The ideal scenic, photogenic location for an elegant traditional Floridian wedding by the bay
Story by David Moore
When you look into his eyes and declare your eternal love and devotion with those two magical words, “I do,” where do you see yourself? The memory will live forever, so the setting must be carefully thought out.
To find the ideal location for your wedding, you need to begin with two critical factors. First, you should select a location that is true to your personal dream wedding. Your wedding should reflect your personality, so the setting should be the one that is best suited to fulfill the dream.
Second, the setting should be timelessly meaningful. Is the setting more meaningful on a green, grassy hill with lush trees as the backdrop? Or do you prefer a shoreline, overlooking a vast body of serene, peaceful water? Or perhaps you prefer an indoor wedding. Is it traditional, with heavenly light beams offset by romantic shadow among classic symbolism? Or is it contemporary, with modern, stylish architecture and decor? Once that determination is made, work with a professional to find your ideal place. The ideal place should be a destination that offers everything you are looking for towards the wedding, itself, plus all of the accommodations that go along with it for the ultimate experience for the bride and groom as well as the entire wedding party.
We have gathered a sampling of ideal wedding destinations in our local area that would serve as the ideal location for the special day. Your tastes vary, so thus does our collection. We have gathered indoor settings, such as a fine art museum that houses both historic and contemporary collections for scenic backdrops, ideal for the sophisticated, cultured couple, and a boutique hotel that offers the ultimate in high fashion. For those who prefer outdoors, we provide a traditional Floridian plantation setting off a gorgeous river and bay, as well as a world-renowned golf course with stunning, picturesque views of a limestone quarry with 80-foot cliffs. They are each unique settings for the wedding that would surely be remembered forever by all who attend.
The Plantations on Crystal River
The Plantation on Crystal River is an elegant destination for your wedding! You can lay back and relax; the wedding coordinators will take care of everything. From the ceremony, the catered reception, a list of cake vendors to suit your tastes, stunning flowers and photography to capture every moment of your life changing experience.
You will be enthralled by the multitude of activities the resort has to offer; from fishing to boating, and for those who love the land as much as the sea, golf and a soothing trip to the day spa. All are perfect for the day’s stylish destination weddings.
Don’t worry; your guests get to enjoy your wedding as well; they will love the discounts they offer on the rooms at the resort.
Like many couples who choose to wed at the Plantation, you will be entranced by the inspiring gazebo overlooking the Crystal River and Kings Bay. It is the prime location for weddings at the resort.
“Our venue does the work for us,” said Jonathan Noyes, one of two wedding coordinators at the Plantation. “Once they see that natural, quiet setting and our great reception areas, they are sold.”
The Plantation hosts about 45 weddings a year. From extravagant weddings with 200 or more guests to small, intimate affairs of 25, the Plantation offers all of the amenities to suit your needs.
There are three banquet facilities to choose from. The Palm Room is located upstairs, accessible by the gracefully curved staircase at the main entrance. This room, overlooking the pool and river, can accommodate up to 100 people. The Magnolia Room is the largest banquet room, accommodating up to 200. The Sabal Ball Room can fit up to 100.
Though, some choose the gazebo area for their wedding and reception. In fact, two such weddings are planned there for October.
Couples who book their wedding at the Plantation receive a complimentary room at the resort for their wedding night. Their guests also receive a discount off the best rate available. If you can guarantee 10 rooms or more from your guests, the discount goes up, depending on the time of year.
“A lot of people are taking advantage of that,” Noyes said.
“And they are making long weekends out of it too, which is really nice,” said Tracey Montesano, the Plantation’s other wedding coordinator. “The whole family comes in, and the friends come and they stay the whole weekend. They get a hospitality suite and it is like a mini-vacay.”
Because the resort offers so many activities, Noyes said it is perfect for destination weddings. “There are enough things to do here to keep them busy for the whole weekend.”
You will not find a package of wedding options like this anywhere else in this area. “Our venue is beautiful, our food is excellent and our staff is wonderful.” Montesano said. “That is what sets us apart.”
Next Installment: the Appleton Museum
