About us
Cloud Nine was created and founded by Julia & Slava Di, a wife and a husband of wonderful 15 years together. Julia & Slava have been in a “cupid industry” for over 10 years and now they attend and design some of the most beautiful haute-couture events in Miami. They bring European elegance & class to stunning Miami views & possibilities, offering you the exceptional experiences you dream of.
Our Premium Romance Concierge service is dedicated to delivering a personalized unique experience that will leave you with precious memories that you will cherish for a lifetime together.
Nowadays the dedicated team of professional coordinators help Slava and Julia bring unforgettable experience to natives and visitors of Miami area.
Our blog
The best months to get married in South Florida are November through April, when temperatures sit in the comfortable mid-70s, humidity drops, and hurricane season is over. But if budget matters more than perfect weather, there’s a smarter play – and it’s not the month most couples assume.
The Peak Season: November to April
This six-month window is South Florida’s dry season – minimal rain, temperatures in the 70s, and reliable sunsets for outdoor ceremonies. January through March is widely considered the sweet spot for weather alone, with the driest conditions and mildest temperatures of the year. The tradeoff: this is also peak wedding season, meaning the highest venue pricing and the most competition for popular dates.
Hurricane Season: What It Actually Means for Your Date
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 – half the calendar year. But the risk isn’t spread evenly across those six months. September carries the statistical peak, centered around September 10, with roughly a third of Florida’s tropical cyclones historically occurring that month. Late August through mid-October carries the highest landfall probability of the year, while June and July are meaningfully quieter.
Practically, that breaks down like this:
- June-early July: Low risk, warm, few storms this early – a reasonable outdoor wedding window.
- Late July-mid-August: Moderate risk, heavy humidity.
- Mid-August through October: Highest risk of the year – book with insurance and a covered indoor backup.
- November: Risk drops sharply, and it’s one of the most comfortable months in South Florida for a wedding.
May – The Best Value Month
If you want off-peak pricing without hurricane exposure, May is the single best-positioned month on the calendar – it sits entirely outside hurricane season, before peak summer heat, and after peak wedding-season pricing ends. Early June is a close second, since hurricane risk is statistically low at the very start of the season.
If You Marry During Hurricane Season Anyway
Thousands of South Florida couples marry between June and November every year, and it’s entirely workable with the right precautions:
- Choose a venue with a genuine indoor fallback for your full guest count
- Buy event cancellation insurance the same week you sign your venue contract
- Negotiate specific weather/force majeure language with every vendor in writing
- Set a written decision deadline for postponement calls
What This Means for Your Planning Timeline
If you’re set on peak season (November-April), book your venue 9-12 months out – popular dates fill quickly. If you’re chasing May’s value window or planning an off-season elopement, you have far more flexibility and can move faster, sometimes within weeks. For elopements specifically, since guest counts are smaller, weather risk matters less – see How to Elope in Florida for the full planning process regardless of season.
Planning Around the Right Date
Whichever window you choose, timing affects everything from pricing to backup planning. Our wedding planning services build weather contingencies into every South Florida wedding we plan – see How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in South Florida? for how pricing shifts between peak and off-season dates.
Naples trades Miami’s high-energy skyline for slower Gulf Coast sunsets, boutique Old World architecture, and beaches with a fraction of the crowd. It’s also become one of the go-to spots for couples wanting smaller weddings – Florida’s average guest count now sits around 119, well above what most of these venues are actually built to comfortably host. Here’s where intimacy is the point, not an afterthought.
Hotel Escalante – The Boutique Standout
Tucked just off Fifth Avenue South, this eleven-room Mediterranean-style property feels like a private villa rather than a hotel. It’s capped at 30-80 guests and specifically caters to micro-weddings – the courtyard garden gives you a European feel without leaving Old Naples. This is the top pick if “intimate and romantic” matters more than “big and impressive.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Naples – Luxury at a Small Scale
Known primarily for large events, but its smaller meeting-room-turned-ceremony spaces (like Aqualane Shore or Coquina Sands, each capped around 40-60 guests) make it possible to get Ritz-Carlton service and Gulf views without committing to a 500-person ballroom. It’s the choice for couples who want luxury without scale.
Inn on Fifth – Rooftop Downtown Ceremony
Right in the heart of downtown Naples, the rooftop terrace overlooks Fifth Avenue South and accommodates 50-150 guests. Sunset here doubles as a built-in city view, and guests can walk to dinner afterward – useful if you have out-of-town guests without cars.
Naples Bay Resort & Marina – Waterfront Without the Beach Crowds
A AAA Four Diamond waterfront property accommodating 35-130 guests, giving you marina views and resort polish without competing for beach space with tourists.
Edgewater Beach Hotel – Beachfront on a Smaller Scale
The pool deck here caps at 80 guests and sits steps from the beach – smaller and less overwhelming than the resort’s main ballroom, which can be partitioned further for even more intimate rehearsal dinners.
Naples Botanical Garden – For Garden Ceremonies
Capped near 100 guests, this venue trades beachfront for lush tropical landscaping – a strong option if you want greenery and quiet over ocean views.
Shangri-La Springs – For a Different Kind of Intimate
Just north in Bonita Springs, this historic property built around natural springs holds 50-200 guests and offers a more earthy, nature-centered feel than Naples’ polished resorts – good for couples who want intimacy without formality.
What Intimate Naples Weddings Cost
Resort and hotel venues in Naples typically run $8,000-$25,000+ for venue, catering, and basic coordination, though smaller all-in packages for around 50 guests start closer to $1,600-$4,000 at more modest venues and climb past $12,900 at beachfront properties like Edgewater. Compare that against Miami’s small-wedding costs in our guide to intimate wedding venues in Miami if you’re weighing both coasts.
Choosing the Right Naples Venue
If European boutique charm matters most, Hotel Escalante wins. If you want walkable downtown energy, Inn on Fifth’s rooftop is the pick. If beachfront is non-negotiable but you don’t want a massive guest list, Edgewater’s pool deck fits best.
Planning Your Naples Wedding
Once you’ve picked a venue, coordinating catering minimums, vendor logistics, and timing around Naples’ Gulf Coast sunsets is where planning actually pays off. Explore our wedding planning services or see what a South Florida wedding planner costs to budget accordingly.
The hardest part of a surprise proposal isn’t picking a ring or a location – it’s keeping the secret while coordinating everything else around it. Here’s a realistic, step-by-step process that accounts for the part most guides skip: how to actually pull it off without tipping your partner off along the way.
Step 1 – Confirm the Ring and the “Yes” Factor First
Before any location scouting, make sure you actually know your partner wants to get married, and roughly what kind of proposal they’d want (public and big, or private and quiet). Surprise doesn’t mean guessing blind – most successful proposals are a surprise on timing and setup, not on the fact that a proposal is coming eventually.
Step 2 – Pick a Location That Matches Their Personality, Not Yours
The single biggest planning mistake is choosing a spot because it’s photogenic rather than because your partner would actually enjoy it. Someone who hates public attention will feel ambushed by a proposal at a crowded sunset spot, no matter how beautiful the photos turn out. Match the setting to them – our guides on proposal spots in Miami and across South Florida break down which locations suit which personalities.
Step 3 – Build a Cover Story for the Day
You need a reason to be at the location that doesn’t sound suspicious. “Let’s grab dinner” works better than “let’s watch the sunset at this specific spot I’ve never suggested before.” The best cover stories are ordinary enough that your partner doesn’t overthink them – a birthday dinner, a weekend trip you’d normally take, a walk after a meal you already planned.
Step 4 – Coordinate Photography Without Blowing the Secret
If you want photos or video, this is where most surprise proposals get exposed – a photographer lurking with a camera is a giveaway. Professional proposal photographers are used to “hiding in plain sight,” positioning themselves as a stranger taking landscape photos or blending into a public area until the moment happens.
Step 5 – Loop In Family or Friends Only If Necessary
If you’re planning a celebration immediately after, or need help distracting your partner earlier in the day, keep the circle as small as possible. Every person who knows is another chance the secret leaks – a sibling mentioning it, a group chat message sent to the wrong thread. Tell only the people who genuinely need to know, and tell them last.
Step 6 – Have a Backup Plan for Weather and Timing
South Florida weather changes fast, especially during the June-through-September rainy season. If your plan is entirely outdoors, have a covered or indoor backup ready so a sudden storm doesn’t force you to reschedule the whole thing last-minute.
Step 7 – Decide Who Actually Handles the Logistics
Trying to book a private cabana, coordinate a photographer, and manage a cover story all yourself, on top of normal life, is where most people run out of time or slip up and give it away. Handing off logistics to someone else means your partner only sees the finished moment – not the planning stress behind it.
If You’d Rather Not Do the Asking Yourself
Some people know they want to propose but aren’t sure how to start, or want their partner to feel just as involved in the planning. That’s what our Drop a Hint service is for – a way to nudge your partner toward the idea without doing the heavy lifting alone. For the full proposal itself, see our proposal planning services, which handle scouting, permits, and photography coordination end to end.
The average Florida wedding costs around $33,500-$35,500, while the average elopement runs $5,000-$17,000 – but cost alone shouldn’t drive this decision. Here’s an honest breakdown of what you’re actually trading off between the two, beyond just the price tag.
The Real Cost Difference
Florida weddings average $33,924, close to the national figure of $33,000-$35,000, and Miami venues alone carry a median starting package of $4,900 before catering, photography, or décor. Elopements land in a much wider but consistently lower range – most sources put the realistic average between $5,000 and $17,000, with a bare-bones courthouse elopement possible for a few hundred dollars. The gap isn’t about quality; it’s about scale. A 150-guest wedding requires paying for 150 dinners, 150 chairs, and enough space to host them. A 2-person elopement doesn’t.
Guest Count Changes Everything
Traditional weddings typically run 100-150 guests, which is what drives most of the cost – catering alone for that many people commonly runs $10,000-$18,000. Elopements typically involve 0-20 people, which is why the same $5,000-$15,000 budget can go toward a private beach ceremony, a photographer, and a nice dinner instead of feeding a room full of extended family.
Planning Timeline
A full traditional wedding typically takes 9-12 months of planning – venue booking, vendor coordination, guest list management, and the inevitable back-and-forth on details most guests never notice. An elopement can be planned in weeks, sometimes days, especially in Florida where out-of-state couples face no marriage license waiting period at all (see our Florida marriage license guide for specifics).
What You Gain and What You Give Up
Choosing a wedding means your parents get to walk you down an aisle, your college roommate gets to give a toast, and you get a night that unfolds exactly the way weddings “are supposed to.” It also means managing seating charts, a guest list someone will inevitably be upset about, and a day that’s partly designed around other people’s expectations.
Choosing an elopement means the day is entirely about the two of you – no seating chart, no politics, no rushing through a receiving line instead of actually talking to your partner. It also means close family may not be present for the moment itself, which is a real tradeoff, not just a cost-saving one.
The Middle Ground: Micro Weddings
If neither option feels right, a micro wedding – typically 10-50 guests – splits the difference. You get a real ceremony and reception with the people who matter most, at a fraction of a 150-guest budget. Our guide to intimate wedding venues in Miami covers several venues built specifically for this middle-ground option.
Making the Decision
Ask yourselves three questions: does either of you truly want a big celebration, or is it mostly about pleasing family? Is your budget better spent on the day itself or on the honeymoon and future together? And do you want months of planning, or would you rather it be done in weeks? Your answers will point you toward one option clearly.
Whichever You Choose
Both paths benefit from having someone who knows the logistics – permits, timing, vendor coordination – handled for you. Explore our wedding planning services or elopement planning services to see how each is structured, or read How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in South Florida? for a full pricing breakdown either way.
Key West sits on the western edge of the Keys, which means it’s one of the only places in Florida where you watch the sun drop directly into open water. That’s the whole reason sunset proposals here feel different – but not every “sunset spot” locals recommend is actually right for a proposal. Here’s where to go, and just as importantly, where to avoid.
Where Not to Propose: Mallory Square
Mallory Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration is Key West’s most famous sunset spot – and one of the worst places to actually propose. It’s a nightly street-performer circus with hundreds of tourists, fire jugglers, and a genuine crowd squeeze right at the moment the sun drops. If you want a proposal story that doesn’t involve competing with a sword swallower for your partner’s attention, skip it.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
The best natural sunset spot on the island – a quiet, rock-lined shore on the westernmost point with an unobstructed view of the sun hitting the Gulf. Entry costs just a few dollars, but the park closes at sundown, so arrive by 6pm and be ready to leave right as the sun touches the horizon. This is the top pick if you want a genuinely private moment without paying for a charter.
Private Sunset Sail or Charter
The classic, near-universally recommended option for a reason: a private boat gives you total privacy, a clean view of the sun dropping into the Gulf, and no crowd management to worry about. Captains are used to helping couples time the moment, and many will quietly step away to give you space right before the ring comes out.
Key West Lighthouse
For couples who want height and a bit of drama, the 86-foot observation platform at the lighthouse offers sweeping sunset views – and staff will arrange a few minutes of private time if you call ahead, sometimes for as little as $300. Not many people know this is bookable, which keeps it quieter than most spots on this list.
White Street Pier and Simonton Street Beach
Both are free, uncrowded, and just minutes from Old Town. White Street Pier faces the Atlantic rather than the Gulf, so you won’t see the sun drop into the water directly, but the way the light colors the sky behind you is arguably just as striking – and you’ll have a fraction of the Mallory Square crowd.
Audubon House Gardens
A tropical garden setting away from the water entirely, ideal if your partner would rather propose surrounded by greenery than on open sand. It trades the “sun into the ocean” moment for privacy and lush scenery.
Truman Annex Waterfront
A quiet stretch near Fort Zachary Taylor with sunset views and considerably fewer people than the main tourist strip – good if you want a beach-adjacent option without booking anything in advance.
Timing Your Key West Sunset Proposal
Arrive 30-45 minutes before sunset at any of these spots – the good ones fill up fast, and locals note the 20 minutes after the sun drops often produce the most vivid sky color, so don’t rush off immediately. Check sunset times before you go; they shift meaningfully between winter and summer in the Keys.
Planning Your Key West Proposal
Every spot above has different privacy levels, costs, and booking requirements – mixing them up is an easy way to end up somewhere crowded on the day. See our proposal planning services for help scouting and booking the right spot, or explore more proposal ideas across South Florida if you’re still deciding on a location.
Fort Lauderdale’s “Venice of America” canals give it a wedding backdrop Miami can’t fully replicate – waterfront estates, yacht-lined marinas, and rooftop lounges with Intracoastal views, all with less tourist congestion than South Beach. Here’s where to look depending on the style you’re going for.
For Beachfront Glamour: Pelican Grand Beach Resort
An Old Florida beachfront resort with capacity up to 300 guests, blending classic architecture with direct oceanfront access. This is the pick if you want a traditional beach wedding feel without the high-rise backdrop of Miami Beach.
For Waterfront Grandeur: Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina
A Fort Lauderdale landmark since 1956, sitting directly on the Intracoastal Waterway with sweeping marina views, a dramatic rooftop lounge, and elegant indoor ballrooms. Yachts drifting past in the background of your photos is genuinely part of the appeal here – it’s the most requested venue for couples who want a nautical, five-star backdrop at scale.
For Skyline Views: Rooftop Venues
Fort Lauderdale has more rooftop wedding options than most people expect. Nubé Rooftop, set 26 floors above the Atlantic, gives you full ocean views and golden-hour lighting. Sparrow Rooftop, on the 25th floor with full venue buyouts, works well for couples who want an intimate skyline ceremony without competing for space with a hotel’s other events. The Easton Rooftop & Lounge adds a rooftop pool into the mix if you want a more resort-casual feel.
For Garden and Estate Ceremonies: Bonnet House
If Vizcaya-style architecture and gardens appeal to you but you want Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, Bonnet House is the closest equivalent – a historic estate built for garden ceremonies rather than large ballroom receptions.
For a Boutique Hotel Feel: Hyatt Centric Las Olas
Located directly on the waterfront in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this venue handles everything from intimate rehearsal dinners to full receptions, with both indoor and outdoor ceremony space. Its Las Olas location puts you walking distance from restaurants and nightlife for guests staying multiple days.
For Small or Intimate Ceremonies: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
The property’s elevated rooftop patio overlooking the Intracoastal is specifically suited to intimate ceremonies and smaller seated dinners, rather than large-scale receptions – a good option if your guest list is under 50.
Choosing the Right Venue for Your Style
Start with the feeling you want: nautical and grand (Pier Sixty-Six), classic beachfront (Pelican Grand), modern skyline (Nubé or Sparrow), historic garden (Bonnet House), or boutique and walkable (Hyatt Centric Las Olas). Guest count narrows it further – most rooftop venues cap out around 150-200, while beachfront resorts like Pelican Grand scale up to 300.
Planning Your Fort Lauderdale Wedding
Once you’ve picked a venue style, the next step is aligning catering minimums, vendor logistics, and timeline around it – which varies significantly between a rooftop lounge and a full estate property. See our wedding planning services or explore what a South Florida wedding planner costs to budget accordingly.
Our contacts
Miami and all South Florida
Phone:
