Vero Beach Destination Wedding & Guest Guide | The Rustica

The Ultimate Vero Beach Destination Wedding Guide for Out-of-Town Guests

You’ve chosen Vero Beach, Florida, for your wedding—now it’s time to help your guests fall in love with it too.

One of the best parts about having a destination wedding in Vero Beach is that your guests aren't simply traveling somewhere for a wedding.

They're getting a Florida getaway too.

Beautiful beaches, waterfront restaurants, boutique hotels, local breweries, shopping, golf, outdoor activities and that relaxed coastal atmosphere make Vero Beach an incredible place to turn your wedding into an entire weekend experience.

And when your celebration is at The Rustica Wedding Venue in Vero Beach, your guests can experience everything the area has to offer before gathering together for the reason they came:

To celebrate you.

Whether your guests are coming from another part of Florida or flying in from across the country, here's our guide to making the most of a Vero Beach wedding weekend.

Why Choose Vero Beach for a Destination Wedding?

Florida offers no shortage of destination wedding locations.

But Vero Beach has something special.

It gives couples and their guests the beautiful Florida experience without needing to plan their wedding in the middle of a major tourist destination.

Your guests can spend the morning at the beach, grab lunch overlooking the water, explore local shops, enjoy cocktails or dinner, and still feel like they've discovered somewhere a little more relaxed.

For couples searching for a Florida destination wedding venue, Vero Beach offers the opportunity to create a wedding weekend that feels like a vacation.

Where Should Wedding Guests Stay in Vero Beach?

When planning a destination wedding, one of the first questions guests will ask is:

“Where should we stay?”

Vero Beach offers everything from oceanfront resorts to hotels closer to shopping, restaurants and major roads.

If your guests want the full coastal experience, the beachside area is a great place to start looking.

Popular Vero Beach hotel options include Costa d'Este Beach Resort & Spa and Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, both of which put guests close to the ocean and many of Vero Beach's restaurants and activities.

For larger weddings, consider offering guests several hotel suggestions at different price points rather than limiting everyone to one option.

That gives guests the freedom to turn your wedding weekend into the trip that works best for them.

Spend a Morning at the Beach

You can't invite people to a Florida destination wedding and not encourage them to spend some time near the ocean.

A beach morning is one of the easiest activities for wedding guests because everyone can enjoy it on their own schedule.

Guests can take a morning walk, relax in the sand, swim, or simply grab coffee and enjoy the view.

And unlike a scheduled group excursion, there's no pressure for everyone to arrive at exactly the same time.

That makes the beach particularly perfect for the morning after your wedding.

Explore Ocean Drive

Guests looking for a relaxed afternoon can spend some time exploring the beachside area around Ocean Drive.

It's an easy way to experience a little of Vero Beach without needing a complicated itinerary.

Grab coffee.

Do some shopping.

Have lunch.

Walk toward the beach.

Stop for a cocktail.

Destination wedding weekends are often most enjoyable when guests have suggestions without having every hour scheduled.

Give them a few favorite places and let them explore.

Where to Eat During a Vero Beach Wedding Weekend

Food is one of the easiest ways for guests to experience Vero Beach.

And there are plenty of local restaurants worth visiting.

Depending on the experience they're looking for, guests might explore longtime Vero Beach favorites such as Ocean Grill, The Tides, Waldo's, Mulligan's Beach House, Scampi Grill, or Casey's Place.

Some guests will want an elevated dinner.

Others will want a casual lunch after the beach.

And some will simply want somewhere to gather for drinks.

Providing a few recommendations for different moods and price points on your wedding website can be incredibly helpful for out-of-town guests.

Drinks, Breweries & Vero Beach Nightlife

Your wedding doesn't have to be the only celebration of the weekend.

Guests who arrive a day or two early may want somewhere to meet for drinks or continue the night after another wedding-weekend event.

Vero Beach has local breweries, cocktail spots and casual nightlife options that can give guests something fun to do without turning your wedding weekend into a rigid schedule.

Places such as American Icon Brewery, Walking Tree Brewery, Grind + Grape, and other local favorites give guests different ways to experience Vero Beach.

This can also be a fun option for an informal welcome gathering where everyone simply meets for a drink rather than hosting another formal event.

Plan a Welcome Night

If many of your guests are traveling, consider doing something casual the evening they arrive.

It doesn't need to be another large wedding expense.

A welcome event can be as simple as:

“Meet us here for drinks from 7–9!”

Guests purchase their own food or drinks, everyone gets a chance to say hello, and your families can start getting to know each other before the wedding.

Then when everyone arrives at the wedding, it already feels like the celebration has begun.

Host Your Rehearsal Dinner at The Rustica

Want to make your wedding weekend even easier?

Depending on availability and your wedding arrangements, couples may have the opportunity to host their rehearsal dinner at The Rustica.

For couples with a large number of out-of-town guests, keeping wedding-weekend events connected can simplify logistics and give family and friends even more time together.

It also gives you the opportunity to enjoy The Rustica before the wedding day itself.

At The Rustica, we believe in quality over quantity, which is one reason we value creating an experience that extends beyond simply opening the doors for a wedding reception.

Make Time for a Post-Wedding Brunch

The morning after your wedding has its own kind of magic.

Everyone is exhausted.

Everyone is talking about the night before.

Someone is inevitably showing videos from the dance floor.

And nobody is quite ready for the weekend to end.

A casual post-wedding brunch gives everyone one more opportunity to spend time together before out-of-town guests head home.

You can reserve somewhere for the group or simply provide a few breakfast and brunch recommendations and let guests make their own plans.

Either way, it's a wonderful ending to a destination wedding weekend.

Give Your Guests Free Time

This might be our favorite destination wedding tip:

Don't over-plan the weekend.

Your guests traveled to celebrate you, but many of them also want to enjoy their trip.

You don't need:

Thursday welcome drinks.

Friday breakfast.

Friday excursion.

Friday rehearsal dinner.

Saturday breakfast.

Saturday wedding.

Sunday brunch.

Sunday farewell party.

That's a lot—for you and for them.

Choose a few moments that matter and leave plenty of space in between.

Your guests will appreciate being able to sleep in, visit the beach, explore Vero Beach, have lunch somewhere new or simply relax at their hotel.

Create a Vero Beach Guide on Your Wedding Website

One of the easiest ways to help your guests is to create a “Things to Do in Vero Beach” section on your wedding website.

Include:

Where to stay

Your favorite restaurants

Beach information

Coffee shops

Bars and breweries

Shopping

Transportation information

Your wedding venue

Rehearsal or welcome-party details

Any group activities you're planning

And perhaps a few personal recommendations from the two of you.

Guests love knowing where the couple actually goes.

It makes their trip feel more personal.

Don't Forget Transportation

If guests are flying into Florida or staying at different hotels, make sure they understand transportation arrangements before the wedding.

If you're providing transportation to and from the venue, put those details prominently on your wedding website.

If guests will need their own transportation, let them know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

The goal is to avoid guests figuring out transportation for the first time an hour before your ceremony.

Turn Your Wedding Into a Weekend Your Guests Remember

Years from now, your guests may not remember exactly what color your napkins were.

But they'll remember the experience.

They'll remember arriving in Florida.

The beach.

Dinner with friends.

Drinks with family they hadn't seen in years.

The rehearsal dinner.

Getting ready for the wedding.

Watching you walk down the aisle.

Dancing all night.

And sitting around the next morning laughing about everything that happened.

That's what makes a destination wedding so special.

It isn't simply a wedding day.

It's an experience you get to share with the people you love.

A Destination Wedding at The Rustica in Vero Beach, Florida

At The Rustica Wedding Venue, we love that couples can give their guests a Vero Beach experience while still having a private setting for their wedding celebration.

The Rustica offers couples beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, including a waterfront ceremony location, signature bridge, multiple photography locations, covered spaces and an air-conditioned indoor reception venue.

That means couples can enjoy the natural beauty of a Florida wedding while still having the comfort and convenience of an indoor reception.

And there's something else we're especially proud of:

More than 230 five-star reviews.

We believe your wedding venue should provide more than a beautiful backdrop.

The people behind the venue matter too.

Customer service, communication, organization and attention to detail can completely change the way you experience wedding planning.

Our goal is for couples to enjoy this season rather than feeling like they're managing an event on their own.

Searching for a Destination Wedding Venue in Florida?

If you're considering a destination wedding in Vero Beach, we'd love for The Rustica to be part of your wedding weekend.

Couples searching for:

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…can discover not only a beautiful place to celebrate, but an entire Florida wedding-weekend experience.

Come Experience The Rustica

If you're planning your wedding from outside Vero Beach—or even if Vero Beach is already home—come see The Rustica in person.

Walk across our bridge.

See the waterfront ceremony location.

Explore the reception space.

Discover the different places for photographs.

Imagine your rehearsal dinner.

Picture your family arriving in Vero Beach for the weekend.

And then imagine everyone you love gathered together as you say “I do.”

Your guests may travel to Vero Beach because of your wedding.

Our hope is that they'll leave loving Vero Beach almost as much as you do.

The Rustica Wedding Venue | Vero Beach, Florida