Nicole Sent on 04/22/2026

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A Truly Magical Wedding Venue

Sunken Gardens was simply breathtaking—the perfect setting for our wedding day. From the moment we booked to our final walkthrough and rehearsal, the entire team was incredibly helpful, accommodating, and kind. They made the whole process feel seamless and stress-free.

We held our ceremony outdoors on the North Lawn, which was absolutely stunning, and our reception under the clear tent on the Wedding Lawn—such a dreamy setup that allowed the beauty of the gardens to shine through all evening. For cocktail hour, we hosted guests in the Oak Pavilion, where the birds made a special appearance—such a unique and unforgettable touch that everyone loved.

The entire setting feels magical. Everywhere you turn is lush, vibrant, and picture-perfect. I still get chills thinking about how beautiful it all was and how special it felt to celebrate our day there.

If you’re looking for a venue that feels like a hidden oasis and delivers an unforgettable experience, Sunken Gardens is truly unmatched.

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Madison Sent on 04/07/2026

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absolute dream venue in the perfect area!!

We are so incredibly thankful to have gotten married at Sunken Gardens—it truly felt like a dream venue from the very beginning. I fell in love with it right away, not only because of its natural beauty but also because of the amazing people behind it.

Stacey and Sarah were wonderful to work with and collaborated closely with me and my planner for over a year to bring our vision to life. Their dedication, organization, and care made the entire planning process feel smooth and enjoyable.

We held our ceremony on the North Lawn, cocktail hour in the Oak Pavilion, and reception in the Garden Room, and each space was absolutely perfect. The setting created such a magical atmosphere for every part of the day.

Our guests are still talking about how much they loved the venue, and we are so grateful to have such beautiful photos to look back on forever. We highly recommend Sunken Gardens and their incredible team—it is truly a dream wedding venue!

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Nicole Sent on 07/05/2025

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Beautiful choice!

Beautiful backdrops, wonderful coordinators, and amazing experience! Highly recommend for your future wedding.

Sarah Sent on 03/17/2025

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Florida wedding of our dreams!

My husband and I were both born and raised in St. Pete and we just could not imagine getting married anywhere else. The beauty is just unmatched, everywhere you look is so picturesque and meticulously maintained with love. Stacey, Sarah, Stephanie, and the whole SG team were a dream to work with, could not have asked for a better experience! There are some limitations as it’s owned by the city, but nothing that would be a dealbreaker whatsoever.

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Hailie Sent on 12/27/2023

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Morgan/Campbell Wedding 12/08/23

Everything was so beautiful and the staff was so helpful and amazing, I’m so glad we picked Sunken Gardens! The weather happened to be perfect, I’m obsessed with how beautiful it was!

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Jessica Sent on 12/19/2023

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Perfect Venue

From our first tour at Sunken Gardens to our actual wedding day, the venue could not have looked more perfect. We barely needed any additional decorations because the flowers were in full bloom and guests truly enjoyed the opportunity to wander the whole garden throughout the night. We had our wedding at three different locations throughout the gardens, allowing us and guests to experience the different flowers/greenery around the garden. Both Sarah and Stacey were easy to communicate with and were always on top of everything they needed from us, but we are glad we got an additional day of coordinator who worked the closest with the staff on the week leading up to it and on the actual day. While there are some rules to keep in mind as the venue is owned by the city, we felt they really tried to accommodate what we needed and the beauty of the venue overshadowed everything. Highly recommend checking this place out (but know you will probably have to book far out from when you visit – SO worth it).

John Sent on 12/02/2023

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A Fantastic Experience

Sunken Gardens was the perfect venue for our wedding! We had reached out to other potential sites, but no one was as helpful and responsive as Stacey and Stephanie at Sunken Gardens. The gardens are obviously beautiful. Beyond that, the staff supported us every step of the way, answered all of our questions and made planning a wedding out of state (we live in California) as easy for us as possible. We had a lot of questions about accessibility for our guests, and they were patient with us every time we reached out. The day-of was smooth and exactly what we were hoping for. We’re so happy to have gotten married there!

Shira Sent on 11/16/2023

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Fairytale wedding

Sunken Gardens was the perfect venue for our wedding. Not only is it remarkably affordable compared to similar options in other parts of Florida, it is also the best place to get married in St. Pete if the weather is nice. We got married in early November 2023 and were given the most beautiful day. The staff at Sunken Gardens were very helpful and easy to reach. If you are looking for an enchanting jungle paradise to tie the knot in, look no further than Sunken Gardens.

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Amanda Sent on 01/17/2023

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Our friends and family LOVED this venue

From the start of booking Sunken Gardens, the event staff was easy to work with and quick to respond. They were so sweet and made the week of our wedding stress free! Our day was so beautiful- our guests could not stop talking about how stunning everything was. They loved the cocktail hour and enjoyed walking around the garden. Sunken Gardens has a full staff that is ready to ensure your day is perfect. This venue was affordable and impressive.

Julia Sent on 06/15/2022

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The Most Magical Venue!

Stacey and Sarah were such a pleasure to work with and are incredible at what they do! We had to reschedule a couple of times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they were both very accommodating and understanding, which made much of our planning stress-free. They were both very responsive and professional and had great recommendations for other vendors. The planning was seamless—they provided all of the necessary information and were flexible based on our requests. It was also the most affordable venue around for our vision and the price even included tables and chairs with an added-on bar package to eliminate extra vendors! The coordination the day of was perfection—everything was taken care of without being noticed and we had the wedding of our dreams without any problems whatsoever. Words really can't express how grateful I am for the team at Sunken Gardens. I appreciate you all so much! Thank you for everything!

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Nicole Sent on 05/24/2022

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Perfect Venue for Intimate Wedding

Sunken Gardens was the most perfect, beautiful venue for our intimate wedding. Our guests are still talking about how lovely the venue and the staff were! Stacey was beyond amazing - communicative, professional, and patient when I asked a million questions. The day was truly perfect and we were so grateful to be married in such a beautiful garden!

Laura Sent on 03/13/2022

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Could not have picked a better venue

If you are considering an outdoor wedding in the St. Petersburg area then this is the spot. Our guests were blown away at how beautiful our wedding was, and the team at Sunken Gardens was so thoughtful and helpful throughout the whole process. We had to make a day-before call to move the reception indoors because of rain, and the whole process went off without a hitch. Highly recommend this venue.

Meagan Sent on 11/24/2021

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My perfect venue

Sunken gardens is absolutely breathtaking. The staff was so helpful and make our day perfect and stress free ❤️

Jessica Sent on 10/26/2021

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Dream Wedding!

I don't even know where to begin. We got engaged in April 2021 and immediately started looking at venues for a late-2021 wedding. We were sold on another location, but decided to check out Sunken Gardens. We'd only ever been there as kids, but it ended up being a huge YES for us. What a gem! Not only is it beautiful, but it's incredibly affordable when compared to other wedding venues, and they have so many options to choose from. We also liked that they provided the tables and chairs, so there's no need for an additional vendor. Our all outdoor soiree was everything we'd dreamt of, and more!

Stacey was our event coordinator. She was very sweet and quick to respond to the millions of questions I had. Sarah helped us coordinate our bar package, which was also surprisingly affordable (seriously, the least expensive in St. Pete unless you book a BYOB venue). There was a small price change between the date we signed the venue contract and the date we signed the bar contract, and they were kind enough to accommodate the old pricing for us. We ordered 8 bottles of champagne (not included in the normal bar pricing) and didn't use any of them and I was completely shocked when they offered to refund the money for the unused bubbly.

On the day of our wedding, they were there for us when we needed them, but otherwise, they were in stealth mode. They somehow managed to ensure everything was taken care of without being noticeable. It was a huge production without really feeling like there were a ton of people running around.

I also changed my dress 3 times, the last change right as they were ready to lock the gates, and they allowed me the time to do so without rushing us out. I'm forever grateful for that!

We can't say enough great things about this amazing venue and their staff. Our day was perfect and we owe a lot of that to the people at Sunken Gardens. Thank you!!

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Asone Sent on 09/08/2021

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Highly recommend!!!

We just had our wedding at the Sunken Gardens this past weekend. It was beautiful, unique and truly perfect for my husband and I. I can’t believe we had the whole gardens to ourselves so guests could wander around during cocktail hour. Everyone at the venue, especially Stacey Fuqua, was great to work with through the whole process of wedding planning. Look no further, if you want your wedding or event to be remembered.

Erin Sent on 02/22/2021

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Beautiful, reasonable priced venue

Sunken Gardens was exactly what I had envisioned for our small ceremony. The scenery was beautiful. The venue staff was extremely helpful and kind, and everything went seamlessly.

Kirsten Sent on 05/26/2020

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Perfect Venue!

I fell in love with the Sunen Gardens immediately, the tropical garden feel is so romantic and just stunning in photos. Being from Florida, we knew we wanted to make the most of this area, but a beach wedding just wasn't out thing. We LOVED Sunken. The team there is amazing, so helpful, responsive, and they know how to make sure the wedding runs smoothly. We had our wedding on the wedding lawn in February and it was gorgeous. Our reception was upstairs in the garden room, and it was all perfect. Highly recommend!!

Jennifer Sent on 04/04/2020

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Amazing Wedding Venue

Best decision we made by getting married at sunken gardens! Love the history behind the gardens and they are truly magical! We got married on the North Lawn. The grounds are beautiful and romantic, great for pictures! The staff was so kind and professional to work with. Our wedding day went smoothly. Highly recommend this venue!

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Shauleena Sent on 03/05/2020

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Best Decision I ever made!

Having my wedding at Sunken Gardens was the best decision I ever made. The gardens are absolutely breath taking and can really make a wedding elegant. I got married in the North Lawn and it was absolutely gorgeous. My cocktail hour was in the oak pavilion and reception was held in the garden room.
Stacey was my coordinator and she was fantastic! She answered all my questions and responded right away. For the price, I got so much more than I ever imagined at Sunken Gardens. I loved the fact that I got the whole gardens with my wedding package. My guests loved it and I’ve been told multiple times my wedding venue was one of the most beautiful ones they’ve been too.
I also love the fact that there’s an option to have a brick engraved with whatever you choose. My husband and I got a brick engraved with our new last name and wedding date. It was the perfect touch to our wedding and it was placed right where we said our vows. It’s a memory we can cherish forever when I visit the gardens. They even allowed me to have my fur babies at my wedding ceremony and that was a HUGE must for me. They were very accommodating! I highly recommend Sunken Gardens as a wedding venue!!

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Kelley Sent on 09/08/2019

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Excited to get married at Sunken Gardens!

Sunken Gardens was our first choice for a wedding venue and I'm so excited to exchange wedding vows with my future husband in 2021. Sarah helped show us the venue space and provided details and options for ceremony, cocktail, and reception areas. Sunken Gardens is absolutely stunning and provides a home away from home feel for those who would love to get married somewhere tropical!

Lairhe Sent on 06/12/2019

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Sunken Garden was my perfect dream Wedding

Sunken Garden and their team was seriously amazing! I couldn’t have ask for better people to work with like Stacey and Sarah, and couldn’t have ask for a more stunning and beautiful venue. All my guests for in awe on how beautiful the gardens are, and all the places to take photos are amazing!

Allyson Sent on 05/29/2019

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Most Magical Wedding Venue

The most magical place for a wedding!

The venue speaks for itself in how gorgeous it is. From the moment my finance and I stepped foot onto this serene piece of heaven we instantly knew this was our perfect spot for our magical fairy tail wedding. And we signed the dotted line that day! We knew we wanted an outside garden wedding and this was it!
Sarah, Stacey and the whole Sunken Gardens team did an OUTSTANDING job from start to finish.
Our ceremony was in the North Lawn, our cocktail hour was under the Oak Pavilion, and our reception was outside in the garden under the most perfect big white tent.
We were going for that "secret garden/fairy-tale garden" look-and-feel and that is exactly how it turned out. We live right here in lovely Saint Petersburg, so we were able to visit multiple times before our wedding day so I could truly plan and picture where things would go, The girls helped with all of my unanswered questions and their were A LOT.
I was a VERY overwhelmed bride at times and would show up at their office with a question and both Stacey & Sarah would always reassure me that everything was going to be PERFECT and that it was.
They went above & beyond keeping me sane and answering & helping me with so many questions and for that I am forever grateful but what they really did was keep this bride from a total melt down with their support and how professional they both were. All while having fun and making me laugh too! We had such an amazing experience with everything from our rehearsal well so well organized and detailed & our magical wedding day well it was PERFECT
We made a life time of memories with our family & friends it was a PERFECT VENUE and the history behind this hidden slice of heaven is timeless..
We bought a keepsake block without names & wedding date, I see my husband & myself going to Sunken Garden a lot on special occasions and walk through memory lane…hand & hand. It was such a romantic, fun, beautiful and simply teacupful place to say I DO surround by spectacular greenery, palm trees, flowers, butterflies, fountains, animals, nature honestly how could you not get married or have any kind of occasion here.
Our guest were overwhelmed with the beauty of the garden and are still talking about how amazing everything was. We did hire great vendors too that helped very very much too!
We highly recommend Sunken Gardens & Give their staff and property a 5 star rating across the board! Thank you all so much
A very happy bride & groom
Allyson & Jason McCandless
April 05, 2019

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Briana Sent on 03/19/2019

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Beautiful venue!

It was absolutely beautiful the day of our wedding! We held our ceremony on the North Lawn. The staff made it go flawlessly. I'm so glad I had their help to coordinate our flower delivery and violinist, I would not have had time to do everything myself! They had everything set right on time, but were flexible if we needed a few extra minutes. Overall they were very helpful and we loved the gardens!

Michelle Sent on 03/06/2019

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Such a beautiful place!

We were so happy with our decision to book with Sunken Gardens. The coordinators made it easy for guests to get where they needed to go and everything ran smoothly. The wedding lawn was gorgeous and we had so many compliments from our vendors and our guests on the venue. Would 100% recommend to anyone wanting an affordable tropical wedding!

Katie Sent on 02/20/2019

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Dream Wedding

Our wedding couldn't have gone more perfect! This was a beautiful venue for a wedding. The pictures after the ceremony turned out fabulous. The park was open to visitors, but never felt packed or uncomfortable taking pictures.

Stephanie Sent on 02/12/2019

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Sunken Gardens St Petersburg, Florida

Most magical place for a wedding! Booking Sunken Gardens for our daughters wedding venue was the best decision we made. I highly recommend this venue!

Alessandra Sent on 02/06/2019

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Simply beautiful

We were looking for an outdoor ceremony and reception, something with lots of flowers and green. This place was absolutely perfect!! The garden where we got married was beautiful and the areas for the cocktail hour and reception were as well. We had the last two at night and they had the hanging lights from the trees... it was simply breathtaking,

Annalise Sent on 12/29/2018

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Sunken Gardens is Beautiful!

Sunken Gardens was our dream venue. It does book up fast so if you want to have your wedding there try not to wait too long. We ended up having ours on a Sunday which was really nice and actually qualified us for a discount. Cocktail hour in the Oak Pavilion is dreamy with their strung lights and having the reception outside was pretty magical, too!

Will Sent on 11/27/2018

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Getting Married Under a Live Oak

We were very happy with our choice to get married at Sunken Gardens. We had a morning ceremony underneath the live oak tree which was an amazing place to gather our family and backdrop for our ceremony. Everyone there was great to work with and we had no problems during the process at all. Its also great that everyone gets to wander around before/after because its built in entertainment!

Stephanie Sent on 05/10/2018

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We loved working with Sarah and Stacey for our Sunday morning brunch wedding at Sunken Gardens. The value was great, and the venue was beautiful. We got married outside in the Oak Pavilion, then our guests got to explore the gardens before heading to the Garden Room for our reception. Everything ran so smoothly and we got so many compliments on the venue.

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Tasia Sent on 05/05/2018

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Stacey and everyone else at the sunken gardens were so friendly and wonderful to deal with. The onsite coordinators made the wedding rehearsal flawless and also the the day of stress free. They were accommodating and professional. I would definitely recommend!!!!

Saya Sent on 03/24/2018

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Stacey and Barbara on the Sunken Gardens team are absolutely amazing! The venue speaks for itself in how gorgeous it is. We had our ceremony in the North Lawn, our cocktail hour was under the Oak Pavilion, and our reception was inside in the Garden Room. We were going for that "secret garden/fairytale garden" look-and-feel and that is exactly how it turned out. Once we signed with Sunken Gardens, we were able to visit the venue multiple times before our wedding day so we could truly plan and picture where things would go, how we would want things set-up, and all of those details. Stacey helped with all of the planning and she was beyond helpful. I had so many questions, just trying to ensure I had everything in place, and she was super responsive and so accommodating with everything! Barbara helped for the rehearsal and the day-of and she was so sweet and helpful, as well. They had a staff of six that helped the day-of and though I didn't get to meet them all individually they all helped in making our big day more than perfect. If you want a gorgeous venue with an amazing staff, Sunken Gardens is your place!

Gresjana Sent on 03/21/2018

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I am in love with Sunken Garden!! I love gardens and this was the perfect venue for me to have my wedding at! The oak pavilion and all the ceremony sites are gorgeous! Stacey and Sarah were always there to help me. They answered all of my questions very quickly and made the process stress free for me! My guests had a great time and I only got compliments from them! Amazing experience!!

Liz Sent on 02/27/2018

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My husband and I were recently married at the Gardens. The staff here is incredible! They were there to answer all of my questions and made me feel comfortable in my choice to wed here. I must also say, the day of coordinators were AWESOME! They made sure we knew what we were doing and truly ensured our day went according to plans. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone who is interested.

Matthew Sent on 11/09/2017

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Sunken Gardens is the venue for the wedding of your dreams! The over 100 year old garden creates a magical atmosphere that your guests will absolutely love!!

We had our ceremony on the north lawn, the cocktail reception under the 250 year old live oaks in the Oak Pavillion, and the dinner inside the spacious garden room.

The staff at the gardens are wonderful to work with and will make your day easy and fun.

Halima Sent on 10/22/2017

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Sunken Gardens is such a great venue. Not only did the day of coordinator, Barbara and Stephanie, work well with the other vendors, but they helped us along the way. They made sure we had our ceremony outside even though it rained literally 3 minutes after the ceremony ended. haha. They were super understanding, patient and were there to support us every step of the way. Everything looked so beautiful and we were so happy how it all turned out! The pictures below are the outside portion,were we got married which was the north lawn, but the reception was indoors. The first picture is also the cocktail hour area but because of the rain our guests could only stay out for like 10 minutes, but still beautiful.

Ashley Sent on 09/25/2017

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Sunken Gardens is a magical place. The staff was wonderful and the day of coordinator Alan was amazing he did a great job he removed all the nerves from everyone. We had people available to help us at anytime they were there all day and all night.

Megan Sent on 09/14/2017

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Sunken Gardens was amazing from start today finish. Their coordinator was there every step of the way and was prepared when we had to move the ceremony inside due to inclement weather. Their ballroom was amazing; it's huge with enough space for everything and accommodated all of my guest very well.

Ashley Sent on 12/28/2016

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Sarah, Stacey, and the rest of the Sunken Gardens team were a pleasure to work with for our wedding ceremony and reception in the gardens. We worked with them for almost a year and everything went perfectly! The weather was better than anyone could have predicted, but I suppose that credit cannot be given to the Sunken Gardens team. The coordination between Sunken Gardens, our day of coordinator, and all our vendors was flawless -- as far as I know, there were no issues! Our rehearsal was also smooth and the SG team was quick to adapt to any proposed changes. Our guests were so impressed with our wedding at Sunken Gardens!

Ivana Sent on 10/09/2016

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Not only is this venue beautiful, the staff is very friendly and always quick to respond. They were very accomdating and helpful when it came to answering questions and easing my mind when it came to different situations.

Eva Sent on 06/13/2016

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Sarah and team were very responsive and quick. The location could not be any better and even though the rain put a damper on having cocktail hour outside in the Oak Garden, the accommodated us inside the location and still made it look beautiful. The Garden Room for the reception was absolutely stunning with the large windows and wood floors. I love the fact that as simple as it looks, it still makes it feel elegant. All our guests loved the location!

Audra Sent on 10/20/2015

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The venue was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The whole crew at Sunken Gardens was wonderful to work

Devon Sent on 11/14/2014

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Not only is Sunken Gardens absolutely gorgeous itself, the staff at this venue are absolutely amazing to work with. Sarah Carvalis, Natalie White, Stacey Faqua, and Barbara (so sorry, I don't know her last name) were just a few of the wonderful employees with whom we had the pleasure of sharing our wedding!

We got married in the Oak Pavilion; we had a smaller wedding (~80 people) and loved the backdrop of the gardens with the brick layout extending throughout. My husband and I got engaged under an oak tree, so it was important to us to carry the symbolism of an oak with us into our ceremony. The Sunken Gardens Oak Pavilion was perfect!!! The Garden Room, where we had our reception, was perfectly sized and was VERY easy to decorate and make our own. The rest of the gardens, where we took our pictures, were absolutely stunning - greens, oranges, reds, purples, yellows.. any color of nature you can possibly imagine. Such a gorgeous venue!

Sarah, Natalie, and Stacey were extremely attentive to all of my crazy questions throughout the process. They made planning this wedding (which I did on my own, I didn't have a coordinator) much easier and allowed me the freedom to do what I wanted with decorations, seating, etc. Barbara was our wedding day coordinator, who also worked with us at the rehearsal, and she was fantastic!! She was knowledgeable, professional, and knew exactly what she was doing - she made us feel super special and really adhered to our questions and needs. The rehearsal, ceremony, and reception were PERFECT, and we have the Sunken Gardens staff to thank for that!!

Amanda Sent on 11/10/2014

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Absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend for a future couple to have their destination wedding here!

Tara Sent on 10/20/2014

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The staff at Sunken Gardens is beyond professional, helpful and organized! From the very beginning, it was so easy to communicate with Sarah and her staff. They were very quick to respond to any question I had, no matter how small. Come rehearsal time, Barbara and Stephanie were so detail oriented that they kept me calm and sane. I knew everything would be perfect and it was. And the venue itself...you cannot find a more beautiful place to hold a romantic and intimate wedding. And having the gardens all to ourselves was so amazing and private!! Our guests were floored by the beauty of the Sunken Gardens.

Donna Sent on 08/08/2014

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So beautiful! A hidden treasure that made our day perfect. The air conditioned reception room was great and we had a lot of fun ! Super helpful staff as well. Thank you!!

Krystan Sent on 05/05/2014

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My husband and I fell in love with Sunken Gardens the moment we arrived. Sunken Gardens was the first venue of many on our list. While touring the gardens, we both looked at each other and knew this would be the perfect place. We had a beautiful ceremony on the Wedding Lawn, followed by a cocktail hour under the Oak Pavilion, and finally our reception in the Garden Room. The entire day was magical! The staff were so friendly and accommodating all throughout the planning process. Sunken Gardens is definitely a little "gem" in the heart of St. Petersburg. We couldn't have picked a better place to spend our special day!

Kate Sent on 03/03/2014

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Beautiful! My wedding was a dream come true with the most beautiful venue.

User1427913 Sent on 11/08/2013

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We were just married at the end of October and the weather was PERFECT! Our ceremony, cocktail reception and reception were all outdoors. What a beautiful setting.. all the flowers were in bloom! Everything looked beautiful. We also used the indoor classroom to make a kid’s party room.. We had food and games in there for them and they had a blast! It was great to have the extra space for the adults in the courtyard. The staff was wonderful in coordinating and guiding us through everything.. and I must give a very special and warm THANK YOU to Natalie as she is the one that we had our initial meeting with and was more than helpful throughout our months leading up to the wedding and answered all of my questions and was a tremendous support. It was truly a magical spot to have our wedding!

Jessica Sent on 09/14/2013

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Loved the people at sunken gardens. Their service was fantastic. The grounds are so well cared for and made the perfect setting. We loved the ample parking and great food.

Danielle Sent on 04/23/2013

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The most AMAZING spot ever to have a wedding. It was everything I wanted and more. It was special and intimate. You are surrounded by an amazing garden with beautiful flowers. It is a very romantic spot to get married in. It was great to have the grounds to ourselves and guest and for them to be allowed to roam around the gardens after the ceremony. Everybody there was so helpful and always was quick to respond to my endless questions. They were so accommodating to everything. They made my wedding amazing. I would definitely check them out if you are looking for something different.

Dana Sent on 12/03/2012

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We had our November 2012 wedding at Sunken Gardens and were thrilled with our choice. It's hard to imagine how beautiful your day will be until you actually get there and our expectations were exceeded. We had our ceremony in the North Lawn which was in almost full bloom by our wedding day and we had our reception outside in the Oak Pavilion. The ladies that helped along the way -- Sarah and Natalie -- answered all of my questions as the date got closer. And the ladies that helped during the event itself -- Stephanie and Barbara -- were priceless. How people get married without people assisting with the "day of details" is beyond me! Barbara led us through the rehearsal the night before our wedding and made sure to take detailed notes on what we wanted our day to be like. And she was put everything into action flawlessly the next day! On the day of the wedding, we had a concern that the evening might be chilly for our outdoor reception and Barbara tracked down a company on short-notice that could provide heaters for our reception. They are absolute pros. If you want an outdoor/garden venue that is stunningly beautiful and private (unlike beach weddings where you have no control over beach-goers), Sunken Gardens is hands-down the perfect choice.

Nicole Sent on 10/24/2012

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I cannot say enough about Sunken Gardens. We had our entire wedding--ceremony and reception in the gardens. We had a small, 30 guest wedding with a jazz band and buffet catering. The staff at Sunken Gardens were highly attentive, friendly, and helped the night run smooth. The night felt so magical in the garden, and the ambiance was amazing. We felt like we were in a different place. We absolutely loved it and would recommend Sunken Gardens to any couple in Florida who wants a beautiful garden wedding. Definitely have the reception at the Oak Pavillion!!!

User841780 Sent on 06/26/2012

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Beautiful! Our guests loved walking around the garden after the ceremony and our pictures are amazing! The coordinators were responsive and helpful. The natural beauty made decorating simple and easy. We've loved visiting this spot since we moved to Florida, of course, now it's even more special!

Heather Sent on 03/19/2012

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We had our wedding in early March at Sunken Gardens, and were so happy we did. Everything was perfect - the venue, the staff, the weather. The staff at Sunken Gardens was wonderful - Sarah patiently answered all of my questions and offered up vendors when I needed help. Barbara was there the day of the wedding and was so friendly and pleasant that she put me and our families at ease. If I needed anything, she and the rest of the staff there was happy to help.

The venue was so beautiful - we had rented out the entire Gardens and were happy we did. The flowers were beautiful and it was so peaceful. Our guests couldn't stop talking about how beautiful it was. We had our reception upstairs in the Garden Room and were happy we did. Our guests didn't have to go anywhere after the ceremony and could walk around and enjoy the Gardens. The view from the Garden Room was incredible - it overlooked the area where we had the ceremony.

We would highly recommend Sunken Gardens to anyone. The only other thing I'd mention is that if you're a warm body, like me, you might want to consider having your wedding before April, as it does start to get warm outside....

Natalie Sent on 07/05/2011

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Absolutely beautiful location and very cool (temperature wise) even though we got married in June. The staff was very helpful throughout the entire process. I especially have to thank Dick, Sarah and Barbara. Dick took care of the alcohol for us and was very responsive and patient throughout the planning process, Sarah patiently answered my questions and worked through issues up until the wedding and Barbara (along with other staff) coordinated all of my vendors and family the day of. I could not have picked a better venue!

Rachel Sent on 03/24/2011

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My husband and I wanted to do something different than a cheesy hotel wedding, but we wanted the venue to be near civilization to give our guests a nice place to stay. We just happened to be driving past Sunken Gardens and we were floored by the beauty of the gardens. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception were each in a separate clearing between the flowers, palms, and oak trees. The reception for 170 people was under a beautiful outdoor white tent. We had the flexibility to hire in from any approved St. Pete caterer so you have a lot of food options. We hired Olympia for the main meal and Sushi Rock Grille for a sushi station. I might be biased, but I think it was the best food I’ve ever had a wedding. The bar service through the city of St Pete was very reasonably priced and the manager Dick was awesome. The garden's event manager Sarah was fun, flexible, and very helpful. Thank you so much for a wonderful day!!

Stacia Sent on 03/09/2011

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I just had my wedding at Sunken Gardens on 3/5/11 and it was beautiful!! It was Japanese themed and Sunken Gardens was the perfect setting. Sarah, Stephanie and Barbara were such a BIG help!! Everything ran smoothly and looked wonderful. I would recommend Sunken Gardens to anyone!! What a gem to find in downtown St. Pete!!

Jessica Sent on 11/08/2010

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Can not say enough great things about Sunken Gardens. Everyone who helped us with our wedding was very nice. Sarah C. originally showed us Sunken Gardens was very helpful, she was always quick to answer back emails and friendly too. Barbara and Stephanie (coordinators Sunken Gardens provides) were wonderful, friendly, and most helpful. I can't imagine our wedding going any smoother and a lot has to do with having the help of Barbara and Stephanie. Highly reccomend.

Kersten Sent on 10/26/2010

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We rented the Gardens and Garden Room from 5PM-Midnight for a ceremony in the Oak Pavilion and the reception to follow in the Garden Room. It was incredibly beautiful! My flower budget was $50. Why? Because there is nothing I could afford that would have been able to compare to the lush beauty that IS Sunken Gardens. The staff were amazingly helpful and willing to answer any and all questions that I had. We worked with Sarah C. for the wedding and Dick was the bar manager. Both were extremely helpful (1st wedding) with both the knowledge of the process and with helpful recommendations when I didn't have a clue. :) GREAT value for the price-the whole gardens plus the Garden Room for 5PM-Midnight-$3250. They also supply tables & chairs and do the setup & tear down for them (woo-hoo). You do have to choose a City of St. Pete approved caterer, but they have a lot of fabulous choices (try Amici's) and they are willing to work with you in regards to the bar if you want something different from what they have (thank you Dick!). Love them, HIGHLY recommend them!!!!

Andrea Sent on 10/27/2008

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I can't say enough about the event staff at Sunken Gardens. They were all friendly, cooperative, and communicative. The venue was BEAUTIFUL, to say the least, and extremely affordable. Anyone looking for a gorgeous outdoor wedding should consider Sunken Gardens for their event!

Aqualuna27 Sent on 07/24/2007

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The women in charge of weddings at these botanical gardens was extremely helpful. All my hubby and I had to do was walk down the isle it seemed like. And with all the flowers they have and beautiful plants, it was the perfect venue for our wedding pictures. I wouldn't change a thing.

E043899Daa0C7Add37Bc99792B2C045D6Abbc6Dc Sent on 12/03/2017

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Loved having our wedding at the Sunken Gardens, and our guests loved it too.
A couple things that stand out in particular -
- Obviously the property is awesome. Many guests were very impressed with the property and of course it lightens the burden on decorating when the place itself is so beautiful
- The planning/assistance exceeded our expectations. Having the staff there to lean on for logistics, timing, etc was HUGE
- Very responsive and professional

Gave a 4.5 on flexibility because they do only allow you to choose from a list of approved caterers (although its several dozen) and the alcohol must be provided them (although again they were very accommodating and picked up some special requests for us) but since we loved and had NO issues with caterer/alcohol it wasn't a concern for us :)

Loved this place and would highly recommend stopping by!

Shakira Sent on 06/04/2013

4.9 out of 5 rating

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Sunken Gardens is absolutely beautiful! The staff is awesome and extremely flexible. I know my wedding coordinator called a few times and wasn't able to get a call back, but it all worked out! It rained :( so we weren't able to use the gardens. But it was awesome in the end and it was still beautiful. Thank you so much to the Sunken Gardens staff!!! Awesome job!

Puchong Sent on 12/20/2023

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Beautiful venue at a reasonable price.

Sunken Gardens was a great indoor/outdoor venue for a reasonable price. Our ceremony was on their North Lawn that had an amazing green backdrop and arch that was perfect to seat our 70-80 guests. The party was allowed in at 3pm and had two getting ready areas. These spaces were good for storing belongings and for quick touch-ups, but we opted to have our getting-ready photos off-site to have more space and better lighting.

A positive and negative side of the venue is that the ceremony occurred after the garden’s closing time (4:30pm), ensuring privacy from the general public. However, this meant that we were restricted to having the ceremony start at 5pm despite the sun setting around 5:30pm in November. Starting at 5pm, we had enough lighting to last the ceremony and through half of our cocktail hour.

Our cocktail hour was in the Oak Pavilion that our guests enjoyed particularly due to their market lighting. One issue was that there were mosquitos that came after sunset despite the Gardens spraying against them. Our reception was held in their Garden Ballroom indoors upstairs that was accessible by an elevator and stairs. They typically provide round tables and chairs though we opted to rent our own.

Catering must be done through their preferred vendors list which had options for many types of cuisines and price ranges (we chose Olympia Catering). We were able to bring in our own cake and dessert vendor that worked with the catering group. We also had to purchase bar services through the venue/city and do not allow liquor shots. They provide acrylic drinkware and bar glassware would have to be rented from outside.

Overall, Sunken Gardens was a great place to have our wedding day. We would highly recommend them to others. Stacey was great work with and answered all our questions promptly via email. Our guests had a great time there.

Angela Sent on 01/31/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

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So beautiful!

I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful venue. We got married in the Oak Pavilion & it was absolutely gorgeous. Stacey & Sarah were great to work with the whole process. Stacey was our main contact & she was awesome. She answered e-mails right away (one of the most important things in my book) and was very communicative the whole year we wedding planned. We asked our guests to walk around the gardens while we took photos and they were happy to do so because it’s so pretty (a great upside is that your guests get into the gardens for free!) The one downside is that the backup plan in case of bad weather (if there is a second wedding already booked that night) is a hallway but luckily we had the most gorgeous weather I ever could have asked for and didn’t need to worry about that. I definitely recommend SG for a gorgeous venue you don’t need any decor for!

Annie Sent on 05/13/2018

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We loved our venue so much, I wouldn't change a thing about it. The women that work here were very kind, and answered our questions timely and professionally. We gave 4 stars for quality of service ONLY because the woman who helped us with the rehearsal seemed very confused. I had never met her before that day, so that was also slightly off-putting. Nonetheless, it didn't lessen our experience. We had a wedding coordinator who stepped in to make sure things went smoothly. If you go with SG, I would just make sure you hire a wedding coordinator to help - otherwise you may find yourself overwhelmed on your rehearsal/wedding day. :)

15299A0C1F3B95B73Dc012D2185A2Aded345Edef Sent on 01/28/2015

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Sunken Gardens was the absolute perfect location for my wedding. Most of my guests were coming from out of town, so we wanted to find a place close to things to do. Everyone loved the fact that they were so close to restaurants, bars, museums, etc. The garden itself was beautiful and I received many compliments for finding such a "gem" in the middle of the city. Most of my guests came early the day of just to explore the gardens. The North Lawn was the perfect size and the cocktail hour in the oak pavilion was beautiful. They also made the entire process very easy and everything ran smoothly. If you're planning on doing an ipod playlist for your wedding, however, make sure you have a back-up! Their system wouldn't recognize my ipod, but they were able to bring out some breakaway fender speakers that worked out just fine.

Amy Sent on 06/04/2014

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I recently had my wedding here...and OMG! So gorgeous, perfect wedding. I have had so many compliments on how great the wedding was and how beautiful the gardens are. We had the entire park for a private event...so worth the money. They did a great job with set up and working with my vendors. They need more help with correspondence and at the rehearsal but that could have been because of my crazy wedding party (lots of kids) but otherwise not a single complaint. I would definitely recommend them. Great job to everyone at Sunken Gardens for making my wedding perfect!

Denise Sent on 05/19/2014

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Sunken Gardens definitely delivered the whole package. :) It was an absolutely wonderful place for our daughter and our new son on their wedding day.
First, the garden was a beautiful back drop for the fairy tale wedding.
Second, The Sunken Garden staff were fantastic with our families as we transitioned into this new chapter of our lives. They were extremely professional and helpful to us from the start, throughout the planning process, and the wedding day. They created the magical atmosphere for the perfect wedding. They worked with the vendors to ensure the day was seamless which resulted in an awesome wedding day and created wonderful lasting memories. I would gladly recommend Sunken Gardens to others.

Carrie Sent on 05/24/2011

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Sunken Gardens was an absolutely beautiful venue to get married at. If you want something that is “Florida” but isn’t the beach, than this is the place for you. That and you won’t have the random dude in the Speedo watching your ceremony!

The staff at Sunken Gardens was extremely easy to work with. We initially worked with Sarah C. to get our date and contract in order. She was very helpful and always quick to respond. The day of our wedding, Barbara and Stephanie were on site. They worked seamlessly with my day-of coordinator, and everything went off without a hitch! Well, there was one hitch, but I’ll get to that.

Sunken Gardens did all of the set up and tear down for the chairs at the ceremony, the tables at the cocktail hour (Oak Pavilion), and the tables and chairs at the reception (Garden Room). They also provided a sound system for the ceremony and offered us speakers to use during the cocktail hour.

The one drawback was that we had to go through the City for our alcohol (which is why I gave slightly lower marks in Quality of Service and Value for Cost). We paid the gratuity up front and requested no tip jars on the bar. There was also an option to pay for the alcohol without gratuity and allow the bartenders to have a tip jar, but we didn’t want our guests to feel obligated to pay for anything. It turns out that while everyone was getting their pictures taken, the bartenders put out a big ole fishbowl for tips. When my day-of coordinator asked them to take it down, the bartenders gave her pushback. It would be one thing if only the bartenders were there, but the person we signed the alcohol contract with was present as well. Just keep an eye out if you decide to pay the gratuity in advance!

But overall, our experience at Sunken Gardens was very positive. The gardens are such a unique place to get married. In addition, the Garden Room was a beautiful place for the reception. The windows are a real plus, particularly if you set up the wedding party table right in from of them; then all of your guests are looking at you and the garden outside. When we initially looked at the Garden Room, I thought the dance floor was in an odd place, but once you see the room set up, it will make perfect sense.

Also, I agree with the other reviewer who said the Wedding Lawn is cooler than the North Lawn. We were married on the Wedding Lawn, but took some pictures on the North Lawn after the ceremony. The North Lawn was definitely warmer and still in direct sunlight.

H Sent on 07/29/2010

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Worked with Sarah C. to rent the Garden Room for the reception only, as the ceremony was held at a church, so I can only speak about the banquet room, although we were able to go in the beautiful gardens to take wedding pictures. The room is a good size for a smaller wedding and has beautiful windows. The built in dance floor and sound system was a plus. You have to select a caterer from a list of theirs but they had several good options on the list. If you play around with the lighting before the big day you'll be able to find the right ambiance. Their pricing was more affordable than some other venues we looked at, but we were only looking for a reception hall.

Laura Sent on 06/07/2008

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I loved this location for our wedding and our reception. The staff was very professional and helpful. They were available with any call or e-mail.

It is a beautiful place for a wedding and would recommend it for anyone looking for a garden wedding.

Jessica Sent on 04/21/2008

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Sunken Gardens was a beautiful sight for my wedding. The palms and greenery around the wedding lawn were exceptional. The on site planner was professional and kind. Everything that was to be provided by Sunken Gardens (such as tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception) were in good shape and set up as promised the day of the wedding.

Megan Sent on 10/25/2016

4.7 out of 5 rating

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LOVE THEM! Sarah was fantastic to work with! She's so helpful and responsive and made everything so much easier on me! I was a very needy bride and called/emailed her a lot and she showed nothing but professionalism. Barbara (our event coordinator that helped with the timing of the processional and setting up tables/chairs) was also wonderful and so sweet!! The gardens are absolutely beautiful!! We got nothing but compliments from our guests.

The ONLY thing that stinks about booking a wedding here was that it was kind of expensive and you only get tables & chairs (and the chairs are old banquet chairs so we ended up renting other ones anyway). Luckily our caterer provided linens. But, even the event coordinator isn't a day of coordinator, she only helps with set up and like I said, timing of the processional but nothing more than that.

Katie Sent on 04/21/2012

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They were great. Very easy to reach and accomidating leading up to the wedding. I also got email replies promptly. It's a beautiful place. During set-up they miscounted the number of tables and it took a while to striaghten it out, but everyone was very nice. On the day of the only issue during the ceremony was that officiant didn't get the microphone she was promised. The reception went great. Overall they were great to work with.

Heather Sent on 11/02/2010

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We had our ceremony under the Oak tree. It was so pretty and I cannot wait to see the pictures from that day.

Tami Sent on 12/09/2008

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Staff was wonderful, the location is beautiful, and our guests loved it! Make sure you book a year in advance if you have a specific date in mind.

Lindsey Sent on 11/15/2019

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3 out of 5 rating

Beautiful outdoor wedding!

Sunken Gardens was perfect for our wedding. Florida weather can be unpredictable so it is very nice they have an inside backup option but we were so lucky to not need it! The gardens are absolutely beautiful and make decorating really simple. It felt like a fairytale! They have many different wedding packages and locations within the gardens. They do have some restrictions on chairs and such that you can use outside because of the brick ground (although they do provide chairs, we wanted a color other than white- which is what they offer with their wedding packages). They also require you to use one of their approved caterers, but the list is pretty long ans has plenty of good options. The bar is also through Sunken Gardens and they have a limited selection of beer and alcohol brands/types but they have enough! They are very professional and experienced with weddings so everything went smoothly! We received amazing service and would definitely recommend having your wedding here.

May Sent on 03/06/2018

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had a vision to do an intimate garden ceremony for our Feb. 24 wedding and Sunken Gardens was the ideal venue! The lush flora and immaculate greens of the North Lawn were the perfect backdrop for our special day - and Stacey's help coordinating our rehearsal and day-of was wonderful! We didn't need any extra flowers or decor - Sunken Gardens natural beauty was amazing! On a gorgeous sunny day, we walked down a cobblestone aisle that wound around the full garden and then said "I do" under a canopy of exquisitely draped flowers -- it was beyond magical! We cannot wait to see our photos from that day - our photographer was able to capture so many amazing shots throughout the entire gardens :) We also had access to a bridal changing room and private banquet room for the groom, so that our entries were planned seamlessly. Stacey was also super responsive and helpful throughout the entire process -- even when we decided last minute that we wanted to bring a fan to hide behind the alter (it was a bit warm that day), she was super accommodating and helped make it happen. Such a fantastic experience working with Sunken Gardens to make our dream ceremony a reality!

User2598747 Sent on 05/06/2016

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Having an outdoor wedding and reception was a must have for my fiance (now husband) and me. The gardens was the perfect backdrop and the staff was helpful and friendly.

User2104512 Sent on 04/21/2015

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

Location was beautiful and the staff went the extra mile. So happy we got married there.

Angela Sent on 12/30/2013

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Christmas wedding and the gardens were beautiful. Room was perfect. and staff that I was in contact with the last 9 months, was always informative and pleasant.

Candi Sent on 05/12/2008

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating

This is an amazing place to get married! The gardens outside are beautiful and all the guests got to enjoy them. I just wish that the room for the reception was a little bigger!

Lauralynn Sent on 11/22/2015

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

We got married beneath the 250 year old oak tree in the Oak Pavillion. It was the ideal spot for our slightly boho, small ceremony. I only have two minor complaints. One was that I had to remind the event coordinator from Sunken Gardens that my arch and flowers were coming at 9 (even though my day of coordinator already told her this) because they were planning on not being there to open until 10, which would have been a disaster (not enough time for my day of coordinator to set up our arch). Secondly, I wish they would offer the upstairs room in case of rain. They don't (you have to pay $1500 for it), so I had lots of worries up until the day about the weather (which, luckily, turned out fine). Other than that, the gardens were beautiful and the perfect backdrop for our ceremony and photos.

User1213235 Sent on 06/24/2013

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

My daughters wedding was there in April, the staff was amazing. We worked with Natalie and she got us all the information we needed to plan an amazing wedding.The gardens are beautiful. The day of the wedding they were there with walkietalkies and had everything coordinated, we even started on time. This is a great place to start your life together, and the reception room is big and plenty of room for our dj and caterer.

Andrea Sent on 04/28/2009

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

The Sunken Gardens was an amazing find. Our ceremony was beautiful and I was so impressed on how fabulous the room turned out (to be fair, that was due to the handiwork of the groomsmen and the groom).
I was hesitant about the fact that we had to do the bar through the city - but they were willing to accommodate any of our requests (special type of champagne, closing the bar for 30 minutes during dinner so we could extend it later in the evening by 30 minutes, etc) I will agree with a previous review that perhaps Barbara could dress a bit more professionally, and my only other issue was my aisle was a bit narrower than I would've thought it should be (but at the same time, this is something I should've thought of). Other than that though, I couldn't have imagined it a better place!
Kudos to Joyce and her staff for allowing us to come in early and decorate. We couldn't have done it without their open-ness!

Stephanie Sent on 01/18/2023

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Perfect backdrop

We had an absolutely perfect day for our wedding at Sunken Gardens and it couldn’t have been any more beautiful. Our guests from out of state were blown away by the amazing foliage and the blooming flowers that were the perfect backdrop to our garden wedding, and the staff were incredibly helpful and polite. We also loved that if it were to rain, we could opt to move the reception to their event space inside. I think the only drawback to this location is the fact that they have a very strict vendors list, which meant you had little to no ability to shop around when it comes to your caterers. Also, Sunken Gardens requires that all alcohol be served through their staff, which we understood, but their package prices were quite high and even went up in price between the time we booked our venue and the time their coordinator contacted us to secure payment for their bar options.

Emily Sent on 01/23/2022

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue

WE LOVE REGINA!!!! She’s an amazing and talented human. Both my husband and I knew the photographer was going to be the most important vendor we book (besides the venue). From the moment we met her over Zoom, I knew we made the right choice.

On the day of our wedding, she made us feel comfortable and at ease. She’s witty and weird and knows how to capture moments in a candid and creative way. Our engagement photos and wedding photos are amazing.

If you’re getting married, you need her. Seriously. I’ll shout it from the rooftops. I can’t imagine our day without her.

Angie Sent on 11/07/2013

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating

Sunken Gardens is the most beautiful, hidden gem in the Tampa Bay area. These botanical gardens are so beautiful we knew that this was the place as soon as we stepped foot inside. The Sunken Gardens staff was courteous and helpful and helped make our wedding unforgettable. (our reception was at home)

Samantha Sent on 04/16/2013

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

This was probably the 10th venue we visited and immediately knew upon viewing the north ceremony lawn that this was the site we were to be married at.. Absolutely stunning! And we very surprised by the reasonable pricing. We opted to reserve the entire gardens for the night and were very pleased with the intimate garden setting that provided a unique experience for our guests. The day of coordinators were fantastic and very helpful at averting/deflecting any issues (which were minimal thank goodness!) That being said, the only concerns I would advise - they seem to cater more to small to midsize weddings with a significant pricing jump after a certain guest count number, our wedding happened to be right at that mark so on a few occasions we felt as if there wasn't much flexibility (which I do understand to an extent); day of coordinators were not the same contact we had dealt with the months leading to our wedding date, which wasn't any issue for me but would have definitely been an issue for my bridezilla friends; communication with our contact at the gardens was slightly annoying at times (delayed responses) but to be fair we got married during their busiest wedding season. Regardless, I have no regrets in choosing Sunken Gardens for our wedding day and appreciate all their assistance in making it a great experience!

Yanelis Sent on 05/24/2012

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

We did a walk in wedding ceremony during bussiness hours. Very flexible and affordable. We rented chairs for the ceremony. The garden looked beautiful in May and the flowers looked really nice. Great setting foroutdoor pictures.

Mytru Sent on 11/16/2017

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

Our morning ceremony at the Sunken Gardens was breathtaking! (taken place at the Wedding Lawn) Our guests also enjoyed the gardens and it was a beautiful day for the event. Alan was very personable, well experienced, and thorough. He was very reassuring as he helped guide myself, my husband, and my bridal party during our rehearsals. The bridal room was nice but I can't see it accommodating 5 or more people comfortably. I am a little disappointed that the groom/groomsmen dressing room was basically the restrooms upstairs in the Garden Room. The biggest downfall of the venue is its parking. Many of our guests had to park elsewhere and walk from down the street. Unfortunately, the restaurants around the venue were busy and took up a lot of parking spaces. Other than that, the Sunken Gardens itself is beautiful and the shots you'll get for your photos will not disappoint! They also provide reception areas for either indoor/outdoor and morning/evening events. If you're looking for a garden wedding, be sure to check out the Sunken Gardens!

Andrea Sent on 11/14/2016

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Sunken Gardens is the venue that I have ALWAYS wanted to get married at! Being a Florida native, I wanted to have a Florida feel to my wedding without the sand and non-privacy that a beach provides. Besides, you can't deny that the gardens are breathtaking!! The coordinator at SG was very responsive and made sure that we had everything for our big day. Although we were told when we booked the venue that their corresponding reception hall was getting renovated to provide a more "up-to-date" feel, I didn't like the overall layout of the room. We only used SG for our ceremony. The only thing that upset me was the fact that we had to pay the full rental amount, even though we weren't using their reception hall. I feel like they would get a lot more business if they did separate fees for the ceremony and reception or if they renovated their reception hall more. Personally, I feel like SG would be THE wedding venue for families looking for a garden/Floridian themed wedding if they upped their amenities.

Bethany Sent on 01/22/2022

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

Magical Marriage Location

If you want a venue that is stunning, one-stop location for the entire event, and memorable Sunken Gardens is it. Classic Florida location to get married in and celebrate! Few tips to note when selecting this state park: 1) Make sure understand they run the bar for all events and must follow their rules, 2) Take a look at the approved vendor list to ensure you feel good about your options to work with, 3) Remember it is a state park so there are more regulations then your parents back yard, 4) Do the walkthrough with their team before the wedding so you can confirm all details, 5) On the big day remember to take a moment to soak in all the beauty that is the Sunken Gardens and trust the team there who will be on-site to take care of everything.

+6 photos

User1121577 Sent on 03/29/2013

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Natalie was amazing through the planning process, and everything went perfectly.

Janet Sent on 03/06/2018

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

The setting is beautiful. Everything was spot on. Our "day of" coordinator was Alan and he is wonderful! Sarah and Stacey are very informative and responsive. There are two things that cause the lower rating. One of the gentlemen who works on the grounds who helps with chair and table tear down activities was abrupt. I experienced his lack of tact at the end of the night during tear down of the reception. I later learned my daughter, the bride, also had an experience with him while photographs were being taken in the ceremony area ... he apparently was getting impatient with the amount of time they were taking. The second item is an issue with the bar contract. While I appreciate not wanting to finalize this until the very end given the bar expense and the need to have a true final count, in our case it was very last minute and received at a point where things had been talked and re-talked and came through on my last day at the office before I departed for St. Petersburg for the week. My agreed to contract paid for 5 hours of open bar. The written contract came through with the financial piece correct but, I completely missed that the contract also stated cash bar after 8:30pm which equates 2 hours of open bar. I did not learn there was a sign on the bar until our wedding officiant asked if she could borrow some cash to pay for a glass of wine. The bar manager presented the contract to me where I stated ... NEVER did I agree to any form of "cash" bar. Never did she think to view the dollars paid to validate my stance. The sign was ultimately taken down however the bartender made several comments to guests as they attempted to continue to pay, stating something to the effect "this is thanks to the bride." It was embarrassing and uncomfortable. The next business day, Sunken Gardens did acknowledge & apologize for their error and did provide monetary reimbursements for the error. Double check all information. All else was amazing and beautiful!

Miranda Sent on 07/18/2014

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

My wedding looked amazing but it isn't because of Sunken Gardens. I enjoyed using them for my cocktail hour and reception but I was a little disappointed. First off the garden room was extremely hot all night long, I had guests complaining along with myself. Second the sign they wrote for my guests to see was absolutely dreadful. Third the women helping weren't dressed in a manner appropriate for hosting a wedding. The venue was great for my reception just wish it would have been cooler.

Savannah Sent on 11/08/2017

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

The gardens were beautiful and made for a gorgeous wedding. Definitely happy with our choice to have our wedding there!

Heather Sent on 06/16/2010

3.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Sunken Gardens is a beautiful venue. The drawback are the fact that the alcohol must be done through their vendor (costs more) and the you have to choose from approved vendor for all the food .... no room for cost savings there. The Gardens are beautiful though and if you have a photographer that understands how the light plays in the Gardens interior you photos will be beautiful. The banquet room, however, needs quite a bit of decorating to really look stunning (but if you can afford uplighting in a warm color and some decorations it will look great). We were overall satisfied ... I would however not get married there in May. Even in the evening, it is so hot ... it makes pictures kind of a nightmare. Also, just a note ... if heat is an issue. In the evening the Wedding Lawn is actually cooler than the North Lawn.

Sunken gardens Reviews

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Sunken gardens