Celia’s Top 10 wedding venue picks for 2013:
Rosemary Beach
And when I say “Rosemary Beach” I mean the lawns: East, West or St. Augustine. If you must have toes in sand during the I Do’s, yes, there is a great beach, however, there are enough reasons to exchange nuptuals up on the lawn, and still enjoy the sea breeze and sunsets and amazing beauty of it all. There is also a Town Hall, which can simulate a chapel feeling. From a filmmakers’ point of view, the lighting inside is dismal and a challenge. So if you DO decide to go that route, insist on adding lighting! Your guests will see you better, and you will look more beautiful in your photos and video. If you want to have your reception there, get a lighting designer to add touches as well.
What makes Rosemary Beach lawns so attractive is that you can build your dream wedding from the ground up, no holds barred. (Except party must end at 10 p.m. Strict rule across the board along most if not all of 30-A. Worth the restriction to enjoy the beauty and 30-A aura.)
You can have as much tented or open space as you choose, band, DJ, caterer of your choice (although I also have my favorites), multiple layouts for ceremony and reception. You can take your most beautiful photos and video of beach sunset right there, and be right back at your party without keeping your guests waiting and wanting.
There are many fairly affordable and charming rentals throughout Rosemary Beach so guests can stay close by. Rosemary Beach is less expensive than Seaside or Grayton Beach. We know, we look for deals in the area all the time, and always end up staying in Rosemary Beach. And if you bribe us, we may even share with you our special posh”find” for two people $100/night.
The ceremony site is also nearly perfect from our point of view for shooting because we can get all the angles we need without getting in anybody’s way. No obstructions. Easy for guests to get to, and best yet, no wind so our audio is always crystal clear.
Watercolor
I go back and forth between this venue and Rosemary as to which I love more. Watercolor also offers a lovely beach option, but it’s the Lawn on the West Green that most draws my admiration. Talk about a cinematographer’s dream venue, this is it. The lawn venue is sunken, which allows our cameras to perch around the raised perimeter out of view with multiple awesome vantage points. If your video is important to you, ask us how we can best coordinate with your photographer to give you the best product we can.
The quaint poolside reception site is a bridge’s walk away, so it’s just enough of a little adventure in crossing the beautiful lake, without really having to go that far.
To see more on this perfect venue, view one of our films featuring the beautiful Watercolor Resort & Inn:https://vimeo.com/56568044
Next up on our list:
Bentley’s on the Bay (Grayton Beach)
Henderson Beach Inn (Destin)
Portofino Island (Pensacola Beach)
Old Christ Church (Pensacola)
Alys Beach
Emerald Grande (Destin)
Seaside Chapel