Your Ultimate Guide to Eloping on Anna Maria Island: Tips, Venues, and Vendors

Why Elope on Anna Maria Island?

Ever Wish You Could Get Married on a Small Island? No big crowds, only you and your closest loved ones? The beach at your back and palm trees swaying in the breeze as you say your nuptials? Well, have I got the spot for you!

Why People Choose Anna Maria Island for Their Destination Elopement

Anna Maria Island is one hour south of Tampa, Florida, on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. It’s known for its seven miles of beach, small-town vibes, and quaint, idyllic attractions. Over the last 15 years, it has transformed from a sleepy island to a metropolis of visitors and businesses. While developers have also discovered AMI, this island still maintains a "small island charm" you can immerse yourself in.

But wait, wasn't Anna Maria Island in the line of Helene & Milton's path? Yes, sadly, it was. However, as I post this on November 28th, the water has turned back into its beautiful light aqua. Businesses and rentals alike are opening back up every week! While cleanup on the Island is ongoing, Anna Maria has already opened its roads and beaches for the public.

Now, Let's discuss the charms that Anna Maria Island offers prospective Wedding/Eloping couples!

Reasons to Elope on Anna Maria Island

A Small Guest List Makes Eloping Easier

Eloping on a small Island means a small guest list (if any). Having a destination elopement is a great way to let your friends and family down easy about not being invited to your elopement. Family politics can be challenging, but what's easy is escaping to a small island to relax and enjoy the whole experience with the people you choose.

Anna Maria Island has Rentals Options

Since you're keeping your elopement small, your rental choices on the Island are wide open! A small business such as Lizzie Lu's Island Retreat offers homes that accommodate anywhere from 1 to 5 bedrooms (most are pet-friendly)! One fun option is renting bigger homes close together, such as The Sand Castle and Southern Bell Duo. The Sand Castle is a historic house built in the 1920s and was repaired to its former glory in 2015. It's a beautiful photo-op. Southern Bell, the Sand Castle's modern beach house neighbor, holds upwards of 8 people. Both offer spacious rooms and private heated pools. These homes are two doors away from local beach access.

You Can Have a Beach Ceremony on AMI

With the Island just a rock's skip away, why not have a unique wedding ceremony right by the ocean! But what about seating? As long as your guests are able-bodied, you can have them stand. Want your guests to feel cozy and upscale? Picnic rentals such as Sandy Toes, Posh Picnic Co., and Sunshine Concierge Partners offer picnic rentals that are equipped to accommodate each guest. You could also make it casual by having your guests bring beach chairs/towels.

Easy Transportation Around Anna Maria Island

One unglamorous thing AMI deals with is traffic, but have no fear! The Island has options to get around. Especially if you elope before March, the Island is still technically in its "off-season" (this is a good thing regarding island traffic). Once the busy season hits (March-July), it's best to rent an e-bike or go-cart/Gem car. Want to get really acquainted with Island time? Take the local free trolley that runs through the island morning, noon, and night. Want to party it up and get a lil' wild? The Monkey Bus is a taxi service that allows drinking on board while providing music and karaoke! (I can personally attest this is a highlight of the Island!).

How Eloping on Anna Maria Island Supports Local Recovery

Eloping on AMI means you're giving local businesses and employees a chance to recover after a dismal experience. While you enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you will do so while supporting hurricane victims, thus helping the Island get back on its sandy, shoeless feet. Now THAT'S a good use of your money.

Best Food and Wedding Vendors on Anna Maria Island

Top Vendors for Eloping on Anna Maria Island

AMI has highly recommended local wedding vendors that provide beautiful/modern options to its islanders. Salon Salon does hair and nail services in a Chic salon atmosphere right on the Island! Local Bradenton, FL, florist Kinspoke provides romantic and earthy floral designs. Cheesecake Cutie desserts have vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, all while maintaining delicious quality. Want food to be catered at your wedding? Los Chiludos serves mouth-watering Mexican cuisine. Are you looking to have a private dinner out? The Beach House Waterfront Restaurant and Sandbar Restaurant offer spaces for you to host your party while offering fresh local dishes with a sunset view.

Where to Eat on Anna Maria Island During Your Elopement

If you choose to go out for most meals, you are going to eat well! Spots like Skinnys, Ginny and Jane E’s, The Donut Experiment, and Gelato Go are classic food visits for a day out on the town. Are you looking for a night out? Stop by The Doctors Office for cocktails and The Shore for an upscale yet relaxed restaurant experience. Want something novel and laidback? The Daiquiri Deck is a frozen drink heaven with frozen cocktaails like "Banana Slider" and "Electric Lemonade."

The Natural Beauty of Anna Maria Island for Eloping

There is also beauty in the broken, imperfect parts of the Island. As a photographer who considers herself non-traditional, I find the changed landscape compelling for unique and thought-provoking imagery. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this unique Island deserves appreciation for its valiant attempt to restore it and its inhabitants so far. Life is messy, love is messy, and natural disasters are messy. What's truly beautiful about life is celebrating love no matter the circumstances. The Island is still a unique place; it just needs visitors who love it as is.

Hire a Local Photographer for Your Anna Maria Island Elopement!

If you were to hire me (for the love of Florida, do this!), you would have a local guide who has ties to this lovely Island. I can also direct you to neighboring cities like Sarasota & St Petersburg that offer excellent day trip and night-out options.

Reach out here to contact Phoebe C. Photography for your custom wedding photography package, and look here for starting prices for your wedding/elopement day. I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you enjoy Anna Maria Island life! Long live AMI. 🌺

The Charms and Perks of Choosing a Non-Traditional Wedding Venue: A Look Inside Metro Bis Restaurant in Simsbury, CT

The Un-traditional Wedding Venue:

In front of 40 friends, family, and their dog Drax, Jessie and Austin married at Metro Bis Restaurant in Simsbury, Connecticut. This New England venue is considered "Untraditional" for weddings as it is a multi-use space. Let's talk about what there is to love about un-traditional venues and what this one offers New Englanders!

Overall, there are so many reasons to love un-traditional wedding venues, let's talk about it using Metro Bis as an example:

It's easier to book your dream wedding date.

Austin and Jessie decided to get married in a short time frame(we're talking under 5 months), and Metro Bis had availability at the height of the October wedding season, which in New England is as rare as a high-end steak dinner.

While keeping in mind that the availability of a venue changes month to month, Metro Bis isn't exclusively geared toward weddings. Thus, it's still more likely that you can find dates in your preferred wedding season.

It's perfect for micro weddings with its intimate, smaller setting.

While we all love getting together with our extended families and hometown friends during the holidays, it's only sometimes financially viable to invite 150+ people to a wedding. A smaller venue is a way to keep your guest list to your closest people.

If you're already planning a mico wedding(50 or fewer guests), many of the venues you would inquire about will likely be TOO spacious. A venue with excess space can leave guests feeling awkward(think about walking across a big, open floor as everyone watches you enter the bathroom).

On the flip side,

A small space with good mood lighting feels cozy and inviting while still accommodating a decent number of people. But what if you need more room to get down on the dance floor? In my experience as a wedding photographer of 12 years, The typical dancefloor provided at weddings is more significant than it needs to be. Guests typically aren't on the floor all at once, and many will skip dancing altogether. "But Phoebe, my people like to get down and be funky with it!" Honestly? Same! Get a few people to move tables and BAM, you have room for grandma to cut up that proverbial rug alongside your 4-year-old niece. Everyone gets to party!

Another big plus of a smaller venue? It's cost-effective.

Of course, the number of guests you invite to your wedding is the main reason for having more wedding costs, but evenwith a moderate (65-100) guest list, you can find venues, such as Metro Bistro Restaurant, that can accommodate your guests with a unique experience while keeping money in your pocket.

A non-traditional space feels less stuffy and formal.

While most of us love to dress up for an event, sometimes a large-scale venue can make you subconsciously feel out of place. But change the location to something like a charming historic building with an art-centered design, and you'll likely feel quickly at home and excited to engage with your fellow guests. Extra points if your non-traditional venue has a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces like Metro Bis.

More about Metro Bis Restaurant: Charming, Historical, Accommodating

Owned and run by Chef Christopher Prosperi, Metro Bis is a designated American restaurant inside the historic Ensign Parish House. The building has its original floor plan on the ground level, meaning there are differently sized rooms perfect for private events and weddings. The building's basement is home to Rhenium Salon & Spa, which offers another multi-service space for yoga, massage, skin treatments, hair styling, and more(um, when can I go?!). Metro Bis owns and operates seven rooms for rent; one room, the Ensign House Room, resides on the top floor of Metro Bis, and the others are just 2 minutes down the road at the Powder Forrest Guest House. At an average cost of $180 a night for each room, these quaint accommodations are competitive with surrounding hotel deals. (I would personally choose to stay in room 4) With all these accommodations paired with a romantic Fall setting, Metro Bis is a unique choice for any non-traditional wedding in New England.

As a photographer who grew up in New England,

I offer travel savings for couples who book me for this and other Connecticut venues. Look HERE to see more about my wedding offerings! Ready to book?

Waterfront Romance: Getting Engaged at the Beach House Restaurant on Anna Maria Island

The Setup:

In September of this year, Evan planned to bring his girlfriend, Alexandra(Allie), to The Beach House Waterfront Restaurant for a dinner with both of their parents. But this wasn't just any dinner, oh no! THIS would be Allie's surprise wedding proposal celebration! Being from Cleveland, Ohio, Evan and Allie have loved getting away to Anna Maria Island for the tropical views and precious family time.

The Plan:

Evan reached out, and we hatched a plan for me to photograph the moment while hidden in plain sight. I arrived at Holmes Beach early and sat down to "read" my book Tacky by Rex King(highly suggest). Did I read? Nope. I was too focused on the overtly obvious ruckus of a boombox down the beach. I also noticed a friendly but clueless family of fishers getting closer and closer to me, ensuring they'd be in the background of this pivotal moment for eternity. As special as that sounded, I moved my post down the beach about 18 feet while texting Evan updates of my whereabouts...but too late! He was walking down as clearly as my nearsighted eyes allowed with his beautiful girlfriend. It was my time to shine as my character of "book reader extraordinaire."

The Moment:

Allie and Evan stopped close by me, and Allie looked my way("KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN PHOEBE"), I told myself as I quickly looked away from this stunning couple. I became too good at my disguise as Evan got down on his knee with his emerald cut ring from Premiere Dimond Source the next time I dared to look up(AHH). I lunged into my bag, grabbed my trusty Canon camera, and leaped into action with as much gracefulness as a baby giraffe. Thank God E+A were too busy being in love to notice. Suddenly, the music ceased to exist, and the fishermen became a blurry background as Allie accepted Evan's proposal with a smile. As they say, the rest is history(although so much is still to come). The night was a great success, and I was thrilled to revel in the happiness of this moment with Evan and Allie. Read more about this iconic couple below from Evan’s point of view!

More about Allie & Evan:

“Evan, how did you and Allie first meet?”

"Allie and I met at our last job...On her first day on the job, she came up to me, shook my hand, and introduced herself as Allie. That was really all we said before we got to know each other. I was very intimidated by her the way she confidently carried herself. I would tell my other co-workers how she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life and that I wanted to marry her before I even spoke to her. We eventually started talking, and I would go way out of my way to invite her to Browns tailgates and downtown to hang out with her (just about anything to get to spend time with her and any excuse to be with her). I not only loved how beautiful she was but also the most caring, intelligent, compassionate, and funny she was."

“Tell me more about how you two fit into one another's lives.”

“she is truly beautiful inside and out...I always thought to myself and told my siblings that there had to be something about her that wasn't right because everything felt so good, almost too good! My siblings also started to spend time with her who all adore her for who she is. I met her family very early on and absolutely love them...Her dad and I love to spend time together and have very similar hobbies and the same sense of humor... We are both extremely close with our families and love spending time with one another. Hence why I wanted both sets of parents to be down here(for the proposal)."

“What are you two like as a couple?”

"We are both social butterflies, rarely sitting around at home. We love spending quality time with each other, going on walks, and spending time with friends and family... I feel like we both met at the most perfect time, and everything felt right and was perfect how we met and got along. She is truly my best friend."

Forever in background: the fishermen <3

Learn more about wedding packages here.

Stories By Phoebe

Hold on to your hats, folks; visual storylines are coming soon that are sure to amaze your eyeballs.

For the lovers, livers, and owners of this world.