Lake County Florida Weddings Celebrations “You’ve found the perfect partner, the perfect ring and now all that remains is locating the perfect place for the ceremony and reception. With its 1,000 lakes and gentle rolling hills, Lake County, Fla., can provide the storybook beginning for your special day.” Storybooky beginningg From ordering a cake to reserving a reception hall, organizing a wedding can be a daunting task. The Lake County Tourism & Business Relations Division developed this wedding guide to help you find your way through the maze of matrimonial planning. Included in this wedding guide are bakeries, caterers, wedding planners, as well as some planning tips,Romance such suggested facilities, florists, jewelers, as “how to create a wedding guest photographers, entertainers, printers list” and “advice for announcing and travel planners. Spend less time an engagement.” searching for wedding services by consulting this directory and have Your wedding day is one of the extra time to spend gazing into the most sacred moments in your life. eyes of that someone special. Whether your dream for the big day is grandiose or quaint, Lake County To help with the planning process has the picture-perfect setting and along the way, a comprehensive friendly service providers to make wedding checklist is provided your dreams come true. 1 12 months Counting down to the ô Announce the engagement ô Introduce both families ô Arrange an engagement photo ô Send out engagement announcements bigday ô Determine a preliminary budget ô Begin a guest list (see page 6 for “How to Create a Wedding Guest List”) ô Envision the ideal wedding (outdoor or indoor; day or night) ô Select a wedding date ô Select ceremony and reception sites ô Visit clergy members and review ceremony requirements ô Shop for wedding gown Eight months ô Choose wedding color scheme ô Order wedding invitations, announcements and thank-you notes ô Select wedding attendants ô Select attendants’ attire ô Finalize order or purchase wedding gown ô Select a florist, photographer, caterer, bakery and reception entertainment 2 BridalB PartyP Six months ô Refine guest list; compile names and addresses ô Send out “save the date” cards to guest list ô Think of bridal registry ideas ô Make arrangements for the honeymoon ô Visit travel agencies ô Purchase airline tickets ô Make hotel reservations ô If necessary, visit the Lake County Clerk of Courts to obtain a passport (see page 14 for “Planning a Lake County Honeymoon”) ô Make plans and reservations for wedding rehearsal and dinner ô Develop a list of nearby accommodations for out-of-town guests. For an up-to-date list of accommodations, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com, keyword: accommodation. Two months ô Contact the County Clerk’s office for marriage license requirements (see page 19 for “Visit the Clerk of Courts for a Marriage License”) ô Purchase wedding bands ô Sign contracts with florist, photographer, caterer, bakery PPt hotographertg p r and reception entertainment ô Address invitations and mail ô Buy cake knife, toasting glasses and guestbook ô Complete bridal registry ô Choose gifts for attendants, parents and helpers 3 One month ô Finalize ceremony details with clergy ô Confirm honeymoon reservations ô Submit marriage license application ô Arrange final fittings for wedding gown and attendants’ dresses ô Contact guests who have not responded ô Arrange transportation for the wedding party ô Prepare seating chart for reception guests ô Schedule appointments for bride’s beauty treatments and wedding day hair and make-up styling Two weeks ô Pick up marriage license ô Place announcement in local paper ô Make final arrangements with florist, photographer, caterer, bakery and reception entertainment ô Write thank-you notes for arriving wedding gifts ô Finalize reception seating chart ô Write rehearsal-dinner toast ô 4 SeatinWriteg wedding Charvows t One week ô Arrange transportation for guests and attendants arriving at airports (see page 33 for “Transportation listings”) ô Pick up gown, attendants’ dresses and accessories ô Give final guest count to reception facility or caterer ô Place fee in envelopes for wedding services ô Confirm details with florist, photographer, caterer, bakery and reception entertainment ô Pack for honeymoon ô Visit local spa for bride’s beauty treatments: manicure, pedicure, facial and massage One day ô Greet out-of-town guests ô Attend wedding rehearsal ô Provide ushers with guest list Relax and Enjoy ô Remind a wedding attendant to bring necessary items to the ceremony and reception ô Get a good night’s rest The Wedding Day ô Visit hair and make-up stylist ô Allow three hours to dress and plenty of time for photography ô Have a magical time 5 A logical first step to wedding planning is the guest list. Many wedding planners advise newly engaged couples to immediately begin assembling a guest list because it impacts several key decisions in the planning foray. How to create a wedding According to local wedding planners, person can add significantly to the the number of guests a couple is bottom line. Sometimes less people planning to invite factors into the can equal grander allowances in other guest list location they need to reserve. The next aspects of the celebration, such as the step after developing a preliminary meal, entertainment or decorations. guest list is to find the location. Lake County features more than two dozen While easier said than done, cutting locations that are perfect for wedding down or minimizing the first draft of ceremonies and receptions. a guest list can be a trying task. An easy way to keep the list in check is to While most guest lists start large, restrict it to close friends and family. it is important that couples remain In large families, deciding who stays realistic about how many people they and goes on the roster can be stressful 6 can afford to invite. Remember each to the couple and their parents. Traditionally, the invitations are split state invites: Lake County’sFriendsF sunny & Familymilyly evenly between the two families. disposition is reason alone to attend a wedding. Couples may find it difficult in cutting down or minimizing a guest list. It Local wedding planners say they is important to remember that the find in the Central Florida area makeup of a guest list can determine the guest list return is a lot higher much about a wedding. Inviting than what is expected in other children can affect location decisions. areas. This is because many people More planning time is needed for a view this area as a vacation getaway. larger contingency of out-of-state People that typically will not fly guests so they are able to reserve out-of-state for a wedding will fly airline tickets and accommodations. out-of-state because Florida is such Also, remember this about out-of- a great location. 7 hoosing a location for the wedding ceremony and reception is quite Cpossibly the biggest decision an engaged couple can make. There are so many different places to host a wedding — church, reception hall, hotel — choosing the perfect venue can be difficult. Choosing the Couples are encouraged to select a wedding location at least 12 months in advance. If there is less time to prepare, you might need to be more flexible in choosing the date or venue. A preliminary guest list is needed to determine the perfect venue wedding location. First count the number of essential invites. This will give a good idea of what size of venue will be required for the reception. Envision what you want the wedding to feel like and plan accordingly. Following are two groups of examples for wedding venues in Lake County; the classical 8 and unique. For a more complete list of event locations, see page 24. Lakeside Inn Steeped with 120 years of history, Lakeside Inn of Mount Dora has the romantic feel of a simpler era, yet offers the conveniences of modern times. The Inn’s yellow-splashed buildings offer 89 guest rooms, and six outdoor and five indoor venues for wedding ceremonies and receptions. ClassicC Within walking distance from the historic downtown of Mount Dora, many guests shop at boutiques and enjoy the setting of the European-flavored villa. Wedding coordinators and photographers will love the Inn’s setting. With flower-lined paths, a romantic gingerbread-trimmed gazebo set against shimmering Lake Dora, an Old South style verandah and green lawns, Lakeside Inn provides the perfect backdrop for those special matrimony snapshots. Other enchanting inns: The Duncan House of Tavares, Old Bicycle Inn of Clermont, Heron Cay Lakeview Bed & Breakfast of Mount Dora 9 Mission Inn Resort & Club The plush estate of Mission Inn Resort & Club offers a full range of wedding options, including enchanting courtyard ceremonies. While resorts are synonymous to Florida, Mission Inn breaks the mold with its tranquil setting of a peaceful plantation nestled in the small Town of Howey-in-the-Hills. With its Spanish-Mediterranean style architecture, the resort is perfect for a romantic wedding in the evergreen slopes surrounding the serene community. One of the largest venues in Lake County, Mission Inn’s conference room provides a luxurious reception site. Other luxurious golf courses with wedding amenities: County Club of Mount Dora, Sanctuary Ridge Golf Club of Clermont, Harbor Hills Country Club of Lady E10 legantLake, Legends Golf and Country Club of Clermont, Mount Dora Golf Club RomanticRo Leesburg Opera House This historic downtown building was the original opera house for Leesburg in the 1880s. The quaint upstairs reception hall is stately with rustic brick walls and hardwood floor and ceiling. Locals claim this is one of the prettiest wedding locations in town because with its historic feel couples can do so much with it to make a beautiful backdrop for a wedding.