paperwork.

The Princess Package includes the lantern isle markers, sand ceremony, canopy, up to 40 chairs, music, photos, officiant and legal paperwork filing.

Fairytale – This beautiful beach wedding package includes an arch, 20 chairs, music, photos, lantern isle markers, sand ceremony, officiant and paperwork filing.

Royal Package – A three-winged arch fit for any royalty, up to 40 chairs, music, photos, lantern isle markers ceremony officiant and paperwork filing.

The Elegant Oasis includes a canopy with 12 chairs and the officiant.

Hearts in the Sand includes a heart in the sand elegantly decorated with fabric and flowers, sand ceremony, photos, officiant and paperwork.

Happily Ever After includes a two-post arch, 12 chairs and officiant.

Simple Elegance comes with photos, an officiant and sand ceremony.

There is also a wedding officiant only option. Extras include sand dollar or starfish sash centerpieces, bridesmaid bouquets, hair and make-up and more. For more information, direct your questions to 386-428-0777 or 386-279-1179. Ask about our special wedding package pricing!

The Perfect Hair for the Perfect Beach Wedding

Cascading curls, shimmering long locks, chic sleek perfection…Your hair should be as beautiful and as perfect as you on your wedding day.

A classic chignon can create a lovely, elegant look. If you prefer a more natural look, a loose cascading romantic style or tousled, effortless looking sexy hair are great options. Or, the perfect combination of twists and tendrils can result in the up-do that most suits you. And a braided crown and a waterfall braid is a wonderful formal hairstyle for a beachside wedding. If it is color you want, you can turn heads with bold pops of blonde or soft honey accents.

The Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach area is a picturesque place for a beach destination wedding, but it is not always the best place for hair. Beach weather can make hair frizzy and create fly-aways. Some suggest that choosing a pinned up or pinned back style might be best suited for outdoor events. Tousled styles tend to also work well because when the breeze blows, your hair is – of course – already tousled! Sleek, slicked back hair is a good option as well because it tends to remain in place.

Whatever you decide for your coif of choice, consider a pre-wedding appointment at your favorite salon. You (and your bridesmaids if you like) can do a run-through. That way, aside from deciding on the perfect style, you can test that style against the weather prior to the actual day of your wedding. The day of your dreams deserves the hair to match.

Selecting the Right Time for Your Beach Wedding

A beach wedding is a beautiful thing and, if you pick the right time, it can be an even more beautiful thing…

First let’s talk vendor cost and availability. A destination wedding in the Daytona or New Smyrna Beach area during the winter months can be absolutely picturesque. It’s a remarkable time of year here and your guests can enjoy a wonderful warm weather getaway. But spring is also a wonderful time for a wedding, and accommodations, flights and vendors can be much less expensive in April or May. It is also easier to book things because availability is better when you are not smack dab in the middle of peak season.

Now let’s talk weather. Good weather is crucial if you are planning any type of outside event. First and foremost, if you can avoid it, don’t even consider chancing a wedding date during peak hurricane season. Also, summer and early fall are well known for pop-up showers.

No matter what date you choose, it is a good idea to have a back-up plan in place in case of rain – especially in Florida. Consider a canopy or tent, or an indoor venue for such an instance.

Tide is also a major factor when planning a beach wedding. Make certain you check the tide timing and plan your event during a time you know the tide is only going to get lower throughout your event. You don’t even want to think about what would happen if the tide rolled in during your ceremony!

Finally, you may also want to avoid holiday weekends. They tend to be busy, more expensive and many of your guests may have plans during that time.

Whatever your decide, start planning early so that you aren’t behind the proverbial eight-ball, and avoid leaving anything to chance by hiring a reliable event planner. Affordable Beach Wedding is Central Florida’s trusted wedding planner of choice.

Wearing the Proper Attire for a Beach Wedding

When dressing for a beach wedding, you have lots of things to consider…whether it is formal or informal
and the weather, color and theme.

Ok, let’s talk about how dressy you need to be. Beach weddings are rarely formal, but make certain
because you don’t want to look out of place. If the wedding is formal, floor-length downs and suits
should be worn. However, most of the time women can wear sundresses to beach weddings and khaki
or linen shorts and shirts are acceptable for men. If an evening reception follows the ceremony, it may
be semi-formal event. In that case, women would dress it up a little more than a sundress and men
would upgrade to khaki or linen slacks, a button down shirt and a lightweight sport coat.

Ok, on to weather. Beach weddings can be pretty hot, so the first thing you want to do is make sure you
won’t sweat. Light fabrics that won’t stick to you and will help you stay cool in the Florida sun, such as
chiffon, linen or a cotton blend, would work best.

If there is a theme, of course try to adhere to the rules that apply. If there is a color scheme, look for
shades within that color palette that flatter your skin tone. If there is no theme or color scheme to
follow, light and bright is always a great way to go.

Even hair, make-up and shoes are a little different when you attend a wedding at the beach. Less is
more in the hot summer sun, so try to keep make-up to a minimum, and don’t forget to use waterproof
mascara. Beach weddings can also be breezy and humid, making hair frizzy or creating fly-aways, so you
may want to try an updo or pin your hair back.

Finally, it can be difficult to walk on the beach, and if the reception is at a different location, you will
need shoes. If it is casual, leather flip flops, loafers or boat shoes will do for men. Women should think
comfortable and stylish flats or sandals.