The Poynter Institute
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What We Love About The Poynter Institute
Nestled by Bayboro Harbor and across from Poynter Park, the Poynter Institute is one of the best kept secrets in downtown St. Pete.
The wedding venue features Frank Lloyd Wright inspired details, such as mahogany beams, Italian marble floors, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe the atrium-style lobby in soft, natural light, free parking, allows outside catering, and a budget-friendly rate.
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Located in downtown St. Pete, The Poynter Institute offers a unique wedding venue setting with a balance of natural elements and stunning architecture. The building features prestigious Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture with mahogany beams and woodwork throughout, imported Italian marble floors, and gorgeous natural light. The atrium-style lobby boasts expansive windows that span the length of the facade with views of the reflecting pool and adjacent marina. With a space this naturally beautiful, decor can be simple or not necessary at all; the venue alone is striking. The adjoining outdoor patio features poolside benches, perfect for post-ceremony cocktails and views of Bayboro Harbor. Though it’s in the middle of the city, the property provides privacy for an intimate feel and features colorful landscapes and flora, offering numerous backdrops for photos.
About Our Venue
The Poynter Institute seats up to 130 guests and allows couples to bring in their own caterers (who will love access to the catering kitchen). The on-site parking is free for guests, which is a huge plus in the city. Poynter faces a beautiful cityscape of a waterfront harbor park that flows in from Tampa Bay where an outdoor ceremony can be arranged.
What Couples Love About Our Venue
Your wedding is our priority! We will make sure that your special day will be unforgettable!
The Poynter Institute evokes an upscale sophisticated ambiance all while being positioned on the relaxed downtown St.Petersburg Waterfront. The building provides a balance between nature, class, and intrigue. The Frank Lloyd Wright style architecture and breathtaking views of the harbor will help to make your event unforgettable.
Pricing & Packages
Rental fees start at $4,000 for 8 hours.
The Ceremony
Couples can say “I do” indoors or out. The private courtyard is a lush garden setting framed by palm trees and colorful landscaping, and string lights overhead make it especially romantic for an evening ceremony. Though it sits in the middle of the city, the courtyard feels secluded and intimate.
Indoors, the Great Hall’s mahogany beams, imported Italian marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the reflecting pool and marina create a striking backdrop that needs little to no decor. Outdoor ceremonies can also be arranged facing the waterfront harbor park along Bayboro Harbor.
The Cocktail Hour
The outdoor patio surrounds the reflecting pool, with poolside benches and views of Bayboro Harbor, making it a natural spot for post-ceremony cocktails. Guests can also mingle in the palm-lined courtyard, which couples love to personalize with lounge pillows on the benches.
With several distinct indoor and outdoor areas on the property, couples have the flexibility to host cocktail hour wherever best fits their timeline and guest count.
The Reception
Receptions take place in the Great Hall, a light-filled, atrium-style space with warm mahogany woodwork, imported Italian marble floors, and expansive windows overlooking the reflecting pool and marina. It seats up to 130 guests, and round tables and chairs for a sit-down dinner are included with the rental.
Once the evening cools down, the doors open onto the patio so the party can flow outside into the breeze. Behind the scenes, a full catering kitchen and servery room give your caterer everything they need, and the rental includes up to eight hours of exclusive use of the facility.
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Location
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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.
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“We wanted a wedding venue that felt like us. My late grandmother used to joke that ‘when Kayla gets married, it will be in the woods with pizza,’ and that described my ideal wedding so well. A big part of our early planning process was accepting that though a backyard or brewery wedding would fit us well, it just wasn’t feasible for the number of guests we wanted and our budget, and it wouldn’t allow for the most enjoyable experience for our friends and family. I then opened my mind to all types of venues and feel so lucky we learned about The Poynter Institute.
Once we toured The Poynter Institute, we couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. It is absolutely stunning in the best way: understated and focused on natural elements like wood, natural lighting, and the gorgeous landscaping in the courtyard. It is the best-kept secret as a wedding venue in the Tampa Bay area! In addition to being the most beautiful space, it is also very budget-friendly and flexible, since you are able to work with any licensed and insured vendors. This allowed us to have a wedding that felt like us.
Nicole Henderson with The Poynter Institute was a dream to work with! She was so easygoing and responsive, and she went above and beyond. She even helped us find a quiet space at the venue for our lovingly high-maintenance rescue dog to stay comfortably during the wedding, so we didn’t have to worry about her being left for a long period at the hotel!”
– Kayla & Roman |
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I’m a plant lover, so my original preference was for a garden venue, but my mother had been to The Poynter Institute and convinced us to check it out. I remember coming back and telling her, ‘you were right; we kind of loved it.’ The Great Hall is just beautiful, and the rich, orangey wood was right up my alley. The courtyard is gorgeous, and I bought purple, orange, and teal pillows for the benches to make it comfortable and inviting. The reflecting pool area was a cool bonus, and I was thrilled that people used it. Once the night cooled down, we threw open the doors, and half the party went outside while a refreshing breeze embraced the dance floor. Ultimately, it had everything we wanted and was reasonably priced, too!
– Alex & Julian |
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We went into the initial design knowing that we wanted something a little different and bolder than some of the softer or lighter tones that have been popular the last few years. We wanted the reception to feel fun and bright. Our colors were emerald green, magenta, and gold. We wanted something bold and bright, and we loved how the jewel tones and bright colors worked well together.
– Olivia & Michael |
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Our theme was primarily greenery and tropical to highlight St. Pete and Florida and complement the venue. Our colors were green to go with our greenery look with Florida tropics. We incorporated all different shades of green for signs, gifts, and table linens.
– Kelsey & Chris |
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We quickly realized that we were looking for a reception venue that would allow us to bring any vendor of our choice, was close to the church, and would offer us ample event time.
The Poynter Institute checked all of our boxes! We were able to have the venue space for eight hours, and we had the ability to design every aspect of our wedding. We instantly visualized our wedding reception as soon as we stepped into the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired venue.
We are so happy that we chose the Poynter Institute as our reception venue. The venue was versatile offering many different areas for cocktail hour and dinner. Our guests appreciated that there was free parking, and how close it was to the downtown St. Pete area, and we enjoyed working with their event manager, Andrew, to plan our event. He was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process.
– Midori and Andrew |
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