What Makes An Emerald Coast Wedding Unique?

By Rebecca Padgett

 

We can all agree that beaches are beautiful.

The lull of waves, the soft sand, the picturesque sunsets like brushstrokes from the color palette of a talented artist.

There are many beaches, in Florida and beyond, but there’s something so alluring, so enchanting, so truly special about Emerald Coast beaches.

The Emerald Coast’s claim to fame is in the name — emerald waters. This brilliant blue-green enlivens photos and is a sure signifier that your wedding was an Emerald Coast affair. The other contender is the sugar-white sand.

“The sugar white sand and emerald green waters are only located in certain parts of the world, and we are lucky enough to have it in our backyard,” said the staff of Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. “Our beachfront location gives you a stunning backdrop as you exchange your vows to a Gulf soundtrack.”

Not only is the sand soft as the finest cotton, it pairs perfectly with your white wedding dress. The sand’s iconic hue actually inspires many coastal brides to have all white weddings.

Venues, including the WaterColor Inn & Resort, have noted that many of their brides opt for white as the most prevalent wedding color with complementary shades of gold or blush.

Beyond the sand, white is an influential color on the Emerald Coast. Take, for example, the iconic stark-white walls of Alys Beach, the white picket fences of Seaside or the whitewashed facades of Rosemary Beach.

White is clean and stylish, much like the architecture of the Emerald Coast. From quaint beach cottages with welcoming front porches to sweeping New Urban-inspired structures. Emerald Coast architecture is elegant, simplistic, eye-catching and distinct — unparalleled by other beachfront communities.

Travel from the cute and clean-lined Seaside to the modernized and memorable streets of downtown Pensacola, and you will witness the many distinct styles that put this region in a class of its own.

What’s man-made is impressive, but the natural beauty already present truly steals the show. Northwest Florida is composed of miles of pristine coastline surrounded by forests of ancient oaks and nature-made lakes.

“WaterColor emphasizes the beauty of the Emerald Coast because we can offer a wide range of beachside to lakeside venues to our clients,” said Joseph A. Lanzy, wedding sales and services manager of WaterColor Inn & Resort. “Our sugar-white beaches offer the perfect spot for beach ceremonies, sunset photos and bonfires.

Our lakeside venues can offer intimate ceremonies overlooking the rare coastal dune lakes.”

The many local waterways provide a bevy of the finest, freshest varieties of seafood.

Destin itself is monikered, “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” From the Gulf, red snapper, grouper, blackfin tuna, Spanish mackerel, mahi-mahi, amberjack and more are plated daily for local diners.

Plump Gulf shrimp and succulent crab are popular menu items, but the most prized possession of the Emerald Coast are the briny sweet oysters, especially of the Panacea and Apalachicola varieties.

“Couples love to take advantage of the gorgeous backdrop provided by the Gulf and the fresh seafood that comes from it,” said Melissa Matern, senior marketing manager of ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

With such stunning scenery and exquisite beauty arching through the Panhandle, many couples opt for sleek simplicity in style and decor.

They simply let nature or their venue do the talking — speaking exceptional, unparalleled, romantic words.