wedding venue owners

FOUNDER & owners

meet the Garcia's

DeFuniak Springs, FL

Established in 1993 and thoughtfully expanded over time by Ruben R. Garcia, the estate was originally conceived as a private family residence — layered slowly, intentionally, and with a deep appreciation for European architecture and enduring craftsmanship.
Dr. Ruben R. Garcia comes from a family of physicians and has practiced medicine for more than thirty years. A graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine in 1987, he began his career in Athens, Georgia, working alongside his father before relocating to the Florida Panhandle to establish his own medical clinics.
It was here, in DeFuniak Springs, that he met his wife, Bobbie Garcia.
Today, Bobbie plays an integral role in managing the practice and remains a steady creative influence behind many of the aesthetic decisions throughout the estate. While Dr. Garcia is known for his visionary spirit — often reaching beyond the expected and pushing boundaries in both medicine and design — Bobbie brings refinement, balance, and warmth to each space.
Together, they shaped Palazzo Malmaison not simply as a residence, but as an evolving work of intention.
Although the estate grounds are expansive, the family itself remained intimate, raising one child within its walls. Yet the home has always been filled — hosting holidays, milestone celebrations, and countless gatherings of friends and extended family.
What began as a private sanctuary gradually revealed itself as something more.
As the next generation stepped into stewardship of the property, the vision became unmistakable: this was not merely a home, but a setting worthy of celebration.
Inspired by the intimacy of Château de Malmaison and the quiet romance of the European countryside, the family began thoughtfully transitioning the estate into a refined destination wedding venue, with a formal debut in 2027.
Their goal is not volume.
It is experience.
To open the gates of a beloved home and allow others to begin their own legacy within its walls.
What better place to begin than at the start of a love story — where couples gather their closest family and friends, and say, “I do.”

The Owners

MEET

Palazzo Malmaison is structurally inspired by the historic Château de Malmaison — the beloved summer residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Joséphine.
Defined by balanced proportions, arched architectural lines, and understated symmetry, the estate draws from the quiet elegance of the French countryside. Yet while its structure nods to Château de Malmaison, its aesthetic leans distinctly Tuscan — warm limestone tones, sun-washed textures, and expansive open fields reminiscent of the Italian countryside.
After personally visiting the château in 2014, the Garcia family experienced a full-circle moment: what had long inspired their design vision revealed an unexpected truth — their Florida estate surpassed the original residence in scale.
That realization did not inspire excess.
It reinforced stewardship.
Today, Palazzo Malmaison is undergoing a thoughtful transformation in preparation for its 2027 opening as a refined destination wedding estate.
Current renovations include:
• Exterior limewash refinements to enhance its Tuscan character
• Expanded garden landscaping and formal arrival moments
• Permanent infrastructure to support tented receptions
• Interior updates to preparation and gathering spaces
In addition, a European-inspired chapel is being constructed within the open field beyond the main residence — designed as an intimate ceremony space framed by natural light and surrounding greenery.
Every update is guided by restraint and permanence.
The goal is not reinvention — but elevation.
When complete in 2027, Palazzo Malmaison will offer a transportive estate experience along Florida’s Gulf Coast: structurally rooted in French heritage, stylistically grounded in Tuscan warmth, and thoughtfully prepared to host celebrations of lasting significance.

Your Venue

MEET

top: Palazzo Malmaison, Bottom: Château de malmaison

As part of our 2027 vision, Palazzo Malmaison is undergoing a series of carefully curated improvements designed to elevate the estate while honoring its architectural integrity.
Enhancements include:

• A minimalist open door chapel
• Expanded garden landscaping for formal processional moments
• State of the art spiral staircase
• Polished concrete flooring
• Luxury chefs finishing kitchen

A refined expansion

Talk about your business values right here and what they can expect when working with you from the initial consultation to the actual day. Let's go up in here, and start having some fun You can bend rivers. But when I get home, the only thing I have power over is the garbage.