Choosing the perfect location for your wedding can be as stressful as finding the perfect dress. But here where flowers bloom year 'round, beach sunsets are footsteps away and indoor venues offer spectacular views, there will be no regrets about your choice.

Wedding Venues

Let the surf be your bridal march, and get married on one of the area's many sugar-sand public beaches. As its name suggests, Honeymoon Island State Park [1] near Dunedin is a romantic choice (www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland [2]). If you want the water backdrop, but not the sand, the bucolic War Veterans' Memorial Park [1] overlooking Boca Ciega Bay may be for you (727-549-6165).

Starlite Majesty Dining Cruises' paddlewheel boat adds nostalgic romance to your vows (727-462-2628). If you are torn between a church wedding and one at sea, have both with a ceremony on Weddings on Water's floating chapel (727-466-0969).

You won't need to order flowers for a wedding at the perpetually blooming Sunken Gardens [1] in St. Petersburg (727-551-3100) and Florida Botanical Gardens [1] at Pinewood Cultural Park (727-582-2100).

If you prefer a medium-to-large indoor wedding with waterfront views, consider the Grand Ballroom at The Mahaffey Theater [1] in St. Petersburg (727-892-5746) and the Harborview Center [1] in Clearwater (727-462-6778).

Classical romance is in the air and on the walls at The Museum of Fine Arts [1] (727-896-2667) in St. Petersburg, which can be rented for weddings and receptions. Built as a St. Petersburg church in 1926, Mirror Lake Lyceum [1]'s antique chandeliers and ornate architectural details add a vintage grandeur to nuptials (727-821-1926).

For a traditional church wedding beneath the glow of Victorian stained glass, exchange vows inside the historic Andrews Memorial Chapel [1] built in 1888 (727-736-1176).

The Honeymoon's Just Begun

Come for the wedding, and stay for the honeymoon. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area isn't just a pretty place to say "I do,” it's also a romantic retreat after the big day.

The Beach House Suites by the Don CeSar [1]
After a Cinderella wedding at the pink palace – Loews Don CeSar Beach Resort – stroll along the shore to The Beach House Suites, the "Don's” little sister, where you'll find the comforts of home and all the luxuries of the full-service resort.

Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club [1]
Overlooking Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg, this historic hotel is so rich in 1920s romance that you expect to see the Great Gatsby floating across the grand ballroom with Daisy in his arms. Join the ranks of presidents, sports legends and movie stars who've stayed here.

Pasa Tiempo A Private Waterfront Resort
For a more intimate tropical abode, this small St. Pete Beach resort (7 suites and 1 standard room) on the Intracoastal Waterway combines the coziness of a bed and breakfast with the modern luxuries of a larger resort. Ask for the room with the private lanai and hot tub.

Belleview Biltmore Resort, Beach Club, Golf & Spa
Once the personal playground of railroad magnate Henry Plant, this turn-of-the-century Victorian white lady retains its majestic architectural details. One look at its sweeping grounds, grand carved stairway and formal ballrooms, and you'll see why Plant's friends couldn't turn down invitations to winter here.

Green Gables Bed & Breakfast [1]
Wisteria blooms and red and white bleeding hearts welcome love birds at this renovated Old Florida cracker-style home on the banks of Clearwater Bay. While its four-poster beds are inviting, the B&B's highlight is its perpetually blooming English garden where small, intimate weddings can be arranged.

Safety Harbor Resort & Spa [1]
After chaotic wedding preparations and the stress of the big day, who couldn't use a week at the spa? Tucked in the quaint community of Safety Harbor, this full-service spa resort is a reinvigorating alternative to an action-packed honeymoon itinerary.

When To Tie The Knot

Because the weather is mild year ‘round, there's never a bad time for a wedding, but plan according to seasonal changes. Spring (March – May) and fall (September – November) are ideal times for outdoor weddings, as summer can bring afternoon showers and winters can be chilly to bare shoulders. For sunset weddings, be sure to check historical sundown times.

Editor's Note

For a small, truly intimate and affordable wedding, consider renting a beach vacation home. The beach is a natural sanctuary and needs little decoration. The home kitchen gives you freedom from required venue caterers, and the house can also double as your honeymoon getaway after the ceremony. Visit www.FloridasBeach.com/weddings [3] to find a home to suit your needs.

Destination Wedding Specialists

Connect with these wedding planners who specialize in making your big day come to fruition even when you're far away. Or, check in with wedding specialist Cyndie LaPlume of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater CVB. You can reach the local expert (hey, she got married in Safety Harbor) at 727-464-7216.

Crystal Weddings & Events
727-447-8698, 877-262-0769
www.crystalweddingsandevents.com [4]

Events By Special Moments [1]
727-343-0800
tammy@eventsbyspecialmoments.com [5]
www.eventsbyspecialmoments.com [6]

Phyllis Eig Associates [1]
727-343-1393
phyleig@tampabay.rr.com [7]
http://phylliseig.com/ [8]

Wedding Wows, Inc. [1]
727-712-8314
dawn@weddingwows.net [9]
www.weddingwows.net [10]

Weddings on a Whim [1]
727-581-3446
www.weddingsonawhim.com [11]

Weddings On Water [1]
727-456-1458, 866-696-7897
www.weddingsonwater.com [12]