Elopements & Vow Renewals
Siesta Key
Elopement Photographer
Barefoot in the sand, the Gulf behind you, and nobody's seating chart to worry about.
Small is not lesser
Some couples want three hundred guests and a ballroom. Others want to stand on a beach at sunset, say the thing they mean, and go to dinner. This page is for the second kind.
Siesta Key is genuinely one of the best places in Florida to do it. The sand is white quartz that stays cool, the beach faces west so the sun sets straight out over the water, and a ceremony for two does not need a venue, a timeline, or a year of planning.
What I Photograph
Four Ways to Do This
Beach Elopements
Just the two of you, or you plus a witness or two. A short ceremony on the sand at golden hour, then portraits while the light is still good.
Vow Renewals
Ten years, twenty-five, or the anniversary you nearly did not make. Often with the kids there this time, which changes it entirely.
Proposals
I hide, you ask, I photograph the moment she turns around. We plan the spot and signal in advance. It works far better than you would think.
Micro-Weddings
Under about twenty guests. Ceremony on the beach, dinner somewhere good afterward. All the meaning, none of the logistics.
Day-After Sessions
Married elsewhere and honeymooning here? Put the dress back on for an hour on the beach. No nerves, no schedule, better photos.
Engagement Sessions
Sunset engagement portraits on the Key. A relaxed hour that also gets you comfortable in front of a camera before the wedding.
Simple Pricing
Elopement Coverage
Priced for a beach ceremony, not a twelve-hour wedding day. Every package includes professional editing and an online gallery with full download and print rights.
Just the
Two of You
1 Hour
$250
Ceremony & portraits
- 1 hour of coverage
- Ceremony plus couple portraits
- 40+ edited images
- Online gallery, full downloads
- Print rights included
Beach
Elopement
2 Hours
$450
The usual choice
- 2 hours of coverage
- Getting-ready moments
- Ceremony & full portrait session
- 80+ edited images
- Two locations if you like
Micro
Wedding
3 Hours
$650
Up to about 20 guests
- 3 hours of coverage
- Ceremony, portraits & guests
- Toasts and dinner candids
- 120+ edited images
- Family group photos
Add-Ons
Available with any package
Extra Hour
+$200
Second Photographer
+$500
Ceremony Video
+$500
Travel outside Sarasota County may add a small fee.
Practical Things
Planning a Siesta Key Beach Ceremony
The parts people usually have questions about
Permits
Sarasota County requires a permit for beach ceremonies, and the rules vary by beach and group size. It is straightforward paperwork. Ask me and I will point you to the current form and the office that handles it.
Time of day
The hour before sunset, essentially always. Sunset runs from about 5:37pm at the end of November to about 8:30pm in late June, so your ceremony time shifts a lot by month. Check the sunset table before you set a time with your officiant.
Which beach
Crescent Beach is quieter than the main Siesta Key Beach and just as beautiful. Turtle Beach at the south end is quieter still, with darker, shellier sand and a moodier feel.
Officiants & florals
I do not book these for you, but I have worked alongside plenty of local officiants, florists, and hair and makeup artists. Happy to pass along names of people I have seen do good work.
How far ahead to book
Two to three months is comfortable. Peak season runs roughly February through April and books earlier. That said, short-notice elopements do happen and are worth asking about.
If it rains
Gulf storms usually pass quickly and the light afterward can be extraordinary. We can shift the ceremony time within the day, or move to another day if your schedule allows.
Planning a Full Wedding Day?
That Lives Somewhere Else
This page covers beach elopements, vow renewals, and small ceremonies. If you are planning a full wedding day with a venue, a reception, and a proper guest list, that is a different job and I handle it under my wedding brand.
Same photographer, same approach, packages built for a whole day rather than an hour on the sand.
Visit David Alan Graham Wedding Photography