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Beach Front House for Reception?

seasideblissseasidebliss member
First Comment
in Florida-North Florida
Hi everyone! My Fiance and I are getting married 4/23/2011. We just set the date over Christmas! We would like to rent a beach front house in the Florida Panhandle area, since his family lives around Baton Rouge, LA (only a 4 hour drive.) 
I have been doing some online research on vacation rentals at all the usual websites; i.e. vacationrentals.com, homeaway.com, vrbo.com, etc. We are planning to have about 15 total guests, and would like to hire an officiant and do everything else ourselves to save money. 
I am hoping to find a beach/gulf FRONT rental for around $3k-$4k for a full week, pay for $1k-$2k ourselves, and see if our guests will split the difference. This way everyone will get a CHEAP, week long, beach front vacation for around $400/couple. We will head off on our HM a day or two after the wedding, guests will be able to stay the full week :)
After we say our "I Dos" (right on the beach; in our rental's "backyard") we would like to have a party with a hired band to play for a few hours, and a causal surf and turf meal. This way everyone can mingle on the house's property, and the beach for the evening, think dancing and drinking, and having a blast! I am going with a casual, beachy, eclectic, vintage seaside feel.
I would like something like this:  http://serendipityontheshore.com/  
unfortunately this is too far south. Any ideas from brides that have done this in the panhandle area? Or any other recommendations? I just came up with this idea a few days ago... when I ran the numbers for cost of a wedding company's services for a beach ceremony, then a beach restaurant private room for the reception. It would cost so much more, and in my opinion, be less personal; a waste of money by comparison.
PLEASE HELP! I only have 113 days to plan!
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Re: Beach Front House for Reception?

  • cbabercbaber member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am getting married in Destin, FL.
    I used VRBO to find my houses (I am renting 2 houses plus getting a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn & Suites).
    I am using Forever I Do for the ceremony - they provide several packages. The one I am getting includes JOP, flowers, music, and day-of coordinator . . plus I am getting chairs and an arbor/aisle runner from them. Ask for Stacey.
    I am using A La Carte catering (they are part of FudPuckers). They will do EVERYTHING as far as the food goes. Cook it, set it up, serve it - they even bring their own dishes. Ask for Tony and tell him Cathy (his Septemeber 2011 bride) sent you.
    I am using Beachside DJ (www.beachsidedj.com) - ask for Brent.
    Hope that helps.
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  • ouRufus2010ouRufus2010
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I got married on the beach at this Santa Rosa house in October: http://www.vrbo.com/33002

    It was gorgeous - we just used iTunes and a laptop, but I think you'd have plenty of room in the driveway for a band and dancing. 30A gets sleepy early, though, and your band would probably have to shut it down by 10. But it was perfect for us!
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