Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach

Your Dream Beach Wedding Starts Here

Holds ceremonies and receptions

5.0

Praised by couples for:

Amenities

Helpful staff

Guests comfort

We got married in a church and only did our reception here. The ballroom setup was breathtaking!! The staff were all friendly and worked to make sure every detail of our wedding vision was included. Trista Barton was a fantastic help. If you are interested, be prepared to spend $12k-$13k. Also, be advised that Hilton will not let you take any leftovers from lunch/dinner. However, we had a phenomenal experience and recommend this as a top notch wedding venue.

Emily P.

5.0

Celebrated the marriage of our daugter and new son-in-law mid-May. Beach wedding and reception held at Hilton Garden Inn in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. What a great experience and the package for everything that was included was so reasonable. From hotel marketing, catering and service to the contracted wedding coordinator day of made the day stress free and memorable for the wedding party and guests. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this destination if planning a a beach/ocean view wedding. We definitely go out money's worth!

Tracey H.

5.0

Jessica Ealum

COORDINATOR

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER (2X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

The Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach offers a stunning beachfront setting on Okaloosa Island, in Fort Walton, FL, making it an idyllic choice for a beach wedding celebration. With its white sand beaches and crystal clear Gulf waters, the venue blends natural beauty with modern comfort, enhanced by a full renovation completed in Spring 2026, creating a truly memorable experience. Couples and their guests can enjoy refreshed ocean view accommodations and convenient guest room blocks, allowing everyone to stay and celebrate together. The property features upscale amenities, including an on-site restaurant, tiki bar, cozy outdoor fire pits, and a unique lazy river-style pool, all designed to create a relaxing, resort-like atmosphere. The hotel’s layout seamlessly brings the tranquility of the beach into every corner of the space. Beyond the venue itself, guests can explore local attractions such as the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, take a scenic flight with Beach Helicopters, or enjoy a marine adventure with Cattywampus Eco Adventures. The hotel offers a variety of wedding packages designed to suit different styles and budgets. Each includes a beachside ceremony setup with a bamboo arbor, access to a 5,000 square foot reception venue, day-of coordination assistance, event setup and breakdown, a dance floor, and a private bar with a bartender. Couples can further customize their experience with add-ons such as a professional officiant or DJ services for their reception. On-site catering is available, along with a curated list of preferred vendors, including florists and photographers, making planning both seamless and stress-free. Take a 360° Virtual Tour and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek today!

9+ years in business

Speaks English

Small team (2-10 members)

Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

On-Site Accommodations

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Wireless Internet

Ceremony Types

Civil Union

Commitment Ceremony

Elopement

Interfaith Ceremony

Non-Religious Ceremony

Religious Ceremony

Second Wedding

Vow Renewal Ceremony

Settings

Ballroom

Beach

Waterfront

Hotel

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks

Bar Rental

Cakes & Desserts

Other Desserts

Destination Weddings

Destination Wedding Packages

Destination Wedding Planning

Food & Catering

Planning

Destination Wedding Planning

Rentals & Equipment

Service Staff

Awards and Affiliations

2-Time 'Best of Weddings'

2024.2023.

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Jessica Ealum
Coordinator
I am the catering and sales coordinator at Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach. I have been with the hotel since we have opened and I love working on the beach in our brand new hotel! I am a true local and have lived in the Ft Walton Beach area my whole life. So, I have a lot of knowledge about the area as well as relationships with vendors in our area. I graduated with a degree in Marketing from the University of West Florida. Please reach out to me with any other questions you have about our venues, as well as the area.
Jillian McQueen
Director of Sales
Director of sales
Kyla Bautista
Sales and Events Coordinator
I am the Sales and Events Coordinator at Hilton Garden Inn, Fort Walton Beach. We would love to host your special day! Please reach out if you have any questions.

5.0

out of 5.0

31 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Guests praised the venue’s stunning beach ceremony spots, ballroom, cocktail areas, and hotel amenities. Staff and wedding coordinators were responsive, organized, and made the day stress-free. The food received rave reviews. Some noted extra fees and a no-leftovers policy, but most highly recommend it.

Search reviews

Samantha M

Highlighted review.

6/13/2023

Finding this from the knot was amazing! Being from Kentucky, I was nervous planning a destination wedding where I could not currently be especially with a large party originally es...

timated (120 people). But, Joie and the Hilton Garden Inn were absolutely exceptional! The DJ, Catering, Bartending, and Wedding Coordination are done in house, which made this an affordable and inclusive experience that I did not have to worry about much, but I was still able to make all the choices! All of our family raved about how kind the staff was and how amazing the food was after our wedding. Everyone has been so kind and they have had wonderful communication skills that can be lacking if you were to choose other vendors that are not these people! If you are in any doubt of who to choose for your beach wedding, I am telling you choose Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton!! I could not have been happier with my wedding day and it is all thanks to them.

Emily P

7/05/2025

We got married in a church and only did our reception here. The ballroom setup was breathtaking!! The staff were all friendly and worked to make sure every detail of our wedding vi...

sion was included. Trista Barton was a fantastic help. If you are interested, be prepared to spend $12k-$13k. Also, be advised that Hilton will not let you take any leftovers from lunch/dinner. However, we had a phenomenal experience and recommend this as a top notch wedding venue.

Response from Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach on 07/09/2025

Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing us to host your wedding reception! ...

We’re thrilled to hear that you had a phenomenal experience and that the ballroom setup, our team, and Trista all helped bring your vision to life it truly means the world to us. We do understand the disappointment about not being able to take leftovers. Due to Florida food safety regulations, we’re required to follow guidelines that don’t allow us to release perishable food after it has been served for more than two hours. While it’s not ideal, guest safety is always our top priority. Thank you again for the lovely review wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!

Any questions?

Tracey H

6/04/2025

Celebrated the marriage of our daugter and new son-in-law mid-May. Beach wedding and reception held at Hilton Garden Inn in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. What a great experience and the ...

package for everything that was included was so reasonable. From hotel marketing, catering and service to the contracted wedding coordinator day of made the day stress free and memorable for the wedding party and guests. I HIGHLY recommend checking out this destination if planning a a beach/ocean view wedding. We definitely go out money's worth!

Response from Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach on 07/09/2025

Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled to hear your daughter’s beach wedding...

and reception were everything you hoped for. It was our pleasure to help make the day stress free and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and wish the newlyweds all the best!

Sydney S

3/19/2024

Our wedding day was truly a dream come true. The Hilton, Trista, and Jillian made it all come to life! They were quick to respond and were thorough in helping plan our special day....

The hotel has AMAZING amenities including the beach ceremony, gorgeous cocktail hour space, stunning ballroom, and great hotel rooms/service. THE FOOD IS 10/1O! Multiple guests told us it was the best food they have had at a wedding! All our friends and family told us how beautiful the hotel and beach was. The bar and drinks were fantastic! We cannot wait to return for our anniversaries! It was truly our dream come true beach wedding day, and I cannot thank The Hilton enough!

MELANIE M

3/02/2024

My wedding was amazing. The weather and wedding was absolutely beautiful. The wedding coordinators took my blurry vision and made it come to life. They are now family, especially w...

hen they had to crawl under my dress and tie up my bustel and see a full moon. The reception was beautiful and sooo much fun. The food was amazing. I was a little surprised with some of the additional pricing…but in the end, it was a beautiful location and an amazing day.

Skyleigh H

10/30/2023

We had a destination wedding and Joie and the company that does the day of coordinating was amazing. Bridget is the day of coordinator and she made all my worries fade away. The lo...

cation was gorgeous white sand with dolphins in the background. Our entire wedding party stayed the weekend and it was just the perfect time.

Jessica K

9/25/2023

Our day was absolutely perfect! We did not have to worry about anything the day of our wedding! Joie and Jillian were both amazing at helping us select the right package and menu i...

tems for our guests. Tiffany helped us select out all out decor and made sure our venue looked stunning! I could not have asked for a better group of ladies! The coordinators Bridgette and Ali were amazing as well! They made our day stress free and helped ensure everything ran smoothly and on time. The food is amazing!!! You have to try the coconut shrimp and the caprese salad! Our guests are still raving about our food. Thank you so an amazing team! Check wedding wire for pictures from our day!

Shamika Z

7/27/2023

Our wedding day was absolutely perfect…from Joie helping us to select our package and all services we wanted to the awesome coordinator Ali making sure everything went smoothly and...

on time, to the setup and beautiful decor, to the amazing food that everyone loved, to the great photographer Rebecca (Daly Photography) and fantastic officiant and DJ all referred by the hotel. I can’t say enough about this crew. I just want to relive the day over and over. I truly appreciate each and everyone of these people that helped make our day one we will always remember!

Sara G

6/20/2023

I highly recommend booking your wedding/event at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Walton Beach. The staff did an outstanding job for our wedding in April 2023. Joie, Jess & Jill were ...

so helpful, especially with answering my questions/emails promptly. They were very sweet and nice to work with and helped make the wedding planning process very smooth, especially from being out of state. Tiffani did an outstanding job with decorating the ballroom and the food was delicious. Our guests told us it was a fun wedding in a beautiful space with great food! We couldn’t have done it any better without the amazing Hilton staff!

Whitney N

4/27/2023

If you’re thinking about having an amazing beach wedding of your dreams… THIS IS THE PLACE!!!!!!!! I could write a million words how amazing everything was. From the convenience of...

having every vendor done through the hotel to having you and your guests stay on site to the AMAZING BEACH VIEWS, white sands and clear water.. it was all a dream come true!!! The food was INCREDIBLE!!! My guests are still talking about it! The Cajun shrimp pasta was a hit and the Sirloin was PERFECTLY cooked for 75 guests!!! We couldn’t get over the food and how seamless everything was!!! The drinks were top notch made by a top notch bartender! The Value for everything we got was beyond phenomenal!!! The most simple, easy, BEAUTIFUL, beachy, bang for your Buck venue of our dreams. I wish we could relive the day over and over! Joie, Jessica, Jill ROCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!!!!! The sweetest wedding planners helped with every single detail and question I had along the way! DO NOT HESITATE THIS IS THE BEACH VENUE FOR YOU!!!!!!! My wedding was April 21st 2023. The best day of our (and our guests) lives!!!!!!

Caseita J

4/19/2023

While searching for the perfect venue, I became a little overwhelmed and almost decided to push our wedding reception to the following year. I’m so glad that we didn’t. Joie, Jilli...

an, Tiffany and the rest of the hotel staff helped us create a night to remember! Since it was reception only, we were allowed to do this without a planner. From the DECOR, the FOOD, equipment, to the order of events, the staff coordinated patiently with us to help us actualize our celebration! I could keep going on about our experience, as my family is still talking about how much fun we had.

Nikki S

3/15/2023

Loved having my wedding here! Jessica was super friendly & made the planning process go by so easily. The rest of the staff hired by the hotel made sure the whole day was absolutel...

y perfect! No complaints.

Chloe W

2/03/2023

We had an excellent experience working with Jessica in planning our dream destination wedding in May 2022! We live in Atlanta, and Jessica worked with us and gave us photos, inform...

ation, and everything we needed to feel comfortable with our venue choice, menu, string duo, DJ (used their preferred DJ and officiant), and accommodations. We felt supported from the first steps of planning all the way to our wedding day. I would 100% recommend having your beach wedding here. Everyone still talks about how much fun and how great our wedding was almost a year later!

Stephanie C

12/30/2022

We had a few different criteria that we were looking to meet when we began our search for the perfect wedding venue. We wanted to be right on the beach, we wanted our guests to be...

able to park their vehicles on Thursday and not drive until they left, and we wanted great food and hospitality. The Hilton Garden Inn delivered all of these and so much more. From the moment we said “yes” to our venue, we never once felt like we had made the wrong decision. Our onsite contact, Jessica, was always quick to respond to our questions and helped us plan our perfect weekend wedding event. Through Jessica, we worked with several of their local vendors for all of the extra services we required. For us, this was a destination wedding, so being able to coordinate several different vendors and services through the hotel was very convenient and easy. The hotel provided all the necessary food and beverage requirements we wanted, and everything was to a high standard. The staff were always accommodating, pleasant, and welcoming. There were numerous little touches that did not go unnoticed by us. We both have backgrounds in bars, restaurants, and hospitality, and we probably have higher expectations than many do. We have no complaints. We highly recommend this venue.

Altrese W

12/28/2022

Jessica and her crew at HGIFtWalton made our special day even more special than we could have ever imagined. Communication with the staff and all parties involved was so easy! Anyt...

ime we had questions, someone was there with the answers. Planning a wedding from a completely different state is stressful enough. Jessica and her staff made it so easy! HGIFtWalton for the win!!!

Danielle L

11/13/2022

Our wedding was a dream come true! Jessica was a pleasure throughout the planning process and our coordinator Bridgitte was the absolute best!! She made my wedding absolutely beaut...

iful beyond anything I could have imagined! Everyone raved about how great the food was! I would recommend them to anyone planning a destination or local wedding.

Lisa G

7/10/2022

We had a rears dinner at this venue. The staff was so helpful and professional. The food was EXCELLENT!

Mackenzie T

7/05/2022

The best experience by far, everything was perfect. My day of coordinator & DJ were the best. My DOC did everything from set up to break down and we didn’t lift a finger. It was be...

autiful and I’m so thankful for all the staff!

Allyson N

7/05/2022

We used the HGI for our wedding on 5/19/22 and we had the BEST experience. Everyone was so friendly. Our day of wedding coordinator that they suggested was a literal rock star. My ...

wedding day was so smooth. Jessica was amazing to work with the whole time while planning our wedding. She answered all of our questions promptly and gave suggestions when needed. I never get the push that I needed to buy/spend more. The actual ceremony itself was so beautiful outside. I was worried that there would be people nearby that were on the beach and they section off so much space it felt like my wedding was the only thing happening out there. Highly recommend the HGI for your wedding. You won’t regret it!

Savannah H

6/28/2022

We had our wedding (reception & ceremony) at the Hilton Garden Inn at Fort Walton Beach and it was INCREDIBLE. I can’t say enough good things about this venue. My friends and famil...

y are still going on an on about the amazing staff and food. This was a destination wedding for my husband and I and we never got to make it to the venue to try food or even see the place but it blew all my expectations out of the water. The sales coordinator Jessica was great! She answered all my questions and made me feel very secure when it came to my big day. We were also BLESSED with the package we choose that included a wedding coordinator and let me tell you… Ali and her sister WERE HEAVEN SENT to our special day! They made everything run smooth, made everything so beautiful, and really brought my dreams to real life. I am so thankful we had them for our day! The servers and bartender(sweet lady and I’m so sorry I forgot her name but she deserves a raise and the set up gentlemen) they were one of the hits of the nights, made my family have a blast and created so many memories for us by making sure we were taken care of all night and being so incredibly nice!! My wedding here was a dream and was worth EVERY PENNY. I’d pay double to do the day over just one more time. Also, my family and some of the guests stayed at the hotel for a few days prior to the wedding and we had a blast! Rooms were clean, comfy, and great views of the ocean! The tiki bar made the best drinks and kept us dancing all day! I recommended this place to anyone and everyone for their special day or family vacation. THANK YOU AGAIN to all the staff at this establishment we are forever grateful and it’s a day we will never forget!!! All of the photos below were done by- mphphotography (Michelle Howard) she was also INCREDIBLE you should book her right after you book this venue!

Nicolette W

6/13/2022

Everyone was very nice! We had so much fun and they did everything for us. Their DJ/ officiant, and coordinator were so kind and helpful! Definitely the best wedding we could have ...

imagined thanks to everyone here!

Sarah B

2/25/2022

Honestly could not have asked for a better experience. Jessica and her team made sure the day was absolutely perfect. Their immaculate details and proper planning allowed for the d...

ay to go by like a breeze. Thank you!

Lorie L

2/17/2022

Our experience was fantastic from beginning to end. The staff were so helpful and professional. The food was fantastic. The decor was just like we had envisioned. The hotel room p...

ortion went smoothly. The cost was right on point for the value received. Jessica and her staff were so wonderful this MOB actually got to enjoy the wedding. The bride and groom were beautifully celebrated!

Laura H

8/16/2021

We had our wedding at Hilton Garden this past July! They did amazing job! Jessica the sales coordinator was incredible to work with during these past 9 months! My guests are still ...

raving about the food!! I would definitely recommend having your wedding here!

Kelley W

6/26/2021

My husband and I got married here on 5/15/2021. We looked at many different venues before finding the Hilton in Ft.Walton Beach. Jessica, the event coordinator was an absolute pl...

easure to work with. She was always available to answer any questions and really helped our vision come to life. We had a beautiful morning wedding on the beach followed by a brunch reception in the garden terrace area. Again Jessica was amazing, she worked with us and allowed us to do a custom menu with food out of this world! All the staff there were so pleasant and accommodating. We had the wedding of our dreams! 💕

Shelley L

6/23/2021

Great venue, awesome staff. Had the best time !!!

Jennifer S

9/21/2020

I’m so happy and thankful that I went with the Hilton Garden Inn! Everything in every category was five stars! The staff will never know how much I appreciated them putting my mind...

at ease with all my questions, and being more than understanding with the changes due to the pandemic. All of the vendors they recommended were awesome too. I had to put my full trust in the Hilton since I live in Ohio. They didn’t disappoint me at all! From the first time I contacted them to the big day, I had nothing but wonderful help and support. All my guests were very pleased and loved the food! I would give them more than 5 stars if I could!

Shay L

8/15/2020

We chose this HGI due to travel restrictions for our original venue in Costa Rica. We'd also considered other properties in FWB but are glad we settled on HGI. Their team helped us...

to make everything possible during this pandemic, including having the space for us to host a welcome dinner. We were glad to be able to add everything we needed to our wedding package. From the first inquiry to after the reception, the HGI team provided fast, thoughtful, top-notch service. The property itself is awesome and we will certainly stay many times for vacations.

Kimberly E

6/25/2019

The staff was very friendly, helpful and attentive

Doris D

6/19/2019

We had our May wedding here and loved it! The ceremony was on the beach. The view was beautiful! Our reception followed in the ballroom. This hotel offers packages which makes wedd...

ing planning easier. The staff was very helpful and welcoming to our guests and our bridal party. Lastly, Jessica the coordinator was flexible and very helpful. It was truly a glam beach wedding :)

Melonie B

6/12/2018

Absolutely fantastic from the beginning to the end. Jessica and her staff were there right when I needed them. The food was absolutely the best! Everyone is still talking about our...

wedding and it’s been three weeks!

Service area & Contact info

1297 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL

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(850) 226-5801

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Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach

Jessica Ealum

Coordinator

Typically responds within 24h

Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach's photos

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Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach

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Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

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