Plan a Wedding in Paradise - Marco Island, FL

Looking for somewhere new and exciting for your wedding? Just imagine exchanging vows on the tropical island of Marco Island, Florida. Have an elegant wedding aboard a yacht or a casual barefoot wedding on the beach. Marco Island can cater to your desires. Sounds fantastic doesn’t it?

Plan a wedding aboard a luxury yacht. Sunshine Tours or Sea Excursions can arrange your wedding on a variety of scales. They can coordinate catering and entertainment on the waters surrounding Marco Island. The captain can even perform the ceremony. Whether you have an intimate small wedding or a large gathering, yachts can accommodate your group.

Are you looking for a casual wedding? Plan a wedding on the lush white beaches of Marco Island. Just picture getting married with the sun setting in the background, picturesque blue skies above and the wedding that you will always remember? The public beaches are free to use. An ordained minister, a Florida notary republic, an officer of the court, or a deputy clerk may perform the ceremony.

In order to get married on Marco Island, you need to first apply for a marriage license. Both parties 18 years or older must appear to fill out the application. A picture of ID is required showing date of birth. It is a requirement that applicants read a brief booklet prepared by the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar. It only takes approximately 20 minutes to read.

If you are a Florida resident, there is a three-day waiting period from the date of the application. You may be married on the third day. One exception to this rule is that you attend and show proof of attending a premarital class. Then the waiting period is waived and the cost of the license is $61. If you do not take the course the cost is $93.50. If you are an out of state resident, neither the waiting period or the premarital class is applicable. The cost is also $93.50 for out of state residents.

You may apply for a marriage license at the Eagle Creek Collier County Satellite at 12668 Tamiami Trail (at the corner of State Road 41 and 951) in Tax Collectors office. Open form 9:00 AM to 12:30 AM and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Make your seaside union in paradise unforgettable. Your wedding is the perfect way to turn your wedding into a beach vacation/family reunion to share with family and friends! Whether your wedding is large or small, formal or informal, plan an island wedding of your dreams.
About the Author: Angela Hobbs is travel coordinator specializing in vacation home rentals. Ms. Hobbs manages several beautiful Marco Island Florida vacation rentals.

Renting a Vacation Home – Beware

It is scary to think that some Internet vacation rental home ads may not be authentic. Some people may try to scam you when renting a vacation home. You would hate for a big chunk of your vacation budget to be out the window before the vacation even starts. Or even worse, you show up and have no place to stay. This is highly unlikely if you take the following precautionary steps.

Search for homes from large vacation property Internet listing services, e.g. Cyberrentals.com, VRBO.com or VacationRentals.com. These sites will not allow vacation owners to keep their ads running if they are ripping off people. When they get complaints they will pull the ad. These Internet listing sites make money by offering reputable service provided by reputable homeowners.

Use your instincts to tell you whether this person is legit. Do they know a lot about the property and the area? Ask a lot of questions. If someone is trying to rip you off they probably cannot answer these questions like honest homeowners could. They probably don’t own a home at all! Homeowners take a lot of pride in there homes and want to talk about the area and amenities. If you get a good feeling and your questions are quickly answered, proceed with booking.

Once you decided on the perfect vacation home make sure that you receive a rental agreement signed by the owner. Does the agreement seem legally binding? Many homeowners do not accept credit cards or charge more to use them. If you use a credit card you have that extra layer of protection. Spending an extra few dollars may be worth the peace of mind.

Before you sign the rental agreement, research the owner. Contact the Better Business Bureau in the city or county where the rental home is located and where the owners reside at their permanent address. This would be the address where you send payment. In addition, check public property records to validate who actually owns the home you are renting. Many counties have the records accessible via the Internet. Look for the county property appraiser and then search the online database. For example, Collier County Florida property appraiser’s can be found at www.colliertax.com. Click on database and enter the address of the vacation home. This search will generate the property owner’s name.

Take a few simple precautionary steps to ensure your vacation plans run smoothly. The extra time will be well worth it. Now you can simply relax and count down the days to your vacation.

About the Author: Angela Hobbs is travel coordinator specializing in vacation home rentals. Ms. Hobbs manages several beautiful Marco Island Florida vacation rentals.