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A new way to discover Florida’s Beach
Dip your toes in the Gulf, take a stroll through downtown
St. Petersburg and tee off at some of the best area golf courses – all without leaving your desk.
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You Are Here: Home » Weddings » Say “I Do” »
Say “I Do”
Wedding venues range from historic resorts to beach shores to a floating chapel.
With a local state park named Honeymoon Island, all signs point to romance at Florida's Beach. Whether you want to be barefoot in the surf on the big day or hold court in a ballroom at a grand dame hotel built in the late 1800s, the possibilities are endless for a destination wedding that can accommodate every bride's dream. For a complete list of ceremony locations click here and for accommodations, click here.
Historic Places
Florida's Beach was a favorite winter spot for wealthy Northerners in the early 20th century and thankfully today we continue to enjoy the majestic hotels and architecture they left behind.
Don CeSar Beach Resort
This palace, built in 1928, has been appropriately described as a pink iced wedding cake set on the sugar white sandy beaches of St. Pete Beach.
The eight-story resort hosts more than 300 weddings a year for as few as two people and up to 1,000 guests. Depending on your style, you can choose from a casual beach wedding to a lavish ballroom event and enlist the help of the resort's on-site wedding coordinators.
Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club
Located in downtown St. Petersburg, the Vinoy, as it is simply known, is another 1920s Mediterranean Revival hotel on the National Register of Historic Places. Perched next to Vinoy Park on the waters of Tampa Bay, the Vinoy overlooks the historic downtown.
Weddings are held in several ballrooms, as well as an outdoor Tea Garden.
Belleview Biltmore Resort
First opened in 1897, the Belleview Biltmore Resort is a dramatic white Victorian building built on a bluff overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway south of Clearwater Beach.
The resort has several ballrooms, including the 14,000-square-foot Tiffany Ballroom, to host wedding receptions. For slightly smaller affairs, the Starlight Ballroom is a favorite with its twinkling light ceiling, or guests can take a short ride to the Belleview Biltmore Beach Club.
The one photo opportunity almost all newlyweds stop for is beneath the heart-shaped trunk of a cork tree.
Outdoor Weddings
Hundreds of days of sunshine make Florida's Beach an ideal location for an outdoor wedding.
The Beaches
Our beaches are by far the area's most popular wedding location. With waves gently lapping at the shore, couples go barefoot at sunset to exchange their vows. In general, the beaches in Florida are open to the public, so the exact location of your ceremony can vary depending on beach traffic. Opt for a hotel or resort with a private beach to ensure a specific spot, or work with coordinators like Weddings on a Whim who know the best spots at our public beaches.
Sunken Gardens
Some 100 years ago a local plumber decided to convert six acres in
downtown St. Petersburg into an ornate botanical garden. Today a small bridge leads to the closeted Wedding Lawn, or you can choose from other gardens "rooms" like the Butterfly Garden or Oak Pavilion.
The Gardens can also host a reception at its banquet facility, a historic 1926 building overlooking the gardens.
Florida Botanical Gardens
In the town of Largo you'll find the Florida Botanical Gardens with a garden specifically designed for nuptials.
Inside the gates, guests follow a walkway engraved with inspirational sayings to a wrought iron gazebo and fountain area. The bride appears from a secret path to the circular courtyard that holds up to seated 200 guests.
On the Water
Set sail on your life together on our tranquil blue Gulf of Mexico waters.
Weddings on Water
In Clearwater, you can sail to your reception location while getting married in a floating chapel. Up to 100 guests can fill the pews of the chapel set on a boat, which brings together an outdoor and church wedding. There is also a private bridal sanctuary on board.
StarLite Cruises
Take your pick between an old-fashioned paddleboat or a modern two-story yacht and get married at sea. Both ships offer a full catering menu and can hold more than 200 guests.
Romance in the Courtyard
For Valentine's Day, Pinellas Circuit Judge Jack St. Arnold performs a mass wedding on the steps of the County Courthouse. Couples have to register in advance to participate. Valentine's Day is traditionally the busiest day for weddings at the courthouse. Individual ceremonies are also performed that day usual.
NOTE: To get married in Florida you must be 18 years of age and both parties must present photo identification at a clerk of the court's office to obtain a marriage license. No blood tests are required. For additional information, click here
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Copyright ©2008 St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.