St. Pete Beach – The iconic “Pink Palace” hotel features 38,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, plus 277 guest rooms (including 36 suites), a variety of culinary experiences among their four restaurants, two resort-style pools, and an 11,000 square foot on-site spa, all nestled directly on the white sugar sands of St. Pete Beach.
The resort is popular for local couples and destination weddings alike. Be it a vacation or staycation, guests have an opportunity to immerse themselves in true Florida style as they enjoy the private beach, luxurious amenities, and local fare. Service is personal and attentive thanks to the Don CeSar’s family of staff, many of whom have been with the property for over 20 years.
Couples can choose from several ceremony and reception locations, including the Don’s exclusive beach with views of the Gulf of Mexico or the secluded courtyard with dramatic staircase backdrop, along with the newly renovated ballrooms and attached balconies.
The Ceremony:
The Don CeSar offers outdoor ceremony locations on the beach or in our Courtyard as well as indoors in our elegant, light-filled ballrooms. Our ceremony packages include the Event Space, an indoor weather backup location, White Folding Chairs, a Fruit-Infused Water Station, an Audio Package, and a Day-of Wedding Coordinator.
- $3,500 (plus Administrative charge and sales tax)
The Cocktail Hour:
Each of our reception locations has an included cocktail hour space which includes Cocktail Tables, Chairs, and House Linen in White, Black, or Navy as well as any food and beverage set up.
-
- Included in reception food and Beverage minimum
The Reception:
The Don CeSar has a variety of recently renovated ballrooms to accommodate a variety of group sizes for the reception.
- Up to 250 guests
- Most wedding receptions are scheduled for 4 hours.
Included in the food and beverage minimum for your reception are tables, chairs, house linens in white, black, and navy blue as well as china, flatware, glassware, and all food/beverage service equipment. We also have table numbers and votive candles available upon request.
The Food & Drink:
The Don CeSar offers a wide variety of unique menus and can customize a menu just for your special event. Food and beverage minimum varies per ballroom; the range of $8,000-$38,000, with a $235/person average meal cost.
Pricing:
Overall package pricing including bar starts at $235.00 per person plus service charge and tax
Meet Kasey Bussell
With over 9 years of experience with weddings, Kasey Bussell has a commitment and passion to helping guide couples in transforming the tropical wedding of their dreams into a reality. I began my career in Corporate Communications and Events, then the live entertainment industry for over 10 years, and found my true calling in weddings. I am recognized for being very detail-oriented, responsive, and calming for the pre-wedding nerves that undoubtedly arise, and have a passion for all things weddings. If you are looking for a team of professionals to ensure every detail is covered where the food and service are outstanding, a venue that is beautiful, historical, and iconic, and memories that last a lifetime, this is without a doubt the place for you!
The Don CeSar Hotel Reviews from Marry Me Tampa Bay Couples:
Marry Me Tampa Bay curates the below reviews from real couples whom we've personally interviewed. As Tampa Bay's most trusted wedding planning resource, these reviews are 100% accurate and aren't created by fake accounts.
Romantic Tropical St. Pete Beach Wedding | The Don CeSar
We are happiest near the water, and the Don CeSar is a special place near where I grew up in Treasure Island. Jason and I have shared so many happy memories here.
We wanted to have an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. We were overall very happy with the service and aesthetic.
Intimate At-Home COVID-19 Wedding
Initially, we wanted something on the water with a lovely ambiance, but unfortunately, we had to cancel our reception.
We hired The Don CeSar due to their known luxury in the area, especially since our wedding day was rearranged due to COVID.
Vibrant Pink and Gold Fairytale Wedding | The Don CeSar
We knew from the start that we wanted a venue that could become a future vacation destination for us as a couple and for our family. We love the idea of taking our future kids on a trip to The Don CeSar to show them exactly where their parents got married and make visits a tradition. When we first drove over the bridge and saw The Don in the distance with the Gulf as a backdrop, we were instantly in love and knew this was it.
Being at The Don feels like an escape from reality, which fits well with the concept of a fairytale wedding. Given that and its sheer beauty, selecting it as our venue was a no-brainer. Service went above and beyond. Our guests raved about how incredible The Don CeSar staff is and how wonderful their wedding weekend experience was as a result.
Classic Blue and White St. Pete Beach Wedding | The Don CeSar
We wanted to be near the beach. We also decided to go with a resort so that we and our guests could stay on-site for the weekend.
When we toured venues, The Don CeSar blew us away. I didn't think we could find a prettier venue, and it had all the aspects that we were looking for. It is such an iconic place in the area with the beach, the elegance, and the timeless class providing the ultimate location. Wendy, our venue coordinator, was just amazing! She was always so willing to help and so sweet that she made sure we felt special during our tasting and our wedding weekend. There were also some extra touches like signature Don CeSar champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries waiting for us in our room after the wedding reception.
Classic Pink St. Pete Beach Winter Wedding | The Don Cesar
EJ and I would enjoy the newly remodeled bar and restaurants at The Don CeSar after our beach walks, and one day we looked at each other and realized that the Don would be the perfect place for our wedding. We loved its style and history, and the location was perfect for accommodating our mostly local guests. We felt it was fate
The indoor/outdoor space we had for our reception overlooking the gulf was perfect. Our guests loved spending time on the terrace mingling, eating, drinking, and enjoying the spectacular sunset! Nicole, her assistant Wendy, and the catering and hotel staff were amazing to work with, patiently answering our questions and making us feel at ease throughout the planning process.
Elegant Pink and Ivory St. Pete Beach Rooftop Wedding | The Don CeSar
The venue was representative of our new life and our new home in St. Pete. Our first date was at the Don CeSar at the Beach House Suites, then we went back for the weekend at the main hotel, fell in love, and decided to have our marriage ceremony at the hotel.
Due to COVID and the popularity of the Tampa/St. Pete area for wedding venues, the hotel was booked out until 2023 at least for weddings. We got creative and decided to book both penthouse suites located at the top of the hotel so we could have the ceremony and reception within these connected rooms; incidentally, this was the first time this was done at the hotel.
We received outstanding service on every level. They took care of every detail from check-in to food services. The staff was wonderful and accommodating. The event director ensured we had the most beautiful wedding we could have ever imagined!
