Hi! My fiance' and I are from Tennessee and are planning to get married in Sept. on the beaches of South Walton. I love the beach and am fairly familiar with the area all the way from Pensacola to Panaman City. I have seen pictures of many beautiful pavilions in SeaSide and would love to have the ceremony in front of one of them. The Tupelo beach pavilion is my favorite. Does any one know if you have to reserve them? Is there a fee? It will only be my fiance and I, no spectators.
Replies
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superJfunn
Hi! My fiance' and I are from Tennessee and are planning to get married in Sept. on the beaches of South Walton. I love the beach and am fairly familiar with the area all the way from Pensacola to Panaman City. I have seen pictures of many beautiful pavilions in SeaSide and would love to have the ceremony in front of one of them. The Tupelo beach pavilion is my favorite. Does any one know if you have to reserve them? Is there a fee? It will only be my fiance and I, no spectators.a fee
you have no idea. call 231-2222
SoWal Staff
Jessifunn... :roll:
There probably is a hefty fee so having it on the beach is another option.
There probably is a hefty fee so having it on the beach is another option.
superJfunn
sorry. i was kidding. i meant that heck yeah it will be exspensive
Beach ComberAuthor
I do want the wedding to be on the beach, but I wanted a pavilion near by in case of bad weather.
Admin
Seaside can provide you with a storybook wedding for a price. You will have to talk with them to see what arrangements you can make and at what cost.
There are alternatives, including homes and Inns on or near the beach that would provide an alternate venue in case of bad weather.
http://graytonbeach.com/weddings-events.html
There are alternatives, including homes and Inns on or near the beach that would provide an alternate venue in case of bad weather.
http://graytonbeach.com/weddings-events.html
Beach ComberAuthor
Thanks Kurt! I guess I'll have to hire a wedding planner to figure all this out for me. I go from 
to 
! Kind of hard to make arrangements from TN! Do you live in FL? It's my life long dream to live on the beach. If not, I think I'll have my ashes sprinkled there!!!
to ! Kind of hard to make arrangements from TN! Do you live in FL? It's my life long dream to live on the beach. If not, I think I'll have my ashes sprinkled there!!!
Beach Fanatic
Of course, I have to weigh in here ;-)
We looked into getting married at Seaside (and this was 11 years ago). In the final analysis, it was cheaper for us to have a big wedding (400 guests, open bar, food out the wazoo) in Tuscaloosa than it was to have a small gathering for 20-30 at Seaside.
Kurt's ideas are good ones. Rent a big monster gulf front house and get married on the beach in front. Hire a good planner to work out the myriad of details that you will face.
We looked into getting married at Seaside (and this was 11 years ago). In the final analysis, it was cheaper for us to have a big wedding (400 guests, open bar, food out the wazoo) in Tuscaloosa than it was to have a small gathering for 20-30 at Seaside.
Kurt's ideas are good ones. Rent a big monster gulf front house and get married on the beach in front. Hire a good planner to work out the myriad of details that you will face.
SoWal Insider
We looked into getting married at Seaside (and this was 11 years ago). In the final analysis, it was cheaper for us to have a big wedding (400 guests, open bar, food out the wazoo) in Tuscaloosa than it was to have a small gathering for 20-30 at Seaside.
That seems pretty obnoxious. Even in the off-season?
Beach Fanatic
Beach ComberAuthor
Well...Since it's only the two of us, we aren't renting a big house but a condo in Seacrest. We are on a tight budget. This is the second marriage for both of us and we just want it to be simple and romantic. The beach is the only back drop that the need, but I do worry about the weather. I guess an ugly public beach pavilion will do!:scratch:
Beach ComberAuthor
thanks skipper! We are close to the same age. I'm 43. Do you own a house, condo, or land in Seacrest?
Beach Fanatic
That seems pretty obnoxious. Even in the off-season?
It was in early May. So yes, it was still the spring rate period. I cannot specifically remember the price per head for what we wanted, but it was obscene.
Beach Fanatic
thanks skipper! We are close to the same age. I'm 43. Do you own a house, condo, or land in Seacrest?We own a lot in Seacrest Beach (not the new development but the old area on B street) that we bought about 5 years ago.
My wife and I met on the beach at Seagrove and returned there and got married (just the two of us and the minister) on the beach. We found a local minister and someone to shoot a few rolls of black & white as well as color and he just gave us the rolls and we had them developed ourselves. Make sure to do a roll of black and white !. We just picked a place on the beach near where we stayed in the late afternoon... perfect
Best to you !
Skip
SoWal Insider
We own a lot in Seacrest Beach (not the new development but the old area on B street) that we bought about 5 years ago.
My wife and I met on the beach at Seagrove and returned there and got married (just the two of us and the minister) on the beach. We found a local minister and someone to shoot a few rolls of black & white as well as color and he just gave us the rolls and we had them developed ourselves. Make sure to do a roll of black and white !. We just picked a place on the beach near where we stayed in the late afternoon... perfect
Best to you !
Skip
Sounds great! Seriously, I'm wondering if Seaside has a Wedding Police or whether it would even be possible to hire a limo to take them there with a minister/officiant and photographer, hop out a little bit before sunset (maybe on a Thursday or Friday night), get married and then go down to the beach for more pics. You could bring a check for $1,000 made out to Seaside with you just in case you get hassled.
little sugar
and happy wedding planning 
SoWal Expert
You have picked a beautiful area to get married. Good luck on the planning part.Now you have at least 100 wedding planners since you have posted on SoWal. We like to get involved.
:clap_1:
bean
Now you have at least 100 wedding planners since you have posted on SoWal. We like to get involved.
So true.
You certainly don't need to hire anyone. With the beach as your backdrop you will be fine! I did like TFT's idea tho..hop out of the limo, get married, take some pics, hop back in..done deal. :clap_1: and Congrats!bean
Or better yet...hire Paradise Taxi..don't they have one that looks like a rolls?
SoWal Insider
My husband and I renewed our wedding vows on the beach right after Hurricane Ivan. The Catholic priests won't marry you on the beach, (not considered sacred ground, I disagree.) We used the church on 393- I think its called Christ Church. The paster there was great, showed up dress in a Hawaiin short (my husband and brother-in-law wore Hawaiin shirts too. We had the ceremony at the Ed Walline Beach access.
He gave an excellent sermon, we made a donation to the church. I bought tikki torches, draped them in toule and flowers, we rented a convertible mustang, and I draped the toule of that too.
Afterwards, we went to the Santa Rosa Beach Club for dinner on a Friday night, invited some local friends. They gave us a gulf front table, and offered if the weather was bad, that we could use their grounds for pictures. Everyone ordered what they wanted, (no set menu) and they even had a band playing that night and we danced our butts off.
In off season they allow non-members to come in, on Friday nights only though. Saturdays hey usually have a function or it is limted to members only.
Our in-laws took the pics and video taped everything. (Just make sure if you do videotaping on the beach, you bring one of those microphones, since the sound of the shore drowns out the vows.
He gave an excellent sermon, we made a donation to the church. I bought tikki torches, draped them in toule and flowers, we rented a convertible mustang, and I draped the toule of that too.
Afterwards, we went to the Santa Rosa Beach Club for dinner on a Friday night, invited some local friends. They gave us a gulf front table, and offered if the weather was bad, that we could use their grounds for pictures. Everyone ordered what they wanted, (no set menu) and they even had a band playing that night and we danced our butts off.
In off season they allow non-members to come in, on Friday nights only though. Saturdays hey usually have a function or it is limted to members only.
Our in-laws took the pics and video taped everything. (Just make sure if you do videotaping on the beach, you bring one of those microphones, since the sound of the shore drowns out the vows.
Beach Comber
As a reasonably priced alternative, you might consider contacting the folks who operate the schooner Nathaniel Bowditch out of East Pass in Destin. For just under $1,000, you can charter the vessel for three hours around sunset and Captain Rex can officiate the ceremony (he's state-certified as an officiant). Fee includes his ministerial duties.
My daughter was married aboard the Nathaniel Bowditch two weeks ago with 22 family/friends aboard to share in the occasion. My wife and I also got married aboard the Bowditch back when it was the original Blackbeard. There's nothing quite like the romance of being on the sea ... at sunset ... with the ones you love the most.
Just a thought.
SRP
PS - If you're interested, I can PM you contact info for Capt. Rex.
My daughter was married aboard the Nathaniel Bowditch two weeks ago with 22 family/friends aboard to share in the occasion. My wife and I also got married aboard the Bowditch back when it was the original Blackbeard. There's nothing quite like the romance of being on the sea ... at sunset ... with the ones you love the most.
Just a thought.
SRP
PS - If you're interested, I can PM you contact info for Capt. Rex.
Funnkalicious
I do want the wedding to be on the beach, but I wanted a pavilion near by in case of bad weather.I was just in a beach wedding...she did it in Grayton with Emerald Coast wedding planners. Reception at 331 with the Red Bar jazz band. My little brother drove them away, but have Paradise Taxi do it.
Done. Planned your wedding. No fee.
It really was amazing. I suggest taking that route. I would!
SoWal Expert
I once was married on a Seaside pavilion, just the two of us our dogs, two witnesses and the licensed official, her daughter. We didn't even tell our parents, so we had no desire to call Seaside. 
We showed up, did the wedding and left without anyone else even around. However, that was in the winter. Sept may be another story. If I were you, I would look for one of the pavilions on the far end of Seaside. Typicarry, the end closer to WaterColor is less busy, but not all of the pavilions have been rebuilt. ;-) Wedding Fee? What wedding fee?
We showed up, did the wedding and left without anyone else even around. However, that was in the winter. Sept may be another story. If I were you, I would look for one of the pavilions on the far end of Seaside. Typicarry, the end closer to WaterColor is less busy, but not all of the pavilions have been rebuilt. ;-) Wedding Fee? What wedding fee?
SoWal Insider
I agree with SJ. You are just wanting a back up in case it rains anyway. There won't be a bunch of people there so you won't need to reserve or set up the pavillon. I wouldn't feel the need to invite Seaside to the wedding. Have funn planning it and Happy Wedding!
SoWal Expert
If you live on the edge and chance it, you need to realize that people may be walking through the pavilion on the way to the beach. Go with the flow. Also, note that if the weather is bad enough to get off the beach, most of the pavilions will not provide much cover. You may as well run up to the Rolly Polly dining pavilion. Or, get in touch with the earth and let the rain fall on you during the ceremony. You are at the beach with nature.
You are at the beach with nature.Beach Lover
I got married on the beach in Destin three years ago and there's no fee if you just want the beach as a backdrop. I would assume it's that way almost anywhere along the coast (as long as you don't need a pavillion etc.). Especially if it's just the two of you...hire a minister and just meet somewhere down on the water then go eat at your favorite restaurant! You don't even need a wedding planner for that. And if weather is a concern for you, it sounds like you could be flexible on your ceremony time since it's just you two. If it's yucky that day, wait a few hours, or even a day if you can.
Last month I went to a wedding in Sandestin on the beach and they go married in the rain and it was BEAUTIFUL! The pics turned out great and the bride had no regrets! Just my 2 cents...
Last month I went to a wedding in Sandestin on the beach and they go married in the rain and it was BEAUTIFUL! The pics turned out great and the bride had no regrets! Just my 2 cents...
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