Daytona Beach Summer Vibes: Places to Visit

In addition to a world famous, 23-mile stretch of beautiful beach, Daytona Beach is home to the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, a popular promenade built in the 1920’s where visitors will discover beachside shopping, arcade games and fun foods in a variety of venues, as well as The Bandshell – an iconic music venue which hosts free concerts all summer long. Its Main Street Pier, built in the late 1800’s, extends 1,000 feet over the ocean and offers rides including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel and go-carts.

Or visit Sunglow Pier with access to Crabby Joe’s Deck and Grill where you can start your day with crab cake benedict or end it with fresh seafood off the grill and a calypso rum cooler during its 4-6 pm daily happy hour.

Daytona Sun Splash Park, with a freshwater splash pad, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, restrooms, showers and 600 feet of beachfront access, is open daily from sunrise to sunset (with the exception of December, January and February).

And don’t miss Daytona Lagoon, Daytona’s premier waterpark and entertainment center open March through September with year-round access to 18-hole miniature golf and rides. Daytona Lagoon was recently remodeled for the 2002 season, so go enjoy some thrill rides, chill pools and its mega-arcade!

There is so much to do in Daytona Beach, including exploring its historic district, museums, parks and a wide array of lively bars and clubs.

Summer Wedding Themes

Summer is one of the most romantic times of year, blending reflections of warmth, sunny days and growth – all perfect sentiments for a wonderful marriage. If you are considering a summer wedding, there is good news! The unique elements of summertime romance can be beautifully showcased by a variety of summer wedding themes. Here are just a few ideas…

Of course, there is the number one wedding theme which coincides with summer – beachside destination weddings, which offer the most magnificent backdrop for your special day; and they double as an excellent honeymoon, as well as provide exceptional vacations for your guests. Just an aside, lakeside weddings can provide the same gorgeous splendor and similar entertainment, and there are some absolutely stunning lakeside wedding venues here in Central Florida.

Speaking of waterside venues, a nautical theme, with beachy blues, seashells and seafood dishes is a summer wedding that defines new adventures – on which newly married couples will soon embark.

Anything reflective of nature is also a wonderful summer wedding theme, from a summer garden party with vintage dresses, parasols, pastels, string tea lights and mint juleps; to an outdoor summer wedding at a lovely vineyard with corks for place cards and wine gifts for your guests.

There are Grecian summer weddings, shabby chic summer weddings, summer weddings with sunflower or citrus (which is very appropriate here in Florida) themes and summer’s eve weddings with lanterns, gentle evening breezes and formal attire.

Funny Wedding Traditions

Do you happen to know the meaning behind “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”? Blue symbolizes love, fidelity and purity and, like, the “old” part, is supposed to ward off evil. Something new symbolizes looking optimistically toward the future and the borrowed item is a blessing from the world.

Then there is that whole “carry the bride over the threshold” thing. It’s said that Medieval Englanders believed that the bride was more vulnerable to evil spirits through the soles of her feet, so the groom protects her by carrying her…or, just maybe it is what they told their parents lest they think the newly married couple is too anxious.

Since evil spirits seem to be a theme here, so…In India, it is believed that you can exorcise evil spirits from an ugly girl by having her marry a goat or a dog before her actual wedding. Hmm.

Before the wedding in Kenya, the father of a Maasai bride spits on her and the mother-in-law shaves her head. Not quite the fairytale wedding you envision?

The Tujia people of China cry supposed tears of joy for days to prepare for the wedding. Hopefully there are more smiles after the wedding.

In Korea, it is thought that beating the soles of the groom’s feet with a fish while quizzing him is a good check of his strength and knowledge. Sounds like my third grade teacher’s methods.

The Japanese believe that three is a lucky number and nine, which is three times a three, is very lucky. That is why the bride and groom sip sake from three cups three times…not because they are in dire need of a meeting.

And in Morocco, a wedding can last for a week, so pack a bag!

Happily Ever After Isn’t Just for Fairytales

When you imagine your wedding day, do you dream of a gorgeous arch draped in luxurious, flowing material on one of the most pristine, picturesque beaches in the world? Well dream no more, because fairytale images like this aren’t simply part stories passed down for generations. “Happily Ever After” is also one of the amazingly romantic wedding packages provided by Affordable Beach Wedding – Central Florida’s premier beach wedding company!

Plus, your most memorable moment doesn’t have to come with a memorable price tag. With the challenging times we have all recently endured, money may be a little less available; but with affordable wedding package options like Affordable Beach Wedding’s Happily Ever After, a beautiful, unforgettable wedding isn’t.

Happily Ever After, a wedding package in which the officiant is also provided, is amazingly affordable and can also be individually tailored to add services and extras – such as music, photography, videography, flowers, lanterns, vow writing, wedding hair, wedding make-up, in-depth wedding planning and coordination and so much more – depending on your desires and as your budget allows. The Happily Ever After wedding package through Affordable Beach Wedding services also includes 12 chairs for your guests, and the decorative wedding arch materials come in the color of your choice.

With the services of an Affordable Beach Wedding professional, you can rest assured knowing that your wedding will be both elegant and hassle-free. Affordable Beach Wedding can be reached by calling either 386-428-0777 or 386-279-1179.

Who’s Invited?

Your wedding is your special day, a day for sharing what could be the most momentous occasion in your life with the people who matter most to you. So who should you invite?

First a word of caution…One of the first things happy couples do when they begin to plan their wedding is to go a little overboard. It’s an exciting time. So it is understandable that we get caught up in the moment, wanting everyone in the world to share our joy. Realistically, though, most likely there is a limit to the amount of people you will be able to invite to your wedding. It may be due to the size of your reception venue, your budget or simply the type of event you are looking to create. 

When determining your wedding guest list, unfortunately guilt can sometimes weasel its way into the planning process. You want to try to avoid this. Besides the fact that your wedding planning should be a pleasurable experience, it is simply unfair of people to expect to be invited to your wedding simply because they work with you or they are a third cousin removed.

Subsequently, you need to make sure that your guest list is made up of the people who matter most… the people who have your back, the people you enjoy the most in the world, the people you love. Remember, it isn’t a family reunion or a high school reunion. It’s your wedding; and if you are spending the money to make your day special, you want to make sure your guests are special too!

Side note: If your main objective is for your wedding to be the biggest party in the history of parties, by all means, throw caution to the wind when creating your guest list. It’s YOUR day. Just try to avoid inviting anyone who may make things awkward for you or ruin your day because, once again, it’s YOUR day.

How Weddings Are Changing

Traditional weddings are alive and well, but so are the untraditional ones! Basically, one thing you can count on when it comes to weddings now is that anything goes…

Some brides are opting for less expensive dresses since they will only wear their wedding dress once; and bridal gowns can range from traditional white to bold and black. You also might notice that bridesmaids dresses don’t always match now, with brides opting to dress their closest peeps in the different colors and styles of dress that flatter each of them best. Plus, guests may be asked to wear everything from formal evening attire to beachwear and Hawaiian shirts.

Traditions, like tossing the bouquet and garter are often replaced with personalized reception fun ranging from football fans watching the game on a big screen TV to signature cocktails.

There are no “obeys” in the vows any longer and more and more brides are making their trek down the aisle alone, without someone giving them away.

Bridal parties are frequently chosen based on relationships instead of gender, so it is not unusual to see a man standing up for the bride.

Wedding cakes are sometimes tiers of extravagant cupcakes or donuts; and men are playing a bigger role in planning. Hence the groom cake trend.

Additionally, guest experiences like photo booths, cotton candy stations and ice cream bars are sometimes becoming even more extravagant with over-the-top entertainment like live performances and light shows.

The moral of this story is that while the institution of marriage has stood the test of time, the way couples tie the knot is definitely evolving. The especially good news is that it is easier and delightfully refreshing to reflect your own style and preferences on one of the most special days of your life.

Wedding Playlist

While Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” may be your first choice for your wedding playlist and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard may seem fun, those songs might simply conjure up bad 80s hair and pole dancing images for others. So how do you come up with a wedding playlist that won’t offend Aunt Myrtle and won’t have you falling asleep in your wedding soup?

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your wedding playlist. It’s a good idea to try to pair what is taking place during your wedding with the particular song that is playing at that time; and while it may be courteous to take your guests’ differing tastes into consideration, your wedding is your day. So your wedding playlist still needs to reflect your style and musical preferences. 

Ok, so when the groom is down on the ground, removing your garter in a provocative way, some “take it off” music can be funny. Conversely, you obviously want to avoid that type of thing when you dance with your father. Instead a slow, traditional song will bring a few good tears to some eyes for that one.  Your first dance as husband and wife is all yours, so you do you. A romantic slow song always fits this bill, but if you guys are a fun loving couple who want to rock out to “What I Like About You” by the Romantics, you go ahead and bust a move.

Then, of course, there is the music that plays the rest of the time, which can set the tenor for your magical day. For this, you probably want a nice mix of music which can accommodate your tiny flower girl slow dancing on her Daddy’s shoes, as well as some slightly raucous hits that will keep things lively. If the country music genre is your thing, you’re in luck because country music can please all ages.

Services We Offer to Make Your Day All Yours!

He’s going to be all yours and so should your wedding day! You want to bask in the moment…your moment and soak up all the beauty and celebration that was created for one express purpose – the union of you and your fiancé. You’ll want to enjoy it all – from the very beginning until your last goodbyes. So let Affordable Beach Wedding take care of all the details.

Affordable Beach Wedding can expertly handle everything, from acquiring and filing your wedding license; to booking an officiant, a photographer and/or videographer and all the other vendors you desire; to setting up a gorgeous ceremony location. Leave it to Affordable Beach Wedding to make sure you have a gorgeous canopy under which you will recite your wedding vows and that everything happens exactly when it is supposed to, including your introduction as Mr. and Mrs. and your first dance as husband and wife. Affordable Beach Wedding can set a stunning scene with lovely decorations, and can even style your wedding day hair and make-up, so you look absolutely amazing as well. 

Another reason to leave everything to Affordable Beach Wedding services is that you may just have a few jitters on your wedding day. It’s perfectly normal, but not a condition that is conducive to perfecting wedding details. However, there is no need to worry when you have a wedding planning veteran on your side. Your wedding day is one of the most important and special days of your life, so you want to be able to enjoy it. An experienced, knowledgeable, reliable wedding planner from Affordable Beach Wedding can ensure that is exactly what happens.

Fairytale Wedding Just for You

You’ve been dreaming about your fairytale wedding since you were eight and you made the little neighbor boy pretend to be your prince charming. Now it’s here – the Cinderella Wedding Package created by Affordable Beach Wedding!

Cinderella’s Dream Wedding comes with a gorgeous wedding canopy under which you will exchange vows with the man of your dreams. The bamboo canopy will be decorated in fine fabric and flowers you can choose from a wide array of options. Lanterns with candles and flowers will mark the isles, your guest chairs will be beautifully adorned with bows to match your wedding canopy, and wedding flags will elegantly wave.

A romantic sand ceremony will ensue, complete with a heart drawn in the sand and a heart vase keepsake. The music of your choosing will be played during the bridal party march, the bride’s walk and when you are first announced as husband and wife. You will be able to hear the rest of your playlist while you mingle and take photos; and you will own all rights to the photos, which will be taken by a professional photographer during and after the ceremony.

An experienced officiant will also be reserved for your special day and all of the paperwork and legal filing of your marriage license will be taken care of so that you don’t have to worry about a thing.

This dream come true wedding will all be framed in a majestic beach backdrop that only mother-nature can provide. So call Eva at 386-428-0777 or 386-279-1179 to discuss the details of your Cinderella’s Dream Wedding Package by Affordable Beach Wedding; and feel like a princess in a fairytale scripted specifically for you!

Your Wedding Dress: Is It Worth the Money?

Should you spend a fortune on your wedding dress? I am of the mind that your wedding is probably something you have dreamed of for many years…possibly the most special day of your life; and if you feel the higher cost of the perfect wedding dress is worth it, it probably is.

However, if we’re being pragmatic, the downside of wedding dresses with high price tags is that they can eat into all of your wedding niceties…such as your flowers, decorations, music, invites, cake, venue and how many people you can afford to invite. It may also mean the difference between whether you can afford a videographer, limousine service and those pretty wedding rings you have been eyeing.

There are options, though, which will allow you to have your wedding cake and eat it too. For instance, if you are planning a beach wedding, you have a gorgeous venue that doesn’t break the bank and you can do the same with your dress…because a simple, flowing dress is absolutely stunning for a beach wedding ceremony.

You also might want to consider secondhand options because that vintage wedding dress of your mom’s that she would love to see you walk down the aisle in, is 100 percent free; and you would, of course, have the added bonus of making your mom the happiest mother of the bride on earth. Plus, believe it or not, thrift shops can also provide amazing options for wedding attire; and, of course, you can browse online for a whole lot more thrifty options.

So, if it’s worth it to you to have that expensive wedding dress, go for it. If you would rather pay off your student loans, save for a down payment on a house or be able to afford an exotic honeymoon, there are a bunch of ways you can find an affordable wedding dress that will be nothing less than perfect for your special day.