Orlando Family Magazine’s annual wedding guide can help ease the stress of planning with helpful recommendations to achieve your perfect day.

The many elements that go into planning a wedding can be exciting yet stressful at times. From selecting the perfect venue and food to decor and color palettes, there are many components that are needed to complete the special day. While the traditional features of a wedding—higher-end venues, elaborate florals and memorable meals—remain popular, couples today want a greater emphasis on personalization and overall guest experience, and with these helpful insights from professionals in the industry, they can create their ideal wedding that reflects exactly what they are looking for.

Destination of Your Dreams

The first and most important aspect of planning a wedding is the location and venue itself. Many couples prefer a more tropical setting, and with Florida’s beautifully warm and sunny weather, this is the ideal option.

For this warmer climate, resorts are usually the most popular go-to venue to book, but couples can also pick alternatives depending on what they prefer.

“We have a bunch of different venue spaces—it’s not stand here, get married there, do this here—it’s really what appeals to that specific couple,” says Beth Franklin, event coordinator at Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden.

Many locations have a variety of spaces within that venue to choose from. Some spaces can be for a wedding with a smaller guest list, while others offer a more spacious venue for a larger guest list. Similarly, decor can be shown through certain indoor and outdoor elements, backdrops, lighting and other components for a wedding.

“If they come in and see something that speaks to them, they can make that work,” Franklin continues. “It’s nice that we have such a big space within different spaces. There is a beautiful backdrop in all the spaces—the waterfall wall at the courtyard, the big Cuban palms out in our meadows—there’s a lot of different aspects that can attract couples in different ways.”

For couples looking for something particularly memorable, even the venue itself can become part of the entertainment. Weddings aboard boats, for example, combine the ceremony, reception, sightseeing and scenery into one big experience.

“It’s a magical experience on a smaller scale,” says Shannon Murphy, owner of the Dora Queen, a ship that hosts private events. “We have a lot of people who will choose the sunset option, so you have the sunset going at the back of the paddle wheel. Having the photos of the paddle wheel with the sun setting cascading over the water, there’s nothing else that beats it.”

With resorts, more couples can receive more of the tropical wedding vibes, offering a little bit of everything.

“We’ve got some amazing spaces here and seamless transitions,” says Vicky Dennehy, director of catering at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa. “We can have a beautiful toes in the sand ceremony on the beach, easy transition to the reef tiki bars—really anchoring in that Florida vibe giving the new version of the destination wedding.”

Ceremony Setup

The ceremony itself is also becoming an opportunity for couples to move beyond traditional seating arrangements and create a more intimate environment. Rather than having every guest facing forward in the traditional rows, couples are considering layouts that make family and friends feel closer in the moment, making the ceremony feel less like a formal gathering and more like a shared experience between the couple and their guests.

“Instead of just the standard ceremony where the bride and groom are standing in front of everybody with chairs laid out, they are making it more interactive,” Franklin states. “I’ve seen circles around the bride and groom so guests are enveloped around the couple.”

Teah Steel, director of banquets and catering at Shephard’s Beach Resort, has been seeing this trend as well. “A lot of people don’t want to do the normal bridesmaid, groomsmen setup,” she says. “They’re having them in the middle aisle, kind of stepping back and facing them, or they’re having them fit in the first couple of rows.”

To give more of a personal feel to weddings, couples are inviting their closest friends and family—not worrying so much about the glamour of the aesthetics themselves, but rather the people who they’ll experience their special moment with.

“Weddings have shifted to more intimate personal experiences rather than the traditional cookie-cutter formulas,” says Jacqueline Stalowy, owner of Gallery J. “Guest lists are being curated for a more closely shared experience of meaningful memories.”

What’s on the Menu

When it comes to the food that’s served at weddings, it can be a tricky task selecting each course not knowing what guests enjoy. Some new alternatives are making their way into the wedding sphere, allowing them to choose what they want to indulge in.

“A lot of couples are starting to use food stations so that way they give their guests more options,” says Dieudonne Thomas-Wilson, owner of Immaculate Events.

Being such a popular choice, Dennehy has seen this recently as well. “We’re seeing a lot of requests for the interactive stations that we have. We can easily upgrade with raw bars—the cocktail experience. We can have a logo coconut, just to add to that experience, so that’s a super fun option that we offer.”

Wedding venues are also seeing couples add additional food experiences for them and their guests, adding onto the whole experience.

“We are seeing couples extend the food and beverage experience beyond the wedding day, with brunches the following morning or welcoming family lunches to kick off the festivities beforehand,” says the event team at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, consisting of

 Katie Williams, director of conference services, Katie Hogan, senior conference services manager, and Kayla Bell, conference services manager. “Couples are looking for flexibility and opportunities to infuse their personalities into every detail.”

Most couples are starting to ditch traditional cake ideas and are taking their own spin on desserts. While some still continue to go with the traditional option, some are switching this out for additional alternatives, becoming a regular occurrence.

“Some couples are actually opting to not have a cake, but to do a dessert station instead,” Thomas-Wilson says. “They would rather have a smaller cake and some assorted desserts on the side, and now even ice cream is being incorporated.”

Steel has been seeing a lot less of traditional wedding cakes as well. “Instead, I’ve been seeing the long square cakes or just the bride and groom cakes with a bunch of desserts,” she says. “Couples also want the desserts passed out instead of displayed.”

Trends and Essentials

At any event, it is important to have some sort of interactive element. The most popular feature is live music, but some couples go a step further with additional elements, creating an even more memorable experience.

“You can do photo booths—something as easy as a 360 photo booth,” Franklin says. “It’s also fun to have artists come in and do depictions of the guests and live artwork while the event’s going on—something that can keep guests entertained while they’re enjoying the party is important.”

In terms of the actual wedding aesthetics, couples are turning away from the softer, muted styles, and are embracing color. Rather than overwhelming a celebration with an assortment of loud colors, there is a focus on one specific palette, allowing each detail to contribute to the overall atmosphere.

“For flowers and color palettes, color is coming back,” exclaims Thomas-Wilson. “A lot of the couples are using monochromatic, where you’re using one color but different shades of that color throughout, as it relates to flowers, seating choices, table linen and stationery.”

Entertainment is receiving an experiential upgrade as well. DJs remain a first option, but couples are starting to incorporate live performances that encourage their guests to engage in the lively atmosphere.

“I would say immersive experiences now are a big thing. I’m finding that whether it’s in the ceremony or at some point during cocktail hour at the reception, there is a live music experience,” continues Thomas-Wilson. “Whether that’s a harpist or some sort of drummer—all those types of things, it’s definitely become a big thing where the guests can participate in what’s happening.”

For couples who choose a beachfront wedding, this has the potential to feel like more than a single celebration. With the ocean as a backdrop, the entire weekend can give loved ones time to connect and enjoy the whole destination, extending the experience beyond the ceremony.

“For a beachfront wedding, we always encourage couples to think beyond the wedding day itself and create a full weekend experience that feels like a vacation for both the couple and their guests,” says the team at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. “Guests can enjoy elevated accommodations, an on-site pool and direct beach access with complimentary lounge chairs, Pallavi Spa, on-site dining and a variety of activities.”

When the details are thoughtfully handled, the day becomes less about what needs to happen next and more about the people and memories being created. After all, the most meaningful weddings are the ones that continue to live on in the memories shared long after the I do’s.

“We want to make sure that they’re able to enjoy their day,” Thomas-Wilson says. “We’re focused on the details so that they can be in the moment, enjoying with their family and friends. We’re responsible for creating an experience that they’re going to enjoy and talk about for a lifetime.”

2026 Wedding Resource Guide
Dora Queen
Tavares
(352) 533-3380
DoraQueen.com

Gallery J
Winter Springs
(407) 947-5718
GalleryJVenue.com

Immaculate Events
Orlando
(321) 202-0770
ImmacEvents.com

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
Key West
(305) 296-1504
KeyWest.Garden

Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa
Riviera Beach
(561) 340-1700
Marriott.com

Shephard’s Beach Resort
Clearwater Beach
(561) 340-1700
Shephards.com

Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
Clearwater
(727) 281-9500
WyndhamGrandClearwater.com