My fiance and I were searching for wedding venues and I remember my friend Aris getting married at the Sand Castle in March of 2011. I remember Aris's wedding was a lot of fun and was very well executed, so we went down there.
We met with Loula and she was fantastic. I have never experienced a more detailed breakdown of everything. Every room was described fully, every nuance of the decor was explained, every possible configuration was discussed. I personally thought the rooms were fantastic......except for the cocktail room. There is a large wooden ship in the middle that is used for seafood-related cuisine. While it is cool, we did not plan on having any seafood. In the same room was also a drop-down martini bar, which was cool, but seemed a bit overkill. It was very nice and very clean, but just wasn't in our taste.
One option for the ceremony room is actually a glass-enclosed atrium, which we liked very much. There are doors that led to an outside area that was large and open, but still within trees and natural settings. There was a small bridge that would be perfect for pictures. However, this didn't really appeal to us since our wedding would be in February, so outdoors was not for us. If you're planning on having a spring or summer wedding at Sand Castle, it'll probably be beautiful.
The reception room is very grand. Built-in lighting schemes that can be changed with the flick of a switch and loads of color combinations, a huge dance floor and uniquely styled tables. It was a very nice room, complete with a hidden swivel-wall for the bride and groom to make a dramatic entrance. Very lovely, but again, did not appeal to us. Just a little too showy. Also, we felt the room was a bit too long. Some guests would have been too far away from where we were sitting.
After the tour we went into Loula's office and discussed everything. Menu options, extras, what's included, what isn't, and she broke down every single cost. She made every effort to make sure we were pleased, and quite honestly, we were.
There are a few reasons we did not pick Sand Castle. 1) It's a little too big for our estimated party. 2) It's a bit too showy. 3) It seemed more like a theme-restaurant. If you're going for a castle theme, then this venue is perfect for you and the staff is very friendly and very professional. Loula also quoted us a VERY good price and worked with us when we told her our budget.
The only reason I didn't give a 5/5 is because the decor was not really for us and we felt the exterior was a bit tacky. However, if you want a castle theme and you like shrimp and sushi for your cocktail hour, then definitely go see Loula at the Sand Castle. You'll be treated like royalty the entire time you're in a castle. read more