The Best Seasons to Host your Destin Beach Wedding
Spring or Fall? Choose the best season for your Destin wedding!
You’re dreaming of a Destin beach wedding, and then you’re asked “do you have a date in mind?” When choosing your wedding date, there are so many factors to consider. Before you choose the perfect wedding date, you should first narrow it down to a season or month of choice. We’re breaking down season by season the best time to get married in Destin, FL
Spring
The spring weather in Destin brings warmer temperatures and cooler water temperatures. January-March is still largely seen as shoulder months, and you can usually find better deals on hotel stays. Spring Break is scattered between March and April, but Destin is best known as a family-friendly spring break destination. The average high is around 70 degrees and the average low is 54. The water is not quite warm enough for locals to jump in, but northern guests aren’t as easily phased. Our favorite month in the spring is May. This is when the water starts to warm up a little bit and the spring rainstorms aren’t as frequent!
Summer
June-August are the peak months in Destin and when we see the most activity on our beaches. Summer vacation is here and the weather is nice, warm, and humid. Most beachfront accommodations require a minimum night stay during these busy months. For summer weddings, we highly suggest choosing a venue that has both indoor and outdoor spaces. You’ll definitely want an indoor reception space where guests can escape the summer heat! The summer months also offer the best months for watersports, fishing, and wedding weekend activities. Treat your guests to a Destin dinner cruise, Crab Island excursion, or a sunset dolphin cruise! Summer weekend dates book up quickly, so we recommend booking your favorite wedding vendors as soon as possible!
Fall
There is nothing like a fall sunset in Destin, FL. The colors of the sunset are brighter, featuring pinks, blues, and oranges painted across the sky. The water is still warm, but the air temperature begins to cool in the evenings, creating the perfect wedding weekend weather. Most of the Destin activities will start to pack up for the season in October, but there are still watersports and fishing to enjoy. On the downside, fall also brings peak hurricane season. With a season ranging from June to November, we usually see the most activity in the Gulf in September and October. If you’re planning a wedding during hurricane season, having an experienced wedding planner is invaluable. Did you know – in the past 5 hurricane seasons, SunQuest has only had to cancel one wedding! Having a team of wedding professionals will ease your stress as you begin to execute backup plans should a storm pop up in the Gulf of Mexico.
Winter
Typically, Destin doesn’t start to really cool down until late November. With December – February being the coldest time of year, you probably won’t want to jump into the Gulf during the winter months. But that doesn’t mean that winter isn’t a great time to get married in Destin! The beaches are just as gorgeous and typically less crowded. You can still enjoy walking the beach and enjoying the natural scenery of the Florida panhandle. Plus, you can usually find great deals on hotels and wedding venues during these shoulder months! If you’re planning on hosting a smaller and more intimate event, ask your desired venue about off-season pricing. You’ll be sure to get the best rate if hosting in the winter months.
How to Choose Your Wedding Date
Ultimately, this is your day. If you’re looking for a more cost-efficient date, consider a weekday or shoulder season month for your wedding date. Consult with a wedding planner about your best options. You might be surprised how different venue pricing can be on a Monday instead of the traditional Saturday date. Especially when planning a destination wedding, all “rules” go out the window. Your guests will double the use of your wedding as their vacation, so you might have a little leniency when hosting a Monday wedding for an extended weekend getaway.