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Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2024
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2016
  • 2015

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

Up to 800 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Quality catering
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Morgan
Margi
Kelly
Rachel
Ron Beatty

Recommended by 98% of couples

About this venue

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a resort wedding venue situated in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. This modern and chic building boasts stunning ocean views and a plethora of event spaces. This property benefits from the nearby serene coastline and its modern amenities. Couples can take advantage of the beautiful outdoors as well as the high-quality amenities that are essential for modern celebrations.

Facilities and Capacity

The Beach Pavillion is a tranquil and private outdoor space that makes for memorable ceremonies and receptions. You and your loved one can exchange vows on the hotel’s luscious lawns surrounded by tropical blooms and water-features. Boasting panoramic views of the coast and the hotel's well-maintained gardens, this site can play host to your entire day of celebrations. As the sun sets and the stars illuminate the night sky, you and your guests can sip beverages and rejoice long into the evening in this one-of-a-kind space. Ceremonies at the Beach Pavilion can host up to 450 guests while receptions can hold 600. Other outdoor spaces include The Shipyard Beach Club, Heyward’s Terrace, and the Mid-Island Lawn. All of these areas include coastal views and are arranged to host ceremonies and receptions. The 9,880-square-foot Santee Ballroom is an expansive and impressive indoor event space. This area radiates sophistication and can host ceremonies of up to 800 and 1,100 for receptions. For your convenience, all event spaces at this venue can be configured into gorgeous micro weddings and minimonies.

Services Offered

The staff at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island pays attention to every fine detail to create a one-of-a-kind wedding experience for you and your guests. You will be provided with an array of event items to help transform your chosen settings. This includes chairs, tables,flatware, sound, lighting, and more. What’s more, the venue’s staff will assist with the setup and breakdown of your festivities, leaving you to focus on your meaningful matters.

Accommodation

There are 340 spacious guest rooms at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Each room has been designed to maximize relaxation and provide a great night’s sleep. Furthermore, each suite is complete with a balcony or patio overlooking the evergreen grounds. Additional amenities include an en-suite bathroom, a smart TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, and much more.

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 42 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

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FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Signature Drink

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

5

Describe your venue:

Beach
Resort
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Dance Floor
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
July
August
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Sonesta Resort is a beautiful beachside venue with a pavilion and lush grounds, widely praised for outstanding catering, cocktails, and attentive staff who make planning and the day run smoothly. Guests loved the food and accommodations, including gluten-free options. One guest reported a hotel front-desk/security incident, but most reviews were glowing.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Sonesta Resort is a beautiful beachside venue with a pavilion and lush grounds, widely praised for outstanding catering, cocktails, and attentive staff who make planning and the day run smoothly. Guests loved the food and accommodations, including gluten-free options. One guest reported a hotel front-desk/security incident, but most reviews were glowing.

Weddingwire
4.9/5 82 reviews
Google
4.3/5 3078 reviews
Morgan
Morgan Sent on 11/26/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best Choice We Made!

Sonesta Resort was the best choice we made for our wedding! We are from Upstate New York and picked a handful of venues to tour on a quick trip. We toured Sonesta and 2 other venues in Hilton Head Island, and Sonesta was hands down the best. The scenery, location, and price were amazing! But that is not the reason we booked with them. The sales manager Delaney was the kindest, most dedicated, and fun person to work with! She made sure that we had everything we needed! I am gluten free, as were several of our guests, and Delaney ensure that almost all of the food was made gluten free or had a gluten free option. We also needed easels, reserved signs, and random items we thought we be an extra charge and were free. Sonesta goes above and beyond, 5 stars is truly not enough for the service we got!

Margi
Margi Sent on 01/15/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Accommodating & Great Service

Everyone I worked with at Sonesta was absolutely amazing from Delaney, the catering event manager to Immie, their director of food and beverage. Everything went off without a hitch during the ceremony. Immie made three cocktails in batched portions for me and they tasted exactly as they should. Dinner was next-level (not your typical wedding food). they even allowed me to use their conference rooms as storage for decorations before and after the reception dropping things off the day before and picking things up the day after. I highly recommend the Beach Pavilion at Sonesta for a picture perfect wedding! Thank you to the entire Sonesta team for an amazing night 😊
Kelly
Kelly Sent on 09/28/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Stunning Sonesta!

Our wedding day at Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head was nothing short of perfection, thanks in large part to Delaney, the incredible venue, and catering team. From the moment we set foot on the property, we knew we had found the ideal place to celebrate our special day.

The venue itself is a slice of paradise. The greenery, fountains, and the breathtaking ocean views, provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and reception.

The catering team at Sonesta Resort deserves special recognition for their outstanding service. From the tasting session to the reception dinner, the food was nothing less than sensational. Our guests raved about the quality and presentation of the dishes, and many said it was the best wedding meal they had ever experienced.

What truly sets Sonesta Resort apart, however, is their dedicated and accommodating staff. The wedding planning process was made seamless by Delaney, who guided us every step of the way and ensured that our vision became a reality. On the big day, the entire team went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. They were responsive, flexible, and attentive to every detail, making us feel like royalty.

We can't thank Sonesta Resort enough for providing us with the wedding of our dreams. If you're searching for a stunning venue with a top-notch catering team and exceptional service, look no further than Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head. They exceeded our expectations in every way possible, and we are forever grateful for the memories they helped us create.
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 07/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

My dream wedding!

We had our perfect dream wedding at Sonesta! Delaney and her team at Sonesta are amazing! My husband and I are so happy with how everything turned out. Delaney was so helpful during the entire process by answering any questions I had and going above and beyond for us. The staff was so attentive to us and our guests during the reception. The bartenders were great and so nice. The food was DELICIOUS! Everyone we have spoken to has told us that the team at Sonesta was so helpful and attentive during the wedding and it was one of the best they’ve ever been to. I am so grateful for Delaney and her team for giving us our dream wedding. Thank you!
Ron Beatty
Ron B. Sent on 06/23/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beach wedding

Delaney did a great job, over and above. The staff (Lenox,Michael and crew) were awesome, on top of everything and nice people. Food was excellent. Could not ask for a better group of people.
Cassandra
Cassandra Sent on 06/22/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent experience

Everything was wonderful, including the day of coordinator, Delaney. She was there from the beginning to the end and helped everything run very smoothly. The ceremony was on the beach, which was beautiful and the reception was in the pavilion. The food was very tasty. Everyone of our friends and families had a great time.
ASHLEY
Ashley Sent on 04/12/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Resort & Amazing Event Coordinator

We recently got married on the beach and had our reception at the Sonesta Beachfront Pavilion! Everything was PERFECT. We worked with the event coordinator, Delaney, who was PHENOMENAL! She was so easy to work with and very responsive to all our questions and needs. Our wedding was everything we dreamed of, thanks to Delaney and the entire Sonesta crew. The food and beverages were delicious! We loved the pavilion area - and also liked that it can be closed in with clear sides incase the weather doesn’t cooperate. They also have a cozy fireplace and heaters in the pavilion. We also had our Welcome Party at the Sea Crest terrace and farewell breakfast in the Savanna ballroom, both in the resort! Our guests loved the beach, pool and events all at the Sonesta! Would highly recommend the Sonesta Resort & Delaney! Our wedding was everything we dreamed of (& more!!) thanks to them!
Laura
Laura Sent on 01/03/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Exceptional service

Thank you to the entire staff of the Sonesta in making my daughters wedding a day to remember. The food was top notch as was the staff. Special thanks to Delaney Schneider, events coordinator at the Sonesta. She jumped in and went above and beyond for us. Our wedding planner that we hired (Sarah Wright of Everlasting Events) totally dropped the ball from set up, to organizing to table coordination. Delaney even ran back to the room to get my daughter bouquet that our planners staff forgot. I was shocked when I saw the centerpieces that our planner placed on the tables. They looked like dollar store quality and did not contain vases with filled shells. Delaney brought it to our planners attention. Delaney picked up on our distress of our event planner and did what she could to ensure we had a wonderful event. I highly recommend the staff of Sonesta and you can count on Delaney Schneider to ensure you will have a wonderful event.
S
Shaina Sent on 06/26/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Venue with Helpful Staff

Our wedding took place at the Shipyard Beach Club with catering and event support from the Sonesta Resort. Venue is spacious and clean with fabulous oceanfront location. Courteous and professional staff
Sophia
Sophia Sent on 04/11/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The Sonesta Team is Incredible

We had our wedding of 160 guests at Sonesta on the pavilion and they helped execute it seamlessly!! Truly professionals in every sense of the word. Delaney is the point of contact for all things weddings at Sonesta and she helped me SO MUCH. Their team is helpful, attentive, and very willing to help your wedding dreams come to life. Highly recommend.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

82
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
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Team

Makenzie Thomas, CWP
Makenzie Thomas, CWP
Catering Sales Manager
Kaelin Bastian
Kaelin Bastian
Catering Sales Coordinator

Professional Network & Endorsements

Carolina Weddings Carolina Weddings Wedding Rentals

Beautiful Venue We would recommend it to any wedding planner!

Photos by Ruthe Photos by Ruthe Wedding Photographers

Excellent staff that pays attention to detail, beautiful resort, and venue with many options. The Sonesta is absolutely one of the best places in the Southeast for weddings and events.

Memory Lane Portraits Memory Lane Portraits Wedding Photographers

This upscale oceanfront resort is a perfect choice for hosting your event with breathtaking views, endless choices for entertainment, wonderful staff as well as direct access to a beautiful white-sand beach.

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Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island frequently asked questions

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island for wedding events is known for:
  • Beach
  • Resort
  • Waterfront
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism and 4.8 in value.
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