Year after year, a set of blog posts keeps ranking as one of our most searched. It’s our annual selection of top Destination Wedding Venues. We love being able to help clients out with as much information as we can (even if it is non-music related). Since we are heavily entrenched in Florida’s Emerald Coast (we do over 400 weddings a year just in that market alone), we have a good pulse of what’s “hot”. In the last year or so, a bunch of new wedding venues have popped up that you should consider. They span from Rosemary Beach (30A) to Destin to Fort Walton Beach, FL which on a good traffic day is about 45 minutes to an hour from one another. We’re going to break this up into a 3 part series.
Why 30-A? It’s becoming the hottest area right now for weddings and the 30A wedding venues are some of the best in the area. This is primarily because it’s less congested than Destin. Also, with more land to build, you’re starting to see more development take place. It’s not too far from Panama City Beach airport and it’s closer to Highway 331 (the gateway to the Emerald Coast from Interstate 10) than Destin or Fort Walton Beach. Here’s our 2015 wedding venue picks for 30-A.
The Pearl – Rosemary Beach, FL
This quaint hotel has quite the impressive look and though not totally evident at first, it has multiple unique room and indoor/outdoor spaces all within the hotel to fit different aesthetics for guests counts ranging from 12 to 40. The plus side…you’re off 30A in Rosemary Beach, which will blow away guests with its upscale an small-town feel. It has accommodations at the venue! Everything can be done there (including your rehearsal dinner). Also Amanda and her staff are amazing to work with. If there is a downside, it would be parking. Unless you’re staying at the hotel, you’re going to have to get creative with the parking (especially during busy season). That said, it can be done and I wouldn’t let that detour you from this amazing venue. Here’s a quick shot of a side lobby that leads into one of the ballrooms.
The Bowery On 30-A – Grayton Beach, FL
We’re super excited to introduce you to the newest multi-level event space along 30-A. They recently renovated this location and folks, it is stunning. Downstairs they have a restaurant which can be shut down for events and is perfect for a cocktail hour. Upstairs, they have two event spaces. The smaller of the two spaces (pictured below) has floor to ceiling windows and can accommodate up to 80 people (seated). The bigger room can comfortably seat up to 150 people, has a stage in place for entertainment and is hard-wired with sound and production lighting. Both rooms have amazing chandeliers. Want a beach ceremony? They have access to a private beach which is within walking distance. Parking is not an issue with this location as they have a huge parking lot. This event space opened earlier this year and we think by this time next year, it’ll be the hottest property for events bar none. Bob and Annemarie are fantastic to work with and they do allow you to bring in your own vendors except for the catering, which must be done in-house.
331 South – Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Formerly known as Bentley’s On The Bay, this location is under new ownership and management. WeddingWire chose this location for their 2015 venue spotlight and had their annual vendor networking night there. This for the couple who is looking for a non-beach wedding venue. It sits next to the Choctawhatchee Bay and boasts both an outdoor and indoor space. You can pick one or the other or utilize both. It also can serve as your built-in “rain back-up plan”. Parking is not an issue at this location. Inside, you can fit 80-100 people comfortablyy and outside around the same (maybe a little more). One of the things they’ve added is outside catering. So if you do the taste test and love the food but want a different location, the food can come with you. Christine and her staff do great work and are referred by all of the top professionals in the area.
Stay tuned for our Destin and Fort Walton Beach 2015 picks coming out soon. In the meantime, want some other location ideas? Check out our 2013 picks and Part 1 and Part 2 of our 2014 picks.