Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach

ult to get a response from their interim person both via email and phone call. During their transition, we had scheduled our food tasting, but the day before our scheduled date we were told that we were not on the schedule. However, the new catering manager was happy to meet with us and go over details of our day. Overall, the staff was professional, friendly, and timely with food. The only other complaint was that the bartenders asked almost everyone for their ids for every drink (including the groom!). Some of these included bridesmaids who had left their purses in their hotel rooms.

commodating to our guests. We had a black tie Saturday night event . The staff knocked it out of the park. The food was amazing . I was shocked . Best food I ever ate a wedding and thank god bc it was my daughters . Chef Terry and his wait staff know customer service and how to make there guests feel extremely special. His seafood, sushi bar, fillet and everything else was made to perfection . My friends are still talking about his baby lamb chops. The catering staff is the best Iv ever seen! There are no words I can say about how amazing there planner Annette Winkler is. From the get go, she was warm and living yet extremely professional at the same time. She helped make this night for my daughter into a memory of a lifetime . Before you look at any place on the beach , this should be your first and last stop. It gives you a 4 seasons and ritz Carlton vibe with better views and better prices. They are the best kept secret in Fort Lauderdale. I would do it for my daughter all over again!

we did have our wedding booked during the major renovations. While we were made aware via third party site we were able to get a refund on the resort fees. Additionally, while on-site Annette ensured that our guests had a great time as well as help us troubleshoot some unforeseen / booking conflicts. The food was a hit, the drinks were amazing and overall our wedding had an atmosphere of love, fun, and celebrations despite all the hiccups.

ur wedding guests, and we were very clear that a large majority of our guests would be staying at the property for a weekend vacation. It's unfortunate that the Sonesta senior catering manager allowed us to sign a contract without disclosing to us some very pertinent information. She failed to tell us that the hotel was in the process of undergoing a major renovation... a complete overhaul to the property. We first learned about hotel renovations after reading a hotel review on trip advisor. When we asked Annette, our Sonesta catering mgr, she led us to believe that all of the renovations were strictly aesthetic, and would be done several months in advance of our wedding date. It wasn't until our invitations went out and our guests began booking their hotel rooms, that we indirectly received notification of the significant renovations that were going on. With less than 4 months until wedding date, we asked Annette again about the renovations, but she only gave us stock marketing answers and dodged our calls daily. It wasn't until we went to upper levels of management that we were able get the full story, and the truth that they were undertaking major renovation! Thankfully, the upper level of Sonesta management was understanding of the situation which Annette mislead us, and we were able to come to an amicable split from our contract. After an expensive trip back down to Fort Lauderdale, and extra time off work, we fortunately found another venue just down the street that was willing to work with us to put together an incredible wedding weekend for us and our guests. It's unfortunate that the Sonesta team wasted so much of our time and money in planning a wedding that we had to relocate, and resend invites for. For any couple looking for an oceanfront wedding, look elsewhere. Annette was very unprofessional in how she mislead us, actively hid valuable information, and made such a joyful process something negative.

Events, has the honor and privilege of being one of the recommended wedding and event planners on their vendor list. We have worked numerous weddings and events at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach and every occasion has been a positive one. Annette Winkler, the Senior Catering Sales Manager, has always been a pleasure to work with. Annette is a veteran in the event and hospitality industry and her gentle disposition, accessibility, and wealth of knowledge is always appreciated and admired. Our clients always love working with her during the planning process and she constantly over delivers. Every member of her team is a true professional and the catering team is sure to please on the big day. Don't hesitate to book your wedding at Sonesta, you will not be disappointed. And to have that view as your backdrop... Five stars all around.

t to mention the gorgeous, stunning views in the penthouse ballroom. We truly felt like VIPs the whole time there. Our guests all spoke highly of the venue and their experience as well. We definitely plan at staying at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale in the future. Thank you again to Annette and her wonderful team for making our day so amazing and special.

to mention, the views for the penthouse are just breathtaking. For those looking for a wedding venue, stop here, the Sonesta is the one!

was amazing but the wedding day it did live up the the standard they set. Overall my wedding was a day I will never forget, if you choose this hotel make sure you have a lot of patience when working with staff to plan your special day

nor hiccup was a slight lack of communications from our hotel coordinator in the final few weeks before the wedding, but nothing was affected by it and everything was worked out just fine. The overall experience was more like a dream and I just wish I was able to have more of the food and have it last longer! Bravo

at our reception!

staying together allowed more quality time. Livia Relva in Rooms Division booked all our guests on the tenth floor close to our Master Suite, all with ceiling to floor ocean views. The rooms were nicely decorated with very comfortable beds. The entire staff was genuinely sincere and welcoming. The hotels convenient location was perfect for guest activities. There are bike rentals on property, Segway rentals and instructions a block away, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park across the street for nature enthusiasts and The Historic Bonnet House & Gardens to experience Old Fort Lauderdale. Just a short walk across the Intercostal Bridge is The Galleria Mall, The Red Door Spa and Water Taxi. There is a full service pool area inside the hotel and chair and umbrella rentals on the beach. We had our Family Style Rehearsal Dinner in The Bistro and sampled most menu items which satisfied everyones tastes and operating hours that fit our schedule. We were offered a private venue for our Rehearsal Dinner but chose not to. Our Wedding Ceremony and Reception Dinner was on The Penthouse Floor in The Horizon Suites, which was like being on a cruise ship. We chose an All Inclusive location so there would be no worry about transportation or weather concerns that could have ruined our day. The entire weekend was perfectly executed by the lovely Catering Manager Noha Ghali after spending tireless hours with attention to details. Our bar was customized so that all our guests felt welcomed by having their favorite call brands and carefully chosen champagne and wine with the help of Beverage Manager Daniel Meys. Executive Chef Mark Heinemann helped plan menu selections for a Cocktail Reception and dinner including Vegetarian options. The Banquet Servers attentive but not intrusive service further showcased Marks delicious food. The Banquet Manager Jeff Carlson and his team went out of there way to accommodate special seating for our ceremony and carefully arranged dinner tables around the dance floor for a picture perfect setting. We all have happy memories after a weekend long wedding celebration, the warm hospitality from the staff and the unforgettable views at The Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. Sent from my iPad Sent from my iPad

olutely recommend them for a wedding venue.

nch, wedding, and reception there the weekend of 10-25-14 and the hotel itself as well as the staff made my wedding a night to remember. The reason I originally went with the hotel was because of it's spectacular views and modern South Beach type decor. My husband and I loved the atmosphere and the proximity to the beach for our many out of town guests. Arthur Sands was a pleasure to work with and made sure everything ran smoothly. He was very helpful and responsive to my requests and helped me with the transition when the hotel changed from B Ocean to Sonesta. Arthur also recommended vendors that also were wonderful. The food for each event, my rehearsal dinner, the cocktail hour, the reception, and the breakfast was incredible. I was shocked as usually wedding food isn't always up to par. The staff did an amazing job coordinating each of my events and I would recommend this hotel to anyone getting married that is looking for a beautiful "beach" wedding without getting your toes in the sand:) Wedding: 10/25/2014 Services Used: Rehearsal Dinner Location, Ceremony & Reception Venue

tmosphere was just PERFECT...It could not have gone any better. We had 60 guests all in from Chicago and all staying at the hotel all week. We had a rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and breakfast the day after. All events went flawlessly and the staff was so accommodating. We will be back to this hotel in the future just because of how well they handled us and the view is just breathtaking...Highly recommend them!!!

ght because she was so much fun! Jeff was so professional and helpful. Arthur was great too, although my only complaint is that sometimes he would take many days to get back to us, which made the groom very frustrated, and the night before the wedding the floor plan was not right so I had to go hunt for the table myself. Overall I recommend the venue for sure! It was gorgeous and it made it all very magical for us.

t the views in their ballroom space. Not only was the venue is amazing, but the hotel and event staff were also incredible. We could not have been more happy with this selection for our wedding. As a word of warning, I insisted on being married outside on the balcony and we were treated to the sounds of a poorly-timed fire truck parade during our ceremony. It ended up perfect for us, but the noise levels are something to consider. Many of our guests (including my husband & I) stayed at this hotel and it was incredible. The rooms were very nice and the hotel staff was amazing. We ate in the restaurant several times and all of the meals were very good. There are also several bars & restaurants in the neighborhood so guests had plenty of options for activity while they were attending our wedding.

the penthouse can't be beat. The food is delicious and the catering manager who worked the night of the wedding, and all the bartenders and staff that night were excellent. My only complaint is that the staff members who I worked with prior to the day of were unresponsive and unhelpful and made my life miserable dealing with last minute details that I had presumed they would have helped to take care of. Most venues that I had looked at had staff that help you to coordinate vendors and the ceremony day of and will stay with you to help out with things you need during the wedding. I never even saw the woman who I was working with prior to the day of the wedding on the day of my wedding and she was definitely not even in the building by the time the wedding began. She took a long time to answer my emails and never clearly answered my questions. I ended up having to hire a day of coordinator to help with all these things when it became apparent that she would not. I still highly recommend this venue, as the pros greatly outweigh the cons, just heed my warnings and don't expect the staff to help with anything prior to the event or be very responsive with your questions, or help with anything day of other than provide waiter service. They do not help coordinating any of your vendors and you will need to do that yourself or hire someone to do it for you, which in my opinion was pretty ridiculous given how expensive the venue is.

ch. The hotel is surrounded by Birch State Park to the North and the Bonnet house to the South offering a birds eye view of Florida flora. We had both the ceremony and reception on the top floor of the hotel and we had quite the turn out (150+ guests) so we had to use the venue for all its potential. Judy Hartstein was wonderful helping plan all of our guests room accommodations and helping us manage our hotel block. Arthur Sands was our go-to guy at B Ocean, and he was more than amazing and accommodating. Arthur, along with Jeff, William and the rest of the B staff were excellent and were able to make our night go on flawlessly without a hitch. All of our guests are still raving about delicious food and the gorgeous view. The only thing we would have changed would be to have had the night go longer so we could celebrate more. There was definitely not enough dancing!

. The hotel staff as well as the Junior Suite was also amazing and wouldn't have wanted my wedding any other way! Best day ever

ocean - simply stunning. All of our guests commented on how well run the whole night was. The service was smooth and the staff just couldn't do enough for us. One guest told us that the food was so delicious, he was going to come back the next night for dinner! Not what one usually hears about wedding food! Arthur was extremely helpful and responsive throughout the entire planning process - he must have responded to each email I sent him within 5 minutes! He also recommended the most wonderful vendors who worked together seamlessly as a cohesive unit. I'm sure it took an army to make our wedding perfect, but I would never know. I had the least stressful day I could have imagined, and I want to do it all over again! THANK YOU!!

rfection and class. I recently wed at the B Ocean hotel in August 2013, my guest loved the hotel setting and the services that they provided my ceremony and reception was organized and the evening flowed perfectly. Working with Arthur and Judy was one of the easiest relationships to have during my wedding process. They made me and my family and friends feel comfortable and at home. I will recommend this hotel to anyone who is truly ready to have a classy and absolutely good time at their wedding. You are definitely in good hands with the venue, they took care of all of my needs and request and was always professional. My husband and I are officially going back to B Ocean Hotel every year.

seriously and works diligently and delivered to our needs. He really is a great asset to B Ocean Hotel. Arthur and his wonderful team exceeded all of our expectations we'd hoped for. He went the extra mile to help us & make us feel comfortable and put our minds at ease, we didn't worry about a thing before or on the day of our wedding they provided the best service ever !! He also recommended Wedding vendors who we ran with and we were highly impressed with every single vendor that we worked with and my husband & I are very grateful to Arthur. The General Manager Eduardo Fernandez and the his entire staff were very professional and worked hand in hand with all our wedding vendors. They put in so much hard work and effort into our wedding and we are so happy and can not thank them enough, they were always warm and helpful. Our family and friends who stayed at the hotel were highly impressed and loved their bedrooms with the most spectacular views of the ocean and the high level of staff service. Thank you for making our guests and family feel so comfortable. Everyone who attended our wedding had a fun time and were full of compliments for the venue. The Horizon Ballroom, oh my gosh had the most stunning floor to ceiling views of the Ocean, wow !! Panache Style, Bobby created an ambience filled with love, romance, class and glitz. Our ceremony was hosted on The Breeze Terrace and Bobby created simple elegance with a beautiful chandelier Hupa. It was so romantic and I was the happiest bride ever !! The catering for our cocktail hour and our reception was appreciated by all our guests the B Ocean Menu/Buffet was so delicious and satisfied our taste buds fully. Our Wedding planner Joni Scalzo made sure my husband & I ate lol !! The presentation of the food and beverage was excellent, we were very happy. The morning after our wedding we had brunch at Saia with our family and friends and again it was so perfect, great food, service and a very relaxed atmosphere. The entire experience was unforgettable & memorable and everything and more than we had hoped for. I highly recommend Arthur and his team at The B Ocean Hotel, Fort Lauderdale the venue was perfect for our wedding and I am sure you will also love it here. Honestly, make it your first choice in Fort Lauderdale you will not regret it !! We loved it and we will treasure our very special day at B Ocean Hotel for giving us our Dream Wedding day. Thank you, thank you so very much Arthur, Eduardo and B Ocean. We will be back for dinner at Saia for your most delicious Sushi and of course to say hi to you all !!

. We had our cocktail hour and reception in different rooms on the penthouse floor, and both rooms had floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the ocean on one side and the city on the other. It was breathtaking. We worked with Noha, who was very responsive and professional. On the day of, William went above and beyond to make sure that everything was going perfectly. The food was delicious; honestly, I expected it to be just okay. It was great at the tasting, but that is when the chef is making it specially for you (and for you to love). But it was just as good, if not better, the night of, which really impressed me. We had a chicken dish, and even days later, several of our guests continued to comment how good it was. I gave only four stars for flexibility because the B Ocean was not very flexible with prices. They will give you an array of add-ons, and they will work with you when they can, but they were not willing to do much negotiation (it's probably a sales tactic, but I noticed that other venues were ready to slash the price for this or throw in that for free). They are also not flexible with meals--they must know each meal in advance, so if you ordered 90 steak dinners and 50 chicken dinners, but on the day of, 10 guests wanted to swap their meal, they would not be able to accommodate that. I thought the value was excellent, and they also gave us a great rate for our room block. Overall, though, I cannot rave enough about my experience there the night of my wedding. Everything went so smoothly: meals were delivered quickly and delivered warm; drinks were served quickly; the staff seemed to bend over backwards to make sure our guests were enjoying themselves. And, did I mention, the views are breathtaking?!

in. So we went back and Arthur totally worked with us even when we changed the date again he had no issue! It was amazing. We married on the terrace and had the reception in the Horizon room…panoramic ocean views! On the day of the wedding his staff was amazing, helping us with everything and anticipating what we might need. I would defiantly recommend this to everybody I know!