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How to Plan Your Beach Wedding in Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores, Alabama

Consider popping the question to your sweetheart? Already said, “Yes!” to the love of your life? Congratulations!

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life, and one of the biggest decisions in the process is selecting a location. If you’ve ever considered a destination wedding, think about tying the knot in stunning Fort Morgan! This section of Alabama Gulf Coast paradise makes a truly picture-perfect background for your upcoming nuptials. Here, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about planning your ultimate Gulf Shores beach wedding! 

Fort Morgan Beach Wedding

While many people already know about Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, not many people know about Fort Morgan, located just a few minutes away. If you want your wedding on the shoreline, this is the perfect place to plan it! Fort Morgan is an amazing destination for your beach wedding. You’ll still get the incredible stretches of white sand beaches that you’d find in Gulf Shores, but it’s markedly less crowded here, so you can make sure you have some privacy for your ceremony. 

couple on beach

Not to mention, Fort Morgan makes a great honeymoon location! You can simply plan your wedding here and then stick around for a few extra days to enjoy your honeymoon. No matter whether you and your new spouse are interested in history, nature, wildlife, watersports, nightlife, or anything in between, we’ve got it all right here! Plus, you’re just a short drive away from Gulf Shores for even more adventures and excitement.

Rent a Fort Morgan Beach House

When you’re planning your Fort Morgan wedding, you’ll need a place for you and your wedding party to stay! Renting a Fort Morgan beach house is the ultimate solution. You can find a home as big or small as you need, or you can even rent two homes right next to each other so that your entire wedding party can stay together! You’ll be just steps away from your wedding site, making it easy to get ready for the ceremony and simply walk out onto the beach when it’s time. We’re proud to offer tons of Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores rentals that are popular with newlyweds from across the country!

Gulf Shores Wedding Venues

Just because you’re getting married in Gulf Shores doesn’t mean you’re limited to the beach for your ceremony. There are a wide range of stunning venues for you to choose from! Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel can help you plan the ceremony of your dreams, whether you want to hold your wedding at the beach, in a chapel, or in the gardens. They have a number of picturesque locations for you to hold your ceremony and reception, so you can handle your whole day in one convenient place. 

Weddings with the Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel can accommodate up to 200 guests and are available for couples on virtually any budget. If your outdoor ceremony gets hit with a rain shower, they can easily adapt to still provide the wedding of your dreams! Once you speak with the friendly staff and learn about their wide range of services, there will be no doubt why Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel is one of the most popular wedding venues in the area!

Wedding License

Before you can get married in Gulf Shores, you’ll need to make sure you secure your wedding license. You’ll need to obtain and complete a Registration of Marriage Certificate form, and you and your fiancé will need to sign it in front of a licensed Notary (be sure to bring a government-issued photo ID!). Then, you’ll file that form with a Probate Judge, which you can do through any Probate Office in the state of Alabama. You’ll also need to submit a Money Order to cover the $70 filing fee. Additionally, you can purchase certified copies for $3 each when you file. 

Wedding Packages

wedding decor

No matter where you choose to have your wedding, selecting a wedding package can make the entire affair much less stressful. Instead of finding individual vendors for each service or bringing all of your own decorations and equipment, opting for a wedding package ensures that everything is handled for you so you can simply enjoy your wedding day!

For instance, if you want a simple ceremony, Suncoast Beach Weddings offer packages starting as low as $150, and no package costs over $1,000! All packages include the cost of your officiant, and you can choose to add extras like photography, décor, a sand ceremony, and others. 

Another popular option is Bella Weddings by the Sea, which offers packages ranging in price from $995 to $2,195. They make every wedding day special with unique (complimentary!) touches like first dances on the beach, wine box ceremonies, champagne toasts, and more. Many packages can be customized to you and your betrothed’s exact specifications.

If you’re searching for an all-inclusive package for your wedding and reception, Sand Dollar Beach Weddings and Receptions is a great choice. They can hold your ceremony in Gulf State Park, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and a number of other locations in the area. You’ll have everything you need for a stunning ceremony and reception with packages starting at a base price of $7,000.

Wedding Photographer

Of course, you’re going to want to hire a wedding photographer to capture all the best moments of your special day. Many local wedding planners also offer professional photography to capture your ceremony! For instance, Paradise Beach Weddings has experienced photographers that have spent tons of time at beach weddings, so they understand how to get that perfect shot, no matter what the lighting or the weather have in store. Your photos will always look elegant and professional, helping you cherish the memories for years to come.

Shore Shooters Weddings offers their services to couples all around the Gulf Shores area, but beach ceremonies are some of their favorites to document. Co-founder April Loyle has more than 15 years of experience shooting beach weddings, and the whole team at Shore Shooters will help to capture the beauty of your wedding day and the true essence of you and your partner’s love story.

Sun Shots has more than 20 years of experience capturing weddings all across Gulf Shores, from small, intimate ceremonies to huge, expansive celebrations. No matter where in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach you plan to get married, they can meet you there to capture all the most special moments of your big day!

Plan Your Next Trip

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but we hope this guide gives you a good place to start. Everyone can have their ultimate dream wedding on the stunning Alabama coastline! Now, pick a date (Gulf Shores is stunning in summer or any other time of year!) and contact us today to book the Gulf Shores beach rentals you’ll need for your big day!

Florist

What’s a wedding without flowers?? Big Day Weddings offers stunning wedding bouquets for every ceremony. No matter what type of flowers you prefer or what the color scheme of your wedding is, they can help you design the ultimate bouquet to complement the rest of the ceremony. These bouquets are not only gorgeous for the bride to hold but can also make stunning centerpieces and beautiful subjects for photos!

wedding bouquet

All Island Flowers is also a popular option for couples getting married in the Gulf Shores or Orange Beach area. They can produce bouquets and floral décor as simply or as extravagantly as you’d like, so you can rest assured that you and your partner will have exactly what you’d like for your ceremony. Depending on where your ceremony is, they may be able to deliver!

Wedding Cake Bakeries

wedding cake

For your ultimate wedding cake, check out Coastal Cakes and Confections. They’re a relatively new business in the area, but they’ve already proven that they can design the wedding cake of your dreams! You can also use this bakery for any extra treats you might want at your reception.

Orange Beach Bakery offers any type of wedding cake you could possibly ask for. They’ll work with you to provide the exact cake you desire, from the size to the flavor to the designs and more. Whether you want something traditional or completely customized, they’ve got you covered!