Fifteen coastal communities occupy the stretch of pristine white sand beaches between Destin and Panama City, Fla. Known collectively as the Beaches of South Walton, each enclave is unique, yet they share a common thread. Visit any or all of them and you may notice that the sun seems to shine brighter, the breezes blow cooler and worries roll out with the tide.
With natural beauty and tranquil vibes in abundance, The Beaches of South Walton have become favorite destinations for couples looking to make their wedding day memorable. If matrimony is in your immediate future, study this list of Gulfscapes’ picks for the perfect places to tie the knot in northwest Florida.
SAVOR THE SUNSET
Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club | 850-267-1240 | www.santarosaclub.com
4801 W. Hwy 30-A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
If your vision of nuptial bliss includes exchanging vows in the colorful orangey-pink glow of a seaside sunset, The Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club is for you. On the pool terrace overlooking the ocean, countless couples have wed while watching the sun sink slowly into the water. The Beach Club can also meet your other wedding needs with a wide range of complete and customized banquet services for rehearsal dinners and receptions.
LAIDBACK & LOVELY
Bentley’s On the Bay | 850-267-0240 | www.bentleysonthebay.com
24200 HWY 331 South | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Let the calm bay water gently lapping the shoreline lull you and your spouse-to-be into serenity at Bentley’s on the Bay. Sitting alongside Choctawhatchee Bay, Bentley’s is the spot for a relaxed wedding that’s all about family and good friends. Say “I do” under an old willow tree, and then, after sealing the deal with a kiss, let loose and enjoy music and dancing by moonlight with your guests on Bentley’s 3,600-square-foot deck facing the water. You can also choose from two lawns, the bay’s beach area, or Bentley’s private Gulf-front location in Grayton Beach. Optional indoor facilities are available in case of inclement weather.
A HISTORIC HAPPENING
Eden Gardens State Park | 850-231-4214 | www.floridastateparks.org
County Road 395 | Point Washington, FL
A wedding amid the towering moss-covered oaks, vibrant camellias and charm of the Old South found at Eden Gardens State Park is always an affair to remember. A white-columned mansion, built in 1895, graces the park’s 115 acres of lawns and well-maintained gardens, which include a reflection pool. The house has been fully restored and is furnished with period antiques. Harkening back to Florida’s past, Eden Gardens provides a beautiful, stately backdrop for a ceremony or reception.
ELEGANT & AT EASE
WaterColor Inn & Resort | 850-534-5007 | www.watercolorresort.com
34 Goldenrod Circle | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
The fresh, contemporary look of the WaterColor Inn complements its natural surroundings in elegant fashion. It’s simple luxury at its best. But the real draw here is the spectacular service. The expert staff at WaterColor works to fulfill your every wedding wish, making your day truly yours. Site options abound at WaterColor and include locations overlooking the Gulf and spots among the verdant landscapes of WaterColor’s gardens. Wedding services available include catering, wedding cake design, floral design, transportation and entertainment coordination.
REVEL IN ROMANCE
SunQuest Cruises, Sandestin | 850-650-2519 | www.sunquestcruises.com
Start “happily ever after” with a romantic twist and surround your wedding with 360-degree ocean views onboard the yacht “Solaris” operated by SunQuest Cruises. With three decks, including a completely open-air deck on top and two climate-controlled dining areas that can accommodate up to 150 guests, a sail on “Solaris” is a unique way to get hitched. You can choose to hold both your ceremony and reception at sea, or just the reception. Docked at Baytowne Marina in Sandestin, the “Solaris” also offers onsite catering with a full-service galley and bar as well as a private bridal dressing suite.
BEACH BRIDE
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa | 850-267-9600
4000 Sandestin Blvd, South | Destin, FL
Many brides choose a coastal locale with a singular mission in mind: being pronounced man and wife while standing barefoot in the sand, mere feet away from the spray of the surf. The Beaches of South Walton have pristine sand aplenty, grains ground so fine they’re soft, and so dazzling white, they sparkle in the sun. And all South Walton beaches have been certified Blue Wave Beaches by the Blue Wave Campaign, America’s first environmental certification program for beaches. With six miles of private Blue Wave beach, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is a favorite for weddings. The property also boasts spacious guest rooms, beautiful ballrooms and full service amenities.
Seaside
(800) 591-8696 | Hwy 30-A | Seaside, FL | www.cottagerentalagency.com
The beach at Seaside has also beckoned many a bride. The area’s rows of bright hued cottages add a quaint ambiance to the seashore, and Seaside’s event planners have both the knowledge and the friendly attitude to take the stress out of wedding preparations.
“The Lawn”
866-294-5833 | 4240 E. Hwy 30-A | Seagrove Beach, FL www.pearlywhiteproperties.com
If feeling the sand between your toes is taking a beach wedding a tad to far for you, check out the “The Lawn” in Seagrove. This Gulf-front grassland is 110 feet by 60 feet, and has been lit and manicured to perfection. Two homes, available for rent, sit adjacent to “The Lawn,” one with 10 bedrooms and one with six. Both have heated swimming pools too.
SAY “I DO” IN STYLE
Inn by the Sea | Seaside, FL | www.cottagerentalagency.com
Tucked among the cottages in Seaside, the Inn by the Sea offers a cozy patch of paradise with a punch of style. With only nine rooms, what the Inn lacks in size it makes up for in panache. Each room and the Inn’s common areas are decorated to reflect the designs of Vera Bradley. For the few who may not know, Vera Bradley is an internationally known company specializing in colorful and intricately patterned handbags and luggage. The Inn provides a more intimate wedding experience with the bonus of refreshing, comfortable décor.
KEEP TRADITION ALIVE
Seaside Chapel | (800) 591-8696 | Hwy 30-A | Seaside, FL
Bring the fairytale to life with a traditional church ceremony in the Seaside Chapel. At the northernmost point of the Seaside community, the picturesque chapel is a simple board and batten structure, with a 68-foot bell tower and heart pine floors. A walk down its aisle will reveal elements of the house of worship’s coastal setting, as the clean scent of salt air can be still be detected even within the chapel’s white-washed walls. And you can take advantage of Seaside’s beautiful beach or large pavillion for a reception as well as its trusted wedding planners.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
A Highlands House B&B | 850-267-0110 | www.ahighlandshouse.com
4193 W. Hwy 30-A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting married at your own house, A Highlands House B&B can make it a reality—at least part of it. A Highlands House has the beachside locale your abode probably lacks, but it exudes a homey feeling that’s warm and welcoming. Oh and in case your house isn’t an immaculate two-story antebellum with whimsical décor, A Highlands House is all this too. And in addition to the beach right out the door, several coastal dune lakes, a geographical feature unique to the Beaches of South Walton, are nearby.
SCENIC SOPHISTICATION
Weatherall Fine Arts Gallery | 850-622-5299
3730 Scenic Highway 30-A | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
www.weatherallfineartweddings.com
Add some culture and flair to your wedding by holding it at Weatherall Fine Arts gallery. This 900-square foot wide-open space in Santa Rosa Beach appeals to brides with a modern aesthetic. Every wall is covered in original artwork accented with gallery lighting that creates a sophisticated scene. An additional 2,000 square feet of space are available outside the gallery where tents can be set up, and the beach is just a short walk away.
IT’S ONLY NATURAL
850-278-2100 | Rosemary Beach
Hwy 30-A | Rosemary Beach, FL
Have it all at Rosemary Beach. Enjoy the air-conditioning and weather-proof plan of a ceremony in the community’s Town Hall, and use the beach, one of the lush lawns or the center courtyard to incorporate some of the great outdoors into your day. The blend of architectural styles and the neutral, natural colors of Rosemary Beach’s structures marry man and nature easily. Your union at Rosemary can be just as harmonious.
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2010 Gulfscapes Magazine | Craig and Victoria Rogers | PO Box 863 | Port Aransas, TX 78373 | 361-548-6804 | www.gulfscapes.com
