Top rated Pensacola, Destin, Navarre wedding venues that fit your budget and style

Blue skies, white sand and clear warm waters: that’s what you will find when looking for the top rated Pensacola wedding venues in the Florida Panhandle. Florida’s East Coast heavenly beaches routinely deliver on all three fronts. Still, no two Florida beaches are alike. The sugar-white sands and emerald waters unique to the Florida Panhandle are not only some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, they also make an ideal backdrop for the wedding of your dreams where you can have a peaceful oceanside nuptial you’ve always wanted. 

As super enthusiastic Pensacola wedding photographers, we are excited to share some of our favorite, and most recommended by wedding planners, Florida Panhandle wedding venues. Either you’re having a large Country Club wedding or a small beach wedding, there are extraordinary Panhandle wedding venue options to choose from: Waterfront weddings, Rooftop weddings, Hotel weddings, Mansion weddings, Barn & Farm weddings, Boat weddings, Museum weddings and more. 

There is something for everyone, but if you’re like me, having seen so many Seattle and Pensacola wedding venues so different from one another throughout my career, you’ll probably go with a beach wedding. Being able to call ourselves Pensacola wedding photographers is the best thing ever! 🙂

Live Oak Plantation, Pensacola – Pensacola Mansion Weddings

A place of history and beauty set on 22 magnificent acres of gorgeous Florida farmland. With abundant beauty and varied scenery, the majestic grounds of Live Oak Plantation provide splendid photo opportunities.

Portofino Island Resort, Gulf Breeze – Gulf Breeze Hotel Weddings

Portofino Island Resort is a beachfront wedding venue located in Gulf Breeze. It offers an idyllic setting and fantastic amenities. This Gulf Breeze wedding venue offers the perfect balance of elegance and natural beauty for unforgettable Pensacola Beach wedding receptions and events. Here, along eight miles of protected seashore, you will enjoy blissful peace, with only the gentle lull of the surf to distract you.

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Miramar Beach – Miramar Beach Hotel Weddings

The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa is a modern beach wedding venue located in Pensacola Beach, Florida. The beachfront, coastal scenery provides a romantic location for any couple’s big day, whether a grand affair or an intimate gathering. Located along the Gulf of Mexico, The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa offers a destination location without the hassle of buying a passport. In our opinion, one of the best Florida Panhandle Wedding venues.

The Palafox House, Pensacola – Pensacola Mansion Weddings

The Palafox House, located in the heart of Downtown Pensacola where Palafox and Gregory Streets meet, is the newest addition to the Great Southern family of event venues & restaurants. Housed in an historic 1912 building, The Palafox House is a wonderful example of early 20th century architecture and is available for all kind of events from weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate gatherings to bridal luncheons and others.

The Palafox House has large windows throughout, allowing for a wonderful view of downtown Pensacola’s tree-lined streets and a wealth of natural light. High wooden ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers and original brick walls all add to the ambiance. A smaller room adjacent to the main event space houses a built-in bar & reception area. A catering kitchen enables caterers a full space for preparation & presentation.

Palafox Wharf Waterfront, Pensacola – Pensacola Historic Weddings

Gorgeous Waterfront Venue in Downtown Pensacola. From the lawn to the dock and back deck to the indoor space, this venue has it all. Here you will encounter the charm of a by-gone era with a touch of modern elements. Historic, elegant, award winning Pensacola’s Palafox Wharf Waterfront was built in 1880 as a shipping company. The space has a beautifully renovated interior venue space, large deck, pier, and spacious green overlooking sparkling water and the harbor’s marina.  

Fine Art 30A Weddings, Santa Rosa – Pensacola Waterfront Weddings

Fine Art 30A Weddings offers an all inclusive wedding package perfect for the busy couple! This upscale area includes the beach towns of Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, Seaside and Rosemary Beach, Florida and is home to “Some of the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.”

Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach – Panhandle Waterfront Weddings

Alys Beach is a classic beach wedding venue in a small town – Alys Beach, Florida. The beach and community are connected through a series of walking paths, allowing for easy access for the ceremony and reception. With beautiful white sand beaches and stunning Gulf views, Alys Beach offers the nostalgia of traditional seaside towns and communities. As a coastal park destination, Alys Beach offers beautiful beach scenery for any couples’ destination wedding.

There are five venues available at Alys Beach; the beach, Gulf Green, Kelly Green, Central Park, and Caliza. Couples may hold a maximum of 250 guests and can choose from covered or uncovered outdoor locations.

Monet Monet, Grayton Beach – Pensacola Banquet Hall Weddings

Monet Monet is a boutique garden venue sure to add a level of romance to your wedding. As you enter the gardens, you will find a tranquil setting reminiscent of a romantic era of time gone by. The lush greenery, seasonal blooms, stunning water features and elegant bistro lights make this a space unlike any other on the Gulf Coast. 

The Pointe, Panama City – Pensacola Rooftop Weddings

As one of the only rooftop Florida Panhandle Wedding venues, The Pointe offers a luxurious wedding options to couples in the Panhandle area. This resort is located along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Take advantage of everything it has to offer, like the stunning rooftop view and plentiful amenities.

WaterColor Inn, Santa Rosa Beach – Santa Rosa Beach Hotel Weddings

WaterColor Inn has a long tradition of extraordinary weddings. As you imagine your wedding day, consider celebrating at an intimate 60-room getaway that flawlessly merges modern sophistication with authentic Southern hospitality and the relaxed, playful style of a classic beach house. You will be enchanted by an immaculate ribbon of private beach, uninterrupted Gulf of Mexico views and nearly 500 acres of undisturbed coastal beauty.

The Pearl Hotel, Rosemary Beach – Rosemary Beach Hotel Weddings

You will be enchanted by charming European-style architecture and endless Gulf of Mexico views. Whether intimate family affair or formal wedding ballroom gala, your vision for a sophisticated beach wedding will be stirred to life with beautifully appointed accommodations and venues, destination-worthy cuisine and exquisite spa treatments.

The Destin Bay House, Destin – Destin Banquet Hall Weddings

Whether you envisioned a sunset ceremony on the white sandy beaches of Destin, Florida or a reception spent dancing under the stars, rest assured that the Destin Bay House can make your dream wedding a reality.

The Henderson, Destin – Destin Hotel Weddings 

A backdrop of endlessly blue skies. The Gulf’s shimmering green waters. And the unforgettable old-world charm of a seaside retreat. With a setting as spectacular as this, your special day will feel like a storybook affair. From intimate gatherings with a select group of family and friends to celebrations hosting up to 400 guests, The Henderson offers a multitude of iconic and dazzling venue settings, all in a spectacular seaside location.

Margaritaville Beach Hotel, Gulf Breeze – Margaritaville Beach Hotel Weddings

When vows are exchanged, indoors or outdoors with sugar white sand as your aisle, the breathtaking Gulf of Mexico as your backdrop and a reception second to none in fun! Memorable is a wedding in paradise… no passport required. The Margaritaville Beach Hotel offers the elegance, romance and simplicity of an “Island Style” wedding, all on beautiful Pensacola Beach.

The Island, by Hotel RL, Fort Walton Beach – Fort Walton Beach Hotel Weddings

Go Gulf Coast casual chic and have an effortless barefoot ceremony on sparkling white sands or full glamour and glitz on our Gulf Front Island Green. This multi-venue resort provides endless opportunities to fulfill the wedding of your dreams. The expansive Island Green is an ideal outdoor space for the ultimate wedding event framed by swaying Florida palm trees overlooking the Emerald Gulf Coast. The ornamental landscaping surrounding the green space was designed to provide exclusive privacy and compliment the coastal atmosphere.

Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort, Panama City – Panama City Resort Weddings

Enjoy the option of both indoor and outdoor venues, including two ballroom spaces and the St Andrews Pavilion & Lawn, the only venue in Panama City Beach that offers helicopter landing capabilities. 10 Event Room, 1,600 capacity largest space – a dream to photograph – take it from a Pensacola wedding photographer. Photo opportunities are everything!

Carillon Weddings at Carillon Beach – Panama City Beach Weddings

Carillon Beach is a Panhandle town with gorgeous white sandy beaches and a picturesque town. If you want that perfect beach wedding, Carillon Weddings will take care of everything for you so you can just relax and enjoy the day. They’ll plan you’re beach ceremony and help you choose amongst many locations around town for your reception. The green space in the center of the resort offers couples the abilitiy to choose any wedding theme or decor. As day turns to night, consider the rooftop lounge for your reception. It provides an intimate space for up to 150 guests. String cafe lights transform the venue into a sparkling cocktail party.

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village, Destin – Destin Banquet Hall Weddings

From intimate to extravagant, the Emerald Grande venue offers several meeting, banquet and event spaces that include an opulent ballroom, an elegantly appointed boardroom, hospitality suites, stunning outdoor spaces and elevated event decks (including the beach itself) that offer unsurpassed views of the Gulf of Mexico, the Destin Harbor and East Pass.

Runaway Island, Destin – Panama City Beach Restaurant Weddings 

Runaway Island Beach Bar & Grill is a two-story full-service restaurant and wedding space in the heart of Panama City Beach. This popular restaurant, inspired by colorful local tales of adventures on the Gulf of Mexico, boasts breathtaking views, a wide selection of surf and turf specialties, live entertainment, and friendly service. This beachfront venue offers a fun, yet sophisticated atmosphere, and semi-private and private dining rooms that accommodate up to 500 guests. 

We would love to hear from you, if you’re still looking for a Pensacola wedding photographer or if you have questions about the Florida Panhandle wedding venues . Inquire about your date here.

Cheers!

Adina