Feature Resort & Venue: Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village

Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village
At the End of the Bridge, On the Edge of the Gulf, In the Middle of Your Dreams.

By Will Estell

If you have been to Destin, Florida in the last year you could not have helped but notice the magnificent castle like resort that catches your attention as you near the Destin Harbor Bridge. The Emerald Grande, located right on Destin’s famous fishing harbor, was completed in 2008 and is a site to behold in awe by both passers-by and those lucky enough to actually stay there.
Emerald Grande is a one-up on most anything that had been done in Destin in many years and represents a perfect destination wedding location for anyone who wants to go “just a little over the top” in creating the most memorable of wedding days on the beautiful Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. From the very inception of this resort some locals actually thought it was too big and too elaborate even for Destin. This of course, is simply additional testament to just how very spectacular Emerald Grande and the adjacent Harborwalk Village really are.

For a wedding Emerald Grande offers so much more than simply a great place to stay and a place to have your ceremony and reception. What makes Emerald Grande so impressive is that it sets at the front and center of Legendary Inc.’s new Harborwalk Village, which includes restaurants, retail shops, entertainment venues, and an array of watersports opportunities from riding jet skis to parasailing to deep sea fishing. Besides all the great amenities inside the Emerald Grande, you and your wedding guests can literally spend days upon days at the resort and never run out of things to do within close walking distance. This alone is a huge return draw for those vacationers who have had the opportunity to experience Emerald Grande.

Whether you and your guests want to dine at world famous Pat 0’Brien’s; Harry T’s; the award winning, 5 Star Commander’s Palace; one of the other many eateries located along the harbor, or enjoy a frozen drink and food by the Emerald Grande pool, either way you will never be at a loss for great food, live music, and fun…without even having to move your car from the covered parking garage.

Accommodations
Emerald Grande offers condos ranging from two bedrooms with a third bunk room and two baths to 4 bedroom units; all with wonderful balcony views, and such well appointed furnishings and décor that you will probably wish you could simply live there ongoing. The kitchens are well appointed with beautiful cabinetry and stainless appliances and every bedroom features flat screen televisions and Emerald Grande’s own custom made mattress, called the Legendary Mattress (after the resort’s owner/developer, Legendary Inc.). Legendary C.O.O. Bruce Craul explained to me that the resort had received so many positive comments and requests about the wonderful beds, that the company is now actually selling the custom mattresses to those guests who would love to sleep that well at home. A grand ($1,000.) will actually get you the new Legendary king size mattress delivered new to your home…but you still won’t have the wonderful views.

Grande Vista Level
Discover the Grande Vista level, the main activity level of the resort located on the sixth floor and you will quickly understand why you have chosen the perfect place for your Destin wedding. The stunning views, sparkling pools and impressive dining will all add to you and your guests relaxing days and exciting nights at Emerald Grande.

With a 2,500-square foot outdoor pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and Destin Harbor, another indoor heated pool, oversized outdoor hot tubs, the Grande Vista Bar & Grill with its poolside bar, and the spectacular view from the Sunset Deck & Bar, you will want to spend entire days without leaving your lounge chair. All with great Emerald Grande staff to wait on your every need, from that next cocktail to a poolside lunch.

If you do get the urge to leave though, remember that Emerald Grande’s private beach is only a three minute boat shuttle away and features immaculate white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters perfect for your beach day fun, free to guests and free of the overcrowded hustle and bustle of some of the public beaches.

Spa & Fitness Center
Located on the second floor with commanding views of the Gulf, the spacious spa is the perfect place to enjoy the very highest levels of personalized attention. You and your wedding guests can indulge in the separate, soothing relaxation areas, as well as the sauna. Spa services include: complete spa packages; massages; facials and masks; body treatments and wraps, and even spa parties for you and your wedding party.

Emerald Grande’s East Pass Fitness Center is way above what you expect in most resorts, and is located on the spa level with views of the Gulf of Mexico and Destin Harbor to motivate you while you get your workout on. The center features cardiovascular and circuit training equipment, free weights, aerobics, Pilates and the services of a personal trainer. They even have a smoothie bar to replenish your nutrients and refuel you before you…well, relax by the pool or on the private beach.

Wedding Services
A once–in–a–lifetime event calls for a spectacular celebration. And Emerald Grande is a dazzling backdrop for your big day. Overlooking the Destin Harbor and Gulf of Mexico, their distinctive wedding facilities include a stunning outdoor deck with stone wedding staircases to the elegantly appointed indoor event space, great for your ceremony and reception. The space accommodates up to 400 guests and makes for a very memorable wedding because of the use of both indoor and outdoor space for a single ceremony. You can even utilize the private beach for after ceremony photos, where your guests can view you from the Emerald Grande balcony before you and your groom return for your reception.

Led by a team of skilled catering and culinary professionals, the Emerald Grande staff is experienced in hosting an incredibly wide range of other wedding related functions from rehearsal dinners to bridal brunches to pre-wedding showers and parties.
While the centerpiece of Emerald Grande’s wedding services are the exquisite settings, superb menus and unmatched waterfront views, their services extend to every aspect of your event. They also offer: an in-house audiovisual company supplying state-of-the-art audiovisual and production support; portable equipment rentals including staging and dance floors; a well-known list of reputable area vendors (many of whom are also within the pages of this very magazine); and even onsite flower specialists-Nouveau Flowers.

All said, Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village is Destin’s newest and most affluently appealing condominium resort and a perfect place to ensure that you not only have a remarkably memorable wedding but that all of your friends, family and guests also enjoy a spectacular vacation during their stay at Emerald Grande. As a magazine publisher and someone who has the opportunity to discover and enjoy some of the best resorts across the country in my travels, I can honestly say that my wife and I were very impressed with our own wonderful time at Emerald Grande, as were the friends who accompanied us on the stay. I found myself actually inquiring into the possibilities of purchasing a condo there…it really is that “Grande”. The weddings that take place at Emerald Grande are some of the most photographic and visually spectacular anywhere, and many of the wedding planners, photographers and vendors our magazine has the pleasure of dealing with say they love doing weddings at Emerald Grande and how amazing the backdrop is for putting on the perfect event. Whether you are planning a small ceremony for 40 guests or a lavish celebration for 400, one thing is for sure; Emerald Grande will make a lasting impression for all who celebrate your BIG day.

For more information on how to reserve Emerald Grande for your special event as well as group rates, please contact them by phone at 850-337-8100 or visit them online at www.emeraldgrande.com

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A Word from our Publisher

Destination Beach Weddings in Destin, Panama City Beach, Seaside, WaterColor, 30A, Orange Beach. Gulf Coast Bride is Your Source for Planning Your Wedding on the Gulf Coast.

Everything You Need to Plan Your Perfect Destination Beach Wedding.
From Destin; Panama City Beach; Seaside; WaterColor; 30A.com to Fort Walton; Pensacola, and Orange Beach...You will find it all in the pages of
Gulf Coast Bride magazine each and every issue.

From Destin, Florida to Seaside, Florida -all along Northwest Florida's infamous 30a- from Panama City Beach, Florida, Pensacola, Florida, or over to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama, Gulf Coast Bride magazine and gcbride.com serve as a bride's single best method of learning about and planning her upcoming Florida or Alabama gulf coast wedding.

Gulf Coast Bride magazine is your "one Stop Shop" for accessing the best of the best in beach accommodations, venues, beach wedding photographers, catering companies, florists, beach wedding planners, cake designers, resorts, restaurants, entertainment companies, tent rentals, even limo's and transportation to and from the wedding and associated events. Anything and everything you will need for your upcoming Gulf Coast or Emerald Coast beach wedding you can find in the pages of Gulf Coast Bride magazine. Best of all, brides coming to Destin, Seaside, The Beaches of South Walton, 30A, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores, Alabama can find Gulf Coast Bride magazine on major newsstands in over 30 states across the USA.

So whether you live in Dallas, TX or Atlanta, GA, Booneville, MS or Madison, WI you -the bride- can pick up your copy of Gulf Coast Bride magazine and begin planning your perfect gulf coast or emerald coast wedding right from the comfort of your home. Best of all, be assured that the advertisers who make up Gulf Coast Bride are some of the very best known and well respected resorts, wedding planners, caterers, photographers, videographers, florists, and entertainers on the entire gulf and emerald coast. In addition you will find the editorial content, photos, real brides, real weddings, and feature resort and venue articles to be very helpful in planning your upcoming gulf coast wedding...just as the thousands of brides to be who purchase and use Gulf Coast Bride magazine, each and every quarterly issue, have discovered.

Who knows we may just show up to cover your upcoming Gulf Coast destination wedding.

Julie Skinner, Editor-in-Chief
Gulf Coast Bride magazine

Will Estell, VP. Publisher Jeff Borrelli, Pres. CEO
3G Media, LLC. 3G Media, LLC.