One of the best sights in all of Tampa Bay is driving over the Pinellas Bayway to St. Pete Beach and being surrounded by the gulf water as the Don CeSar comes into view. The Don, also known as the “Pink Palace,” tops the wedding wish list for many couples as an iconic historical venue.
An insider tip for those who want to complement their Don CeSar stay or to have a more intimate experience is that the property has a boutique beachfront sister location less than half a mile away, making it ideal for a bach party, bridal shower, small wedding, or rehearsal dinner.
The Don CeSar’s Beach House Suites offers all of amenities of the main resort while providing spacious surroundings and an intimate feel. With just 71 rooms, all of which are suites, the property offers a private atmosphere, ideal for providing a vacation experience while entertaining guests.
“The Beach House Suites is an extension of The Don CeSar, with a playful twist. It is a whimsical and romantic beachside oasis that is fun and playful,” Nicole Johnson, Don CeSar Catering Sales Manager beamed. “The lawn area and the firepits allow for an interactive experience for guests to play games, while the food trailer showcases an amazing Florida style mural.
To highlight the property’s fun tropical style, St. Petersburg wedding planner Coastal Coordinating created a welcome party inspiration shoot that showcased a whimsical theme that couples can use to kick-off their wedding weekend festivities.
“For the Beach House Suites, we wanted to have fun! The theme was a ‘Let’s Flamingle’ Welcome Party,” wedding planner and owner Katy Turchich-Martin explained. “Our main color was pink, accented by some gorgeous tropical green and white floral arrangements.”
Surrounded by The Don CeSar’s iconic pink hue, the courtyard pavilion was decorated with white floral arrangements from Beneva Weddings and string lighting from Graingertainment. Truly Forever Bridal styled the bride-to-be in a white cocktail dress with a sheer overlay and colorful embroidery, while Adore Bridal Hair and Makeup created a flirty, stylish pony tail to complete the look.
“Our inspiration was our brides; so many want to host a welcome party or farewell brunch,” Katy shared. “The Beach House Suites fit our vision perfectly because it already included everything needed. There is the food truck, a bar, plenty of seating, and a section where you could put out your Mr. and Mrs. cornhole boards.”
“The Beach House Suites allows the couple to think outside the box of a traditional ballroom wedding, Alternatively, the addition of this space to a more traditional wedding day gives the couple a different feel at their pre- or post-event for a well-rounded wedding weekend,” Nicole added.
Limelight Photography’s vibrant photography style was a perfect pairing to capture whimsical details such the the pink flower wall photo backdrop from Tampa Bay Flower Walls. Even the cocktails had a pink hue that matched Don CeSar’s signature shade.
“Our favorite elements from the Beach House shoot were the food truck and the gorgeous pink flower wall,” Katy revealed.
