Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you offer ceremony-only packages?
Yes! All of our packages can be found on this page of our website.
Q: Which is better, a sunset ceremony or a morning ceremony?
A: They are both great, it depends on the look you want for your pictures. The mornings give a brighter, more tropical look. The sunsets have more soft light. To find out at what time will the sunrise/sunset takes place on the date you choose, please click this link.
Q: What is the best location?
A: We are very lucky in Miami, as it’s hard to find a BAD spot! Although all Miami beaches are beautiful we do have our favorites! If you have already looked at our “Gallery” and don’t know which location to choose, we can recommend one for you. Our absolute favorite location is Crandon Park and its adjoining beach. This beach has consistently good weather, is the least crowded of all the beaches we work on, and has a great mix of features such as white sand, a great beach, palm trees, seagrass, and a beautiful green area.
Q: Do you offer other services not included in your packages such as limos, hair, make-up, etc.?
A: When you book with us we will provide you with a list of our favorite Miami vendors for other services. However, you can choose to book any other vendors you would like to on your own. We can also coordinate most of these and other items for you for an additional fee. Just contact us with your needs for a quote.
Q: What is required to reserve our date?
A: A retainer towards the package price as stated by SMW is required to hold your date. The balance of your package is due 2 weeks before your ceremony date. Please call or complete the form in the “Contact us” tab to check availability.
Q: How far in advance should I reserve my date?
A: We recommend reserving your beach wedding as soon as you have a date. Although we do accept last-minute requests, they are subject to availability and some of the services you request may not be available.
Q. What is the Copyright Release and how does that work?
A: Unlike many photographers, we allow our clients to have their digital images with a copyright release. The copyright release we provide allows you unlimited personal use and reproduction of your images. You are free to print them, e-mail them, put them on your personal website, etc. You can do just about anything except sell them, enter them in photo contests, use them for any type of monetary gain or advertising, or claim that you took them.
Q: What if it rains?
A: Luckily this does not happen very often in the locations we usually work in but during our rainy season and hurricane season it can happen. With this said, we cannot stress enough the importance of a backup plan in the event of bad weather. Particularly during June through October which is typically our “rainy” season.
The first option would be to relocate your ceremony to an area that is not raining. If you are having a reception, the ceremony can be moved there. If you are having a dinner or reception, sometimes the restaurant will let you use some space in case of bad weather – please make sure to check ahead of time with the staff to see if it would be alright to move the ceremony there. If you are coming in from out of town to elope with little or no guests, then we can move the ceremony to your hotel room or an event room within the hotel. Hotels will sometimes upgrade your room to a suite for the ceremony. Please check ahead of time with your hotel. If you are staying at a hotel, we recommend reserving a conference room or an outdoor covered area as a backup plan.
If your ceremony gets completely rained out, we can try to reschedule at no additional charge. If your ceremony can not be rescheduled, we can help you in finding an indoor venue (additional venue charges may apply). If you are having your ceremony in one of the locations which offer shelter for rent, you are highly encouraged to reserve a shelter as a backup location. Contact us for backup shelter rental information.
Please note that the backup location must be within 20 minutes of your ceremony site. Also please note that we cannot get our equipment wet and cannot work in the rain. If you need help with a backup plan, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Q: Can I get married on the beach behind my hotel?
A: It is certainly possible. We check with your hotel to make sure what requirements they have and we follow all guidelines.
Q: Can we have chairs or arches on the beach for our ceremony?
A: Many of the beaches in Miami are considered public property and chairs, arches or any other thing that could obstruct other people from using the beach are not allowed without a permit. We obtain the permit on your behalf. Please inquire about permit/venue pricing for the location you are interested in.
Q: What is the maximum amount of guests you recommend for a ceremony on the beach?
A: We recommend the absolute maximum guests for a ceremony is 30. Due to state laws and regulations, you are not allowed to have chairs set up on the beach for your ceremony without a permit. Without chairs it makes it extremely difficult for a group of guests over 30 to hear and see your ceremony, making for an unpleasant experience.
Q: Can I have a ‘mid-day’ or ‘afternoon’ ceremony start time?
A: We don’t recommend it. The early morning and just before sunset is the optimal times for lighting for your photography. The intense sun can make it very difficult to get great shots as it creates many shadows. We can accommodate a mid-day or afternoon shoot, but it does make for really sweaty people and decreased photo quality.
Q: Can you work with my hotel?
A: Absolutely – we have a great relationship with many of our local hotels and resorts, and we are happy to work with the staff to make your wedding day run smoothly. We can also recommend a hotel or answer questions if you are trying to decide on a venue, a place to stay, or a place to have your reception.
Q: Do you edit our photographs?
A: Your images will be professionally edited/retouched for lighting and density to ensure they are of the highest quality. Additional advanced editing (smoothing skin, slimming down, eye detailing, etc) is extremely time-consuming and has a separate hourly charge based on individual needs.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
A: There are no refunds of booking fees or retainers for canceled weddings. Booking fees and deposits may be applied towards an alternate date if the wedding must be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event of rescheduling, we will allow one reschedule for one year from the original wedding date. We ask that you give us that rescheduled date within 30 days of your cancellation. This is subject to management approval and availability. All payments made in person, over the phone, and through our online payment processing system fall under these guidelines and are subject to these terms and conditions.
Q: Can you get our Florida Marriage License for us?
A: Yes, as long as you are not a Florida resident. You can always call us at 1-888-909-0553 as we may be able to assist you in obtaining your Florida Marriage License by mail.