WEDDING BELLS

South Seas Island Resort is a perfect place to tie the knot

There’s something to say about an island wedding. It’s romantic, glamorous, stunningly beautiful and blessed by Mother Nature. At South Seas Island Resort, couples wanting to tie the knot can choose a casual beach sunset ceremony or a formal black-tie reception with magical views at Sunset Pavilion. With breathtaking vistas of the Gulf of Mexico’s sparkling waters and endless sky, these venues are among the prettiest in Florida. “Our intimate beachfront setting is the perfect backdrop to begin your new life together,” says Malissa Demichele, catering sales manager.

When it comes to planning a dream wedding, South Seas Island Resort’s professional specialists and event coordinators have the experience and talent to seamlessly make it one of your most memorable days. Whether you’ve invited 50 guests or 300, the team will work with you to design a cocktail reception, an elegant dinner and an evening of dancing under the stars, as well as a rehearsal dinner and brunch. You can opt to do it alfresco surrounded by sand, sea and surf or in the resort’s historic building replete with Old Florida charm.

South Seas has an extensive list of trusted vendors from wedding photographers to custom cake bakers and from fancy florists to myriad musicians. Lighting and audio/visual companies can be hired to set the mood, and the resort’s catering department will work with

you to select the menu. But the best part, you don’t have to worry about arranging all these details on your own. South Sea’s wedding specialists are here to give you the knowledge, support and guidance you need, so that you can fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Before and after the wedding, your family and friends can indulge in Captiva’s subtropical paradise, with private and group water excursions, great saltwater fishing, water sports, bicycling and boating, beaches and shelling, and a full-service waterfront marina that includes the Colgate Offshore Sailing School. South Seas also features a beachfront golf course—nine holes with stunning views. And to get around the resort, arrangements can be made for the services of the resort’s historic trolleys.

You’ll find all this at South Seas, the perfect place where you can celebrate love, life and build forever memories.

AMBU YOGA

Because You Only Live Once Yali Zawady’s introduction to yoga was through her father, a meditation practitioner. But it wasn’t until moving to the United States that she became serious about the ancient discipline. “I realized that something shifted,” she recalls. “I saw how, through my practice, I could handle things better and feel stronger.”

Zawady today owns Ambu Yoga, her studio at the entrance to South Seas Island Resort. It offers classes for all levels—both indoors and on the grounds of South Seas. Among the offerings are beach or studio yoga classes, stand-up paddleboard yoga and heated yoga. The Captiva studio has enough space to accommodate up to 30 students, and yoga mats and other equipment are made from recycled materials.

For further information, call 239-314-9642 or visit ambuyoga.com.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

• Indoor venue options feature 31,000 square feet of flexible function space, including the Captiva Ballroom and historic King’s Crown meeting space.

• Ceremony venues include Sunset Point for a large beach wedding, King’s Crown Lawn for a garden setting, and South Beach for a smaller outdoor wedding.

• Outdoor venue options feature King’s Crown, an expansive garden-like lawn setting with views of the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound; Sunset Luau, a sandy area overlooking the beach for a casual rehearsal dinner or brunch; and West Lawn, a manicured lush lawn next to the marina.

• Banquet options, ranging from elegant to eclectic, offer fresh,

local seafood and prime meats prepared to suit individual tastes. • On-site amenities include the Kay Casperson Spa, daily recreation and activities such as fishing, watersports, tennis, rental bicycles and shopping.

• Types of lodging include: hotel rooms, villas, beachfront condominiums and private estate homes, Gulf-front or waterfront location.

For further information, call 800-524-7601 or visit the website southseas.com.