Questions and Answers - Beach Breeze Weddings

Fill out my contact form, it's on the bottom of every page. 

 I will call you ASAP.  Then I will send a comprehensive email with core information to help you discuss your event as a couple, and enable you to confidently move forward with hiring our services.

We will ultimately require a 50% non-refundable deposit to hold the date.  The amount required is based on the services that you confirm.

Everything regarding style and numbers of chairs remains flexible and changeable right up to a few days before your wedding.  

The details will fall into place systematically, the entire process will be outlined in writing, well in advance.

Our goal is to ensure that you know,  "we've got you covered" throughout the process.

We will help you to figure out a backup plan well in advance. 

I always suggest combining a beach or outdoor wedding with a venue reception. Your rain back-up plan can often be built into the mix by using your Sarasota Wedding reception space for the actual wedding ceremony, if it becomes necessary.

With enough advance notice I can often exchange some of my decor to better fit your newly acquired indoor needs. 

I try to do more for you in these cases, and afford as much flexibility as I possibly can. Timing and location changes are usually easy to accommodate since we deliver only one wedding per day.

For smaller weddings with the ability of all guests to shift the date on the fly, we've often accommodated our clients. Tomorrow might be a better day...If we are available.

Postponing a larger event by more than a day, is usually considered a cancellation with all monies forfeited.

Sarasota beaches are mostly thought of for Sunset Weddings.

Sunset is approximately  

~6pm in January

~7pm in March

~8pm in April

~830 pm in June-July

~730pm in September

 ~7pm in October

 ~530pm in November- December

Depending upon the size and location of your event... 

Wedding start time should be about 1.5 hours before sunset.

that's not always possible but a good rule of thumb. 

Balance the comfort level of heat with the actual sunset time on your day...in relation to the timing necessary to accomplish your reception. 

Morning Weddings are great for pictures,  but finish the event by 10:30am or you'll become uncomfortable in the sun. 

A 10:00 am start or earlier is recommended. 

Beach permits are easily obtained and your responsibility.

Most Sarasota Beach Weddings require a permit.  It's approximately $100 for 2 hours which covers the timing needs of most beach wedding ceremony events. Some areas have pavilions for rent as well.

Call the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department @ 941-861-9930 to easily obtain your beach wedding permit over the phone with a credit card.

If you are serving alcohol, an additional rider is usually necessary.

I'm happy to give permit information about other beaches...give a call!  

 I'll help get you settled.

For those that don't get it...This is not referring to your Marriage License- see that category below.

 The biggest hoax are those that call themselves Ministers after purchasing their criteria online.

I am a Florida Notary, licensed and vetted in Florida to deliver weddings, doing so for over 15 years now. I am also a trained actor, and have been a public speaker and a corporate event planner for my entire life.

Whatever you'd like within your wedding will easily be delivered without prejudice. I love all cultures, religions and all people.

I can deliver Catholic, Christian Protestant, Baptist and Mormon Weddings, non-Demonenational Weddings, Jewish Weddings, Spanish/English and Gay Weddings, all with the same conviction, intensity and passion. 

I've also incorporated religious scripture, Hebrew, Spanish and even Czech and Chinese phrases within my Sarasota Weddings, all with the same positive results.

You can have your minister marry you instead of me, but I do not co-officiate weddings.  Give us the job fully if you trust us.

Absolutely! 

Aside from taking traditional roles within the wedding party, the best thing I've found to accomplish the inclusion of young children is by incorporating them into your sand ceremony.  

I deliver words that inspire Brady Bunch Families (Your children and non-biological children) to share in the connection of this joyous experience.

Our Sand ceremony has meaning....It can solidify the combined outlook of your entire families shared life ahead.  

We've been told it was the favorite part of everyone's experience as it marked the formation of a new family in a special way.

Hire me and I'll give you a few more ideas!  Google "Best Unity Sand Ceremony in the USA" to see a video.  It's from a few years ago. 

In a word....No!

 I'll offer a few suggestions for reception venues, and suggest  people that deliver additional services beyond what we do.

Running you around  like a realtor to help you choose a reception  venue is  not on our list.

 We are happy to suggest reception venues after hire, but it's best if you figure that out on your own with consideration to your, guest count confirmed, with combined budget and style in mind. It's a very personal decision.

For most of the small stuff and fine tuning like giveaway bags and invitations, and managing your guest list, email or seating charts,  you'll need to take a hands on approach.

We CAN take on the role event planner managing others who deliver your event.....however that's not what we do normally.

Our starting fee to manage your event as a custom event, with yourselves being hand-held through the whole process, with others supplying the services is $2000 + a 10% surcharge on all venue and vendors hired.

If you'd like to explore that idea in lieu of our outlined packages, call to discuss your needs.

Sure!  Not every event requires all that we offer.  

We can deliver any and all of our services ala carte.  

We have a whole section devoted to smaller weddings

"Weddings for 2 or just a few"

"Officiant Only" services start at $500.

A smaller low-to-the-ground decor package can also be found on that page.

Our Braden River backyard is asp a ready location for a unique wedding experience. even last minute.

If I'm open I'll create something special for you!!

 When it's just a few people and you want something smaller, that's ok too!!

click below for more

In a word...NO! 

We provide a complete packaged wedding ceremony event service with all of the details taken care of.

We are happy to add and even eliminate items as requested, but the package price usually remains the same.  

We additionally offer live flowers, lanterns, bubble machines, sand ceremonies and champagne toasts.

You can add items not offered by us, that you additionally provide. 

In our process we will make a written plan that includes these details.  However, no-one can be added into our set up process. 

Inserting strangers into our set up process truly affects our timing and ability to deliver our best.

See also the page....

"How to Maximize our Value"

I am not your wedding Planner managing your entire event!!  

I do not automatically follow you to help with your reception unless you hire us additionally to do so.

For the Ceremony portion of your event, we deliver it completely  and self manage every aspect that we provide. There's really nothing left for a planner or venue host to do. 

When we hand you off to our recommended venue and vendors for your reception;

 We do so knowing that they will seamlessly pick up where we dropped you off.

Our vendor team and the locations we recommend need little direction from us! 

If you hire us to additionally  deliver a RECEPTION decor package, we will be present to manage it from delivery , setup, to pick up.

However in most cases, the venue captain at your chosen venue will manage their own timeline and details in their space, along with coordination of the timeline with our DJ.

Call if this concept is not clear!

We actually do the work, own the stuff, and self manage every aspect of our contribution to your event and calmly mind our own business.

We take a much different approach than most day planners/and planners.

We also avoid being subjected to.... what we refer to as the finger snapping  "clip-board girl." 

It seems ridiculous that a stranger who never set up a canopy on their own, or cooked a meal for a crowd is put in the position of directing our process or anyone else's for that matter??

If you hire us, you'll need to trust us to do our job or the portion we were hired for....completely!

I call it my modern style delivery. 

In my opinion, a traditional wedding with the couple's back turned toward their guests, looses a level of intimacy within the wedding.  My style creates a better connection between the bride and groom and their guests.

My modern style of delivery allows for eye contact, intimacy and hand holding for the couple, and a personal connection between the couple and their guests.  It also allows me to directly address and include your guests in the thoughts and words shared. It's a level of intimacy that is consistently commented on in my reviews.

It also allows the photographer to focus on unimpeded pictures of the bride and groom without my big head in the way. 

The wireless sound system also works better on the beach without having the signal pass thru bodies.

And finally it affords me the ability to smoothly and naturally transition throughout the wedding, actively fixing and changing sight-lines, and moving more naturally to deliver moments where your guests are spoken to directly, and where sand ceremonies, pictures, and personal vows would benefit from me being out of the way.

When I send my questionnaire to help write your ceremony,  I will ask many questions to define your exact desires. I will always share the benefits of me not standing behind you.

In the end...your wedding will always be delivered...exactly as you wish! 

Absolutely!

Myself and my entire crew, deliver our services with the same respect inherently deserved by everyone. 

We try to be kind and good to everyone.  

We try to always take the high road.  

Everyone matters and everyone who hires us deserves our best!

Be kind, and so will we be! That's the only thing that really matters.

Our approach is to do whatever it takes to deliver your event smoothly in the chosen space.

 When additionally hiring us to deliver Reception Decor, lighting and drapery packages; 

Know in advance, that drapery and lighting , takes time!

The best scenario is to work in a venue that allows us to set up a day or night in advance.  

I am happy to suggest the places that support our cost saving approach allowing us to calmly deliver and set your event to the best of our abilities.

Without the luxury of time...additional costs occur when more people are needed to set up and break down under an imposed time schedule.

 Most catering venues will set up their own tables and chairs with basic linens for the reception on their own schedule and with their own crew. It usually occurs on the same day of your event.

Table design in our opinion is the easiest part of a wedding. It can be done ala carte in a short timeframe.

We have all you'd ever need for table decor. Really!! Buy nothing before we talk!!

Call to discuss your specific needs. We are happy to meet you in your venue space and share a few ideas.

If you want to change everything at the onset, then you truly want a more customized event! 

Great!!!!  We can do that!!!

Whatever you desire, the answer is already,  "Yes!"

Simply share your dreams and your budget concerns, and we will happily build you a sparkling and new customized wheel. 

New wheels usually cost a lot more than our offered packages.  

With our background of delivering a myriad of corporate events in NYC, nothing is impossible if you have the budget!

So let's talk!

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your date to the exclusion of others.  

Your deposit amount is reflective of the core decor package you would like.  It can always be upgraded, and added to later.

Once hired in any capacity, further resources and advice will always be given freely. 

Make Personal Checks payable to "Allan Zuckerman.”  We also accept "Zelle" bank transfers. At most major banks you'll need only my email address

  Allan@BeachBreezeWeddings.com

Final balance will be due two weeks before the event if via personal check ...

Or 

 Balance can be paid in cash or through "Zelle" at our final M-Th 1030am prep meeting a few days prior to your event.

Full details in writing and our Service Agreement is presented upon hire with opportunity to review.

Cancellations and date changes after hire will amount to forfeiting your deposit.

Most of our ceremony cost structure is already outlined on our websites, and should serve as a ready quote.

After filling out our contact form we will send a few emails that further clarify our offerings. 

A 50% non-refundable deposit will hold your date to the exclusion of others as we build and document the details of your event.

A series of detailed email, resources, and proprietary information, including our full promises of service in writing, will be delivered in answer to hiring us.

Hire us for the core minimum package that you are certain about.  We can always add to it later.  

The number of chairs and even the canopy style can be changed up to a few days before the event.  

Wedding Events often become a work in progress in the early stages of planning. 

We know  to remain flexible. Details do change along the way!

We will happily review your details as needed.  A final review a few days before your event ensures that all desired changes and any additions are accounted for.  

No worries!

By wedding day (and well before your date)  we will assure that your event will be delivered exactly as desired.

Marriage licenses can be obtained at any County Clerk's Office in Florida for $86.50

Only you can do this! 

Once obtained you'll have 60 days to get married.

There is no waiting period for non-residents of Florida nor blood tests.

Florida residents have a choice of a three day waiting period or attending a four hour class that teaches you about divorce and money.  It usually costs as much as you save....(hint: skip the class and/or talk to a lawyer)  

The Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court accepts cash or personal checks. Some courthouses will take credit cards.

Identification with a photograph (i.e. driver's license or passport) and your Social Security # is required. You'll need only to acknowledge the date that any previous marriages have ended.

You'll both need to go to the Court House together. 

Once I marry you, I will stamp the document. Your Marriage License must then be returned back to the Court Clerk's Office from where it was obtained within 10 days, so the marriage can be recorded. 

For clarity- I cannot validate a marriage license from another state or country.

The chairs included in our packages are USE or LOSE with the caveat that all padded white chairs used for your ceremony ...are ours.

We won't combine our chairs with any that we don't own. You also should provide a chair for every guest.

Our chairs are clean and white, bright and new, delivered perfectly aligned with sand combed. Our chairs are not used for food service so they remain bright and clean and reflect our level of quality.

If you'd like a different style of chair other than our padded white garden style....Chiavari in any color, Ghost Chairs, Bamboo etc....Call to discuss. We have many other styles- available additionally.

Additional padded white chairs beyond what's included in our packages, are $5 on the beach 

If your venue supplies any chairs for your ceremony, ask for some credit to use in other aspects of your wedding.

 When other people are involved with the ceremony set-up; It  interferes with our approach and timing, and also takes away our ability to ensure the quality standard that you originally hired us to deliver. 

We hope you understand.

I will happily review your event with you in person at your location on a M-TH at 10:30 am. There is no additional charge for this and it's best if it's just us.

If you feel a rehearsal is needed at that time with others involved...no problem. 

On the day there are two of us managing your event from both ends....anything more than showing your friends where the wedding will be is usually not necessary.

We will review details, discuss the movement in the space, clarify any concerns, and generally use the opportunity to catch up to any remaining corrections needed within the ceremony and our plans. 

More often we collect any remaining balance due and stamp your marriage license document at this time.

 Sometimes the entire rehearsal process can just as easily be done over the phone. 

Most people actually conduct their own rehearsal sometime after our final review meeting, when all wedding party guests involved have arrived. 

I will teach you all you need to know to accomplish your own rehearsal well before the event.

We are not available to conduct Rehearsals or meetings on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, nor rehearsals left to the night before your weekday or weekend wedding. Our focus at that time is on loading yours and other events.

Best always to have your rehearsal a few days in advance of the event or simply schedule a call to review.

Although we recommend you use our offered services fully by allowing Allan to perform the ceremony....

To honor a friend, we suggest the best results come when allowing them to deliver a defined reading within your ceremony.

It's definitely less stressful!

However;

Yes, anyone you choose can lead the ceremony.

With our services they need only show up ready and willing to do so.

Your friend does not need to become ordained, become a clergy or have any certification.  

To become legally married, you'll only need to have your marriage license document properly notarized. We will do that for you if needed!

We will simply legally marry you and stamp your documents in the background prior to the moment.

Please note; 

When you choose someone else to marry you, we won't teach them how to be an officiant nor participate in the writing or planning, or any rehearsals for  the ceremony.  

We are still happy to meet you in the space to confirm decor and music, but by inserting your own officiant, you take on the responsibilities that we'd normally and automatically provide. 

We will simply hand them a microphone on the day and take a back seat as we watch your event unfold.  

We'll provide the music and beautiful decor, but not our voice and experience. 

Video of your event is not included with our services.

If video is important to you, hire one of our recommended videographers!!

Our main focus is on producing your event.

 If you want video, you'll want to hire an expert who can promise the best quality and reliability.

We don't recommend drones during the service as it creates an annoying buzz along with distraction.  Consider drone use prior and after the ceremony, but please, not during.

We are happy to recommend a few good resources.

On occassion we may ask permission to record and post video of your event as a gift to you and a sales tool for us.  

If you allow this,  we are very careful to not put your intimate details online

Below is an actual Email I recently got from a bride who planned on 24 guests and ended up with only 18.

By wedding time, I wasn't surprised that she had "no shows" as her approach was to micromanage everyone she encountered in some way

Here's the email...

I've changed the names to protect the innocent....

Great to have met you both yesterday!  

We were thinking it over ...... Could the 24 chairs for the ceremony be arranged as: 3 rows of 4 chairs equaling 12 on each side?

ok, this is  normal up to now.....watch where this goes!

  We'd like that:

 my friend, Lisa sit in the 4th/last chair, down from the aisle, 

in the first row to the left the Maid of Honor's partner sit in the 3rd chair, down from the aisle,

 in the first row to the left the Maid of Honor sit in the 2nd chair, down from the aisle, 

in the first row to the left My son, the "Bride Giver", sit in the 1st chair, in the first row to the left  

this description continued for the other side of the aisle as well

My reaction....please send your guests a seating chart if this needs to be managed to this degree!

Last minute I was also asked to set her tables at her do-it-yourself restaurant rehearsal dinner the night before her event...I had no involvement with this event beyond the ceremony. 

Not only was I not invited to this rehearsal dinner, but it would have been in rush hour traffic in both directions out to Longboat Key. 

 Of course I said "NO thank you,  not part of what I promised to do."

I suspect she drove the restaurant crew crazy as well, as they deflected her special set-up request to add a few items that she was supplying.

This is something that normally is easy for a venue to do for a bride.

I'm guessing, that  they too, were afraid to do anything wrong? 

 I know that by wedding day, I was losing sleep keeping track of all the possible things she had controlled to this degree, and the many things I could possibly do wrong.

The bride demanded alot, but got less than what we would have given had she just let us do our thing...

just a note...Don't be this bride!!

I assure you we've got you covered!!   Relaaaax!!!

Sarasota.Wedding

Elegant Weddings in Sarasota and Nearby. Drapery Lighting, Centerpieces and more

Beach Weddings 

at our favorite beach location

Lido Beach Weddings

Natural, earthy, and beautiful

Our driftwood wedding decor is stunning at either your favorite beach location or on grass.