Business Details
31 Years
experience
Your Dream Beach Wedding on Sanibel Island
As the founder of Weddings by the Sea, I bring over 50 years of Sanibel Island residency and 25+ years of dedicated wedding planning expertise to create unforgettable ceremonies. With a portfolio of 8,000+ weddings, my personalized approach combines intimate knowledge of secluded beach venues, trusted vendor networks, and comprehensive logistical supportfrom marriage licenses to reception coordination.My services emphasize customized vow ceremonies blending inspirational readings with Florida's natural beauty, supported by proven reliability through hurricane recovery successes and 24/7 client accessibility. This combination of local expertise, operational experience, and compassionate service defines our commitment to stress-free destination weddings.
Services
Beach Wedding Ceremonies
Vow Renewal Services
Officiant Services
Elopement Planning
Marriage License Assistance
Photography Coordination
Florist Arrangements
Dinner Reservations
Transportation Logistics
Family Ceremony Coordination
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- 50+ years of Sanibel Island residency with exclusive access to secluded beach venues
- Personalized ceremony scripting blending vows with inspirational readings and local culture
- Comprehensive vendor network including award-winning photographers and florists
- Marriage license assistance by mail saving clients courthouse visits
- Proven hurricane recovery expertise ensuring ceremony continuity in adverse conditions
What people say
Amazing service
Perfect experience
Beautiful location
Fair price
Professional coordination
Services
Beach Wedding Ceremonies
Host your dream beach wedding on Florida's Gulf Coast with expert coordination from start to finish. Our services include venue selection, officiating, floral arrangements, photography, and reception logistics. We specialize in intimate ceremonies for couples seeking romantic oceanfront settings with personalized touches that reflect their unique love story.
Vow Renewal Services
Celebrate milestone anniversaries with professionally coordinated vow renewal ceremonies. We create meaningful experiences featuring customized scripts, family photo sessions, and scenic locations like Sanibel Lighthouse. Our services accommodate multi-generational participation and include vendor coordination for photography, flowers, and post-ceremony celebrations.
Elopement Planning
Streamline your elopement process with our comprehensive planning services. We handle permits, officiating, attire coordination, and guest transportation while providing expert guidance on optimal ceremony times and weather contingency plans. Our packages include access to exclusive beach locations and preferred vendor pricing.
Marriage License Assistance
Simplify your marriage license acquisition with our mail-in service that eliminates courthouse visits. We manage the entire process including document verification, payment processing, and official submission. This service guarantees timely license acquisition while providing personalized guidance on state-specific requirements and validity periods.
Photography Coordination
Enhance your wedding memories through our curated network of award-winning photographers. We coordinate pre-ceremony portraits, ceremony coverage, and post-event shoots at scenic locations. Our professionals specialize in capturing natural lighting, candid moments, and artistic compositions that showcase Florida's coastal beauty.
People
Patricia Slater
Wedding Officiant & Owner
With 50 years of Sanibel Island residency and 25+ years as a professional wedding officiant, Patricia has orchestrated over 8,000 ceremonies. Formerly a resort innkeeper, she combines hospitality expertise with intimate local knowledge to create personalized wedding experiences that consistently exceed client expectations.
Questions
Do you offer officiant services for elopements?
Yes, I provide personalized officiating services for elopements including customized vow ceremonies and legal document handling.
Can you assist with out-of-state marriage licenses?
Yes, I offer a mail-in service that handles Florida marriage license applications for out-of-state and international couples.
What beach venues do you recommend?
I have exclusive access to secluded Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches, including sunrise locations at Sanibel Lighthouse.
Do you coordinate family vow renewals?
Yes, I specialize in multi-generational vow renewal ceremonies with family photo sessions and child-inclusive rituals.
What photography services are available?
I work with award-winning Gulf Coast photographers who specialize in natural lighting and candid beach ceremony shots.
How do you handle hurricane season weddings?
With proven contingency plans and local expertise, I ensure ceremony continuity even during adverse weather conditions.
Reviews (7)
Holly Hamilton
May 15, 2022
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Patricia was an excellent officiant for us at our marriage ceremony recently on Sanibel Island. She was very easy to work, responsive with and went above and beyond to help me navigate the marriage process and wedding planning. She recommended all of my other vendors as she works very closely with them and they did not disappoint! Everyone was excellent and I'm so happy I found Pat to make the connection. Pat has been doing weddings for a long time on Sanibel and is an expert.
She also has a beautiful wedding script that she delivered and performed for us which was just perfect. We will always appreciate her words for our ceremony. You must use Pat for your wedding officiant and as an expert with Sanibel weddings!
She also has a beautiful wedding script that she delivered and performed for us which was just perfect. We will always appreciate her words for our ceremony. You must use Pat for your wedding officiant and as an expert with Sanibel weddings!
Ron Larrivee
Dec 12, 2021
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My wife Mary and I are singers. We perform at many events including weddings, memorial services, corporate and family parties. Pat reached out to us about a family function on Captiva Island that she was working on. Pat was exceptionally personable, well organized and thoughtful in helping us achieve our mutual goals. Everyone was delighted with her and the multiple, birthday event was a wonderful success thanks to Patricia Slater's coordination of the parties involved.
Melissa Hutchens
Jun 19, 2021
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I had a wonderful experience with Patricia and our intimate wedding ceremony on the beach in Sanibel! She handled all the details, all we had to do was show up and enjoy! The venue and dinner was amazing, the photographer Frank was top notch! Beautiful flowers, delicious cake, it all made for a perfect wedding day! Thanks so much!
Angel Von Stein
May 16, 2021
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Patricia did our wedding November 2019 by the Sanibel Lighthouse. We wanted a really simple ceremony with just the two of us. We came all the way from Ohio. Patricia handled everything for us ahead of time by phone and mail so everything was super simple and no fuss during our trip. We ended up with cold weather for our sunrise wedding but she made it beautiful and comfortable anyway and Frank Simonetti worked absolute magic on our photos. She is very kind and professional and doesn't leave out the small details that make the experience perfect. Highly recommend her service! Thanks, Patricia
Courtney
May 01, 2021
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Patricia was incredibly helpful in making our dream wedding come true. We stayed in touch often and she made sure all bases were covered for every part of the process. Not only is she professional and does her job well, but she is a sincere and kind woman. Can't recommend her enough!
Larissa Bemesderfer
Mar 30, 2021
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My husband and I had an amazing experience with Patricia. We did our vowel renewal on Sanibel Island at sunrise for our 11th wedding anniversary. Highly recommend her for your special day! She worked with our last minute plans and budget and just made everything perfect!
Samantha Gregus Slade
Nov 28, 2020
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We eloped to Sanibel after COVID-19 postponed our wedding. It was last minute but Patricia was the easiest and most helpful person to work with. Her and Frank (the photographer) were delightful and did a stellar job. They made it easy to just let the planning go and let them take over. She took care of the flowers, cake, timeline, dinner reservations, scheduling hair and makeup, marriage license details, etc. We really just needed to show up. It was such a special moment and we're so incredibly happy with how everything turned out.
