This post evolved into a MEGA-POST, so I have split it up into two parts. Presented below is Part 1. I will be presenting Part II in a few days! Make sure to check back.
~ Destination: Naples, Florida ~
Having lived in Naples since we were wee ones (with a hiatus in New Orleans just for fun and Sarasota for college), we thought it would be great to provide some suggestions for brides and grooms looking at Naples, Florida for their destination wedding.
Now this isn’t just a post about the best of the best in Naples (well, it is kind of :)), rather, it’s a list of places and things WE love about Naples. That means we’ve stayed there, been there, eaten there, photographed there, been photographed there or partied there and WE love the place and most importantly, we would recommend it to our friends and family. We hope this gives you a bit of information on the area. It truly is a beautiful town and a magical place for your wedding day!
~ Naples Beaches ~
Of course, we have to start off with the beaches here in Naples. Not only are the beaches absolutely beautiful, with the softest powder white sand you will ever feel between your toes, but the sunsets are KILLER! Can you imagine a better backdrop as you exchange your vows? And every sunset is always different. Rene and I have seen so many sunsets, both as a couple and now with our girls as a family, and each and every sunset is unique.
The Naples sunset is truly magical! I know, I know! It sounds cheesy but the sunsets are truly beautiful. And if you time your ceremony just right, that magic makes for an even more magical ceremony! I can’t tell you how many times Rene and I have photographed the most special of moments when a bride and groom exchange their vows as the sun sets, the waves lap the shore, pelicans and sea gulls fly over head and the soft warm breeze kisses your face.
So when you plan your ceremony, make sure you pay attention to sunset times so you can capture that natural sunset magic in your ceremony and your beach portraits as husband and wife. You will also want to time your wedding just right in the year (as in avoid the months between April and August) you can beat the worst of the heat and rain, while having that perfect beach/sunset wedding!
~ Beach Venues ~
So what’s the perfect venue for that beach wedding? Depending on your style, there’s a venue to fit the most luxe-seeking bride and groom to the most casual duo, too! Starting from the top, here’s our list of favorites, in no particular order! And yes, we’ve shot at every single one of these venues and we feel they provide the best beach ceremonies in Naples and the surrounding areas. If you have specific questions, just shoot us an email and we will happily answer as best we can.
And two fantastic beach venues just outside of Naples:
~ Need a GREAT place to spend the night? ~
There are tons of hotels in Naples. But we have two favorites that we LOVE! The Inn on Fifth, Olde Naples and Hotel Escalante. Rene and I were married right here in Naples and before we left on our honeymoon, we spent three nights and four days at the Inn on Fifth and it was truly wonderful! We would have had our wedding there but it wasn’t big enough. But we can’t rave enough about the service, the people and most important, the ambiance! It was all about us and we couldn’t get enough!
For anniversary’s or special get-aways for just the two of us, we also love the Hotel Escalante! It’s very private, very small and oh-so-very perfect for a totally romantic getaway from life or that very special honeymoon night! Both of these awesome hotels are right in the heart and charm of Old Naples…
~ Where to visit ~
You and your fiancee may have some time after your wedding to do some sightseeing around Naples. If you leave right after your wedding for your honeymoon, some of your friends and family may stick around to soak up the sights. What to do? Well, Naples has some great spots to take in the sights!
~ Fifth Avenue ~
If you have your wedding in Naples, you must take a day and walk down Fifth Avenue South. It’s the heart of Naples and is Naples’ original “Main Street”. It’s a fantastic bit of history that leads right down to the beach. Walk all the way down, hand-in-hand, sipping on a cup of coffee from Fifth Avenue Coffee Company (so much better than Starbucks) or grab a delicious cone from Regina’s Ice Cream. People-watch, window-shop, take pictures and enjoy the absolute beauty of the vegetation and architecture.
If you want get off your feet and see Naples the fun way, make sure to take a ride on the Naples Trolley. The Trolley system has different tours and their main tour covers over 100 spots all over Naples! Check out the tour map here!
Prefer something a little different? Try Naples Segway Tours! Rene and I have been wanting to do this one for a while now, but we haven’t been able to carve out the time. We see the tours all the time from our favorite park, Cambier Park (just off 5th), and they look like so much FUN! Check them out for a totally different way to take in Naples!
And of course, while in Naples, your festivities wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Naples Pier! The Pier was originally built in 1888 and has undergone many a rebuilt after damage by hurricanes and for modernization. There is talk that the pier will undergo some new changes, so as Neapolitans, we are excited to see what changes are in store! But it’s great to go to the beach for the day and walk the pier, watch the locals, and make sure to go late in the afternoon. The dolphins are always out by the end of the pier and they love the attention. It’s simply beautiful! The water right now is a perfect temperature for swimming. We were just out there last weekend and it was GREAT!
~ 3rd Street South ~
Another historical landmark of Naples, 3rd Street South began in the late 19th Century. Access to this tiny spot in Old Naples was via the Naples Pier only. Imagine the changes that this are has undergone as now, it’s the place to go for unique decorations, fantastic fashion, art for the discriminate collector and a haven for even the most luxe of palettes! You can even email your favorite pictures using the free WIFI in the historic district’s hotspot!
If you love art, make sure to visit Gallery Row on 3rd. This area boasts more galleries in one spot than any where else in Southwest Florida! Guys, still need to find that special something for your bride? Make sure to visit Cleopatra’s Barge Fine Jewelry, home of the infamous ‘Naples Medallion’. Cleopatra’s has some seriously unique pieces of bling and they’ve been a staple here since 1966!
That concludes Part 1 of this entry! Part 2 will be up in a few days. And please feel free to keep the questions coming via email. Our website, Astrid and Rene Photography, also has some great shots of Naples weddings, so check those out as well. I’ve included a small gallery below with some shots of some of the places I blogged about. What can I say, I love to take pictures :D!
~ Astrid ~
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Tags: brides by Astrid
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