Brian and I were set on having a Mexican-themed wedding to incorporate our heritage. We knew right away that a barn wedding wasn’t for us and were looking for something with more of a Spanish flair. The venues that matched that vibe were mostly in Miami, and that was just a bit too far for us. We were looking for a wedding venue that felt both familial and intimate.

The stunning rooftop view and the intimate feel of the ballroom won us over. It fit our needs perfectly. With our guest count being low, the space was just the right size. I also appreciated that they had a list of select vendors they exclusively worked with, which made the planning process feel less overwhelming. There are so many vendors in Tampa, and having a designated list made things so much easier. If Red Mesa Events trusted them, we felt we could too. On the wedding day, the service was phenomenal. We’d dined at the restaurant a few times before, so we already knew the food was delicious and the service top-notch. The fact that it was a Mexican restaurant that matched our vibe made it the perfect choice.

We looked for places that matched our style without us having to add too much decor.

Red Mesa Events has beautiful herringbone hardwood floors, brick walls, and huge chandeliers with uplighting. Many hotels we viewed had carpet and lots of drapery, which just wasn’t the look we were going for.

The event space was more than what we were looking for, and they have amazing food! Having great food was the most important thing for us. We wanted guests to enjoy their dinner and offered something other than the typical steak, chicken, or fish options. That was actually the main factor in choosing Red Mesa. The service was excellent, and they really worked with us to make sure our day was everything we wanted, from expanding our time slot to adding an extra custom drink at the last minute.

Inclusivity was number one. Red Mesa Events is a very queer space, and we felt it the day we went to tour the venue. Not only that, but they were also able to provide the food (which we were already big fans of) and the bar.

Red Mesa had a lot of experience with same-sex couples, and a lot of their staff is queer; it felt like a genuinely safe space to be. Their service was terrific.

We learned about Red Mesa Events from the Marry Me Tampa Bay website and toured the venue. We wanted a venue that could handle the ceremony and reception in the same venue without the transition between the ceremony and the reception being intrusive on the day. We also wanted it to be in downtown St. Petersburg. We wanted an elegant space filled with flowers, sparkling crystals, and candles to create the illusion of a massive venue.

We chose Red Mesa Events because the La Florida Ballroom and the rooftop bar were the perfect size for our party. Their event staff was brilliant and worked seamlessly with our wedding planners and vendors to create our event. The venue staff also provided creative input and suggestions to help us in our process. They were on hand at every stage of the planning process and made the day run without a hitch.

We wanted a venue that matched our style, which we were learning towards a modern industrial look. I was really inspired by the brick walls in the Florida ballroom.

We chose Red Mesa Events because it was everything we were looking for in a venue and more. I really wanted an outdoor ceremony space with an indoor reception. We loved that the venue had separate ceremony and reception spaces and even included a rain plan that, thankfully, we didn’t need to use.

We were also looking for a venue that was more of a one-stop shop, a place where we didn’t have to look for multiple vendors for bar, catering, and rentals. They have their own in-house bar and catering and the most beautiful chairs, linens, and tableware that are ready for use. Leigh and the Red Mesa team were very communicative and answered my billion and one questions leading up to the day.

They were very accommodating in terms of the catering. My mom has a severe latex allergy, and they made sure that there were no latex gloves handling food. I also had a few vegan plates, and my vegan guests raved about how delicious their meal was.

I used to work in the hotel industry so we wanted something a little more unique than your average ballroom. Since we were also hoping to have our ceremony and reception in the same place, a venue with multiple options was also important. And, of course, a venue that was pet-friendly!

I looked at a number of venues but after visiting Red Mesa Events, nowhere else even compared. Leigh Wilson-Arwood was not the original Events Director I booked with, but I could not have been more grateful that she was the one there on our wedding day. Leigh has a ton of experience and a great eye for detail, so when I walked into the ballroom for the first time, I was completely blown away. She took my vision and brought it to life tenfold. Everything from the food to the service was excellent, and our guests are still raving about how fantastic our wedding was! We also knew that we wanted to continue celebrating even after the reception so the fact that Red Mesa is walking distance to some great nightlife was definitely a plus.