Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Florida

Top Destination Wedding Beach Houses Part 1 | Destin, Florida & Emerald Coast

One of the most searched sections of our blog is “Top Destination Wedding Venues” in Destin, FL and the Emerald Coast. We did a 3 part series last year on actual event venues. For our venue posting in the panhandle of Florida this year, we thought we’d do a focus on wedding beach houses. In the panhandle, this is picked quite often by our wedding clients in lieu of the traditional wedding venues with guests counts of 30-80 people. Some of the obvious advantages:

  • If you’re a destination bride or groom bringing in friends and family with you, this usually cuts down the cost of individual rooms per night for you and your guests.
  • A lot of these wedding beach houses have access to a private beach which gives you a chance to steer clear of other sunbathing tourists and make it truly a private event.
  • With some of these venues, you can bring in your own caterer and vendors!
  • No one has to risk driving intoxicated.  If you and your guests are staying at the beach house where the wedding is occurring, it’s just a walk to the room rather than a drive back to a hotel.
  • This can give your event more of a “family” feel since it’s being done at a house. If you’re looking for a little more laid back vibe, this is the way to go.

There’s so many great options out there that this is going to require multiple posts.  Here’s some of our favorites:

Highlands House – Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Highlands House DJ

We are the exclusive entertainment company for this bed and breakfast location. Sherry and Denise are so easy to work with and do a stellar job. Here’s a few of the venue highlights: The B&B can sleep 21 people. If you’re party is larger than that, they recommend putting the family and/or bridal party there. They have 2 beach haven cottages that sleep 10 each for other guests. So perfect for a 40 person wedding! If your party is larger, they have other places they recommend for guests that are close by. This has private beach access for your ceremony! Also, everything is done in-house (one of the few venues like it); from florals to photography to catering to rentals, etc. This gives some brides and grooms peace of mind in not having to source that. They recently added a café and bar in the lower level of the property. They have a 4.9 Wedding Wire Rating and have won the Couples Choice Awards 2 years in row.  To contact them, e-mail Sherry and Denise here.

Palazzo Del Sol House – Destin, FL

Palazzo Del Sol House DJ

By far, this is one of our favorite houses to recommend for those looking to stay in Destin. This is literally the PERFECT wedding event house. It is located within the Holiday Isle community. The house  sleeps 12 within 3 bedrooms and 2 additional bunk rooms. If  you need additional rooms, they manage some condos that are also on holiday isle. A couple of the highlights: They have a tremendous manicured grassy backyard which is great for receptions. This gives you unlimited options for decor with furniture, etc. There’s a pool back there as well (floating votive candles anyone?). They offer private beach access and although the have a list of preferred vendors they recommend, you can bring in whatever vendors you choose. There is a gourmet kitchen inside the house and although it’s not a commercial kitchen per say, they have a double oven which has 6 burners that any caterer can use. They do require a 5 night minimum stay. If you’re looking for a house without the beach, they also manage the Southern Hospitality House which overlooks the bay.  For more information on either of these locations, contact April here.

Atypical House – Grayton Beach, FL

Atypical House Wedding DJ

Grayton Beach is in Walton County, which is about 20 minutes east of Destin. This particular house we’ve DJ’d at quite often. It has 6 bedrooms that can sleep up to 19 people with 7 full bathrooms and 1 half bathroom. The backyard is perfect for receptions with guest counts of up to 75. You can bring in your own vendors and it’s within walking distance to the Red Bar, which is great for rehearsal dinners. Contact Larry and Laurie today.

Anna’s Veranda – Inlet Beach, FL

Anna's Veranda Wedding DJ

A little further east of Grayton Beach is Anna’s Veranda in Inlet Beach. It’s a Victorian Style Home which gives it a real uniqueness compared to other homes in the area. While it doesn’t have private beach access from the property, you can walk to the dunes in less than 90 seconds which is where most couples have their ceremony. This house is a great option for guest counts of up to 75 people. Typically, when we’ve performed here, couples will utilize the front yard for cocktail hour and then the backyard for the reception. They allow you to bring in your own vendors as well.

Villa Capri – Miramar Beach, FL

Villa Capri Wedding DJ

Another favorite of ours is the Villa Capri house located in Miramar Beach (about 5 minutes from Destin proper). The house sleeps 25 and is multi-level but one of the best things about it is the architecture and landscaping (with palm trees and pool) which makes for amazing photos. Again, you can bring in your own vendors and the house has a gourmet kitchen. While there is no private beach access from the home, it’s just a short 2 minute walk. For larger groups of 50-60 people, this house is ideal for a casual reception.

The Seahorse Retreat and Palm Breeze Beach House – Mary Esther, FL

Seahorse Retreat Wedding DJ
These two houses we have experience with as our owners were married at this property with 150 people in attendance. While it may not have the actual pristine white beach sand per say, it is located on the Santa Rosa Sound which has a dock that makes for some amazing pictures. The Seahorse Retreat and The Palm Breeze Beach House are literally right next door to one another and they share the same backyard that boasts an amazing infinity pool. You can rent each one separately or do what we did and rent both together. Private access to the sound makes it ideal for pictures and the sand is still great! However, if you really want the white sandy beach photos, Navarre Beach is less than 5 miles away. One of the big selling points of this venue is that you’re dealing with way less traffic! It’s in between Navarre and Destin so you’re able to avoid the craziness that those two cities can bring in season. You’re also able to bring in your own vendors. Both houses sleep 16 each and they both are outfitted with a gourmet kitchen. The parking can fit anywhere between 6-10 cars on property and you are allowed to line up the street with parking as well. You can also park in an open lot which is just a small walk nearby.

Be on the look-out for part 2 of beach houses next week!

Hilton Sandestin Wedding DJ Duane In The Mix | Lindsay & Anthony

Sandestin Wedding DJ

One of the biggest thrills that I experience in my job as a Destin and Sandestin wedding DJ is seeing a bride and groom truly get to enjoy themselves with friends and family as they completely throw down on the dance floor in celebration! That being said, Lindsay and Anthony definitely made it to my highlight reel for 2014! It all took place at one of our favorite venues, the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, FL. They recently renovated the property and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you absolutely need to! It’s really one of the best looking hotels in the area bar none. That said, one of the reasons the Hilton has become one of our client’s favorite venues is because of the ‘all-in-one’ wedding packages they offer: a venue, a coordinator, catering, and indoor/outdoor options for a reception. This makes for easy communication and transitions in case of emergency (the rain, heat, etc).

Everything went according to plan for Lindsay and Anthony’s big day! They enjoyed a beautiful ceremony out on the sugary white sands of the Emerald Coast and took photos right after their vows while their guests headed inside for cocktails. Once the couple was ready to make their grand entrance, I gave their guests a quick pep talk reminding them to cheer, dance, and laugh as much as possible to make sure this would be a day Lindsay or Anthony would never forget. If the picture of the groom and his groomsmen at the top of this post didn’t already give it away, let me tell you, this crowd did not need much encouragement at all! Once we went through all of the formality dances and dinner, it was time to PARTY! The dance floor was never empty and Anthony stole the show with dance moves on par with Justin Timberlake himself! We had such a great time that when it came time to end, the couple decided to extend the party for another hour! A big congratulations goes out to the newlyweds and a big thank you for letting me be a part of such an important day in their lives!  Check out the highlights we put together in this video.

Highlands House Wedding Highlights with DJ Dan Davis | Jenna and Evan

Highlands House Bed and Breakfast is a wedding venue located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL along the world-famous Highway 30-A stretch of the Emerald Coast. B-Boy Productions is the exclusively referred entertainment company for the property. As the B-Boy “resident DJ” for Highlands House, I am there often and their staff and I recognize one another by name and face. We have developed a teamwork dynamic that really helps create a smooth and efficient atmosphere for our clients and guests that really shines. This particular wedding was one of their largest guest-wise. They handled this entire affair with the utmost care and service, better than I’ve ever seen them administrate any event (and that’s saying a lot since they’ve done such a good job with every one that I’ve been a part of!).

For a mid-June wedding, Jenna and Evan Sanders really won the Florida lottery. No, not the one you may be thinking of, but the weather lottery. The chance for precipitation in this state can often times be unpredictable, but I could not imagine a better day to get married. Perfect sky, perfect warmth, and naturally, one the world’s perfect beaches!

This wedding had a few stand-out moments. The first was that the date was Friday, the 13th. If that wasn’t already unique, how about the fact that 5 other couples who were attending their reception as guests were also married on a Friday, the 13th? It was actually a family tradition! Jenna and Evan put together a tribute of which I got the privilege to read through during dinner as we called up each couple who went before them in marriage and honored them. So cool!

The other stand-out moment was the Father/Daughter dance. Jenna had mentioned during our planning session that she had a special edit that she was going to send me. Intrigued, I eagerly awaited to hear what it was going to be and I don’t think anything could have prepared me for what she sent. To an unsuspecting crowd, after an un-announced “wardrobe change”  (Jenna changed into a more “active wear” dress), Jenna and her father began dancing to the wedding staple “My Girl” by The Temptations. Things quickly took a turn when that tale-tell melody of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson began playing, fittingly enough for Friday the 13th. In reality, Jenna and her Father had choreographed a dance number beforehand, and really wowed not only their friends and family, but me as well! The medley concluded, rather surprisingly, with “Bye Bye Bye” by N*Sync.  What a great way to kick off a party!

After a lovely meal and some special toasts, we danced the rest of the night away on the dance floor. After such a special day filled with great memories, it certainly didn’t take a lot of effort to get people out on the floor! What a happy  day! Here’s a quick highlight reel of the night. Enjoy!

DJ Dan Davis Highlands House Wedding Video from B-Boy Productions Inc on Vimeo.

Top First Dance Songs for Weddings 2014

In weddings, the First Dance song is one of those tracks that define you and your significant other for a lifetime.  You’re always looking for that one song that you’ll be able to resonate with years into your marriage.  With all that pressure, it’s nice to have a little help from the wedding DJ professionals with some song suggestions.

We’re continuing our series of top wedding formality song choices and in this installment, we give you most popular First Dance Songs for Weddings so far this year as selected by our clients.  DJ Josh B and DJ Brian B break it down for you with a Top 10 list.  This compilation covers a wide range of genres and decades.

As always, should you want more ideas, don’t hesitate in reaching out to us and we’ll be glad to send more suggestions.

Top Wedding Grand Entrance Songs 2014

Wedding Grand Entrance Songs

Since we’re almost halfway through 2014 (how is that even possible?), we thought it would be helpful to future brides and grooms to let them in on the top wedding Grand Entrance songs choices as based on the selections by our clients from January of this year through now. DJ Brian B and DJ Josh B sit down at the fine dining estabishment of Denny’s in Fort Walton Beach, FL to break it down for you top 10 style. If you need more ideas, just give us a call or e-mail us and we’ll be glad to help.

Wedding Entertainment with DJ Irving G: Henderson Park Inn, Destin FL | Harris Wedding

With the sugar white sand on the beach, the perfectly clear sky and the turquoise water color on full display, it was another awesome spring day on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Our bride and groom, Justin and Hayley Harris, had assembled an all-star supporting cast of vendors to work with us at Henderson Park Inn in Destin, FL. We had Michael K Photography, Florals by the Sea, Cake Destination and Beach Walk Café. There was no doubt that we were primed for an amazing wedding.

As the guests filed down to the beach, you could just feel the excitement. When Justin saw Hayley walk down that aisle, his face lit up with a huge smile. It was such a beautiful ceremony.

Henderson Park Inn Wedding Ceremony

With the ceremony over, the guests transitioned to the lawn for cocktail hour. They enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while listening to the the smooth Caribbean sounds of our steel drummer extraordinaire, Rudy Applewhite. Drinks in hand and the great company of friends, many of whom had not seen one another for a long time, made for the perfect combo as we got ready for a fun-filled reception.

Henderson Park Inn Wedding Decor

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Harris walked into the reception and the crowd went wild. The first dance was a very appropriate choice with it being a beach wedding. They danced to “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys. The happy couple was just lost in the moment.

Henderson Park Inn Wedding First Dance

The music for the dinner hour was a mixture of laid back reggae, some retro throwbacks and a few current selections mixed in. Guests were singing and clapping along to many of the songs. As we got ready to transition into dancing, we picked up the tempo a bit.

Henderson Park Inn Table Decor

Henderson Park Inn Wedding Dinner

Once we segued into open dancing, it became very apparent that the crowd loved that old time rock and roll. Everything from The Beatles to Jerry Lee Lewis, guests couldn’t get enough. From the very first song, guests were out on the floor!

Henderson Park Inn DJ

When the crowd really got down, the white Wayfarer shades came out and the dance floor stayed packed almost the entire night.

Henderson Park Inn Wedding DJ

I even got on the dance floor and led a few dances with Justin, Hayley and their guests.

Henderson Park Inn Wedding DJ BBoy Productions

How did they end this perfect night? With a glow stick tunnel of course. All of their family and friends cheered them on as Justin and Hayley made their way through it. It was a great send-off and completed an awesome reception.

Want to see more? My DJ Assistant for the night, DJ Dan Davis, took some pictures and video and we put together this quick collage. Enjoy!

 

Weekend DJ Entertainment Recap: Nightclub, Weddings, & Bat Mitzvah

Whew! What a weekend. We are just now recouping from a phenomenal weekend where we had 12 events across Florida and New York. Here’s a little journey through our DJ Entertainment life in pictures.

On Thursday, DJ Brian B kicked off the weekend at McGuire’s Irish Pub of Destin in Destin, FL. It’s Destin’s best Ladies Night and DJ Brian B did not disappoint. He was rocking it along with the band, Grape Drink. It was packed! If this is any indication of what the summer is going to be like, we’re in for a good one. We’re there EVERY Thursday from 10PM – 2AM with a rotation of our DJs and there’s no cover! It even prompted this amazing text from management to Brian B.

DJ entertainment

McGuire's Ladies Night DJ Brian B

McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin DJ Brian B NYC

Friday night, DJ Irving G was mixing it up for the wedding of Craig Farthing and Nicola Kirkham on the deck at the Hilton Sandestin in Destin, FL.  Look at this view!

Hilton Sandestin Wedding DJ

Saturday, we had 7 events on the schedule. DJ Dan Davis kicked it off with the wedding of Meagan Blais and Lacey Nivers at a private residence in Navarre, FL. Dan handled the ceremony sound and DJ/Emcee duties. He did so well that it even warranted a kiss from the brides at the end of the night.

Same Sex Wedding B-Boy Productions

Same Sex Wedding DJ

DJ Irving G was at Bud and Alley’s in Seaside, FL for the wedding of Chris Olfers and Arielle Warner. We worked this wedding with the uber-talented Heather Archdeacon-Williams from Defining Moments Wedding & Special Events.

Bud and Alley's Seaside Wedding DJ

We had a chair rental for a Seascape Golf Beach & Tennis Resort wedding at Whale’s Tale in Miramar Beach, FL. Our own DJ Charles and Mace Livingston handled the chair set-up. The wedding even featured a special appearance by Harry and Lloyd from the movie Dumb and Dumber to announce the arrival of the bride. Ha!

Seascape Wedding Rental Chairs B-Boy Productions

Seacape Wedding DJ

Meanwhile back at the Hilton Sandestin, DJ Josh B was rocking the turntables for the wedding of Ryan Murray an Liberty Getman. Check out this amazing cake by the Hilton Sandestin Beach Weddings’ own Yascha Becker. Incredible right?

Hilton Sandestin Wedding Cake DJ

DJ Brian B and DJ Charles did a tag team DJ set for the Bat Mitzvah of Sophia Feldman at Rutherford’s 465 in Destin, FL. We had 3 party motivators assisting us and the event went off without a hitch!

Rutherford's 465 DJ Bat Mitzvah Destin

Sunday, DJ Irving G and DJ Charles were at the Palazzo Del Sol house in Destin, FL for the wedding of Matt Gerry and Elena King. We worked with Shana Bliss of Laugh Live Travel and Laugh Love Events Exclusive Concierge. Irving even got a selfie with some of the bridal party!  Ha!

Palazzo Del Sol Wedding DJ

Meanwhile, DJ Brian B took an early morning flight back to New York for the wedding of Patrick Gillen and Chantal Lutin. It was held at Jericho Terrace in Mineola, NY. The venue was absolutely stunning.

Jericho Terrace Wedding DJ

That was a quick snippet of our weekend for you! We sure do love our job and our clients are absolutely the best. If you have a need for our services, contact us ASAP as we’re booking into 2015 right now. Not having your event in California, Florida or New York?  No problem!  We are a nationwide company that can be booked throughout the United States and abroad.

 

Venue Spotlight: Rutherford’s 465 (Regatta Bay) – Destin, FL

We’re highlighting another venue today in Destin, FL called “Rutherford’s 465“. It is located inside the Regatta Bay community. This is a property owned and ran by Legendary  Inc.

This is a great venue for those that are not looking for a beach atmosphere but still want that serene and peaceful vibe. Guest count wise, you can comfortably accommodate up to 200 people here but you can also configure the room to feel full with 30-40 guests. The modular ability of this venue is limitless.

To start, there is plenty of parking. You would think this would be an obvious feature, but not in this tourist town. Parking is scarce at most venues but not here. This is a crucial feature that too many people with large guest counts overlook when they decide on a venue.

Ceremonies can be done here on the adjacent lawn to the left of the venue. This little nook has a very garden’esque look to it with the foliage and well-manicured lawns. It’s very quiet as well at this venue so you’re sure to have an uninterrupted ceremony.

Regatta Bay

The walk from the ceremony site to the reception location is only about 40-50 yards. There’s a back deck that is used for cocktail hour which boasts a 2 level deck. A live musician (which you can also book through us as this particular couple did) can set-up and serenade guests as hors’ d’oeuvres are passed and cocktail drinks are served.

Rutherfords 465 Wedding Musician

Dinner is usually inside. The room can be divided into 3 sections. If you have a small guest count, you can close off one of the sections. Another option is to use one of the 3 sections for a buffet spread. The wedding cake is almost always set-up inside so the elements don’t get to it.

Rutherfords 465 Wedding Cake B-Boy Productions

Most couples who book this venue for their wedding in the nice weather months (Spring and Fall) will then utilize the lowest level deck outside to bring guests down to dance once the dinner portion has concluded. The set-up looks amazing at night. The dance floor area is extremely large for dancing.

Rutherfords 465 Wedding Reception Deck DJ Set-up

Rutherfords 465 Wedding Reception DJ B-Boy Productions DJ

We’ve put together a video tour for you as well so you can get a simulated “walk thru” of the facility. The staff is amazing to work with. The food/catering is exquisite. This is one of the Emerald Coast’s premiere venues to consider for any type of private event function.

Weddings at the Emerald Grande in Destin | Wedding DJ Irving G mixes it up

The weather was just PERFECT on this day…especially for a wedding, and we love doing weddings at the Emerald Grande in Destin. The ceremony took place on the beach that you access via the resort’s private ferry. The cocktail hour and reception were all held outside on the Captain’s Deck.

We had one of our more elaborate packages booked for Marc Stepp and Jaclyn Crossno’s wedding. We provided our ceremony sound system rental, ceremony videography services, Cocktail Hour Live Musician services, photo booth and our signature DJ/Emcee Services. The flowers and event design were done courtesy of Blu Event Design & Couture Florals. The cake was provided by Say Cake Bakery.

Weddings at the Emerald Grande

Emerald Grande Wedding Cake

Guests were enjoying the refreshing breeze, noise of the wildlife and the boats sailing by as the bridal party arrived to the ceremony location via the ferry. Everything came together like clockwork. The bridal party walked down to “Marry Me” by Train while Jaclyn and her father were serenaded by a very modern violin cover of Christina Perri’s “1000 Years” by Rachel Pierce.

As guests arrived for cocktail hour on the Captains Deck, our cocktail hour guitarist/vocalist, Dan Austin, kept that laid back vibe going. The beverages were flowing, the Photo Booth was in full operation, and guests were enjoying one another’s company. It was the perfect segue to what was going to be an epic Grand Entrance.

Emerald Grande Cocktail Hour Guitarist Wedding Singer

The bridal party came down the spiral staircase to “Whoomp (There It Is)” by Tag Team. You could see the crowd brimming with excitement. It was a loud erumpent of cheers when Marc and Jaclyn were introduced as “Let’s Get it Started” by Black Eyed Peas blared through the speakers. All the pent up excitement was finally released and the reception had officially started!

Emerald Grande Wedding DJ Booth

As dinner was concluding, I was able to make a few of the kid’s night by playing “In Summer” from the Frozen soundtrack. The bride and groom then danced to an amazing Maroon 5 cover of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”. Their newlywed love was on full display during that dance as they were laughing and having a good time.

It was time for the open dance set. The song of the night was an oldie but a goodie – “Pour Some Sugar (On Me)” by Def Leppard. The crowd went wild. It took the party up another level. Once the party concluded, you could tell that everyone seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselvesThanks Marc and Jaclyn for letting us be a part of your day!

Emerald Grande Decor DJ

Click here for more information about the Emerald Grande in Destin

Venue Spotlight: Bayview Room at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort – Sandestin, FL

Every now and then, we like to take a moment and put the focus on a particular venue. This week we wanted to introduce you to the Bayview Room at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Sandestin, FL. It’s located near the Linkside Conference Center within the Resort.

Bayview Room at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Wedding DJ Sunset

One of the first things about the Bayview Room that you will appreciate is the privacy aspect. It’s not located in the touristy Baytowne section of the resort. The Linkside section is very secluded. It will feel like you have the whole place to yourself which is nice when having a private wedding or corporate function.

It’s really important that when you and your guests enter the security gate at the resort that you ask them to direct you to the Linkside Conference Center rather than saying the Bayview Room. The security guards sometimes get that confused and will send you around to Baytowne and you’ll have a 10-15 minute detour until you get yourself back to where you need to be.

The room is perfect for a guest count of 60-75 people. You could technically squeeze in around 100 if it was dinning only and you didn’t use a dance floor.

Sandestin Wedding DJ Dance Crowd B-Boy Productions

To us, the biggest selling point is the ability to have the outside cocktail hour and ceremony location on the terrace adjacent to the reception room. The view of the Choctawhatchee bay is quite serene and peaceful. This is ideal for those that want a beautiful view but not necessarily be at the beach or in sand.  Speaking of the outside terrace, there is power available if you wanted to hire a musician to play for the wedding ceremony and/or cocktail hour.  Additionally, it’s partially covered so a cocktail hour could still occur even if there is rain present.  Speaking of rain, they have plenty of “plan B” rain options should it happen.  A lot of venue spaces can’t offer that!

Sandestin Ceremony Bubbles Wedding

Another advantage to booking the Bayview Room is you have access Sandestin Conference Services. They can do an excellent job of uplighting the room with any color to match the décor you’ve chosen for your event and they can even do a customized gobo/monogram light on the dance floor in addition to providing many other a/v services.

Sandestin Wedding Monogram Bayview Room

We put together a tour of the venue on video. With it being a smaller room, there aren’t that many configurations that can be done so this a great sampling to observe on a more visual level. It’s one of our favorite event venue spaces so we hope you’ll consider it for your event!