Proposals and weddings at Gaylord Palms: venues and basics
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center offers multiple indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces — from the Wedding Pavilion Venue in the atrium to large ballrooms such as the Sun Ballroom — plus on-site catering, restaurants, and hundreds of guest rooms for blocks. The resort can host intimate ceremonies and very large receptions; exact capacity depends on the venue (examples: Wedding Pavilion Venue 120; Emerald Bay Plaza Venue 600; Coquina Lawn Venue 1200).
In this guide
Top wedding venues on property
Gaylord Palms provides a range of ceremony and reception sites, indoors and outdoors, sized for small parties up to large gatherings. Venues listed by the resort include the Wedding Pavilion Venue, Emerald Bay Plaza Venue, Coquina Lawn Venue, and multiple ballrooms such as the Sun Ballroom and Florida Exhibition Hall.
Choose a venue by guest count and the mood you want: an atrium gazebo for indoor-outdoor ceremonies, a lawn for large outdoor celebrations, or a divisible ballroom for a ballroom reception.
- Wedding Pavilion Venue — capacity: 120 Guests (gazebo in the St. Augustine-themed atrium)
- Emerald Bay Plaza Venue — capacity: 600 Guests (Spanish Renaissance terrace setting)
- Coquina Lawn Venue — capacity: 1200 Guests (garden lawn for large ceremonies/receptions)
- Sun Ballroom — large divisible ballroom space (29,123 sq ft) for sizeable receptions
- Florida Exhibition Hall — the largest exhibition space (capacity listed to 10,000 for conferences; used for very large events)
| Venue | Type | Typical capacity note |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Pavilion Venue | Atrium gazebo / indoor-outdoor ceremony | 120 Guests |
| Emerald Bay Plaza Venue | Terrace / plaza | 600 Guests |
| Coquina Lawn Venue | Outdoor lawn | 1200 Guests |
Atrium and indoor ceremony options
The resort’s 4.5-acre glass atrium recreates Florida landscapes (Key West, St. Augustine, Everglades) and is commonly used for indoor ceremonies and cocktail hours. The Wedding Pavilion Venue sits within a St. Augustine-themed section and is intended for intimate indoor-outdoor ceremonies.
Using the atrium can be helpful when weather is unpredictable because it provides an indoor setting with outdoor feel. Ask event staff about staging, audio/visual options, and arrival logistics for guest flow through the atrium.
- Good for photos: garden and water features inside the atrium
- Ceremony staging: gazebo/arched stage areas are available in some atrium sites
- Ask about vendor access times and guest arrival routing through public atrium walkways
| Atrium spot | Best for |
|---|---|
| Wedding Pavilion Venue | Intimate indoor-outdoor ceremony beneath a gazebo |
| Emerald Bay/Key West atrium areas | Cocktail hours and photos adjacent to lagoon and walkways |
| Atrium dining circles | Smaller receptions or plated-dinner setups |
Ballrooms and large receptions
If your reception will be several hundred guests, the resort’s ballrooms are built to handle sizeable events and can be divided or combined for the right footprint. The Sun Ballroom is a large divisible space and the Florida Exhibition Hall is the property’s largest conference/exhibit space.
Smaller ballrooms and meeting rooms (examples: Orange Blossom Ballroom, Citrus Ballroom) provide options for mid-size receptions, rehearsal dinners or private events; capacities vary by room and seating layout.
- Sun Ballroom — 29,123 sq ft of divisible ballroom space
- Osceola Ballroom and Florida Exhibition Hall — used for very large events and conferences
- Orange Blossom Ballroom — an intimate ballroom option (square footage and capacities suitable for midsize events)
- Event services provide AV, staging, and banquet coordination — confirm details with the events team
| Ballroom | Notable size/capacity detail |
|---|---|
| Sun Ballroom | 29,123 sq ft (divisible) |
| Orange Blossom Ballroom | Intimate ballroom option (approx. 3,115 sq ft noted in venue listings) |
| Florida Exhibition Hall | Largest exhibition space (used for very large events/conferences) |
Guest room blocks and on-site accommodation
The resort lists many room types suitable for wedding blocks, including rooms overlooking the main atrium and rooms with balconies. Room names available for blocks include Room, Balcony; 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed; Guest room, Florida view, Emerald Bay; 1 Bedroom Executive Suite, Sofa bed; Guest room, Water Park view, Gulf Coast Tower; and others.
Gaylord Palms has a large room inventory (the property’s published counts vary by source) and staff can help hold a block and advise about connecting rooms, suite upgrades, and room types that will fit your group needs.
- Common room types to request by name: Room, Balcony; Guest room, Main Atrium view, Balcony; Guest room, Water Park view, Gulf Coast Tower
- Suites include: 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed and 1 Bedroom Executive Suite, Sofa bed
- Contact the hotel events or reservations team to request connecting rooms or a room block
| Sample room name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Room, Balcony | Available in King or Two Queen configurations |
| Guest room, Main Atrium view, Emerald Bay, Balcony | Atrium-facing option with balcony |
| 1 Bedroom Deluxe Suite, Sofa bed | Suite layout with a sofa bed for extra guests |
Catering, restaurants and rehearsal dinners
Gaylord Palms offers on-site restaurants that can be used for rehearsal dinners or private meals; options include Old Hickory Steakhouse (dinner-only steakhouse), MOOR (seafood, lagoon view), and Villa de Flora (attended breakfast buffet and occasional dinner service). The resort also operates multiple bars and cafés.
In-room dining (A la Carte - Room Delivery) and poolside meal options are available. For private event catering, ask the events team for current menus, plated vs. buffet options, and any dietary accommodations.
- Old Hickory Steakhouse — dinner service, reservations accepted
- MOOR — seafood and Southern/American dishes with lagoon views
- Villa de Flora — breakfast buffet and seasonal offerings in Emerald Bay Atrium
- Other outlets include Wreckers Sports Bar, SandBar, Socio, Emerald Bay Café & Market, The Cocoa Bean Coffee House, Jamba and Cold Stone Creamery
| On-site dining | Typical use for weddings |
|---|---|
| Old Hickory Steakhouse | Rehearsal dinner or small private dinners (dinner-only restaurant) |
| MOOR | Group dinners with lagoon views |
| Villa de Flora | Breakfasts, brunches, occasional buffet dinners |
Planning basics: timing, fees and services
Check-in at the resort starts at 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; the property has a 24-hour front desk. For wedding-day room access and vendor load-in, coordinate with the events team well in advance about arrival windows and access points.
A mandatory daily resort fee covers on-site inclusions such as Wi‑Fi, water-park access for overnight guests, and fitness classes. The resort also offers self-parking and valet parking for daily fees; confirm current amounts and whether they apply to event guests.
- Check-in time: 4:00 PM; check-out: 11:00 AM
- Resort fee includes Wi‑Fi and water park access for overnight guests (confirm current inclusions and rates with the hotel)
- Parking options: self parking and valet — check the hotel for current daily fees
- Ask events staff about AV, staging, room turnaround times, and preferred vendor lists
| Category | What to check with hotel |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Inclusions (Wi‑Fi, water-park access, fitness classes) and current amount |
| Guest rooms | Block rates, room types, connecting rooms |
| Event services | AV, catering menus, vendor access times |
Extras: spa, water park and guest activities
Relâche Spa & Salon is on-site (a large, multi-suite spa offering massages, facials, body treatments and a salon). If you plan a bridal party day, ask the spa about group bookings and available packages; confirm current hours and offerings directly with the spa.
Cypress Springs Water Park and multiple outdoor pools provide guest entertainment for out-of-town attendees. Overnight guests receive water-park admission through the resort fee; note age and height rules for slides and supervision requirements for children.
- Relâche Spa — spa services and salon treatments; spa hours and service menus should be confirmed directly
- Cypress Springs Water Park — water-park admission is included for overnight guests (resort-fee inclusion)
- Water-park rules: children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult; tallest slides have a 40-inch height minimum, smaller slides 36 inches
| Activity | Wedding-group use |
|---|---|
| Relâche Spa | Bridal party treatments, private bookings (confirm availability) |
| Cypress Springs Water Park | Guest recreation; admission included for overnight guests via resort fee |
| Pools/Cabanas | Cabanas available for rent at some pools (advance reservation usually required) |
