Feature Resort & Venue: Emerald Grande. Destin, Florida

Feature Resort & Venue

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village; Destin

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 recently you could not help but to have noticed 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 for their vacation or special event. 

As for as destination weddings go; the spectacular sunsets over turquoise waters are the back drop of this magical resort as it shows itself to be a top choice for everything from simple beach weddings in the sand- to stunning gala weddings in the stylish ballroom, and just about anything you have in mind, in between.
 
Emerald Grande is at the top of the ‘magnificent list’ of most anything that had been designed and built in Destin for many years. This resort 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.
 
A full service world class European spa is conveniently located on the spa level overlooking the Destin Harbor. From your luxurious treatment room you will watch the dolphins play as the skilled and friendly staff offer pampering treatments while you relax, overlooking the zero entry pools and the Destin Harbor.

 
 
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. One of the most photographed destination wedding venues on the gulf coast -from wrought iron marble staircases to majestic columns, there is a different detail around every corner. Harbor Walk Village offers colorful eateries, fun shops and boutiques for family and friends to get lost in while enjoying the wedding.

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. This is definitely a resort where the boys on your list will have plenty to do while you and your girls shop, relax, and play. The renowned Regatta Bay actually offers a day on the green for those who want to play a round of golf with friends and family, while staying at Emerald Grande.
 
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 well known Harry T’s or one of the many other eateries available within walking distance on the HarborWalk, you are sure to find something for everyone, and every taste.  The award winning Commander’s Palace –originally from New Orleans- is located on the property and offers their signature cuisine and private dining for small receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal brunches and family celebrations.



Not up for going out to lunch? 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. Every Thursday night during the summer fireworks over the Destin Harbor set the sky ablaze with stunning colors and offer yet one more fun event for you and your guests to enjoy while celebrating your wedding at Emerald Grande.
 
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, named after the resort’s owner/developer, Legendary Inc.
 
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.
 
Private Beach
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
 
A full service world class European spa is conveniently located on the spa level overlooking the Destin Harbor. From your luxurious treatment room you will watch the dolphins play as the skilled and friendly staff offer pampering treatments.  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 are known to be some of the best-of-the-best for planning destination weddings for girls just like you.  
 
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. So much so in fact that I even choose the resort for another vacation, aside from work…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 for special group rates, give them a call today at 850-337-8100 or visit them online at www.emeraldgrande.com. Remember to say you heard about Emerald Grande in Gulf Coast Bride Magazine.