Part 2: Let's go shopping! No, let's get married!
Now in Part 2 of our Guide to Seaside, the fun continues with Weddings, Activities and Shopping in Seaside. In Part 1 of our Ultimate Guide to Things to Do in Seaside, FL, we celebrated all the fun and exciting foods available in Seaside, as well as how to enjoy its fabulous beach.
Weddings in Seaside Florida
If you think a vacation in Seaside is a memorable time, try having a wedding. This is the day to remember forever, and Seaside makes it a perfect memory. Seaside offers several great settings to hold your ceremony and reception, and we have them all covered here for you.
The Chapel at Seaside is a landmark in the town, rightly called one of the South's Most Beautiful Chapels. It's the perfect place for a wedding ceremony. The Chapel Courtyard & Lawn is a great place to seat your guests for your reception after the ceremony in the Chapel.
Everyone has their particular favorite spot in Seaside, and the ceremony can happen in other places too. Di Bicci Park is a special place for many, leafy and grassy, both peaceful and thrilling at the same time. If you set your sights on the broad horizon, the Epiphany rooftop deck offers the entire Gulf of Mexico as the backdrop to a small and intimate gathering for any celebration.
For the larger gathering and a formal, ceremonial setting, Lyceum Lawn offers a contained space for that seriously happy occasion. Hosting as many as 200 guests, Lyceum lets you stage your setting impeccably. Ruskin Park is a magical square from the Old World, offering artistry and charm in a place both outdoors and cozy.
There's a beach here too, of course, at Seaside, and many people choose to celebrate their marriage here on Seaside Beach, in an iconic setting with a simple and deeply meaningful ceremony on the pure white sands. And the perfect place to gaze at the Gulf of Mexico and the Emerald Coast is the Seaside Pavilion, for either the ceremony or the reception.
So come and get married! And to make it perfect, you may need some help to organize those million things and have everything go right. Fortunately, Seaside offers several Event Coordinators who can make your vision a reality and plan your wedding perfectly, to the last detail. Here's our current assembly of wedding and event planners for your celebration in Seaside:
• Peach & Pearl Events
• Savoir Faire Weddings
• Ceremony Design Company
• Rachelle Youd Designs
• Arden Sanders Events (previously: It's A Shore Thing)
• Destin To Wed
• Megan K. Events
• Shelby Peaden Events
Activities in Seaside
Something is always happening in Seaside, and there's always something to do. Stay in touch with what's happening in our continuously updated Events in Seaside calendar. From concerts to festivals to movies to markets, the Seaside Amphitheater is the perfect sound stage and gathering place where much of it happens.
Practically every Saturday morning, the Amphitheater hosts the Seaside Farmers Market, while almost every Friday evening finds a family-friendly Movie Night under the stars. Live music is in the air much of the time and summer finds a slew of bands performing weekly in the Seaside Summer Concert Series.
In Seaside we have a number of Festivals throughout the year, from dance and music to wine and children's events. We celebrate the national Holidays with festivities to match as well. And most of it is free of charge. Just walk up and plunk yourself down, on a blanket or lawn chair. Be sure to check the Outdoor Activities for things going on.
For an indoor activity, take in some professional theater from The Seaside Rep, in the 75-seat Meeting Hall Theatre. The highly talented Rep features music and stage performance, children's theater and comedy, and even a Film Club.
Not just for weddings, the Chapel at Seaside holds weekly Sunday services, for worship in a simple and elegantly beautiful church. And the Seaside Post Office offers more than just stamps - it's the perfect place for a selfie, and has become the most photographed Post Office in the nation.
You've come to the beach but for those who think tennis is the top sport, the Seaside Swim & Tennis Club offers you a game, with equipment and apparel, and instruction for all levels. At the club you'll find courts for tennis and sand volleyball, a fitness center, Croquet and other games, as well as swimming pools for all ages.
Too much activity! Take time to relax and be pampered at Beach Ready Spa, a place for massage, facials, nails and other therapies. Also stay sleek on your vacation at Roland's Beauty Bar, a beauty salon offering artistry in hair and body, with multiple services and products, combined with an art gallery that fits right into its setting in the Ruskin Place Artist’s Colony of Seaside.
And if you're yearning for a good book to read, you're in luck. It seems like Seaside has always had Sundog Books as its local bookstore. Family-owned, independent and offering books for grown-ups and children, the selection is eminently browseable - you'll find a book that hooks you in.
And now, rested and restored, it's time for some shopping!
Shopping in Seaside
Shopping in Seaside is a treat to experience, with a multitude of unique and specialized items on offer. As you browse the shops, you'll notice a voluntary 2% fee that can be added to your purchases - this helps fund the arts and entertainment of the community, a great way of giving back, and keeping the fun flowing.
And if you see something you like for you or someone else but don't want to weigh down your vacation, remember that many shops are happy to ship!
Albert F's is a smart fashion and accessories shop for the busy woman who values the timeless over the trendy, while Amore by the Sea holds treasures from many worlds, an eclectic delight to be browsed through. And speaking of unique, An Apartment in Paris offers items for the French lifestyle in America.
Art is never far away in Seaside, and Anne Hunter Gallery is part of the reason artists flourish here. The gallery showcases photography, artisan craft, and paint from primitive to contemporary with some Dali surrealism included.
The Art of Simple features the little things of life that make it special, from curiosities to necessities, and perhaps a special gift. But Artful Eye is all about the best in prescription and non-prescription eyewear, with custom lens work and designer glasses and sunglasses.
Coastal chic and home décor is what you'll find at Big Mama's Hula Girl Gallery, with local art you'll want for your walls. Bump + Baby is a maternity and baby shop by The SEASIDE Style®, a signature Seaside style that you'll see in several more shops in this collection. Bump offers clothing that can be worn both during and after pregnancy!
Cabana is another SEASIDE Style® store, an iconic open-air, beachside market offering cottons, linens and tees. You'll be so hip you'll need some music, and Central Square Records is your independent record store, packed full of eclectic music, and some accessories you may need to take home with you.
Kids need some more toys? Duckies Shop of Fun is the place, in fact the ultimate place. Kid's clothes too, are here in a bright and whimsical "wow" experience. Meanwhile, trendy and fun clothing for women and girls is the focus of Focus, with southern prep for guys, gifts for your pet, jewelry, photography and more.
Back to art again, at the Foster Gallery, with unique work from over 30 local artists, as well as posters, prints and retail. Fusion Art Glass & Fine Jewelry showcases the top works from over 150 North American artists in glass - which means the unique, the handmade, stunning jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces to match your decor.
Life is beautiful and Wendy Mignot makes sure of this at La Vie Est Belle with her unique designs of Fine Pearls and Leather® Jewelry in every style and accessory you could possibly require - bohemian chic is just the beginning. Mercantile offers eco-friendly and cause-related clothes, shoes and accessories for ladies and men, with the accent on worn, distressed and vintage-inspired for timeless hip. And Newbill Collection By The Sea, in the heart of the Ruskin Place Art Colony, is the longest-running gallery in Seaside, offering Contemporary American Art, jewelry, hand-done wearables, photography, sculpture, ceramics.
It's back to the beach, with a visit to Ono Surf Shop and the best of boards, swimwear, shorts, footwear and lifestyle clothing. And Ophelia's Swimwear offers you designer clothing, swimsuits, cover-ups, hats and accessories to match the beautiful you.
Over at Quincy Ave Art & Things you'll find paintings, photography, clothing, gifts and smart toys that are fresh, unique and quirky, in a friendly adventure of discovery. Meanwhile, everything is unique at Red Bird Gallery, which offers an eclectic collection of exclusively original art from many artists in canvas, clay and jewelry.
What is The SEASIDE® Style? It's the official lifestyle brand of Seaside, Florida, and the store offers casual and smart clothing, beachwear, towels and all beach accessories, as well as a curated Home Collection of rugs, placemats and all other "essentials for living at the beach".
The SEASIDE Style® | Beach will kit you out with beautiful beach gear including dresses, faded Madras shorts, beautiful swimwear, tees, sweats and caps, to look great at the beach. The SEASIDE Style® | Kids is a store just for kids, with the cutest clothing on the coast for beach and play, as well as toys thoughtfully designed for your vacation lifestyle.
And don't miss Willow + Woods, an exclusive boutique for women and men, with designers worth discovering. This fashion hot spot also offers one-of-a-kind jewelry.
So there you have a quick peek at the shopping close to hand right here in Seaside, Florida. We went through the list alphabetically - but don't try this yourself! Let your feet carry you, and enjoy your voyage of discovery in Seaside.
~~
In case you missed it, here's Part 1 of the Ultimate Guide to Things to Do in Seaside, FL. That's where you can explore all the mouth-watering treats available in the What to Eat to Seaside, all just steps away from Seaside's fabulous beach.