OFTIG 2013 - (Page 63)

The Fort Lauderdale area is also home to the stylish and sophisticated Atlantic Resort & Spa (atlantichotelfl.com) and Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina (fortlauderdalemarinahotel. com). The latter shines with a 33-slip inlet marina showcasing exquisite yachts that can be rented for intimate ceremonies and receptions on the Intracoastal Waterway. SAVORY FOODIE EVENTS “When it comes to weddings—from planning the nuptials to the after ‘I do,’—our complimentary LauderLove program is the ultimate wedding planning resource for making the trip down the aisle a smooth one,” says Jessica Taylor, media relations manager for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s all about the love for the “LauderLove Ambassador of Bliss,” who is available to assist in planning the perfect wedding with insider tips and valuable advice.” On the famous Hollywood Boardwalk, the 229-room Hollywood Beach Marriott (hollywoodbeachmarriott.com) tailors weddings on the beach or in its ballroom. Couples can opt for an indoor ceremony, a beach exchange or a buffet reception with open bar and sumptuous spread. Overlooking Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve in Bonita Springs, the 454-room Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa (hyattcoconutpoint.com) presents new beginnings options on an environmentally protected private island. Up to 75 guests can enjoy a 20-minute boat ride, with dolphins and bald eagles setting the stage. Grand weddings and receptions are a century-old tradition at Sanibel Island’s Casa Ybel Resort (casaybelresort.com). Couples can exchange vows on the lushly landscaped lawn, in a lakeside gazebo or on the beach. The Intimate Package for up to 25 guests covers seated ceremony site, arch, 4-course dinner reception and cake. At Captiva Island’s South Seas Island Resort (southseas. com), a trio of wedding packages includes the Intimate Island plan for up to 30 guests with ceremony, 4-course plated dinner, photographer, officiant and 3-hour open bar. A $1 billion expansion and renovation has transformed Miami’s 1950s-era resort playground, Fontainebleau Miami Beach (fontainebleau.com) into one of the country’s most desirable beachfront properties. Romance crescendos at the 1,504-room resort’s event venues that include an elegant ballroom, Glimmer Terrace, chic Oasis pool deck, ocean lawn and beach. One package option covers cocktail reception, plated dinner with open bar, wine service, signature wedding cake and complimentary suite for the couple on their wedding night. A new threshold of luxury, the sophisticated 313-room JW Marriott Marquis Miami (marriott.com) lures couples with its 20,000-sq-ft. ballroom and certified planner leading a team VISITFLORIDA.COM 52-66_2013_Wedding.indd 63 Academy Award-winning ﬁlm “Babette’s Feast” has nothing on the myriad foodie events that take place throughout the state of Florida. Whether it’s the all-out fabulous shindig in Miami, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE (Feb. 21-24, 2013)—a star-studded event that has become one of America’s most prestigious gourmet gatherings with chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers—or the equally delicious A Taste of the Beach (November) in northwest Florida— which gathers the area’s best chefs to showcase the destination’s culinary bounty—food and wine connoisseurs have their ﬁll of appetizing options. During Miami Spice (Aug. 1-Sept. 30, 2013), Miami’s top restaurants show oﬀ their culinary muscles oﬀering 3-course meals that feature signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs. The celebrated Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (Fall 2013), meanwhile, features nearly 30 international food and beverage marketplaces; signature dining experiences with celebrated chefs; culinary demonstrations and wine seminars; and The Eat to the Beat concert series, featuring nightly musical performances. Over in Sarasota, the Florida Wine & Balloon Festival (April 4-7, 2013) includes everything from winemaker dinners and upscale BBQ-themed parties, to cigar bars complemented by port and brandy, gourmet food trucks, and, of course, hot air balloons dotting the Sarasota sky. The upscale Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival (December) showcases a wealth of epicurean talent with award-winning chefs, culinary personalities, winemakers, and mixologists, all there to show oﬀ their talents during specialty cocktail and hors d’oeuvre receptions, 5-course sit-down dinners complemented with premium wine pairings, and cooking competitions. Far south in Key West, the Key West Food & Wine Festival (January) puts the city’s quirky vibe on display with events such as Kick Off Your Flip-Flops Barefoot Beach Party and Duval Uncorked, a mile-long tasting extravaganza along famed Duval Street. 2013 | Ofﬁcial Florida Travel Industry Guide 63 1/15/13 2:11 PM http://www.atlantichotelfl.com http://fortlauderdalemarinahotel.com http://www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com http://www.hyattcoconutpoint.com http://www.casaybelresort.com http://southseas.com http://www.fontainebleau.com http://www.marriott.com http://www.VISITFLORIDA.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OFTIG 2013

OFTIG 2013

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