JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fl. -- Once upon a time the beaches here teemed with tourists, businesses flourished and stars of stage, screen and the world of politics regularly dug their toes into the warm white sands and basked in the glorious sunshine of "Florida's Finest Beach." .
That greatly changed over the decades as the boardwalk withered away, the giant Ferris wheel was dismantled, the rich and famous went elsewhere and businesses boarded up.
The malaise continues today to a some degree, but one shining light has been resurrected and provides a throwback to those golden beachfront days of yesteryear: The Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant, 691 First Street North, is alive and kicking -- and lots of folks are happy about it.
Casa Marina is somewhat of a dining and entertainment oasis along the oceanfront here, much like it was in the 1920s when it first opened its doors and was the star of the beach.
In those days Jacksonville Beach was a hot location for moviemakers and celebrities such as Buster Keaton, Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplain, Laurel & Hardy, Mary Pickford, Katherine Hepburn and others -- reportedly including such notorious characters as Machine Gun Kelly and Al Capone and dukes and presidents -- sampled the wares at the Casa Marina.
Hard time befell the area and just about everything closed up (or burned down), including the Casa Marina, and the hotel remained largely a ghostly building (serving as a military housing unit for a period during the World War years of 1939-1945 and later as an apartment building, clothing store, etc).
After being boarded up since 1991 the entire facility underwent extensive remodeling and renovation a few years ago and reopened as a full-fledged hotel and restaurant, offering first-class facilities and top-notch dining. Plus, some of the best ocean views in the entire state from the third-floor penthouse bar and verandah.
The beauty and quality of the place quickly made it a favorite location for people to get married and the facility now handles more than 100 weddings per year (see related story: Florida's Favorite Wedding Locales).
. Each of its guest rooms has been appointed with fixtures and decorative touches that reflect an era of the hotel’s history. Gleaming cherrywood floors, comfortable furnishings and attentive service give the air of a refined private residence. Guests linger over a delicious meal in the elegant dining room or relax with a drink in the courtyard then stroll across to the beach and enjoy the sunset or watch the waves lap at the shore.
Casa Marina is Jacksonville’s only remaining grand hotel from the golden era of the 1920s. Owners Allan and Mary Lou Brown began renovating it back to its original splendor. They reopened it in April 2001. In August 2002, the present owner took it over and pledged to remain faithful to the splendid building’s early purpose.
The splendid Mediterranean facade retains its 1925 ambiance and the iron-fence entryway and curved driveway harkens back to the facility's golden age. The hotel stands out along the beach road in another sense: the city has a 35-foot limit on building height, thus no string of high-rise hotels along the strand.
In 2005 the hotel was named a Historic Hotel of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The restaurant offers dozens of succulent dishes and more than 44 wines (served by the glass or bottle).
The menu is varied. Items like Seafood Crepes, Fried Goat Cheese Salad or Flounder Spanaki, (a flounder filet rolled around spinach, feta and parmesan cheese baked in a fylo pastry and topped with Dijon cream) are some of the more exotic fare served at the Casa Marina. If you are more of a conservative, you will be ecstatic over their Roasted Chicken or Grilled Rack of Lamb. For lunch, you can choose a ligher fare such as soup, salad or sandwiches.
You can dine in the fairytale like salon-inspired dining room (with its unique cypress ceiling), on the verandah overlooking the ocean or in the Mediterranean courtyard.
In spite of the many transitions the building has undergone since 1925, it still preserves the richness of a bygone time when elegance was demanded and glamour was expected if a restaurant catered to the rich and famous of the gilded era.

Hallways are adorned with many large black-and-white photos from the hotel and beach's 1920s-30s era, adding to the historic mood of the facility.

Many regional businesses have held retreats and meetings at the hotel, which can accommodate several hundred people for special events.

The hotel has 23 rooms (16 suites and seven single rooms).

Practically next door to the hotel is the Beaches Museum and History Center, which includes a historic rail engine and several rooms of artifacts and interesting displays. Also almost right across the street from the hotel is the Tento Restaurant, offering outstanding dining served in the Brazilian Churrascaria style (large center buffet area, with numerous types of meats brought to individual tables on skewers). Churrascaria is a type of Brazilian steakhouse, with an open-flame cooking style developed by the Gauchos (South American cowboys) of the southern plains of Brazil. Traditionally, various types of meat are slow roasted on huge swordlike skewers. The skewers are then brought to each table and carved for the diner. And, it's an all-you-can-eat- format.

For Casa Marina rates and information call 804-270-0025 or visit the website at www.casamarinahotel.com

Function Rooms
The Casa Marina Hotel offers these four areas that can all accommodate any type event.

Square footage Banquet Capacity Flow Capacity
Main Dining Room 2,100 120 200
Verandah 950 60 100
Courtyard 1,300 80 150
Penthouse* 1,300 50 110



* Penthouse is made up of 3 separate rooms.



Other favorite places for Florida weddings

In addition to the Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach, officials with the state of Florida have released this list of other favorite wedding locations in the Sunshine State:






MADISON COUNTY

Enjoy a neighborhood wedding and make your big day a community event in quaint Madison County. The town has undergone major downtown renovations, which have restored the beautiful and historic buildings to show antebellum and Victorian architecture at its finest. The Mansion, one of the town’s wedding venues, is a historic circa-1800s home now owned by North Florida Community College. The Four Freedoms Wedding Chapel, a historic Presbyterian church, boasts the oldest stained glass windows in Florida. A Bed and Breakfast is available on the property for the honeymooners. A horse and carriage straight from a local farm carry the couple down the street, adding character that only a small town can provide. www.madisonfla.com.



APALACHICOLA

As one of Florida’s oldest cities, it is surely a spot for true romantics. Couples can tie the knot in one of several historic bed and breakfasts in this fishing town: The Gibson Inn, The Coombs Inn, The Consulate, Witherspoon, House of Tartts, Raney Guest Cottage and The Bryant House, all of which provide true southern character and are a short walk from the shops, restaurants and old time soda fountain downtown. There are also five churches from the 1800s and an outdoor gazebo in Lafayette Park. www.apalachicolabay.org.



DESTIN

The Southern sea town presents beautiful backdrops for the perfect waterfront wedding. The Emerald Coast boats 24 miles of white-sand beach, sparkling green water and plenty of locales to fit into any bride’s fairy-tale. The natural settings of Hendersen State Park, Beasley Park, Wayside County Park, Fort Walton Beach Landing and Santa Rosa Boulevard offer pretty backdrops, pavilions, gazebos and wooden dune walkovers to the Gulf of Mexico. For a simpler ceremony, the seaside cafes of The Crab Trap, The Back Porch, Angler’s and The Lucky Snapper offer open-air receptions and views of the Gulf, Destin Harbor or East Pass, with plenty of Florida’s best seafood to follow the ‘I dos.’ www.destin-fwb.com.



VENUES



DESTIN – Emerald Coast Conference Center

Guests of the center, located in nearby Fort Walton Beach, will enjoy 34,000 square feet of space with cutting edge equipment, catering services and an experienced staff. The Grand Ballroom itself is 21,000 square-feet with a banquet seating capacity of 1,400 and a theater seating capacity of 2,350. (850) 609-3800. www.destin-fwb.com/Conference.



PANAMA CITY BEACH – By the Sea Resorts

Spend your special day in the panhandle, at one of the three By the Sea Resorts. Beachcomber Retreat’s SEArenity Banquet room provides seating for up to 100 guests and Legacy by the Sea’s 400 square-foot glass room over the resort’s porte corchere accommodates up to 50. Those craving a uniquely “Florida” experience can walk barefoot down an aisle bordered by sand on the beach, in an open-air cathedral or a gulf-front gazebo. (850) 233-3600 ext. 228. www.bythesearesorts.com.



TALLAHASSEE – The Tallahassee Museum

Hold your wedding on the Bellevue Lawn or in the Bird Room overlooking Florida’s natural beauty. A variety of rental spaces are available on the 52-acre property situated on the shore of Lake Bradford. Guests will receive catering service from the staff and access to the museum for after-hour events. (850) 575-8684 ext. 117. www.tallahasseemuseum.org.



JACKSONVILLE – The Omni Hotel

Downtown Jacksonville’s four-diamond hotel boasts beautiful ballrooms, an award-winning culinary team and luxurious amenities. The hotel can accommodate an intimate gathering or coordinate an elegant dinner for 400 in the Florida Ballroom. The hotel’s 354 rooms overlook either the city lights or the St. John’s River and are sure to please. (904) 355-6664. www.omnihotels.com.



STEINHATCHEE – Steinhatchee Landing Resort

Nestled among canopied trees and a winding river, the Steinhatchee Resort is an ideal place for a peaceful ceremony in North Florida. The Dancing Waters Chapel seats 125 people and features 12-foot tall stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, bride and groom dressing areas and superb acoustics. Plates engraved with the names of those married there can be found on a ledge that surrounds the interior of the chapel. An outdoor gazebo is perfect for smaller ceremonies and ideal for live entertainment and catered events. A wedding coordinator is on-site and the 36 Victorian and Cracker cottages that scatter the property are havens to escape to after the big day. (352) 498-3513. www.steinhatcheelanding.com.



DAYTONA BEACH – Shores Resort and Spa

This Atlantic coast resort in the quiet Daytona Beach Shores community provides 20,000 square-feet of indoor wedding space, between the Grand Ballroom and the ocean-front Atlantic Room. The prize of the resort, the torch-lit Ocean Terrace can accommodate up to 350 guests. Wedding planners and specialists are on-site at the resort to tend to every detail, from compiling music to creating the perfect wedding cake to providing a sensual pre- or post-wedding experience at The Shores’ exquisite SpaTerre. (386) 322-7242. www.shoresresort.com.



PORT ORANGE (near Daytona) – The Chapel and Tavern in the Garden

Photo opportunities and venue choices abound on this historic riverfront site. The Tavern on the property is a two-story home from the 1920s with vaulted ceilings, fireplaces and a large balcony with a view of the Halifax River and patio space for up to 150 guests. A quaint 19th century chapel features heart pine walls, a barrel ceiling above the pulpit and new stained glass windows and bell tower. Those with a sense for the outdoors can say their “I dos” in the gardens, by a sparkling pond, under a tent at sunset or in the gazebo. The Sunshine Express, a unique feature on the property, is one of four Tavern-Lounge cars built in 1946 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The restored car can accommodate 24 people seated and 35-40 mingling and is perfect for a non-traditional reception location.

(386) 763-2285. www.tavernandchapel.com.



WINTER SPRINGS (near Orlando) – Tuscawilla Country Club

Tuscawilla offers elegant facilities and first class service for up to 100 guests. A Southern-style Plantation building with wrap-around veranda shows off the property’s character, and each room offers views of central Florida’s rolling hills and statuesque oaks. (407) 366-1851. www.tuscawillacc.com.



KISSIMMEE – Medieval Times

Those seeking a little something different can say their vows in the Medieval Life Village Courtyard of this central Florida attraction. During daily shows, guests are transported back 900 years and treated to pageantry, 100 costumed characters, horseback stunts, sword fights and more, all set within an 85,000 square-foot European-style castle. Ceremony-only wedding packages are available, as well as packages that include a reception, dinner and show after the “I dos.” 1-888-935-6878. www.medievaltimes.com.



KISSIMMEE – Gaylord Palms Resort

Getaway to Gaylord Palms Resort for an all-inclusive package, including everything from the invitations to the dinner menu. And rest assured, couples are promised an “outdoor wedding” rain or shine in their 4.5 acre glass atrium. (407) 586-0000. www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms.



KISSIMMEE - Celebration Hotel

The Celebration Hotel combines traditional beauty, turn-of-the-century Florida charm and the modern amenities of a luxury boutique hotel for a romantic and luxurious experience. It was named one of the top 10 spots for lovers in The Best Romantic Escapes in Florida, and its golf course was awarded four-stars by Golf Digest magazine. The 155-room hotel offers guests complimentary transportation to area attractions and access to the hotel’s golf course, heath center and other amenities. (407) 566-6000. www.celebrationhotel.com.



ST. PETERSBURG – TradeWinds Island Resorts

Two St. Petersburg Beach resorts, the TradeWinds and TradeWinds Sandpiper provide countless opportunities that allow couples to customize their perfect wedding ceremony. Hold a sunset ceremony outside at the beachside Garden Courtyard Gazebo or on the beach itself, and hold a reception or cocktail party poolside later; or wed and celebrate in the dazzling Island Ballroom inside. After the festivities, couples can escape to the lavish honeymoon suite and sip champagne in the whirlpool tub. (727) 363-2308. www.justletgo.com.



LONGBOAT KEY (near Sarasota) – The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort

Pick a package that suits you at this resort, just off the coast of Sarasota. Indoor and outdoor tropical venues are available, including any of The Colony’s award-winning restaurants, which specialize in everything from elegant black tie receptions to casual beachfront affairs. The Colony Spa and Salon, The Colony Flower Shop, and The Colony’s two shops, Le Tennique and The Sports Shop help to assemble everything from a primping package to a bride’s bouquet with flowers unique to coastal Florida. Wedding packages include a custom-decorated archway, ceremony set up, flowers and discounted rates on accommodations, and can also include a cocktail reception, wedding cake, dinner and spa treatments. (941) 383-6464 ext. 2902. www.colonybeachresort.com.



CAPE HAZE (near Tampa) – Palm Island Resort

Experience Old-Florida here and relax as the Palm Island Resort’s wedding specialists handle all the details of the special day, including planning wedding showers, rehearsal dinners and bridesmaid’s luncheons. A professional catering team is on site with a large choice of menu items, sit-down or buffet-style. One-hundred Sixty Old-Florida style villas accommodate guests, who will also enjoy the five pools or spas, planned guest activities and two miles of secluded sandy beaches. (813) 630-2774. www.palmisland.com.



FORT MYERS – Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa

Fort Myers’ premier family destination for more than 50 years recently introduced new destination wedding packages. The Pink Shell wedding team focuses on the details, while you focus on getting your family all together in one spot – as the wedding will serve as a mini-vacation for the guests, after all. The resort offers amenities such as a state-of-the-art spa, water sports activities, two restaurants, a specialized children’s program and 180 deluxe rooms. Three wedding packages are available and customized to the couple’s exact specifications. (239) 463-6181. www.pinkshell.com.



NAPLES – The Inn on Fifth

This chic Mediterranean-inspired boutique inn at the heart of Old Naples of Fifth Avenue South is a place for true romantics. Walk hand-in-hand on the Avenue through the upscale historic district and visit the galleries, clothing boutiques, jewelers, restaurants and antique shops. Venture a couple blocks to the beach and board a sunset cruise on the Naples Princess or visit the area’s most sophisticated shops and eateries. The hotel’s intimate setting offers a place for a truly romantic wedding, whether it’s held poolside in the open-air courtyard under lighted trees and open-air white tents or on the breezy Fifth Avenue Terrace overlooking the trendy Avenue. Couples may even choose to make their grand exit via horse and carriage. Wedding packages include hors d’oeurves, open bar, elegant dinner and a complimentary suite for the couple on their wedding night. (888) 403-8778. www.innonfifth.com.



MIAMI – Mango’s Tropical Café

Tie the knot in sunny South Florida, Miami Beach-style at this trendy club located in the center of Ocean Drive. Invite 20 to 800 guests to enjoy live cabaret, Tropical-Latin and Continental cuisine, and live music. The Mango’s Special Events Department will take care of the rest. The team here has successfully planned parties for Microsoft, EPSON and FOX Networks. The Mojito Room, Mango’s newest private party room, promises the finest handmade selection of fresh Mojitos in the world. The bar is a masterpiece copper structure of the Everglades, wildlife and a wall of copper flowers and the walls are adorned with vibrant and tropical paintings of Cuban artist Humberto Benitez. (305) 673-4422. www.mangostropicalcafe.com.



CORAL GABLES – Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden

Coral rock staircases, the waterfalls in the Rainforest and Sunken Garden, the columns of the Vine Pergola or the architecture of the Ampitheater are among the many backdrops for those perfect wedding day photos. A wedding registry service is also available here through The Shop at Fairchild, which offers a variety of uniquely tropical plates, glasses, furniture, pots, silverware and more. (305) 667-1651 ext. 3344. www.fairchildgarden.org.



MIAMI – Acqualina

This 51-story tower sits between the Intracoastal Waterway and the sparkling Atlantic and is infused with the classic elegance of old world Europe right on South Florida’s sunny beach. The resort’s Executive Chef Ted Peters works with couples to plan a perfect menu and wedding specialists handle all the other details. The bridal party can enjoy the 20,000 square-foot ESPA spa at Acqualina or stroll through the Bal Harbour Shops while the groomsman enjoy an afternoon of sport fishing, water sports or 18 holes of golf. (305) 918-8000. www.acqualinaresort.com.



MARATHON KEY – Tranquility Bay

You don’t get much more “Florida” than this. Tie the knot on the 12-acre private enclave with lushly landscaped grounds, towering coconut palms, 2.5-acre private sandy beach and one of the Florida Key’s largest lagoon swimming pools. Couples can marry outside in the classic Key West-style Sunset Gazebo overlooking the waters of Tranquility Bay, on Sunset Beach or on the Great Lawn overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The Butterfly Café offers unmatched coastal cuisine, with entrees such as Horseradish Crusted Florida Grouper, Cuban Spiced Roasted Pork Loin and Grilled Moulard Duck Breast with Chipotle Honey Glaze. (305) 289-0888. www.cayclubs.com.



DUCK KEY – Hawk’s Cay Resort

A truly tropical island resort located on a 60-acre island in the heart of the Florida Keys provides outdoor locations with fabulous views for the ceremony and grand ballrooms indoors for the reception. Custom packages for the wedding party are available and a plethora of activities for guests, including snorkeling on a live coral reef. The resort’s two new Dolphin Wedding packages allow the couple and two guests to either be in the water as they say “I Do” or have a photo shoot with the dolphins before or after the ceremony. A special viewing deck lets your guests also enjoy the experience. (305) 743-7000. www.hawkscay.com.



KEY WEST – Frances Street Bottle Inn

Located in Old Town Key West, this circa-1879 private home turned bed-and-breakfast was built in the traditional Conch blend of European and Caribbean architecture. It boasts gracious porches and a lovely brick patio nestled under tropical Poincianas trees and is only steps away from restaurants, art galleries and the historical waterfront. The Inn has a rich history, including serving as the Meteor Newspaper building, the focal point of filming for the short-lived FOX television series “Key West” starring Jennifer Tilley and Fisher Stevens. (305) 294-8530. www.bottleinn.com.



SERVICES



ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA, JACKSONVILLE, PALM COAST, DAYTONA BEACH – Latigo Yacht Charters

Florida is one of the top places for eloping. Couples interested in cutting the costs and hassles of traditional weddings can leave the port engaged and return married after cruising to some of the East Coast’s most romantic cities on one of the Latigo Yacht Charters. Choose one of three cruise packages: the mini-honeymoon overnight Bed and Breakfast Wedding Cruise, the four-hour Sunset Wedding Cruise or the three-day, two-night Honeymoon Cruise. All cruises come complete with a notary public officiant, vows ceremony marriage license completion, along with champagne, hors d ‘oeuvres and more. (386) 445-4000. www.latigo.net.



TAMPA BAY – Weddings on a Whim

The small-wedding specialists at Weddings on a Whim are experts in creating weddings with the simplicity of Vegas but with the romance and beauty that only a beachside ceremony can offer. The team has been in business six years and has conducted more than 1,000 weddings. Many are elopements, as there is no blood test, witnesses or wait period required for a marriage in Florida. Many times, Weddings on a Whim can perform a legal ceremony with just a few days notice, and for a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding. Choose a location – anywhere from Clearwater Beach to St. Petersburg Beach – or let the experts direct you to one of the area’s “special wedding spots.” Several packages are offered, and a wedding concierge and officiant are available with the service to guide couples through the process. (727) 581-3446. www.weddingsonawhim.com.



SOUTH FLORIDA/FLORIDA KEYS – eBoatCharters

Climb aboard and set sail on the sparkling waters of south Florida on one of the eBoatCharters vessels. Invite 4 to 400 friends to join you on a glamorous luxury yacht, paddlewheel, wind-borne sailboat or floating wedding chapel. Celebrate your special day as only a Floridian can, with flowers, ceremony performed by the uniformed Capitan, dinner menu and state-of-the-art entertainment. Affordable, all-inclusive or luxury and a la carte packages are available. (877) 848-4195. www.eboatcharters.com.

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This story was published on 26 Mar 2007.