Casa Marina was a beautiful venue for our wedding, held on the Flagler Beach, with the cocktail hour on the Flagler Patio and Lawn, and the reception in the Flagler Ballroom for 16...0 guests. The oceanfront views, historic charm, and stunning ambiance made it a truly picturesque setting.
We initially worked with Blair during the visit and then transitioned to Lori, who handled our coordination prior to the wedding. While the venue itself was breathtaking, there were several details to keep in mind:
1. Christmas Decorations in December: The venue has extensive holiday decorations during December. While we managed to have them removed from the ballroom, the lobby, pier, and palm tree alley were still decorated with Christmas lights and red and green colors. This affected our nighttime photos, as we had envisioned white lights for a non-Christmas theme.
2. Food & Beverage: The tasting was fantastic, and the food was delicious. However, there were issues on the day of the event. Despite confirming details a few days prior, the groom’s salad was forgotten, his steak was overcooked (we requested medium rare), and the lobster tails for the surf and turf were not pre-shelled as requested. This made it difficult for guests in formal attire to enjoy their meal. On the positive side, the late-night slider bar was a hit, and we received our cake as planned.
3. Room Accommodations: While our room was upgraded per the agreement, it was mostly a pool view with only a partial ocean view. The hotel was fully booked, so they couldn’t accommodate further changes. Guests who had booked specific rooms, such as a ground-floor lanai for convenience with children, were moved to other rooms, which was disappointing. We felt that the best rooms should be reserved for the couple, especially when hosting a large wedding and spending significant money at the hotel.
4. Getting Ready Spaces: The bridal party used a suite to get ready, while the groomsmen used the Gold Key Room, a meeting room with no mirror or aesthetic appeal for photos. The suite for the girls was not cleaned properly during the wedding, despite multiple requests to housekeeping. When I returned for an outfit change, the room was still cluttered with leftover food, dirty glasses, and furniture out of place. Even the next morning, we ended up cleaning ourselves, and when we called for assistance after breaking a champagne glass, it took over three hours to receive help. My sister, who had a suite with a baby, also experienced poor cleaning service, including dirty diapers left on the floor after trash removal.
5. High Volume of Weddings: December is a busy wedding season in the Keys, and Casa Marina hosts multiple weddings daily. While the staff did their best, it was evident that the high volume affected their ability to give the detailed attention we had hoped for.
Overall, Casa Marina is a gorgeous venue with lots of potential, but the experience felt less personalized due to the busyness of the season. We do appreciate that they offered us a couple’s massage on the beach to make up for the issues. If you’re considering Casa Marina for your wedding, be mindful of the holiday decorations, the busy schedule, and the importance of confirming every detail well in advance.