April 4, 2024
Tying the knot along Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast? Congratulations! You’re spoiled for options in terms of choosing a Tampa wedding venue. There are so many Tampa Bay wedding venues that you may be having trouble settling on a location.
That’s why, as seasoned Tampa wedding planners, we’ve created a convenient list of the 14 best wedding venues in Tampa. We’ve even broken them down into helpful categories so you can find the perfect venue for your special day!
Here are some of our picks for top wedding venues in the area, with some bonus facts for our favorites.
Though built in 1910 as a storage and maintenance facility for streetcars, the fully renovated Armature Works has since established itself as a fun and versatile venue for a wedding reception.
This 73,000 sq. ft. event space can easily be converted to suit a more rustic and laidback reception to something a little more theatrical and over-the-top. By having your wedding venue at Armature Works, you and your guests will also enjoy incredible views of the Hillsborough River and access to their award-winning catering options.
Things We Love:
To see an Alexa Kritis Events wedding here, check out Kourtney & Wade’s Armature Works wedding in the Social Hall and Gathering Room.
Orlo House is a historic mansion, built in 1882 by Orlo J. Spafford, the president of the Tampa National Bank. Today, Orlo House is a popular Tampa venue for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and rehearsal dinners.
With this sophisticated venue, you have the option of having your ceremony/reception outdoors on the terrace or indoors in the ballroom, the latter of which can accommodate more guests. What truly sets Orlo House apart is the landscaped grounds. If you have your ceremony or reception outdoors, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the forest, meadow, and lovely green fields.
Since its founding in 2012, Oxford Exchange has hosted weddings for hundreds of couples. Located on 420 W Kennedy Boulevard, this European-inspired building is very recognizable. It’s a larger venue with enough room for a bookstore, restaurant, coffeehouse, and shop inside.
Over the years, Oxford Exchange has established a reputation for being a one-stop shop for private weddings. Their standout feature is definitely their professional in-house culinary team, which can cater your wedding with both food and beverage.
Want to learn more about this venue? Read our Oxford Exchange Guide to get all the details.
The Tampa Marriott on Water Street is a huge 43,229 sq. ft. event space with 19 event rooms to accommodate your guests. The Water Street Marriott is also home to Tampa’s largest ballroom event venue, which can host up to 2,000 guests.
That being said, this venue also offers smaller, more intimate spaces that can be used for a small wedding, rehearsal dinner, or a post-wedding brunch. The Water Street Marriott’s other standout qualities are their picturesque waterfront views of Tampa Bay and the customizable wedding menus from their talented catering team.
Located near the wharf in downtown Tampa, The Tampa EDITION is a gorgeous five-star hotel with some of the best bayside views in the city. There are several options for wedding ceremonies, including a lush garden terrace, the chic pool deck, and an elegant indoor ballroom.
With room for up to 150 seated guests, the indoor ballroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, neutral design elements, and a small adjacent terrace (perfect for a mini bar, cigar rolling table, or other entertainment station!). As a branch of Marriott’s luxury collection, you also can’t beat the luxurious suites available for your guest block and overnight stay!
Love this Tampa wedding venue? Check out our insider’s guide to weddings at The Tampa EDITION.
If you want a magical Tampa outdoor wedding, look no further than the Mision Lago Estate. This beautifully landscaped and well-maintained lakefront property sits on 20 acres in Thonotosassa, just 20 minutes from downtown Tampa.
The property is owned by June and Tom, a married couple that’s passionate about sharing their gorgeous property and their fully renovated 50 x 60-foot barn with newlyweds everywhere.
Things We Love:
Prepare to fall in love with Katie and Shane’s gorgeous wedding at Mision Lago Estate.
Since its founding in 1916, Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club has become Tampa’s premier golf and country club. This venue offers a classic southern vibe. It’s ideal for couples who want an outdoor wedding without going too far out into a rural area.
Palma Ceia is scenic and incredibly well maintained both indoors and outdoors. A major benefit to getting married at Palma Ceia is that they’re highly professional and have an exceptional and reliable staff.
Note that you must be a member or sponsored by a member to get married here.
Ready for some classic, sophisticated romance? You have to see Taylor & Steven’s January wedding at Palma Ceia.
Just off the Tampa Riverwalk, the Tampa Museum of Art is a beautifully modern and chic waterfront wedding venue in downtown Tampa. The museum offers many flexible-use spaces, including our two favorites for weddings: a covered outdoor terrace overlooking the Hillsborough River and the large atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and tons of contemporary art on display.
The indoor reception space is a blank canvas for you to make your own, and we love having the chance to transform this Tampa wedding venue into a warm, intimate setting for a cozy evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing. We also appreciate that Tampa Museum of Art has an in-house catering team that will build a custom menu for your celebration!
For more inspiration, take a peek at Amy and Brett’s rehearsal dinner at Tampa Museum of Art.
Opal Sands is a 17,000 sq. ft. resort on Clearwater Beach. It offers both indoor and outdoor event spaces, lovely rooms and suites for your guests, a great seafood restaurant, and a fun beachside tiki bar! This romantic venue boasts a large ballroom and a sizable event lawn, both of which can accommodate large weddings.
There are many benefits to having your wedding at Opal Sands, the foremost probably being the location itself. There are so many great activities for you and your guests to enjoy before and after the wedding, such as a visit to the Opal Spa or a relaxing day at the beach. This is a major reason why some couples opt to have both their wedding and their honeymoon here!
Things we love:
The Tampa River Center is located in the scenic Julian B Lane Riverfront Park along the Hillsborough River. This building offers a 2,880 sq. ft. event room space, which can accommodate seated receptions for up to 200 guests.
The space is decorated with impeccable taste, featuring a variety of bistro and crescent tables, along with Chiavari chairs with cushions. It’s distinct for its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which reveal an incredible view of downtown Tampa. This venue has a very elegant feel and has been a solid choice for couples since its beginnings in 2018.
Things we love about Tampa River Center:
The Secret Garden at Paradise Spring is truly unique in comparison to the other venues on this list. When you book your wedding at the Secret Garden, you gain access to the entire property, including the Tuscan-style Paradise Spring Villa.
You have an incredible amount of freedom with this venue. It’s fully customizable in terms of lighting fixtures and decor. The venue is also very versatile, as it can comfortably accommodate both smaller intimate weddings and large events.
The Secret Garden’s owners purchased the property specifically for this purpose, as the estate has many natural qualities that lend itself to weddings. The most notable of these qualities is the stunning backdrop, which offers amazing photo opportunities. The Secret Garden’s four grand oaks and artesian spring make every wedding feel dream-like.
PRO-TIP: This is a mostly unstaffed venue. We highly encourage hiring a wedding planner who is experienced with this venue to help sort out all the details and make the most of the space.
Things We Love:
See what an experienced team can create at this magical venue, with Nicole and Jeremy’s outdoor wedding and tented reception at The Secret Garden. Full-service wedding planning and design by Alexa Kritis Events.
Enchanted by the idea of having your wedding in a 1920s era hotel? Then The Vinoy Renaissance on 5th Avenue could be absolutely perfect for you. This iconic hotel offers covered outdoor space, a gorgeous esplanade by the sea, an indoor event space, and a reception area, all of which can accommodate approximately 300 guests.
If you have 150 guests or fewer, you may want to consider having your ceremony and/or reception at The Vinoy’s off-site golf club just 5 miles away. The golf club has a lovely ballroom that’s more intimate and private. A wedding planner can easily arrange transportation for you and all of your guests.
Pro Tip: Want to make your Vinoy wedding truly unique? Consider a fully custom, tented reception at the outdoor esplanade. We’d be happy to help!
Things We Love:
Oh how we love the Vinoy. See how we transformed this venue with white florals, crystals, and sophisticated luxury for Sara and Billy’s wedding.
The Don CeSar is a historic Spanish-style venue located on Gulf Boulevard by St. Pete Beach. Referred to by many as “The Pink Palace” for its bright pink walls, this eye-catching hotel has been hosting weddings since 1928.
Being a beautiful beach resort, this venue is popular among destination clients and locals alike. Its stunning white beaches and majestic views of the sea serve as the perfect backdrop for your special day.
The Don CeSar has something to offer almost every couple, no matter your preferences. This includes beachside ceremonies, indoor ocean-view ballroom ceremonies, and two gorgeous courtyards for those who want to be outdoors but not directly in the sand. Their venues can accommodate 300 seated indoors and 250 outdoors.
Things We Love:
To see an Alexa Kritis Events wedding here, don’t miss Carlina and Michael’s gorgeous December Don CeSar Wedding.
Do you wish you could find a venue that’s never been seen before? Consider a wedding on a private property, especially a space that is meaningful to you.
Alexa Kritis Events has extensive experience creating incredible wedding and party experiences, anywhere. We can arrange the logistics, rentals, tent, design, and more, to create the most unique Tampa-area wedding you can imagine.
See more from Sarah & Tyler’s private home wedding, planned by Alexa Kritis Events.
At Alexa Kritis Events, we serve clients in Tampa and beyond — and we love every opportunity we get to plan gorgeous weddings throughout the state of Florida. Here are a few of our favorite Florida wedding venues outside of Tampa.
Calling all Disney lovers! The Four Seasons Resort Orlando is the perfect escape for family-friendly weddings in Florida. But it’s more than just Disneyworld that makes this resort venue great. An onsite spa, fine dining restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course make this as much a premier destination for adults as it is for the kids.
From beachfront ceremonies to golf outings with your wedding party, La Playa offers it all. This South Florida wedding venue is one of the most beautiful destinations for those looking to tie the knot with the sand beneath their toes.
See Madison and Chad’s tropical Florida wedding for more inspiration!
Did someone say “island time”? If you’re looking for the ultimate destination wedding getaway, you can’t go wrong with Cheeca Lodge. Located in the heart of the Florida Keys, you can expect a relaxing wedding weekend at this luxury resort venue!
We know choosing a wedding venue isn’t easy. There are so many things to take into consideration, including the location, the number of guests you need accommodated, and the overall vibe.
Let the team at Alexa Kritis Events help! Having a wedding planner by your side will make every step of the process easier and much more fun. You’re less likely to stress over details when you have an experienced professional to support you and offer valuable insights. If you’re looking for a wedding planner to help bring your dream wedding to life, we would absolutely love to hear from you. Contact us today for more details.
Not quite ready to commit to hiring a full-service wedding planner? Consider our short-term Venue Consulting service to help you find and book the best venue for you.
*Originally published November 23, 2021. Updated on April 23, 2023 and March 14, 2025.
Copyright 2021-2024 Alexa Kritis Events - Tampa Wedding Planner & Event Planner | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Be the first to comment