An amazing new facility that seems to address the general needs of a wide range of events!
Maximum capacity in the second level ballroom over-looking picturesque Boca Ciega Bay is 200 with dance floor. Located within the St. Pete Beach Community Center complex, the ballroom boasts subdued lighting, a neutral color scheme, and a very reasonable cost compared to hotels and resorts nearby.
YOU CAN FURNISH YOUR OWN ALCOHOL with our Open Bar Package that includes required Liquor Liability Insurance
COST:$2750 for an 8 hour block of time plus a refundable $500 security deposit for with set-up, event, and breakdown time. If you are holding your wedding there, it is suggested you book a 10-hour block of time for $3250.00 You may need to rent another 50 chairs for the ceremony as the facility only has 50 available for outdoor use.
Catering By Robert is proud to be one of FOUR PREFERRED caterers at the center. There is a 15% service charge assessed by the City on top of all catering and bar service charges.
The added service charge translates into the following:
$1.80 per person for our basic Dubloon Package
$.44 per person for open bar service
Call Catering By Robert f (813) 960-7092 for affordable menu options and our licensed bar service packages.
Waterfront
Clearwater Rec Center TC
Operated by the City of Clearwater Beach, this is one of the few true waterfront event locations in Pinellas County that allows outside catering AND outside alcohol.
This is one of the most reasonably priced bayfront locations along the West Coast of Florida.
For that reason it gets booked quickly. For an average cost of $1500" on a Saturday you get up to 190 white resin padded folding chairs, 18 round tables, and 18 long tables, a hall monitor, and nine hours of continuous set-up time, event time, and breakdown.
Their staff also sets up and tears down and cleans the building. If you are a Clearwater resident, you save 10%.
Its large windows that look out on the intercoastal waterway offers that fabulous waterfront view so many brides and grooms treasure for their wedding day.
Since there is no gazebo or arch in place, you will have to rent ceremony decor and return chairs back indoors for guest table seating.
An outdoor deck is the perfect place for a cocktail hour or late evening cigar / martini bar.
THE DOWNSIDE:
This is truly a recreation center. The main entrance has unsightly bulletin boards and community brochures. If you are not having guests enter from the lawn side of the building, we suggest you drape entry walls or rent screens to hide "first impression" area.
Inside the main room the walls are stark white and need some personality. There are indoor office windows and storage room doors that need to be hidden as well. With such a reasonable rental price, budget in at least $500 for uplit palm trees, wall curtains, or ceiling swags.
BE CAUTIOUS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME you need to reserve. Most caterers/decorators need three-four hours of set-up time and one hour of breakdown time IN ADDITION to actual event time.
Venue Specifics:
Clearwater Rec Center
69 Bay Esplanade
Clearwater, FL 33767
(727) 462-6138
Web Site:
www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts
Tucked away on the Pinellas Bayway toward Fort DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde, look for the distinctive lighthouse atop the blue stilt building. You will find the Tampa Bay Watch clubhouse on your right, JUST before the last toll plaza.
Sunsets, gentle breezes, and even a dock for a dramatic bride and groom entrance via boat, are just few of the reasons Tampa Bay Watch is a Tampa Bay Hidden Treasure.
Outside alcohol is permitted with proper liability insurance. The spacious grassy lawn provides the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding which can be moved under the buidling or on the deck level if necessary.
The second-floor banquet room accommodates up to 100 guests comfortably with a medium sized dance area. Bamboo flooring offers a rich texture to the setting and there's plenty of waterfront views through large picture windows on two sides. You can expand the guest count to 160 by seating some guests on the deck.
TBW has round and long tables with beautiful natural wood folding chairs. The adjoining classroom area is a must for a catering prep and storage area.
The cost is $4500 which now includes tables and chairs. Valet service is required for larger groups. Only minutes from St. Pete Beach and plenty of accommodations including The Don. If a beach wedding is what you crave, Ft. DeSoto Park beaches are just minutes away.
THE DOWNSIDE:
Because it is waterfront, all events must end prior to 10 p.m. But there is still plenty of sunset available with the right event start time. No indirect lighting in main room. Suggest hanging LED lanterns.
No on-site cooking including action stations is allowed. You can only utilize their tables and chairs INDOORS because they have special padding on the legs to keep the floors from being scratched.
Always be mindful of windy conditions at TBW especially because of its second floor location.
Tampa Bay Watch
How to Make the Most of this Venue:
Hold your ceremony on the plaza or grassy area adjacent to the bay.
Utilize the outdoor terrace for bar and social area.
Just completed in January of 2010, the new community center is poised on edge of the intercoastal waterway just off the Bellaire Beach Bridge.
The tastefully carpeted ballroom can be divided into to two sections, but fully open it accommodates up to 120 guests at 60" round or 8 ft. long tables with dance floor.
Although the front section of the room has permanent furnishings for CITY COUNCIL meetings (dais, clerk's desk, permanent podium), the dj can utilize some of the area and some items can be covered with linen or used for other purposes.
Full audio visual services are available via four plasma screens within the main room. Adjoining board room can be used for bride/attendant dressing room.
The foyer/lobby is wide enough to be used for buffet and bar (YES, YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL with our liquor liability insurance). The foyer length also makes it an alternative for an indoor wedding in case of rain.
Two semi-covered outdoor decks offer additional entertaining space for a social hour / bar.
There are several wedding backdrop possibilities including a concrete circular pad on the water side of the building. Plenty of open grassy spaces and parking areas.
COST: $100 per hour for non-residents, minimum of two hours. Ideal time frame for ceremony and four hour reception: 9 hours as client or caterer (extra charge) is responsible for all set up of tables, chairs, their breakdown and cleaning of common areas.
Total Rental: $900
Refundable Security Deposit: $500 due at signing plus 50% of rental: $450 = $950
Remainder of Balance is due 90 days AFTER SIGNING.
Audio visual is $200.
NOTE: For events of over 40 people, additional round and long tables MUST BE RENTED. Facility only has four 60-inch rounds. There are a total of 119 chairs in three different styles.
VENUE SPECIFICS:
Contact Patti Gentry at (727) 595-4646; ext. 124, for more information. The hall is open Mon. - Fri. from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Other times by appointment only. Patti's email address is pgentry@cityofbelleairbeach.com
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS VENUE:
Be realistic and count on spending extra money over and above the rental fee for outdoor rental chairs, extra indoor tables, extra set-up, and cleaning charges.
Try to utilize other areas other than the main ballroom for such things as bar, buffet, gift table, etc. to conserve space for guest tables and dance floor.
THE DOWNSIDE:
Extremely small kitchen with single sink. No dimmer lights . . . full flourescents or pay for lighted ceiling swags for evening events.
Main areas are on a second level and items need to be carted up on a ramp or along the back side of the building.
Besides the $900 rental charge a 100-person event could incur an additional $850 in outside charges for:
Average $200 for set-up/clean-up
$135 + $50 set-up/tear down charge for white samsonite outdoor chairs
Average $350 for 15 x 16 ft. dance floor
Labor/Delivery Charges for rentals above ($75)
Total: $1750.00. . . but still a bargain considering you can bring in your own alcohol. And you have a nice waterfront view
ADDRESS: 444 Causeway Blvd.; Belleair Beach, FL 33786
SEE ALSO, Davis Islands Garden Club under So. Tampa.
Clearwater Community Sailing Center TC
Located across from the entrance to Pinellas County's most popular beach wedding location, Sand Key Park, the sailing center offers panoramic second floor views of Clearwater's intercoastal waterway areas.
A new covered Veranda addition has increased the guest capacity . Coupled with the Carlisle Room (fully air conditioned indoors), the Sailing Center can comfortably accommodate 120-150 guests.
For smaller events wishing to have the ceremony in the same location, the Veranda or ground level
area under the building could be utilized. If you are planning on getting married on Sand Key, plan on shuttling guests to and from the beach as it is NOT IN WALKING DISTANCE and parking is limited.
An elevator is available to the second level along with newly built stairs next to the Veranda (which does have roll down protective clear sides to insulate the space from high winds).
The center features round guest tables along with long tables and NEW padded ballroom chairs. Although the Carlisle is carpeted, it has an optional dance floor.
Two major hotels along with a number of vacation rental condos are very close by.
The center is open Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Cost: $1605 for eight hours of set-up, event time, and breakdown time for both second level areas. Includes $200 booking fee. Taxes included. $200 deposit at time of booking.
Events must end at 11 p.m. with cleanup concluded by 12 midnight
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS FACILITY:
Rent ample set up time. Since there is no subdued lighting on the Veranda, you should consider rope lighting or twinkle lighting in the ceiling. Ceiling fans make hanging lanterns difficult.
Consider a trolley rental to transport guests back and forth from hotels to beach to center. Parking is limited on weekends.
Make certain you have plans to hide the kitchen area with screens, row of palm trees, or backdrop.
The Downside:
There is only a single woman's and men's bathroom on the second floor. Consider the ground floor restroom as well.
No candles or open flames are allowed on site. Make arrangements for LED lights on guest tables. The Veranda is not heated or air conditioned. Consider the time of year for outdoor events.
Also, there is no indirect lighting inside or out after dark other than flourescents. It would be important to have additional lighting indoors for events starting at dusk.
The veranda has ceiling fans, so beware of handing any lanterns from the ceiling. Rope lighting works best.
Also, there is NO KITCHEN, just a built in kitchenette with a full size refrigerator. Although there is a tall black curtain section to hide it, this reduces the amount of inside space for tables and chairs.
