Thank goodness we still have the most pristine white sandy beaches in the world. It looks like Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties will see little impact, if any, from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If you’d like to plan a beautiful Florida beach wedding, book your date and make reservations in Sarasota to insure a clean beach wedding. We have beautiful clear water, white sand & amazing sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.Siesta Key has quartz crystal sand which makes Crescent Beach & Siesta Key Public Beach white powder-sand beaches. The Sea Shell is a great location for your beach wedding with condos only steps from the shore. If you want a tent for your beach reception we recommend Rental Depot of Sarasota. Ask them about chairs for your beach ceremony too. Simply Gourmet Caterers can provide wedding guests with food and drink.
Longboat Key and Lido Key have several resorts to host your wedding and reception at the same location (Very convenient & you can avoid traveling between ceremony and reception sights.) Your guests can stay at the Longboat Key Club or Ritz-Carlton on Lido Key or Holiday Inn Lido. These beach resorts are right on the Gulf of Mexico, with the exception of the Holiday Inn which is across the street from the beach but provide excellent views of the Gulf and Bay. They provide Special Event dining & Banquet Facilities, specializing in beach weddings and wedding receptions. These large hotel / resorts can handle your parties of several hundred people. Ask for a free Bridal Suite when you book your wedding or reception. For an intimate wedding on Longboat Key, inquire about getting married on the water & make reservations at White Sands on Siesta Key Beach. White Sands has beachfront condos on the Gulf of Mexico & bay-front villas on Sarasota Bay.
Anna Maria Island has a more casual feel and the weddings are generally smaller/less than 160 guests. The Sandbar and Beachhouse Restaurants on Anna Maria Island will allow your wedding party the thrill having their toes in the sand for the ceremony and reception. Queens Gate motel is right across the street from the Gulf of Mexico on AMI. It’s a quaint hotel offering incentives for you to have your guests and bridal party stay there. They’ll host your reception in the courtyard and you can walk to your rooms afterwards. This is very handy after toasting and dancing at your wedding reception under the stars. Sun House Restaurant can host up to 60 guests for your dinner reception, right across the street from the beach. They have special rooms for special occasions in the BridgeWalk Resort, where you can reserve up to 10 rooms.
Englewood Beach in Charlotte County has condos where you can rent rooms and host your beach wedding on the shore. I highly recommend the Boca Royale Golf and County Club for your reception. It’s about 10 minutes away, with exceptional service and cold a/c!
For more information on the health of our beaches in Florida you may visit: