Clearwater, Florida- Beach Wedding, Vow Renewal, and Elopement

Tide The Knot is the premier beach wedding planner in Clearwater, Florida. Having coordinated Florida beach weddings and beach elopements for the last decade, Tide The Knot has the experience and expertise you need to plan a seamless and effortless beach wedding on Clearwater Beach or Sand Key Beach.

Clearwater Weddings

Clearwater is a vibrant and exciting destination for beach weddings, offering choices between the lively atmosphere of Clearwater Beach and the serene beauty of Sand Key Beach. This destination is heavily advertised around the world as one of the top beaches for spring break and family destinations in the US – popular with travelers seeking to experience the sugar-white sands, beach and water activities, and party all-night vibes. Impressive all-inclusive beach community, no car needed – walk to restaurants, nightlife, shopping, Pier 60, the marina for boat tours, and of course, the unforgettable beach. For the young at heart, regardless of age – Clearwater Beach is known for the beach, boats, and beer!

Clearwater Beach Weddings

Clearwater Beach is highly commercialized, with a plethora of beachfront hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife, and water sports, making it a hot spot for families and spring breakers. Deep-sea fishing, boating, and parasailing are highlights. The sand is powdery soft and white, and the beach is extremely wide. Beach volleyball tournaments are popular as well.

There is a constant celebration mood in this town, so if you are up for an adventure, come say “I Do” on the wildest Gulf Coast beach and walk steps to a beach bar afterward to celebrate with your guests. Be prepared for crowded beaches and photo bombers plus live music echoing from nearby bars – not advised for those seeking a quiet, romantic beach wedding. The permit fee for Clearwater Beach is $250. Parking for you and your guests is rare to find, so you’ll most likely need to Uber, rent trolleys or walk to the ceremony location.

Many of our couples like staying and playing on Clearwater Beach with the endless options for fun and sun, but choose to drive off the island for their wedding. If the peaceful wedding vibe is what you are going for, we can help with that! Start with Sand Key Beach – outlined below, and if that’s not for you, we’ll help you with other suggestions in the St Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach areas, which are all within a 20-40 min drive south of Clearwater Beach.

Sand Key Beach Weddings in Clearwater

Sand Key Park is a sliver of sanity amid the madness of overzealous development in Clearwater. Located just minutes south of Clearwater Beach, Sand Key Park is popular with day-trippers, surfers, and skimboarders. While you can see the array of Clearwater Beach hotels across the channel, you hear nothing but the sound of the water coming ashore. Sandy beaches with an eye-catching rock jetty, plus acres of trees in the background give you the combination of the beach and park setting all in one. The sands are not as white and powdery as Clearwater Beach, but you’d be hard-pressed to see that in your wedding photos – same sunset, same Gulf of Mexico waters in the background, less tourists all mean a more tranquil wedding experience.

Sand Key has 8 boardwalks/zones to choose from for your beach wedding. If you are looking to stay nearby and walk to your wedding, stay at the Sheraton on Sand Key and let us host your wedding at Boardwalk 8. While it is a super long walk out to the water, it is less crowded than Clearwater Beach. Our top wedding spot on Sand Key is the Rock Jetty closest to Boardwalk 1, right on the channel leading into Clearwater. The beach wedding location fees are $350 for up to 50 guests, $425 for 51-75 guests, and $500 for 76-100 guests. Parking is $5 per car load – way cheaper than Clearwater Beach, that is if you can even find parking there.

Plan Your Dream Clearwater Beach Wedding

We are here to make your beach wedding vision a reality whether you pick Clearwater Beach or Sand Key Beach. With flexible packages, customizable options, and a deep understanding of beach wedding planning, our team of expert designers, florists, photographers, artists, and planners will ensure every detail of your Clearwater Beach wedding is perfect.

You’ll want to decide up front – party vibe for your wedding (pick Clearwater Beach) or quieter, more tranquil wedding experience (pick Sand Key Beach).

The location fee for Clearwater Beach is $250, and our staff will handle the permit application and purchase on your behalf. Because we limit the number of events and guest counts on this beach, please check with us on availability. We strongly recommend small groups of 40 or less to be on this beach for a wedding – you’ll thank us later when you see how many tourists are on this beach and the lack of parking for you and your guests. You’ll want to add more time to your photography package – it’s a long walk out to the water!

Location fees for Sand Key Beach range $350 for up to 50 guests, $425 for 51-75 guests, and $500 for 76-100 guests, and our staff will purchase the permit on your behalf. This beach has ample parking and can support larger groups, up to 100. Strongly suggest upgrading the photography package to allow time to walk around the beach to capture the natural beauty – rock jetty, beach, dunes and greenery along the beach paths.

Tide the Knot Beach Weddings is the premier beach wedding provider for Clearwater Beach and Sand Key Beach. Our dedicated team of planners and designers flawlessly execute over 300 weddings per year. Contact us today for more information.

Top Things to Do in Clearwater Beach

Endless activities! Beach days, sightseeing, dolphin cruises, Pirate Ships and fishing excursions, paddleboarding, kayaking, jet skiing, sunset dinner cruises – so much to do on the water! Stay on land and catch concerts on Pier 60, visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with the kids, play beach volleyball or kick back at the hotel pool and sip adult beverages. Day Trips to nearby attractions like Caladesi Island State Park – only accessible by a small ferry, visit this hidden gem of a barrier island filed with birds, unique shells, clear waters and a very remote chill vibe. Or brewery hop in Dunedin, 20 mins away. For more on what to do, where to eat & stay, check out Visit Clearwater.

Clearwater Beach Wedding Packages

We offer a variety of prebuilt Popular Wedding Packages plus a Design Your Wedding tool to suit your taste and budget, from small elopements to larger gatherings. Explore our options and find the perfect package for your Clearwater Beach or Sand Key Beach wedding. Check out our Packages Here.

Clearwater Beach Wedding FAQs

Do I need a Clearwater Beach or Sand Key wedding permit? Yes, Clearwater Beach permit is $250, Sand Key Beach permit ranges $350 – $500 and our team will apply for and purchase on your behalf and add to your account
How do I customize or book a Clearwater beach wedding? Check out our Design Your Own Wedding Tool
What is the closest airport to Clearwater? Two options – Tampa International Airport (TIA) is an easy 45 min ride or St Pete/Clearwater Airport (PIE) is popular with some smaller airlines, about 40 mins to the beach. Shuttle, Uber or rent a car.
Taking a Honeymoon Cruise After the Wedding – how far away is the Port? Many of our couples get married on our beaches then hop on a honeymoon cruise. Port of Tampa is the closest and most popular for cruise departures – about 60 min ride from the beaches. Easily Uber from your hotel to the port, and then upon return from your cruise, the Tampa airport is only 20 mins
More Questions? Check out our FAQ Page for the full list of the most popular questions for Florida Beach Weddings