Hammock Beach

by LANNAN M. O’BRIEN

Imagine the luxury of a beachside resort with all the amenities, combined with the intimacy and personal service of a much smaller venue. We know, it sounds too good to be true—but it’s exactly what you’ll find at Salamander Resorts’ Hammock Beach in picturesque Palm Coast, Florida.

First things first: If you dream of a destination wedding that’s not too far from home—allowing convenience for you in the planning process and for more of your guests to R.S.V.P. “Yes”—the location checks all of the boxes and then some. Want to stay for your honeymoon? The resort will give you a discount on your stay (“But we’re not the loungingby-the-pool type.” Trust us, there are a million things to do on site and in the area—plus, Disney is only an hour and a half away!).

Situated on a postcard-worthy stretch of white sand on the Atlantic Coast, Hammock Beach offers all of the activities and services for a carefree visit: spacious villas and suites ranging from 700-2,350 square feet, pools and a water pavilion with a slide and a lazy river, a putting green, two golf courses, a spa and salon, and a range of dining options including the Atlantic Grille, an award-winning shore-to-table restaurant that also hosts small events like rehearsal dinners (think freshcaught shrimp cocktail and oysters on the half shell for starters). Note: although there is no private dining room at the Atlantic, a section of the restaurant can be enclosed with sliding barn doors for events. When it comes to weddings at the resort, the possibilities are endless and limited only by your wildest dreams as bride-and-groom-to-be. Choose from four outdoor and six indoor venues with a range of views, styles and sizes—the smallest accommodating up to 100 guests, and the largest, 500—such as the Grand Event Lawn, a circular lawn surrounded by beautiful landscaping; the Lodge Lawn, Pool Deck and Tent, a beachfront tent draped in white chiffon with a backdrop of palm trees and the ocean; and the Atlantic Ballroom, a romantic, high-ceilinged ballroom with wrought iron chandeliers perfect for intimate formal events.

Love the location, but not a seaside-wedding kind of couple? Hammock’s off-site “bonus” venue, The Conservatory, is a stunning alternative. Located on the resort’s second golf course, The Conservatory club offers an old-fashioned clubhouse feel with a multitude of spaces for photo ops and first looks. An outdoor ceremony can be situated on the lawn for a sunset background during your “I do’s,” while indoors, floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-ceilinged atrium provide plenty of natural lighting for a bright, elegant atmosphere.

Despite the delicious food, picture-perfect location and amazing lineup of event spaces, what we love most about Hammock Beach is none of the above—as cliché as it may sound, it’s the people that really make this place come to life and stand out among other venues. While enjoying an outdoor brunch one day during our visit, a photographer who frequently works events at the resort mentioned that the staff is the reason he keeps coming back; other resorts can feel ostentatious or uninviting, but Hammock manages to blend its sophistication with a friendly, welcoming environment created by the people who work there. It goes without saying that this is a staff you can trust with the details of your big day—even when planning it from 1,000plus miles away in New England.