Florida elopement packages usually run somewhere between $500 and $5,000, depending on what’s included and where you say “I do.”
That range is the first thing worth knowing before you start comparing venues.
This guide breaks down what a typical elopement package actually covers, what almost always costs extra, and how a garden or barn setting stacks up against the beach elopement packages that dominate most searches.
By the end, you’ll know exactly which questions to ask before you book — including a few venues hope you forget to ask.
Eloping isn’t a consolation prize anymore, either.
The average full wedding now costs $34,200, according to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study — and an elopement package at a fraction of that price is a big part of why more couples are choosing one on purpose.
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What’s Typically Included in a Florida Elopement Package
Most Florida elopement packages cover the same basic core, no matter where you book.
That core is venue access, a ceremony space, and some form of setup.
Almost every package includes a set block of time on-site, usually one to two hours.
It also includes access to at least one ceremony location — a pavilion, terrace, garden, or stretch of beach.
Staff-handled setup and teardown of basic ceremony pieces (chairs, an arch, simple décor) is standard too.
Some venues throw in getting-ready space, even for a two-person elopement.
Public or private restrooms are usually included, which sounds minor until you’re planning around their absence.
A day-of point of contact — someone on staff who knows the timeline — rounds out most packages.
What varies is everything past that baseline: photography, florals, an officiant, and a reception space.
Reception space is the biggest gap between an “elopement” and a “wedding,” and it’s rarely included at the elopement tier.
Most elopement packages are ceremony-only — no dinner, no dancing, no reception venue.
Photography is the second most common add-on, even though it’s the one thing almost every eloping couple wants.
An officiant is sometimes bundled in, but just as often it’s a separate line item you arrange yourself.
Florals, hair and makeup, and a day-of coordinator typically live in a higher, “all-inclusive” tier — not the base elopement price.
Guest limits matter here too.
Most elopement packages cap out around two additional guests before you’re bumped into micro-wedding pricing.
Bringing your parents and a sibling can quietly double your cost if the venue counts you over the elopement threshold.
Curious what your own elopement day would actually cost? Reach out to Dragonfly Farms — we’ll walk you through real pricing for your date and guest count.
Beach vs. Garden and Barn Elopements: Why Setting Changes the Package
Search results for Florida elopement packages skew heavily toward the coast — Key West, the Emerald Coast, 30A, St. Petersburg.
Beach elopement packages tend to be built around permit logistics: securing beach access, working around public foot traffic, and timing the ceremony to tide and sun.
That’s real, specialized work, and it shows up in what those packages include (permit handling, a designated legal beach spot, sometimes a rain-or-shine backup location inland).
A garden or barn elopement works differently.
There’s no permit to pull, no tide chart to check, and no crowd of beachgoers walking through your first look.
You trade ocean views for a private, controlled setting — string lights instead of sunset, a covered pavilion instead of open sand.
For couples who want Florida without the beach-wedding logistics (or the humidity-and-wind photo challenges that come with it), an inland garden or barn venue is a genuinely different option, not a lesser one.
There’s also a practical weather argument.
Central Florida’s summer storm pattern rolls in almost every afternoon between June and September, and a beach ceremony has nowhere to go when it does.
A covered pavilion or a climate-controlled barn keeps that risk off the table without moving your date.
Florida Marriage License Basics You’ll Need Either Way
No matter which package or setting you choose, Florida requires a marriage license before any ceremony counts legally.
Both parties apply together, in person, at a county clerk’s office — it can’t be done entirely online.
Florida residents face a three-day waiting period between applying and the license becoming valid, unless they complete a state-approved premarital course.
Out-of-state and international couples skip that waiting period entirely, which is one reason Florida is a popular elopement destination for couples eloping from elsewhere.
The license itself is valid for 60 days from issue, so timing the application to your ceremony date matters.
Build this step into your planning before the venue conversation, not after — it’s the one part of eloping that isn’t optional.
What an Elopement Actually Looks Like at Dragonfly Farms
Dragonfly Farms, a wedding and event venue in Palm Bay, offers elopement packages for up to 30 guests.
The elopement package includes two hours of venue access for the ceremony and photos.
Couples choose between two ceremony settings: the open-air covered pavilion or the paver terrace.
Representative image — Dragonfly Farms’ own climate-controlled reception barn seats guests for micro-wedding packages that add a reception to the elopement tier.
The package includes bride and groom dressing rooms, in-house ceremony décor, and staff-handled setup and teardown — the arch, the chairs, the small details that take real time to arrange yourself.
On-site ceremony coordination and a choice of ceremony arch are included as well.
Reception space is not part of the elopement tier, consistent with how most Florida elopement packages are structured.
Couples who want more — catering, a DJ, florals, hair and makeup, bar service — can build toward Dragonfly Farms’ all-inclusive option, which covers those pieces à la carte.
The property sits about 15 minutes from Melbourne, 20 from Viera, and 30 from Cocoa Beach — close enough for out-of-town guests without putting the ceremony on sand.
It’s also pet-friendly and ADA-compliant, two details that matter more than they sound like they should once you’re actually planning around them.
Pricing isn’t published online; Dragonfly Farms quotes it directly once you reach out, which is worth doing early since two-hour elopement slots on popular dates go first.
See real setups from past ceremonies in why couples choose Dragonfly Farms for their elopement, or read about the venue’s climate-controlled reception barn if a micro-wedding reception is on the table too.
Not sure whether an elopement or something slightly bigger fits your day? Talk to the Dragonfly Farms team — they’ll help you figure out which package actually matches what you’re picturing.
Elopement vs. Micro-Wedding: Which Fits Your Guest List
The line between “elopement” and “micro-wedding” comes down to guest count and reception space, not romance level.
At Dragonfly Farms, elopements top out around 30 guests and skip the reception entirely.
Micro-weddings step up from there — under 50 guests, with a full reception built in.
A Dragonfly Farms micro-wedding package adds rehearsal time, getting-ready suites, tables, chairs, linens, a day-of coordinator, and on-site parking on top of the ceremony pieces.
If your guest list is genuinely just the two of you (or two of you plus a couple of witnesses), the elopement tier is built for that and priced accordingly.
If you’re picturing dinner with 30 or 40 people who matter most, the micro-wedding tier is where that actually happens.
Couples often start out planning an elopement and realize, once the guest list creeps past a handful of names, that micro-wedding pricing ends up being the more honest comparison.
Questions to Ask Before You Book Any Elopement Package
A few questions separate a package that looks affordable from one that actually is.
- Exactly how many hours of venue access do you get, and does that include setup time or start once you arrive?
- What happens if it rains — is a covered backup location included, or is that an extra fee?
- How many guests are allowed before the price changes? Get the exact number in writing.
- Are photography, an officiant, and florals included, or fully separate bookings you’ll need to arrange yourself?
- What does setup and teardown actually cover — some venues include chairs and an arch, others charge per item.
And ask early: popular Florida elopement dates, especially weekends October through April, book out months ahead.
Ready to ask Dragonfly Farms those questions directly? Get in touch — we’d love to help you plan your day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Florida elopement package cost?
Florida elopement packages typically range from about $500 for a bare ceremony-only booking to close to $5,000 for a fully-styled package with photography and florals included. Exact pricing depends on the venue, guest count, and how much is bundled in versus arranged separately.
What’s the difference between an elopement and a micro-wedding?
An elopement is typically ceremony-only, capped at a small number of guests (often two or fewer beyond the couple), with no reception included. A micro-wedding allows more guests — commonly up to 50 — and includes a reception with tables, dinner, and more planning support.
Is photography included in most elopement packages?
Not usually. Photography is one of the most common add-ons rather than a built-in feature, even though it’s often the top priority for eloping couples. Confirm this directly with any venue before assuming it’s covered.
Can you elope somewhere other than the beach in Florida?
Yes. Garden, barn, and pavilion venues across the state offer elopement packages without the permit logistics, tide timing, or crowds that come with a public beach ceremony — often with a covered rain backup built in.
How far in advance should you book a Florida elopement?
As early as possible, especially for weekend dates between October and April. Elopement time slots are typically shorter and more limited than full wedding bookings, so popular dates fill first.
