Hi---my fiance and I find ourselves suddenly planning a late-December wedding in the Naples, Florida area, in order to accommodate the limited travel ability of his elderly grandparents who live in that area during the winter months. Can someone familiar with that area possibly give me some advice on locations / restaurants / etc.? I'd be forever grateful!

We envision a somewhat casual outdoor ceremony in the afternoon, with only 10 or so guests in attendance (our immediate families). Whether it is a beach setting, or a garden area, etc... we would prefer not to pay an arm and a leg in site fees, if any, given the smallish/casual nature of our needs. Does anyone have any advice about a beautiful, quiet, peaceful location that you would consider to be the perfect casual outdoor wedding setting in that area? My mother is dead-set on using the beach at the Ritz, because she wants to host a dinner there afterward, but their site fee seems steep for a 10-person group and I can imagine there's got to be some location that is just as nice for less money/hassle. Is there a beautiful beach area tucked away somewhere... or a nice garden area... etc.?

Also, out of curiosity, does anyone have any recommendations on great local restaurants that are close in proximity to any of these possible "dream wedding locations"? Any advice/ideas will be greatly appreciated! (steak/seafood/upscale ideas especially)

Yes, of course. The Ritz. Be sure to ask my wife about the robes there.

I guess I don't get it. If your mother wants to pay a couple thousand dollars for a dinner at the Ritz right after the ceremony, why not spring for their price for the site? Dinner at the Ritz is the most expensive dinner you can do in Naples so why be stingey about where you do the ceremony? How much do they charge you if you're doing dinner there and you want to have the ceremony out on their boardwalk?

There are frequent beachfront ceremonies at both the Pier in Naples and at Lowdermilk park. There is no fee for using the beach. You could do a ceremony at the Pier and then dinner at Campiello where they'll provide you with a "private" area inside for dinner. You can even get a couple horse drawn carriages to carry you or your guests the few blocks between, or hire the Trolly!


I don't know about the cost or specifics, but you might contact either the Conservancy (239-262-0304)or Carribean Gardens (239-262-5409) for beautiful gardens to have the ceremony.

Of course, late December can be tricky so far as the weather is concerned. May be beautiful, but could be pretty chilly for an outdoor wedding.

You might want to try La Playa for your beachside wedding. I attended a wedding there in February a few years ago and it was lovely. Might be slightly cheaper than the Ritz. Their signature restuarant, Baleen, is also a great spot.

Patrick---sorry, I didn't do a very good job of explaining our situation and how my needs compare to those of my mother! SHE wants to host a dinner at the Ritz (mainly because she doesn't know the area well, and obviously we all know the Ritz would be first-class... whereas she/we would have to do a lot of research to find another failsafe option). I, on the other hand, am not dead-set on the Ritz and I am definitely open to other options (possibly even options that have more character/charm because they're local). Bottom line is that we want to hold a nice dinner for about 10 people, without too much hassle... the ceremony doesn't HAVE to take place in close proximity to the dinner (but if by chance there was a great location next to a great restaurant, that wouldn't be bad!)... and I don't want to have to stress out about all of this. I'm a low-key, no-frills-needed person (who is ever-conveniently trying to mesh with a mom who is more frilly!)

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY/ALL INFO! I appreciate it!

Either way, though,