Palafox Wharf Waterfront Reception Venue

ou find vendors and organize your special day.

o see all of the other venues first to really be sure and I felt that the Palafox Wharf site was a little lacking in full details and clear photos. However, his enthusiasm (and the incredibly busy season with multiple couples looking to book at the same time we were) won me over. Prior to booking Palafox Wharf, we had already decided on a wedding planner who was not associated with the venue and because Palafox Wharf offers its own planning services I was concerned this would cause a riff between us and the venue from the start. However, I was proven wrong totally and the wedding day came and went with our hired planner and the venue host working together seamlessly to help us create the very best day. I can in total honesty say that we would not have been able to execute our actually perfect day without Sandy and her team. Wedding planning is a weird mix of wonderful and exhausting, so when we first booked the venue and I began receiving SO MUCH information from Sandy I was a bit overwhelmed with the number of emails to keep up with. However, after a few weeks and being able to access their awesome and personalized wedding portal specifically for us, I was so grateful for Sandy's detailed emails and easy-to-navigate portal that helped me to know what parts to do next and where I needed to focus. I'm not sure if any other venues offer this service, but I have to imagine that none are as detailed or as responsive as Sandy and that was truly a God-send for me. The venue offered their top lists for caterers, florists, and DJs that really helped us vet who we wanted and make decisions we could rely upon. Sandy always answered us in detail when we were confused about what was going on or needed further guidance. My fear we would be treated differently because we opted for an outside planner was eased and I would absolutely hire them as a planner for anyone unsure (I LOVED my planner but I know working with Palafox Wharf's own team would be a great way to go if you book here). Sandy handled linen rentals, timeline and layout drafts, and updates, she had rental decor options at the ready and even sent all of our vendors emails with full & clear details on parking, set up, and clean up that left no room for confusion or error. The venue itself is beautiful and really such an important part of Pensacola (I came here as a child when it was still Mr. Manatee's restaurant and it holds such great memories for me). We had a large number of guests who were all able to be seated comfortably inside or outside on the deck. The water views were the perfect touch. We had many out-of-town guests who have not stopped gushing over how perfect the location was and how much they loved the building and design. The lawn next to the building was perfect for photos as was the deck. We can't say enough about how great Palafox Wharf was for our wedding and I just know that anyone looking for a venue in the heart of Pensacola would be lucky to book here.

my husband, our guests and our vendors. When I initially booked Palafox Wharf, I chose them because of easy things to recognize, such as location. What is better then downtown Pensacola, right on the water, and in walking distance to the bars? My guests raved about the location because everyone flew into town for the wedding and did not need a car the entire weekend. Also, their property is simply gorgeous. It sits on the water and the sunset at the perfect time in the evenings where it sits behind a building so guests don't sweat and the lighting is perfect outdoors. Also it faces the minor league baseball stadium so we were surprised with a 5 minutes firework shows across the water during our reception! During the planning process, Sandy went above and beyond to make it as easy as possible. She provided me with a list of preferred vendors. This was probably my favorite thing they provided, because it made choosing vendors extremely quick. Also because they were work together so frequently, there was never any miscommunication about my wedding. Everything was very familiar and comfortable for all of my vendors, making it easy for me to plan a destination wedding. What also made it so simple was that all of my rentals were made through Sandy. If I wanted to add decorations, I told her what I wanted, paid her, and she coordinated the rest. It really took so much stress off of me, who felt too busy to plan a destination wedding. I would love to write Neil, their in-house wedding coordinator, his own review. I have heard mixed stories about wedding coordinators, and Neil truly is above the rest. I hired him as a day-of. However, we communicated about 1 month out from my wedding and essentially acted as a one-month planner. He helped me get organized and really made my vision happen. He does the smallest acts, such as making sure each bridesmaid looks perfect, moving around floral arrangements, making sure my photographer captured really good small moments... I could go on and on. If you are going to hire Palafox Wharf as your vendor, you absolutely have to hire Neil as your coordinator because he will make the night beyond what you asked for. Again, my wedding was beyond what I had expected and I truly think it all falls back on because I had it at Palafox Wharf with Neil as my planner. Everything was flawless and all of my guests raved about how much fun they had there.

wedding. The in house wedding planner went above and beyond for us to make sure our wedding day was perfect. The venue itself is beautiful inside and out to give you a great atmosphere and perfect pictures. We recommend this venue to everyone!!

ck and a loft for the DJ. Sandy was exceptionally helpful and Neil was there to make sure everything went smoothly. This is THE venue to get married at in Pensacola.

mall detail like guest count to renting chairs for the ceremony and linens (choosing colors etc) She helps you every step of the way! She also helps you choose your vendors (which helped since I am not from Pensacola). She was a pleasure to work with! My guests and I are both are amazed at Neil, my wedding planner who made sure everything was perfect for rehearsal and wedding day! My photographer even said she wished Neil was at every shoot because he is so helpful! I would choose them a million times over!

rked with us throughout the planning process, provided multiple helpful resources and referrals, and curated the day-of to ensure everything went smoothly and was enjoyable for all.

st because we forgot to buy it. The owner, Sandy, provides numerous resources to get you started and to make sure your day flows as you wish. Palafox Wharf made my wedding stress free and I am very happy I chose them for my special day!

odate me when I had to postpone my wedding due to Covid. Their list of preferred vendors was also a great help to me as a bride planning her wedding from another state and they all turned out to be fantastic!

I also wanted to give a shout out to the in house wedding coordinator, Neil Zanthos! I hired him for partial planning so he finalized everything with my vendors 30 days out, scheduled their set up time, clean up, etc. He also coordinated the reception and was above and beyond FANTASTIC. He came up to me several times throughout the night for my opinion on things, to see if I needed anything, always made sure my drink was full, etc. A couple drinks were spilled & he was cleaning them up within 2 seconds of it happening. Very responsive, kind and helpful. Cannot recommend him enough! A joy to work with and if you’re even thinking about adding him onto your package with Palafox Wharf you definitely should! 10/10.

nds are so gorgeous day and night. The deck was perfect for cocktail hour and for guests to enjoy the waterfront sunset views. The inside was so clean and beautiful, all the wood details and romantic lighting were stunning. It truly made for the wedding of our dreams! So much of that was possible thanks to Sandy, the owner. Her speedy communication, and genuinely sweet and helpful personality, made the entire process so easy and enjoyable. We are also super grateful for Neil, their in-house planner/coordinator. He ensured every last detail was better than we could have ever imagined. We are so grateful that this venue was such an integral part of our favorite day!

it was picture perfect. Friends and family traveled out of town for my wedding and could not stop talking about how beautiful the venue and location was. Sandy has been so helpful since day 1 with recommendations, emailing vendors, keeping in contact with me and helping me get everything set up for my wedding. Neil was on-site during my wedding and was the sweetest, most patient person. He helped everything run smoothly during my wedding day and I could not thank him enough! If the Palafox Wharf is on your list of potential venues, PICK IT!!! I promise you, you will not regret it.

ecoration once you decide on table decor. Early in the evening most guests stayed inside due to the heat and there was plenty of room for about 110 people. Later as the day cooled off we all enjoyed the deck. The light breeze off the water and views from there were perfect. I don’t think we could have picked a better location for our wedding.

from Sandy herself. She is extremely attentive and asks her clients to text her so that she can reply immediately. I highly recommend Palafox Wharf!

without her! We communicated many times via email, but also met in person to go over all of the details. She truly listened and made sure every little thing happened! We love Dawn!

exceeded all of my expectations. This venue is so charming that it requires little decor, while still offering plenty of room for a bride to personalize it to fit her style. In addition to the beautiful photo opportunities on the lawn and deck overlooking the water as the sun sets, the Blue Wahoos stadium had fireworks the night of my wedding! These fireworks are perfectly visible from the venue and many of my guests thought that we had paid to have a private fireworks show, so cool! Sandy was so accommodating and easy to work with, and she made sure I had everything I needed. At our meeting a few months before the wedding I was anxious about not having my linens rented, and she took care of connecting me with the right people in a flash. That's just one example of her expertise and wonderful suggestions she made throughout my wedding planning process. I've been to a number of event venues in Pensacola, and this one is truly my favorite. If I had to choose over again I would choose the Palafox Wharf every time. The only thing I was concerned about is whether or not I would have enough room for my guests. I did end up placing three tables on the dance floor that were moved after dinner, but I'm glad I didn't end up seating any of my guests outside. I mentioned to a few of my friends the concern about it being too small for my number (about 140) and they told me they thought it was perfect because it made people get to know each other better. We did tent the back deck just in case of rain, and that provided our guests plenty of room to mingle. It ended up being the perfect size for my wedding reception!

oth the indoor and outdoor spaces and most of our vendors came from her recommendations. I would absolutely recommend the Palafox Wharf.

great to be able to have everything at one place since we had so many out of town guests. I would definitely recommend looking here for a smaller (about 100 people) wedding.

a little steep as well. But over all I loved our venue!

this event would be coming, and would help define the relationship I would be sharing with the owner of the largest part of my heart. No matter what I had dreamed of, the day exceeded any and all expectations. To a very large extent, the reason the day was so wonderful is because of the efforts and information provided by the owners of this venue. Sandy, you were a God sent angel that I will allways thank God for. The venue offers an outside area that has a manicured lawn that any PGA event would be proud to call their own. The inside of the venue creates an intimacy and a nostalgic character that makes the experience more memorable. The venue was well worth the expence. The support and information provided by the owners was beyond value. Trying to verbalize the contributions by the owners is daunting. I think they helped make an almost overwhelming challenge into something pleasant and memmorable. They provided priceless memories.....

the chance to see Palafox in person, I was in love all over again, it was romantic, intimate, and overall wonderful. Our wedding reception was held here and it was amazing. Mrs. Sandy was so helpful and flexible. We ended up needing to change our date and she allowed us to do so with no problem. Mrs. Sandy always kept in contact and kept us informed through about updated vendors. I have already recommended this place to someone who will be having their reception their next year. Thank you Palafox and Mrs. Sandy for everything!!!

ore than accomodated my busy schedule since I work full time and was an out of town bride. She was flexible with evening and weekend appointments. I was allowed to see the venue numerous times. The best thing was all of the chairs and the set up and break down of chairs was all included. Not many places offer this service inclusive. I was impressed over all by everything and would definitely recommend it to a friend.

know! The venue is beautiful and is kept in amazing condition, and I could not have been more pleased! I had no complaints about this venue.

comments from our guests on the venues pure and natural beauty! Our guests especially loved being able to go outside and hang out on the deck overlooking the marina and downtown views!

th the back on the water. In addition, there is a gorgeous deck on the back that is perfect for tables if you wish or just chairs for additional seating--we chose to set up the buffet there along with some extra tables and chairs. On the wedding day, the lawn, where my daughter's ceremony was held, was beautifully green and immaculately groomed. The chairs (150 of them) were set up to face the sparkling water. My daughter chose to have no decoratations at all outside & I have to say that, although I disagreed with her at the time, the scene was beautiful with the brilliant green grass, the white chairs, the shimmering blue water & the pop of Caribbean blue sashes on the aisle chairs. Inside the venue itself, the only decorations were the centerpieces that we used to reflect a tropical theme. The space easily accommodated 22 tables with chairs for 8 at each. By the way, those tables & Chiavari chairs were included in the cost of rental and Sandy, the venue coordinator, worked with me patiently on the arrangement & made sure that everything was placed to perfection. A DJ set up at the end of the bar but could easily have used the landing on the second floor. Regardless, there is ample space for dancing--even with a crowd. This building is constructed of brick & beautifully maintined wood. There are many areas, inside and out, that are perfect for photos that will last a lifetime. Last, the venue is immaculately clean, has a huge kitchen and beautifully appointed bathrooms. As an added bonus, you will work with Sandy who is one of the most knowledgeable, patient and accommodating people you will ever meet. If you are considering a wedding in downtown Pensacola, you must check out this venue.

nd super sweet! Every one has commented on how beautiful our wedding was, and that was mainly due to the asmazing venue.

sit without seeing the venue in person. A few weeks later, my Mom and I went to see it and met with Sandy who was nice and effecient. Sadly, I decided the venuewas not what I was looking for. They had my deposit for only a few weeks and the wedding was ten (10) months out and NOT on a Fri or Sat. Palafox Wharf said they would return half, if it was rebooked. I found out recently, that it was not rebooked and they will be keeping my entire deposit. I tried to have a conversation with Sandy regarding this but she kept me on speaker and stopped responding to any questions I had. How unprofessional and childish. I called back a few times to only get the answering machine. I understand policy but no business was lost or displaced and they did not lose money. I would hope they would do the right thing; would want to build good customer relations; enhance their reputation but instead I get silence. I only asked for half of the deposit back in good faith but instead they decide they have to keep almost a thousand dollars just because they can. We all know weddings are expensive and are supossed to be a happy time in ones life but instead this Bride is left with a huge loss in her budget as well as a sour taste for the unprofessional, greedy and uncaring people at Palafox Wharf and cannot and will not recommend this venue.

e of the venue which was a gorgeous and plush yard of green grass. We carried the party inside the venue at Palafox Wharf and on the outside deck for the reception. The venue owner was easy to work with, full of ideas and suggestions and always prompt to answer when I had a question. Since the wedding, everyone I have spoken to has told me how much fun they had, how beautiful & perfect the venue was, and how much they enjoyed their time in Pensacola. It definitely helps that we had perfect weather so the guests were able to truly enjoy their time on the back deck which is my favorite part (along with the back door). I'm a very happy bride that can say I wouldn't do one thing differently on my big day other than re-live everything because it was such an amazing day!

g keeping this from a 5 star rating was not being able to get into the building until 1 pm. That put us in a little of a tight squeeze for family friends helping decorate.

I would be unable to really take part in every step of the venue planning. The venue coordinator, Sandy, was amazing. She kept me up to date with everything by email and over the phone. I had to rely on my mom for all of the decisions that had to be made in person and Sandy was there to help guide her on everything. The site was beautiful, clean and had such a great charm about it. It is restored but still has that old world feel to it. The grounds are just as beautiful and the location you just can't beat. Nestled right in the heart of historic downtown Pensacola and on the water, it makes for some amazing photo ops! I'm sure the Wharf has hosted tons of events, but they still had a way of making us feel "special" and ultimately that is how every bride and groom want to feel. That night, our dreams really did come true.. Thank You Palafox Wharf!

he water for the exchange of vows and seated well over 100 guests. The indoor facility and outdoor deck lends itself to a variety of decorating possibilities. We found that the Old World charm of the building doesn't need a lot of additional decorating though. Table decorations were the main indoor decor. Sandy, who assisted in the rental and who was present on the wedding day, was efficient and ready to provide guidance. I would definitely recommend this lovely venue.

nd readily available. The site was beautiful with it's old world decor (exposed brick, wood beams, etc) and the location on the water couldn't be beat. The huge outside deck was a lovely place for guests to gather for a sunset toast or to rest between dances. The building itself needs very little decorating, though we went with a colorful theme. The bathrooms were modern and immaculate. I can't say enough! Thanks Sandy, for your lovely place.

t more than 350 in attendance.)and they were unavailable for the dates we had picked. If interested in this venue realize that the availability depends greatly on the season. Planning a summer wedding? You'll need to plan at least a year in advance. Honestly though, no that I look back, and having been to another wedding there, I am very glad we didn't have our wedding there. Palafox Wharf is very limited in space and the staff were not as friendly as I expected them to be.

she made me feel comfortable and she made sure everything was taking care of and in order for my reception. It was great working with such a professional