Isabelle and Riley’s Santa Rosa Beach wedding was SUCH a dream! They traveled from Canada with 40 of their closest people and planned the kind of destination wedding that felt more like an amazing weekend together than a big production. 

Their ceremony and reception happened right at their rental, they snuck away to the beach for portraits, and the night ended with everyone jumping in the pool. If you’re dreaming of an intimate destination wedding in Florida, there’s so much to take from this day!

Why a Santa Rosa Beach Wedding Is Perfect for a Destination Wedding

One of the best parts about getting married here is that the wedding can feel like part of the whole trip, not the only thing everyone came for. Your guests can spend time at the beach, explore nearby towns, grab dinner together, and enjoy a few days away.

That slower pace is especially nice for smaller weddings. Instead of packing everything into one rushed day, you can make the weekend feel relaxed and centered around time with the people you love.

A Florida Wedding Day That Felt Like a Vacation

With only 40 guests, Isabelle and Riley got to spend time with everyone who traveled all the way to Florida to celebrate with them. It never felt like they were working their way around a huge reception trying to say hi to every person before the night was over.

They ate an amazing dinner, laughed until their bellies hurt, and ended the night with music and everyone jumping in the pool. It really did feel like the best vacation with a wedding right in the middle of it!

Hosting Your Wedding at a Santa Rosa Beach Rental

If you love the idea of a destination beach wedding but don’t necessarily want to say your vows with your toes in the sand, having your ceremony at a rental can be such a fun way to get the best of both worlds. Isabelle and Riley had both their ceremony and reception right at their Santa Rosa Beach rental, which made the whole day feel easy. 

Everything happened in one place, so there wasn’t a lot of moving around or rushing between locations. Everyone could settle in and enjoy the day without worrying about getting from one place to the next.

Important Wedding Tip

If you’re dreaming of doing the same, make sure your rental allows weddings or events before you book it. Ask about guest limits, parking, noise rules, and whether you’ll need any additional permits.

A Reception That Feels Like the Best Dinner Party

Dinner was such a special part of the evening. Their caterers cooked everything right in the kitchen at the rental, then everyone gathered around a gorgeous table outside under the string lights.

I love this detail so much: a close family friend made their wedding cake the day before! It turned out unbelievably stunning. Nothing about the evening felt overly formal. It was thoughtful, easygoing, and centered around spending time with the people who had traveled all this way to celebrate with them.

And Isabelle looked absolutely beautiful all day thanks to her hair and makeup artist, Kristen!

Slipping Away to the Beach Together

One of my favorite parts of the day was sneaking away to the beach with just the two of them. Your wedding day does not need to turn into an hour-long photoshoot, but having a few quiet minutes alone together is SO worth it.

Isabelle and Riley got to run through the sand, enjoy the sunset, and soak in the fact they were officially husband and wife before heading back to the party.

How to Plan an Intimate Destination Wedding That Feels Relaxed

Since everyone is already traveling, make a whole weekend out of it! Spend time at the beach, grab dinner together, and let the wedding feel like part of an amazing trip instead of one rushed day.

I also recommend leaving more breathing room in your timeline than you think you need. Your friends and family traveled all this way to celebrate with you, so give yourself time to be with them! And don’t add wedding traditions just because you feel like you’re supposed to. Celebrate all weekend, enjoy 30A, and plan your dream wedding day.

Let’s Plan Your Santa Rosa Beach Wedding!

If Isabelle and Riley’s wedding has you dreaming about gathering your favorite people in Santa Rosa Beach and making a whole weekend out of it, I’m SO there. I love destination weddings where you get to be fully present, celebrate with the those you love, and actually enjoy the place you traveled all this way to experience. If that sounds like your kind of wedding day, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up!

In the meantime, you can learn more about me, inquire, and find more beach wedding inspiration with the links below.

Here are more intimate beach weddings and planning tips to inspire you:

Planning a 30A Beach Wedding: The Complete Guide

Elegant and Timeless 30A Wedding Day

Intimate Rosemary Beach Florida Wedding in 30A

The Best Florida Beach Elopement Locations (From the Forgotten Coast to the Florida Keys)

Clark Photo and Film | Santa Rosa Beach Wedding Photographer