Post # 1
Member
1 posts
Wannabee
Hi South Florida brides! I need your help 🙂
I am getting married next year – ideally in May (late Oct is the back up) around Fort Lauderdale (no further than Miami) where my fiance is from. I am finding a ton of hotels and ballroom-type venues, which is not the direction I am looking for. I am hoping for an older estate that is not overly commercial and has some character. Ideally, for the reception space, I’d like a lot of windows (mostly indoors or covered spaces) and lots of greenery outisde and/or gardens!
Currently, I am looking at Villa Woodbine, Casa Feliz and Living Sculpture Sanctuary but haven’t seen them live yet (I live out of state). This is one of the venues we were looking at in NJ (http://jamcater.com/venues/aldie-mansion) (before we settled on florida) and it has a lot of what i am looking for – old exposed brick mansion, gardens and lots of windows in the great hall! We’re looking at about 150-180 guests.
Any recommendations would be highly appreciated and hoping not to have to spend outrageous money! THANK YOU!
Post # 2
Member
2260 posts
Buzzing bee
Most places in S FL with beautiful gardens don’t have large halls. May is hot and October is horrifically hot (with lots of thunderstorms), so keep this in mind as you plan. I wouldn’t have an outdoor ceremony in either month personally.
Villa Woodbine is gorgeous, but everything is outdoors.
Vizcaya is amazing but very expensive. I don’t believe the indoor space is big enough for your group, but you could get a tent with AC.
Fairchild is beautiful and has an indoor space, but I am not sure of its size and whether it has windows. I have only been to events outside.
The Spanish Monastery is lovely, and you don’t have to be Catholic to be married there. But the reception space is outdoors. I went to a wedding there in November and we were dying from the heat.
Morikami Gardens in Boca/Delray has an indoor space that should accomodate your group.
Bahia Mar has a garden ceremony space and ballrooms, but double check availability because there is a major planned construction project there.
And there’s Chateau Artisan where Dwyane Wade got married.
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