SANTA ROSA BEACH— Location is everything when it comes to planning the perfect wedding. Whether you prefer an intimate ceremony or an extravagant affair, a great venue can turn your fairytale wedding into a reality.
“Choosing the right venue is the first big decision when planning a wedding,” said Erin Shoults, general manager at the Destin Bay House. “The venue represents your style and reflects the theme of your wedding.”
The Destin Bay House and Weddings at Gulf Place are both local venues that serve Emerald Coast brides.
Christina Gillon, wedding and event planner at Weddings at Gulf Place, said her venue delivers luxury as well as convenience.
“It’s wonderful because guests can just come and park their cars at any of the Gulf Place venues,” Gillon said. “We offer condominiums, townhouses, and an on-site rental company. Everything is right there. It’s a true vacation spot.”
At Weddings at Gulf Place clients can choose from a wide variety of wedding venues for their budget and style. Venues include a luxury, three-floor bridal suite, community and park pools, three private beaches, the Amphitheater Event Green and Restaurant Fire.
Gillon also is the founder of Fete Weddings and Events, a full-service wedding planning company that specializes in coordinating weddings along Scenic Highway 30-A.
The Destin Bay House, the newest bay front venue in Destin, also goes above and beyond to cater to guests.
Sitting on the Choctawhatchee Bay, the Destin Bay House provides a scenic setting for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and parties.
The Destin Bay House’s 8,000-square foot bay front lawn can accommodate outdoor bay side weddings and receptions of up to 200 guests.
“We are a very unique venue because of our beautiful emerald green waters, white sand and privacy that you can’t get at the beach,” Shoults said.
Shoults said the venue is equipped with a distinctive bridal cottage furnished with salon mirrors, natural gas fire pit on the bay side, a private dock and on-site parking for twenty seven vehicles.
Also available at the Destin Bay House is the Main House, which features chandeliers, wood floors, state-of-the –art sound system and exterior lighting.
Gillon said every couple should have the wedding venue of their dreams.
Weddings at Gulf Place and the Destin Bay House both provide guests with a suggested list of vendors for décor, equipment rentals, cakes, catering, photographers, entertainment and more.
Prices for Weddings at Gulf Place venues range from $750 to $3,000. The Destin Bay House rate is $3,500 to depending on peak months.
“A wedding venue is where a couple envisions themselves getting married,” she said. “It’s also the place where their family and friends can celebrate with them.”
