You want a moment with your bare feet in warm white sand. A nice Gulf-sized breeze flowing through your hair. Saltwater fragrance everywhere you go. And you want it all on your wedding day.
Thankfully, if that’s the wedding you’ve been envisioning, Naples has plenty of venues. But not every venue is on the water. Some only offer proximity to it. Others are beautiful, but your ceremony will technically overlook the beach rather than sit on it. Both are gorgeous options!
But if a beachfront ceremony is non-negotiable for you, it’s important to know the difference before you book.
As a Naples wedding photographer who’s photographed weddings up and down this stretch of the Gulf Coast, I’m breaking down our favorite venues that offer you a real beachfront ceremony rather than just a beachfront view.
Naples Beach Wedding Venues: Toes in the Sand
These are the Naples venues where your ceremony can happen directly on the beach.
- LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort: With miles of private white sand right outside the resort, LaPlaya is one of the most sought-after spots in Naples for an authentic beach ceremony. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, their covered terrace and lawn make a great backup plan.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: The Ritz offers a handful of event spaces, but their beach house ceremony location is the one to know if you want to exchange vows with sand between your toes.
- Cutlass Cove Beach Club: A member-only property, so you’ll need to be a member or sponsored by one to host your wedding here. But if that’s an option for you, it’s a stunning, low-key beachfront setting.
- The Port Royal Club: Another member-only club, offering the same exclusive, private beach access that makes Port Royal one of Naples’ most storied addresses.
- Naples Grande Beach Resort: The resort property itself isn’t beachfront, but it’s not far – and they’ll shuttle you and your guests via tram to the beach for the ceremony. (The shuttle is actually a fun guest experience down the boardwalk!)
- Hotel Escalante: Tucked into downtown Naples, the Escalante isn’t beachfront either, but like Naples Grande, they offer beach shuttle service if a sand ceremony is part of your vision.
BONUS VENUE: The Four Seasons, Naples
The Four Seasons, Naples is a great choice for overlooking the beach. Their terrace and lawn spaces have gorgeous views of the Gulf. Think elevated glamour, with an oceanside atmosphere — The Four Seasons is hard to beat!
Beachfront Wedding Venues Near Naples
If you’re open to expanding your search a bit further up or down the coast, a few more beachfront (and near-beachfront) venues are worth checking out.
Longboat Key & Sarasota
Longboat Key Club is your toes-in-the-sand option if you’re looking north toward Sarasota. A couple of nearby venues I also recommend are the St. Regis Longboat Key lawn or the Ritz-Carlton Beach Club lawn in Sarasota. They are both beautiful overlooking options.
The Barrier Islands: Marco, Captiva, Sanibel, & Boca Grande
Just south and west of Naples, Southwest Florida’s barrier islands are home to some of the most idyllic beach wedding venues around.
- Marco Island offers several true beachfront options, including the Hilton Marco Island, JW Marriott Marco Island, Sal e Pepe, and the Hideaway Beach Club.
- South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island is a toes-in-the-sand favorite for couples wanting a more secluded, island feel.
- Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island offers a true beachfront ceremony experience, surrounded by the island’s laid-back charm.
- Boca Grande is a bit different as it’s harder to come across toes-in-the-sand venues. However, the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club and Boca Bay Pass Club both offer gorgeous beach-overlooking ceremony spaces.
Which Beach Wedding Venue Is Right for You?
At the end of the day, a beach wedding can create a stunning day full of soft romance. But picking the right venue just comes down to what matters most to you as a couple.
Something worth keeping in mind as you decide — choosing an overlooking venue for your ceremony doesn’t mean skipping the beach altogether. At every single venue mentioned above, you have the opportunity to hit the sand for portraits.
If you love the idea of a golden-hour beach photo but aren’t drawn to the idea of a beach ceremony, you really can have both.
Ready to bring your beachfront wedding vision to life? As a Naples wedding photographer who knows these venues inside and out, I’d love to help you choose the perfect spot — and capture every barefoot, breezy, golden-hour moment of it.
+ view the comments
