The Journal · Southwest Florida

Fort Myers & Sanibel Wedding Venues

Beach resorts and island settings across the Gulf Coast

Gulf sunsets, white-sand beaches, and island resorts make Southwest Florida one of the country's most beloved destination-wedding regions.

If you're planning a Fort Myers wedding — or bringing your people in for a Gulf Coast destination weekend — the region offers everything from barefoot beach ceremonies to waterfront ballrooms. Here are the areas and venues couples love most, plus a note on capturing a weekend where your guests have traveled from everywhere.

Sanibel & CaptivaIsland beach resorts

The barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva are the quintessential Southwest Florida wedding setting — shell-strewn beaches, swaying palms, and intimate island resorts. They're built for the long destination weekend, with lodging, ceremony beaches, and reception spaces all on-site.

Fort Myers BeachGulf-front resorts

Just across the bridge, Fort Myers Beach offers classic Gulf-front resort weddings — toes in the sand for the ceremony, a sunset cocktail hour, and the kind of golden-hour light that needs no filter.

NaplesBeachfront & garden venues

A short drive south, Naples brings a more upscale flavor — beachfront resorts, manicured garden venues, and a refined downtown — for couples who want a polished coastal celebration.

Cape CoralWaterfront & marina venues

Across the river, Cape Coral's canals and marinas make for picturesque waterfront ceremonies and receptions, often at a friendlier price point than the islands.

Downtown Fort MyersThe River District

For couples who want character over coastline, the historic River District offers brick-lined streets, restored buildings, and riverfront event spaces in the heart of the city.

Capturing your Florida wedding

A destination wedding is the perfect setup for guest-filmed video: your friends and family have flown in from all over, and they're right there with cameras in hand to catch the moments a single videographer can't reach. Forever Tapes hands your guests vintage-style camcorders to film the whole weekend, then edits the footage into a warm, nostalgic home-video film — the candid companion to your photographer.

Learn more about guest-filmed wedding video in Fort Myers & Southwest Florida, or read about how guest-filmed wedding video works.

Planning a Southwest Florida wedding?

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