UNIQUE WEDDING AND HONEYMOON OPTIONS AWAIT COUPLES
IN THE DAYTONA BEACH AREA
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Daytona Beach area is a perfect destination for honeymooners and couples who want a getaway filled with sun, surf, and romance .
Couples who want to wed or renew vows in the Daytona Beach area will find that there are several unique sites for weddings and receptions. Couples can choose to marry in lush and vibrant gardens, on a romantic cruise down the Halifax River, or even in the former home of multi-millionaire John D. Rockefeller. Race car fans can make Daytona International Speedway a part of their memorable day by holding their wedding at its famed Victory Lane and a reception overlooking the popular motorsports attraction, the Daytona 500 Experience.
For a beautiful waterfront wedding or reception, the banquet facilities at the new Sunset Harbor Yacht Club and Conference Center located at 861 Ballough Road in Daytona Beach offers a luxurious setting. Set on the west bank of the Halifax River, the facility's stunning winding staircase, private "Bride's Room and second floor ballroom complete with balconies and enchanting views will make any wedding party feel like royalty. Phone (386) 947-9900 or visit www.sunsetharboryc.com.
One of the area's most popular romantic wedding sites is Chapel in the Garden, 5160 Riverside Drive, Port Orange. Chapel in the Garden is a beautifully restored century-old chapel that is nestled amid ancient oaks, soothing fish ponds, a quaint cottage and brick footpaths on a private estate near the shores of the Halifax River. Receptions, banquets and parties can be held on-site at The Manor at Clark Gardens. Planning assistance is available through Wedding Designs, which is located at The Shoppes in the Garden adjacent to the manor. Wedding Designs is a full-service wedding consulting service and carries an exclusive line of wedding accessories and gifts. In addition to handling all bookings and reservations for the chapel and the manor, Wedding Designs' planners can also help brides with their off-site planning needs. Phone (386) 788-0058 or visit www.chapelinthegarden.com.
Formerly the winter home of multi-millionaire John D. Rockefeller, the Casements, located at 25 Riverside Drive in Ormond Beach, now serves as the city of Ormond Beach's cultural center and museum. The Casements is available for outdoor and indoor weddings and receptions. Due to limited space, only 150 guests are allowed indoors. Ceremonies can be held only on Saturdays and Sundays. (386) 676-3216.
Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, 78 East Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, has lush tropical gardens that offer a beautiful setting complete with a gazebo, nature trails, fish ponds, and fountains. The gardens' waterfalls are perfect backdrops for photographs of the wedding party, and winding, paved paths are perfect for wheelchair accessibility. For parties with 100 or more guests, a reservation should be secured in advance by calling (386) 676-3250.
Race fans can reserve the Bill France Banquet Room at the Daytona 500 Experience, Daytona International Speedway's motorsports attraction, located at 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. This banquet room -- which overlooks the attraction's interactive show floor featuring a replica of the speedway's 31-degree, high-banked track -- can hold up to 200 guests. Catering is provided by Americrown Service Corporation. Couples may also inquire about marrying in the Speedway's famous Victory Lane. The Daytona 500 Experience's Victory Lane wedding package includes two admission passes for the motorsports attraction, a commemorative bottle of champagne with glasses, as well as other commemorative souvenirs. A notary public is provided. (386) 947-6623 or click here.
A tiny Cruise Line, 425 S. Beach Street, Daytona Beach, allows couples to exchange vows on an 1890s-style Fantail Launch while leisurely sailing down the Halifax River. This cruise gives guests picturesque views of the Daytona Beach area, including historic downtown Daytona Beach, nearby islands, and beautiful riverfront estates. A maximum of 14 guests are allowed aboard the Launch. (386) 226-2343 or www.visitdaytona.com/tinycruise.
Several other Daytona Beach area resorts, hotels, and inns offer year-round honeymoon and romance packages. Click here to learn more.
Daytona Beach's historic oceanfront Bandshell is another unique location to hold a wedding ceremony. The Bandshell amphitheater is located in Oceanfront Park, just north of the famous Daytona Beach Boardwalk. This outdoor facility, built of coquina shells in 1937, will hold up to 5,000 people for general assembly. Contact the City of Daytona Beach Leisure Services Department at (386) 671-3421 for more information.
Couples may also choose to exchange vows on Daytona Beach's most famous attraction, the beach.
Getting married on Daytona Beach couldn't be easier. Simply notify the Volusia County Beach Services Department of the upcoming event by completing and returning an event application. Rates to reserve a portion or area of the beach can vary due to event season periods and the size of the event. If you plan to marry between May 1 and October 31 (sea turtle nesting season), a special application for chair and tent set-up must be submitted 45 days prior to the date of the ceremony. For more information call (386) 239-7873 x 0.
Those planning to marry in the Daytona Beach area must have a marriage license issued by the state of Florida. A marriage license can be obtained at the Daytona Beach Courthouse Annex located at 125 E. Orange Ave., room 100. Florida's Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act requires couples seeking a marriage license to complete either a four-hour marriage preparation course or wait three days to receive the license after applying for it. To apply for the license, couples must bring their driver's licenses or other valid photo identification and Social Security cards. Non-U.S. residents should present a passport when applying for a marriage license. If either partner has been married before, a document denoting their official date of divorce must be shown. Couples must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a license. Those under 18 must have parental consent. The marriage license is good for 60 days. Couples who complete the four-hour preparation course receive a discount on marriage license fees. Courthouse hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (386) 257-6013 for more information.
While on their romantic getaway, couples will find plenty to see and do. The area's most spectacular attraction, 23-miles of sparkling, white-sandy beaches, is a 24-hour playground that's perfect for moonlit walks or lazily soaking up the afternoon sun. Watersports enthusiasts can choose from a wide range of beach activities, including surfing, parasailing, dolphin watching, jet skiing, sailboating, scuba diving, snorkeling, and volleyball.
Couples who enjoy the great outdoors won't want to miss the area's other ecological treasures, such as Tomoka State Park, North Peninsula State Recreation Area, Spruce Creek Preserve, and several artificial reefs located 10-12 miles off Daytona Beach's shore. Nature and outdoor lovers can enjoy a variety of activities at these parks from fishing and scuba diving to canoeing, hiking, and camping.
Those seeking cultural enrichment will discover the Daytona Beach area is filled with cultural activities and sites, such as the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the African American Museum of the Arts, Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, and the Southeast Museum of Photography. The Daytona Beach Symphony Society and the Daytona Beach International Festival are two of many cultural organizations that bring internationally recognized musical and performance artists to the area year round.
For couples who remain "kids-at-heart," the Daytona Beach area also offers several fun and action-packed attractions such as the Daytona 500 Experience, The Richard Petty Driving Experience and Ride Along Program, Speed Park Motorsports, Daytona Lagoon Waterpark and Entertainment Center and the historic Boardwalk Amusement Area.
If a slower pace is more your speed, try a romantic cruise down the Halifax River. A tiny Cruise Line and the StarLite Princess authentic paddlewheeler both offer spectacular views of the area. Highlights include historic, downtown Daytona Beach, beautiful riverfront estates, and, if you're lucky, a manatee or dolphin sighting.
Couples can also enjoy Las Vegas-style poker and greyhound racing at the new Daytona Beach Kennel Club and Poker Room. Golfers will love perfecting their swing at the area's acclaimed courses, including LPGA International, which is home to The Legends and The Champions courses. Other area activities include college and Florida State League baseball, horseback riding and tennis.
A romantic getaway to the Daytona Beach area would not be complete without a shopping trip to historic downtown Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach areas. These historic downtowns offer visitors a fun day and nighttime excursion with its wide variety of fine specialty shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
