Planning your Anna Maria Island Wedding

Choose a Wedding Planner

A.J's Island Network at The Loft 5

With 30 years of hospitality experience, Antonia Jean Latteri Caster (or A.J) has been responsible for producing unforgettable social eventsin New York, the Hamptons, the West Indies, California, Colorado, The Florida Keys and now Anna Maria Island, where she has been based for the past 6 years.

AJ has been responsible for some of the wonderful weddings that have taken place on Anna Maria Island, including Paige and Matt Hart's special day. Her flexibility, unique creative style and special finishing touches have made her work some of the most memorable and outstanding weddings on the Island.

Shawn Rhoton and Nicole Hancock - Event Co-ordinators at the Beachhouse Restaurant

Shawn Rhoton has been the Event Co-ordinator at the Beachhouse Restaurant for over 5 years, having moved to Florida in 2004, from Dearborn in Michigan. Shawn has 25 years event management exeperience within the food and beverage industry.

Nicole Hancock joined Shawn in January 2010, after moving to Florida in 2008. Nicole has extensive exeperience as a freelance event planner.

Shawn and Nicole work together and alongside the bride and groom from the initial booking of the event, through the planning process and will be there on hand, throughout the day, until the end of the night, to make sure that everything runs perfectly!

Shawn and Nicole LOVE weddings and both have certain parts that they get sentimental about. For Nicole, it's watching every groom's reaction to seeing his bride walk down the aisle, and for Shawn it's the Sand Ceremony. The Sand Ceremony is a beautiful binding of sand. The bride and groom each have a different colour of sand and they pour each into a single vial, so that the colours blend and represent a forever unity.

Shawn and Nicole will make sure you have a truly wonderful day at the Beachhouse.

To make an enquiry to any of the Wedding/Event Co-ordinators above, please complete the Wedding enquiry form, indicating who you would like to liaise with. We will then pass on your enquiry on your behalf.

Choose a Location

There are so many wonderful places to get married across Anna Maria Island. Take a look at our section Anna Maria Island Wedding Locations where we have highlighted some of what we think are the most fabulous!

You can also read some stories from other couples who have married here, to help you with your own planning.

Obtaining a Florida Wedding License

A Florida marriage license is required for all marriages performed in the State of Florida. You can obtain a license from any County office in Florida and it will apply across all counties.

Marriage licenses must be applied for in person with both the bride and groom present at the County Clerk's office where licenses can be obtained.

You can apply for a marraige license if you are 18 years of age or older and both the bride and groom must take the following material with them to the Clerk's office.

1) A valid government photo identification that shows the applicant's date of birth, e.g.: drivers license, state ID or passport

2) Social security number (applicable to US residents)

3) If previously married, you must provide the day, month and year the previous marriage ended

4) Your signatures will be required on the application

There is no residence or citizenship status required. A blood test is no longer required.

In addition, you will be required to sign a statement to confirm that you have read the Family Law Handbook.

FLORIDA RESIDENTS: If one or both parties is a Florida resident you must wait 3 days before the marriage license goes into effect upon application at the Clerk's office. If you want to waiver the 3 day waiting period, you must complete a premarital preparation course (which takes 4 hours), within one year prior to obtaining a marriage license. A valid certificate completion must be presented to the Clerk. Taking this course also lowers the standard fee.

NON FLORIDA/NON-US RESIDENTS: as long as neither the bride nor groom is a Florida resident, there is no waiting period. The premarital preparation course is not offered to non-residents.

Marraige licenses are valid for 60 days from the effective date. Therefore, the ceremony must be performed between the effective date and the expiration date on the license.

Visit the Manatee Clerk's Office website, for further details on obtaining a Florida Marriage License, including further information on premarital preparation courses, contact details and a map of how to find their offices.

Through the Manatee Clerk's Office website, you are also able to complete an E-marriage application - a marriage license application on line. However, both the bride and groom also need to appear in person before the Clerk and meet all the legal requirements as outlined for the license to be issued.

Find Anna Maria Island Wedding Services

A full list of wedding business services on Anna Maria Island are available to view online. Visit the Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival website for more information.