Destin Bay House

less details that make Destin Bay House such an incredible place to host a wedding... The "aisle" is actually a quaint cobblestone walkway that leads to a beautiful little grassy area overlooking the bay, lined with Farmhouse benches - for the actual ceremony. The setting sun provided AMAZING pics on the pier - and looking back into DBHouse from the pier was an incredible vantage point! Huge trees lined with strings of white lights made for a warm magical glow... Loved sitting on the little settee under the beautiful chandelier suspended from a huge tree, and we had friends who cozied up around the fire pit and never left!! Everyone who attended the wedding LOVED Destin Bay House and could not get over just how beautiful it was... A truly Magical evening - which was perfect - because my new daughter in law looked every bit a princess... xo

if it rains on your special day. This venue will sell your guests! Our guests enjoyed the views, being able to spread out, air conditioning in the home, 3 available restrooms, fans outside, etc! Who doesn't love being directly on the water! Plenty of parking was available as well. We hired Erin as our day of coordinator as well and she is very easy and flexible to work with. She does so many events that she can easily tell you how to organize your special event. The bridal suite came in handy and was a nice touch. Please keep in mind the venue does provide certain items;however, you will need to hire a caterer and rent various rental items. Our wedding was perfect and I would highly recommend The Destin Bay house. It's cozy, welcoming, and something very different than a typical ballroom wedding experience.

ews, pristine property. I got so many compliments on my choice of venue. And I must say, I was EXTREMELY pleased myself. I was not excited for a wedding, but it turned out more than I could have ever hoped for! Erin went way above and beyond my expectations and was so so so helpful. I am not exaggerating when I say I was not stressed one single time while I was there (and I had no idea what I was doing). This will always be one of my favorite places now. So beautiful and well kept, the absolute perfect environment for my wedding. The absolute best experience. PS if you're looking for a place to stay after the wedding, or for guests, Cottages by the Bay (same company) are immaculate and perfect too! We were in love! Pool, grills, complementary bikes, walking distance to the harbor. LOVE!

pot! It was perfect! We received so many compliments from our guests about how wonderful the venue was and are so thankful to have had such a beautiful backdrop for our big day! Thank you, Erin!!

ordinator around and made everything so easy when planning our wedding. I did not have to worry about anything as I knew she was around and handling everything! I am so glad we were married here at the most beautiful spot ever!

d be tough to beat this venue. With its unique charm and all of the amenities included, it is the perfect setting for anyone's special day. In addition to having the perfect bay front location as the backdrop for the ceremony, the venue has so much character with it's well crafted landscaping details full of greenery, beautiful flower beds and paved walkways on site. There is also plenty of natural shade courtesy of the tall oak trees surrounding the property as well. With the stringed lighting and multiple "lounge" spaces on the backside of the venue including a fire pit setting, anyone would be satisfied with the ambience created here. I could go on and on about several other details that really separate the Bay House from other venue options in the Destin area, but I'll let Erin, the Bay House coordinator/manager, fill you in! She is absolutely wonderful and a pleasure to work with as the venue/"day of" coordinator. I can not say enough good things about her professionalism, communication and willingness to accommodate us for our special day. From the planning of details early on up until the rehearsal/wedding day festivities, she was readily available and there to help us with whatever we needed. We love the Bay House! And now that the owners have recently added their new "Cottages By the Bay" and many other amenities on site, your event experience will be enhanced that much more. Just writing this review makes us want to experience the magic of the Bay House all over again!

re pleased. Erin did an amazing job as Day of Coordinator. She kept the wedding flowing smoothly and dealt with any issue that came promptly and professionally. This venue is well worth the money and I 100% recommend to future brides!

ake much decor it has a natural beauty to it. Thank you so much Erin for all your hard work and for making everything so perfect!

g a wedding from Chicago. But Erin at the Bay House was AMAZING and beyond helpful with everything. Very responsive to e-mails and questions, accommodating to our crazy schedules when we would come into town, and helped me envision my dream wedding from afar. This location is absolutely stunning - the perfect combination of rustic charm and beach wedding. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I could. Thanks again Erin!!!

The facilities are immaculately maintained and have a simple elegance. Working with Erin was a pleasure, in both the planning phase and day-of. Our guests loved the venue, it is both intimate and elegant.

This is the perfect place for your special day!

d vendors and Erin as our day-of coordinator. She was totally on top of everything to the very last detail. We took group photos on the dock, the sea breeze blew my veil into the water. Without hesitation Erin found a way to dry it off so I could wear it. The venue itself provided the perfect atmosphere for our strolling reception. Our guests could eat, dance, or take photos by the water as they pleased. From the provided seating, linens, tables, arbor and chandeliers- we found the Destin Bay House to be the best inclusive venue, minimizing stress from planning long distance. My in-laws left their wedding on a boat, which made leaving on a boat one of my criteria for our wedding. Not only did we get to have our send off by boat but we had our guests arrive and leave by boat too. Our guests are still telling us that we had to most fun wedding they have ever attended. I would highly recommend the Destin Bay House to any bride getting married down on the Gulf Coast. It was truly magical.

for getting ready, and Erin is absolutely THE best. When planning I must have emailed Erin hundreds of times and she always responded very promptly and was so helpful. She is very accommodating and actually helped me a lot when I was trying to choose my other vendors since She has worked with so many people in Destin! Even my family and friends had nothing but great things to say about the Bay house, Erin, and the vendors. Ever since our wedding has ended I have been missing the Bay House and Erin so much - it was my fairy tale wedding. Best place ever!

utiful trees with bistro lighting. There is also a bridal cottage which is included in the price and the bridal party hung out there all day and got beautified on the bay!

get a hold of, gave great recommendations, and really got to know us as a couple to make sure our day represented us. One of the best features about the Bay House is the privacy and scenery! Here you have the best view of the sunset, and you never have to worry about onlookers being in the background of your photographs. From the dock, paver stone aisle, lighting, and fire pit, to the white wooden chairs, wood floors, chandeliers, and bridal cottage, the list of beautiful amenities is so expansive you’ll have a hard time deciding if you want to be outside or inside. We would recommend this place 100 times over, and look forward to coming back to visit!

dn't have to worry about a thing. The Bay House is absolutely perfect!!

ous oak trees, amazing bay views, an awesome dock for sunset photos and an adorable, newly renovated home with tons of light and equally beautiful views from inside. If you love the photos online, wait until you see the place in person because you'll be blown away. To top off the stunning, private location and all the wonderful ammenties that come with it, you'll find an amazing coordinator in Erin. She was a blessing to work with and gave me the most perfect wedding day. All the vendors she recommended were also incredible and that made the planning process a breeze for me. I planned the entire wedding from Atlanta without even meeting half of my vendors first, and they all exceeded my expectations. I wouldn't choose to get married anywhere else in the world!

and gave the exact feel we were looking for. We are laid back so the fire pit fit perfectly. We chose a destination wedding and are very happy with our decision. The venue is amazing. I wish I could live here. Erin (manager) was a great person to work with; she is very organized and professional. All of my guests raved about the atmosphere and how well everything was coordinated. Thank you Destin Bay House!

, my mom made appointments with a few recommended venues and this was our first stop. As soon as we came around the corner from the front of the house, we all knew this was exactly what we were looking for. It was absolutely breathtaking! It was the perfect blend of laid-back, fun and beautiful. It was everything I was looking for in a wedding venue. Then, we talked to Erin and knew for sure that is where we wanted to get married! She was the best and is truly an expert at her job! When we had our April 2015 wedding it was the best day of our lives. The entire wedding, from start to finish, was amazing! All of our out-of-town guests were very impressed by the venue and talked about how perfect everything was. I definitely owe all of it to Erin and her recommended vendors! I wish we could do it all over again! I wouldn't change a thing!

ance and class but made our guests feel at ease. No one enjoys a contrived or "stuffy" wedding. Don't be fooled, the intimate setting is in no way modest, with the gorgeous chandeliers, travertine tile dance floor, woods floors, nicely finished bathrooms. Every one of our guests remarked at the beauty of the Destin Bay House, and many of them said they appreciated that it felt like we were in someone's home. In my opinion it set the perfect atmosphere for a naturally elegant evening.

water, but avoids all the pitfalls of a beach wedding (sand blowing everywhere, loud/wind, no parking, no shade, etc). It also is equally as impressive inside the building(s) as outside. We picked a location where if the worst case scenario happened -- rain -- we could move inside and still be just as pleased with our location (even though it wasn't an issue on our wedding day). The venue has everything you could want. Dance floor, portable bar, lighting, fire pit, dock (we did a boat getaway), small personal beach, great trees/plants, benches, linens, benches, tables, sound/video system, etc, etc, etc. Having the reception at the same place as the wedding ceremony is also a big plus, and really allowed our guests to enjoy everything all at once, without hassle. The best part of the Destin Bay House though is definitely having Erin to work with. She knows the place inside and out, has absolutely everything accounted for on-site, is incredible to work with, and just makes everything go so smoothly. Simply put, this is where you should have your wedding and reception. There may be other locations that are slightly cheaper, but none can match this venue or Erin's services. Trust us, we know from our own experience. The Destin Bay House helped make our wedding magical. Holly & Jamie

elpful and she was always on point. She did a great job of updating the bride and groom and letting them know about certain things without overwhelming them or making them feel stressed. It's such a gorgeous spot with excellent service! I highly recommend it for any wedding.

and beautifully--not much need to pay for decorations. Erin is so so wonderful. Everything went so smoothly because of her--her calm demeanor will relax any nervous bride! I can't speak highly enough of the Destin Bay House and Erin Shoults. Both contributed to making my wedding day the most perfect day of my life. Thanks again!

arried there in October 2014, and we were absolutely grateful to have found this place. Our wedding guests were in awe of the place; they kept making comments about how beautiful the Bay House was and how intimate everything was. If my husband and I decide to renew our vows in the future, the Destin Bay House will definitely be in our minds! Erin S., our day of coordinator at the Bay House, went ABOVE and BEYOND for us! She's so easy to work with, really listened to our needs/wants, and made suggestions that were really helpful. Despite the craziness of our day, everything went smoothly!

above and beyond to make our day absolutely amazing!!! Our wedding had a picture perfect back drop and everyone had a blast. I could not have asked for a better wedding venue and wedding coordinator. Erin was spot on with every detail and made my day so much easier. I didn't have to worry about a thing. My bridal party and guests are still raving about it. If you want a picture perfect wedding then choose the Destin Bay House for your wedding!!

Erin Shoults was top notch. Having a destination wedding may make the bride a bit hesitant - but at the Bay House - Erin took care of every detail to the fullest . We used vendors from her preferred list and were extremely satisfied. There is not one thing that I would change about the event - it was absolutely perfect ! A day that we will never forget and a owner / wedding planner that made it happen !!

he Destin Bay House provided the best location for our day. There are stipulations and guidelines to follow but it helps create an organization for your vendors. Worth the money.

reat day of coordinator. I did not feel stressed at all. She did everything for us and my bridesmaids were prepared to do the work but they were already taken care of by Erin. She made sure we could relax before the big day. The view of the ceremony was spectacular. The flexibility DBH offered to us for our vendor preferences really helped to make my wedding very personalized. It screams me and my husband. The reception setting was beautiful and it was nice having the dance floor and the porch. I, in a heartbeat, highly recommend this location.

the chairs back into the reception area after the ceremony since they only have 100 chairs. Erin, initially was very sweet and booked the venue for me a year ahead of time, and responded to emails within 24 hours. She, and the website told me that the venue fit up to 200 people which is not true, if you want the people to sit down to eat, in the same area. The inside area only fits 80 people, tops, in the area that everyone can see each other. And Erin will not allow tables outside on the lawn, so that more people could fit together. Erin was friendly via email, but she was not friendly at the venue. At my rehearsal, she was sitting by the fireplace looking a papers and never said hello or welcome. My wedding planner introduced us, since I asked who she was and she still did not stand up or shake my hand or say hello. And she was at the venue at the end of the wedding and again did not say hi, or congrats, or smile. I have no idea why did not like us, and I paid early, and followed all of the rules. Erin and the website said they had a sound system and I could plug in my ipad into it to play music. But the music could only be heard lightly inside and could not be heard outside. She also does not have microphones outside. The venue is cheaper than most, but you have to bring in everything, which makes it not cheaper. You also can't cook food there, so my food was cold.

lity and comfort of the Bay House. Erin is a delight to work with and pays attention to how each wedding party wishes to conduct their wedding as well as offer some valuable input. I continue to make people aware of the Bay House for their special day, whether it be a wedding or other special event.

ables and a dance floor are all included was great for helping to stay on budget! The view from the Bay House is one of the best in Destin and the grounds are gorgeous!

t the same time you want a venue that will let your creative juices flow, this is your place! We looked at several options in the Destin area, and the choice was crystal clear (just like the bay waters :)) the venue accommodated our 84 guests quite comfortably. I was truly able to transform the entire venue into my perfect setting, while utilizing the beauty of the venue itself. From the live oaks to the pier overlooking the gorgeous bay, it is simply beautiful. Another thing to speak of is the level of privacy, no high rises watching your nuptuals here! Also, it is truly a great value especially when you factor in the things included such as the arbor, benches, lounge furniture, and more! The bridal cottage is a perfect place to get ready with the girls. Erin is great to work with! All of our vendors were fabulous, lots of talent in the area. I truly don't think you will have better photo opportunities anywhere else! The Bay House is a magical place, where memories are created that will last a lifetime!!

he same unfortunate experience I did. With this being our one and only chance to have a positive experience planning our special day, I feel it’s important that the venues we are reaching out to reciprocate the same enthusiasm we are putting out. I flew over 500 miles and my Matron of Honor and my Aunt flew 800 miles to see the Destin Bay House as one of our top choices for my wedding. We spent over an hour viewing the venue taking 60 plus pictures of the site and discussed my special day in detail with the wedding coordinator, Erin. During our tour, I was met with opposition to my questions about what the $4500 site fee included; which at the time I didn’t recognize the red flags but later came to realize this is representative of how Destin Bay House treats their interested brides. After leaving the Destin Bay House, I visited several other venues but I already knew the Bay House was the place for me. I whole heartedly envisioned my wedding day happening there. When I flew back home, I reached out to the Bay House the day I landed to express my continued interest. Erin forwarded me the contract to the Destin Bay House; which upon our reading (myself and groom, wedding planner/matron of honor, mother & father of bride) we drafted an addendum to the contract and questions to start a dialogue about what appeared to be a self serving contract for the Bay House. This contract in no way protected our interests in the venue; in which my father would be spending 27 years worth of savings he had complied for the day his only daughter would be married. Our questions about this contract were met with complete dismissal. Erin’s initial email response was very short, as opposed to addressing any of my questions or concerns. She insulted my interest in the venue and immediately told me they would no longer hold my wedding date. My Matron of Honor and I reached out to let her know the questions we had regarding the contract were not deal breakers or even necessary changes but instead we just wanted clarification. My experience with Erin, reminds me of the scene with Vivian Ward played by Julia Roberts in a movie we all love Pretty Woman. In the scene, Vivian is simply trying to shop for her dream dress for a “special” occasion and she is met with opposition and disregard instead of compassion. Unfortunately just like Vivian, I was given the cold shoulder by Erin and told they wouldn’t be offended I choose another venue. My fiancé believes after seeing how I was treated, this is “A blessing in disguise.” I agree… I hope that no one has to experience a wedding planning disaster like this because it is extremely hurtful during what I envisioned being such a happy experience.

everything was in place and perfect for us. Not only did I fall in love with the BH and the gorgeous views, but with Erin as well. She truly goes above and beyond and treats each wedding as if it were her own special day! You're amazing Erin! You can bring your own style into the BH and decorate it as much or as little as you would like. There is not one thing that I would change about our wedding! I am so fortunate to have found the Bay House :)

on your big day. When asked how the wedding was, I have one word - PERFECT!! I can honestly say there is not one thing I would change. Our guest absolutely loved the atmosphere of the Bay House and it's breath-taking view of the bay. I loved loved loved getting married here and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!! The only thing I would do different is have Erin as a bridesmaid, she is that awesome ;) Love her!

The setting is stunning, there were several things included in the booking cost (that would normally have to be rented at other locations) and Erin Shoults (our DOC and owner of the Bay House) was more than AMAZING!!! Everything about this venue was perfect! We couldn't have picked a better place or DOC for our very special day! So many of our guests called telling us how gorgeous the venue was! They also noticed how smoothly everything was ran by Erin! There is nothing we would change about our experience with them! We would highly recommend both the Destin Bay House and Erin Shoults for your special day!