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| Tropical Miami Beach Weddings |
| Tropical Miami Beach Weddings |
| Romantic Destination Weddings, Commitment Ceremonies & Elopements on Miami Beach by Monique N. Gilbert, Wedding Officiant, Florida Notary |
| Romantic Destination Weddings, Commitment Ceremonies & Elopements on Miami Beach by Monique N. Gilbert, Wedding Officiant, Florida Notary |
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| Copyright © 2006-2012 www.TropicalMiamiBeachWeddings.com & Monique N. Gilbert,
All Rights Reserved. |
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| Frequently Asked Questions . . . |
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| Destination Weddings – Marriage Ceremonies, Commitment Ceremonies & Vow Renewals |
| . 1. My fiancé and I want to elope and get married on Miami Beach. Do we need a witness? 2. Can I have any guests at my beach wedding ceremony? 3. Do you provide chairs or decorations? 4. How long are your ceremonies? 5. Can I get married on Miami Beach before I leave on a cruise? 6. Are there any other costs or charges involved in your beach ceremony packages? 7. What kind of music do you use, and what does it sound like? 8. What should I wear to my beach wedding ceremony? 9. What is a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony? 10. What is the best time of day to have a ceremony on Miami Beach? |
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| We specialize in casual romantic beach wedding ceremonies with just the Bride and Groom! No, you do not need any witnesses to get married in Florida. |
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| 1. My fiancé and I want to elope and get married on Miami Beach. Do we need a witness? |
| 2. Can I have any guests at my beach wedding ceremony? |
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| Yes, you can have guests. All our packages include 4 guests in the price. We mainly perform small intimate ceremonies (marriage, commitment, and vow renewal), usually with only the Bride and Groom (the Couple). If you have more than 4 guests, a Guest Surcharge of $10.00 per person will be added to the package price for each additional guest (adult or child) that attends your beach wedding ceremony. |
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| 3. Do you provide chairs or decorations? |
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| No. We perform our romantic tropical wedding ceremony on the beach close to the shoreline, but we do not provide chairs or decorations. In keeping with the casual tropical theme, our ceremonies focus on the natural beauty of the beach. Any guests attending, gather around the couple. Since our ceremonies are not that long, they usually do not mind standing to witness the joyous occasion. |
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| 4. How long are your ceremonies? |
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| Our beach ceremony itself (Marriage Ceremony, Commitment Ceremony or Vow Renewal Ceremony - with the vows, ring exchange, unity sand ceremony, and pronouncement as “husband and wife”) is about 20-30 minutes long. We take photos before, during and after the ceremony. So with the photo sessions, the whole event takes about an hour and a half. |
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| 5. Can I get married on Miami Beach before I leave on a cruise? |
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| Yes. We have many couples that come into town a day or two before they depart on a romantic honeymoon cruise. Most like to get married the day before their cruise, others the day they arrive into town. Either way, we can arrange to have your ceremony (marriage, commitment or vow renewal) at a beach closest to your hotel, or the beach closest to the Port of Miami (whichever you prefer). |
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| 6. Are there any other costs or charges involved in your beach ceremony packages? |
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| Our Package 1 (Beach Marriage Ceremony) does NOT include the cost for a Florida Marriage License (which is $93.50). If you get this package, you will have to get your Marriage License in person. |
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| The only other costs that you may incur are if your ceremony day falls on a weekend or holiday, or if you have more than 4 guests attend your ceremony. |
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| 7. What kind of music do you use and what does it sound like? |
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| We play recorded steel-drum “Here Comes the Bride” before we begin the wedding ceremony. Then, after the pronouncement “as husband and wife” (and you kiss), we play steel-drum “The Wedding March”. |
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| We also play other romantic and festive instrumental steel-drum music during the photo sessions, before and after the ceremony. This gives the event its casual tropical feel. (We do not play music during the ceremony because it can be distracting and interfere with the words spoken.) |
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| James Wist is an extremely talented steel drum musician from Key West, Florida. For more information about Jim’s extraordinary music and style, please visit his website at www.paanmaan.com or www.keywestcalypso.com |
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| 8. What should I wear to my beach wedding ceremony? |
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| During the winter and early spring months, you can wear anything you want to your beach Marriage Ceremony, Commitment Ceremony or Vow Renewal. However, for ceremonies during the late spring, summer and fall months, you may want to wear something light, loose-fitting, casual and cool. (Remember, Think Tropical)! |
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| 9. What is a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony? |
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| We use beach sand to symbolize your union with a Unity Beach Sand Ceremony. We perform our Unity Beach Sand Ceremony after the Vows and Ring Exchange. |
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| Beach sand is collected from below your feet (where your vows were spoken). We use two coconut half shells (one for the bride and one for the groom) to scoop up and pour the sand into a decorative keepsake bottle. |
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| Each of the two coconuts of sand symbolizes your separate lives. The pouring of the sands at the same time into the bottle symbolizes your joining in matrimony. Your Wedding Sand-in-a-Bottle is remembrance of your special occasion and your loving commitment to each other. |
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| This heart-shaped glass bottle will have a label on it with the bride and groom's first names, the ceremony date, and location (Miami Beach, Florida). It is also elegantly decorated with satin ribbon, which matches the decorations on the two champagne flute toasting glasses (from the Deluxe Champagne Gift Basket). |
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| 10. What is the best time of day to have a wedding ceremony on Miami Beach? |
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| We have found that having a beach wedding ceremony (marriage, commitment, or vow renewal) about 1-1/2 hours before sunset is best. At that time of the day, the temperature is nicer, the beaches are less crowded, and we still have enough good daylight for the photos. |
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| Romantic Tropical Beach Ceremonies Performed by Monique N. Gilbert, Wedding Officiant Florida Notary Public |
| FYI: Most cruise ships have their passengers board a few hours before their scheduled departure time, usually between 1:00pm and 5:00pm (always check your particular cruise line to find out your specific boarding time). |
| Our Package 2 (Beach Marriage Ceremony & License by Mail), and our Package 3 (Beach Commitment Ceremony or Vow Renewal) are all-inclusive. |
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| Some of our couples dress formal, in a traditional wedding dress and suit. While others dress informal, in shorts and a sun-dress (and everything in between). We even have had couples get married in their bathing suits and a sarong! |
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| Most of our brides and grooms want to be comfortable and relaxed on their special day. Since our ceremonies are on a soft sandy beach with a tropical theme, we recommend wearing something light-weight and casual, and to go barefoot. |
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| Also, your wedding day is not a time to experiment with a new hair-do! We advise wearing your hair as your normally would, for the best look on pictures. |
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| Note: During holidays and hot weather months, we do not recommend having a mid-day ceremony due to the numerous sunbathers on the beach, and the high temperatures which are more extreme and uncomfortable at that time of day. |
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| We have a $200.00 surcharge for ceremonies on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. |
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| And if you have more than 4 guests, we have a $10.00 per person surcharge for each additional guest (adult or child) that attends your beach ceremony (marriage, commitment or vow renewal). |