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Weddings

About

Bay Preserve at Osprey is a gorgeous, waterfront oasis with a variety of picturesque options to set the perfect tone for your big day! Sunlight filtering through the majestic oaks creates a stunning scene for your ceremony and the natural beauty allows your personality and uniqueness to shine. Sunset over Little Sarasota Bay is sure to WOW your guests and provides a breathtaking backdrop for wedding photos. After the sun goes down, Tuscan lights above our Bayfront Terrace and up-lighting in the trees create a magical ambiance allowing you to continue making memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime!

Protected by Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Bay Preserve is comprised of a Bayfront Lawn and Terrace, Performance Pavilion, Bayside Oaks Ceremony Site, The Burrows-Matson House, Great Lawn, and Boathouse Observation Deck. For your comfort and convenience, there is a bridal room available in the Burrows-Matson House along with a separate groom’s cottage on the property.

We are committed to providing couples with exceptional service and a beautiful, one-of-a-kind location to celebrate their love! Message us today to learn more or set up a tour!

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$2,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$2,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$2,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Clean Up
Lighting/Sound
Parking

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

2

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

5

Describe your venue:

Historic Building
Mansion
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

January
February
March
April
May
June
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

July
August

Reviews of Bay Preserve at Osprey

M
Megan Sent on 06/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The most wonderful wedding location!

We got married at Bay Preserve April 2023 and it was truly the most magical day! As soon as we saw the property we were absolutely in love. As we worked with Sam and the team the experience continued to get better and better. As a born and raised Floridian now living in NYC I was looking for an old Florida feel and the property truly exceeded our expectations. The home is beautiful, the water front, the incredible lawn to tent. Absolutely recommend!
Nicole
Nicole Sent on 06/20/2019
5 out of 5 rating

The best hidden gem in the Sarasota area!

We could not have been happier with our experience with Bay Preserve at Osprey for our March wedding. Everything was beyond perfect from our very first meeting until we left the night of our wedding. This is truly a hidden gem in the Sarasota area and I am so happy we were able to find it. The outdoor area is so picturesque, you don't even need a lot of decor for the space to shine. The venue also offers multiple layout options - the world is really your oyster in terms of set-up.

Sam Valentin - the event coordinator - was so extremely helpful, responsive and flexible anytime we had any questions or concerns. The venue is really willing to work with you. I wanted to get in a little earlier in order to get ready on-site and they were able to accommodate. Also, one of my favorite aspects of the venue is that they only do one wedding a weekend, so you also automatically have your rehearsal time locked in for the day before. I think that is a huge plus compared to some of the other venues in the area.

They make sure to groom and maintain the property that very day so it is picture perfect shape for your day too!

Michael's on East is the exclusive caterer, and although a little on the pricier side, they are the best in town and I was thrilled to work with them. Plus, they know the space SO well!

My recommendation to anyone looking for a venue in this area - LOOK HERE! The space is truly magical and we could not have been happier!
C
Cathleen Sent on 04/05/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect ceremony spot!

Look no further!! Bay Preserve is the perfect spot for a ceremony. It has that old Florida charm with a beautiful water front setting. The house was wonderful for the bridal party to get ready! Sam was so accommodating and made sure the whole day ran smoothly. There were so many amazing places for photos!!!!
Annie
Annie Sent on 03/29/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful in every way!

Bay preserve was an absolutely beautiful place to get married! The setting is breath taking and the people are so nice and accommodating. Our guests were in awe with how gorgeous of a setting it was being outdoors on the water under the string lights. It was romantic in every way and a dream come true for a wedding venue !
M
Melissa Sent on 11/19/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue

The Bay Preserve is such a beautiful venue. Our entire wedding took place outside on the property and everything was perfect. Sam, the event coordinator, was great to work with and easily accessible. I am from out of state, and Sam accommodated me by letting me ship to the venue in the week leading up to my wedding which was so helpful.
Jenny
Jenny Sent on 04/01/2017
5 out of 5 rating
This place is a hidden gem! If you are looking for the "old Florida" charm for your wedding, this is the most gorgeous setting I've ever laid my eyes on. Gilly Francis was such a delight to work with from day one. She was very helpful with sending vendor lists, gave us tips and ideas and was there on the big day to make sure everything ran smoothly. The weather was perfect that day and we couldn't ask for more for a wedding ceremony. If we could we would have planned to have both our ceremony and reception there because it was so beautiful! This venue is also perfect for so many photo options. Thank you Gilly!!
U
User1995217 Sent on 11/08/2014
5 out of 5 rating
This is by far the most beautiful venue in/near Sarasota, FL for an outdoor wedding and/or reception. Their on-site coordinator Gilly Francis is a joy to work with, and the exclusive caterer Michael's on East is the absolute best in Sarasota. The historic home on the property, the trees draped with Spanish moss, the Roman-style stage, and the sunset over the water provide endless combinations of gorgeous backdrops for your photos and of course, add to the joy of your experience. It is best for between 75 - 175 guests. We booked almost a year in advance for our Nov. 1st wedding. Visit first -- you will not be disappointed!
User1047252
User1047252 Sent on 12/17/2012
5 out of 5 rating
What a beautiful location. It was serendipitous that we found this venue but I know it was meant to be. The setting is absolutely stunning. We wanted a venue where we could be on the water but also be able to tent our reception. Bay Preserve has that Old Florida feeling with breathtaking oak trees, a beautiful, historic brick mansion and the private feeling of being on your own estate. Gilly was such a pleasure to work with and was accommodating to all of our requests. We were so lucky to have found Bay Preserve!!
T
Traci Sent on 12/07/2011
5 out of 5 rating
The Bay Preserve at Osprey was the perfect place for our wedding reception. We set up a large tent outside the main house, with cocktails and a steel drum band out back on the patio. It was absolutely beautiful! The bridal party boated up to the site and pulled up to the boat house, where many of our guests were awaiting our arrival.

The property is huge- we had 270+ guests- and plenty of room for more.

We loved the staff at the Bay Preserve- they let us set-up and store our decorations in the house a couple of days before the wedding. They helped put our wedding together and made sure that we had everything we needed! They were very responsive and excited to have a wedding on site!

They even provided a golf cart to help move our guests around the site that had trouble walking in the grass.

All in all- a great experience and a lovely place to have a dream wedding on the water. Highly recommend!!
J
Jessica Sent on 12/01/2016
4.9 out of 5 rating
When we started to look for a wedding venue the only thing we knew is that we wanted both the ceremony and reception to be outside. This was actually the first venue that we checked out, but didn't have to look any further! Bay Preserve at Osprey is the perfect location if you're looking for an outdoor venue that has that old Florida style. It combines the best of both worlds since it's by the water, but has a large lawn with huge oak trees. The house on the property is also beautiful and makes for great pictures. I can't say enough for how beautiful the property is!

Gilly Francis and Michael's on the East were also great to work with! Gilly was very professional and guided us throughout the entire process and on the day of. Michael's on the East was incredible as well. Phil is easy going and makes the process as simple as possible. We received countless compliments on the food, it was amazing! The bartenders and staff were ON IT the entire night. As a bride you worry (constantly) of what could possibly go wrong, but everything went flawlessly working with these two.

We had around 115 guests and fit everyone comfortably at tables behind the main house. The setting was gorgeous with the sun setting over the bay and market lights at night. I highly recommend Bay Preserve and Michael's on the East!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

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Map

Bay Preserve at Osprey frequently asked questions

Bay Preserve at Osprey includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Clean Up
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
The space offered by Bay Preserve at Osprey for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Mansion
  • Waterfront
Bay Preserve at Osprey offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Bay Preserve at Osprey offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
Bay Preserve at Osprey offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
Bay Preserve at Osprey is recommended by 99% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 5 in quality of service, 5 in average response time, 5 in professionalism, 4.9 in value and 4.8 in flexibility.

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