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Weddings

About

Sunken Gardens is a tropical garden wedding venue located in St. Petersburg, Florida. As St. Petersburg's oldest living museum, this 100-year-old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. The botanical paradise is tucked away in the midst of a bustling metropolitan city. With this secluded feeling, you can enjoy a private, tranquil atmosphere and timeless beauty on your special day. An event held at the garden offers your guests a unique experience as well as a convenient location close to hotels, museums, dining, and entertainment. This tropical oasis provides a stunning backdrop for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. From the lush greenery to the accommodating staff, this team can be there to make your day one to remember.

Facilities and Capacity

Sunken Gardens offers both indoor and outdoor venue options for your ceremony and reception, accommodating up to 200 guests. Exchange your vows in the historic Wedding Lawn, the North Lawn, or under the canopy of shade trees in the Oak Pavilion. Then, you can celebrate with dinner and dancing in their banquet Garden Room that overlooks the exquisite gardens. This special room is located in the historic 1926 main building and was designed with its history in mind, creating a loft-like feel with high ceilings and metal beams.

Services Offered

Sunken Gardens provides many wedding-related services to ease the stress of planning and give you a memorable wedding experience. They take the time to understand the needs of each couple, working closely with them to create a seamless and stress-free experience. The venue is also available to host bridal showers. The wedding services this venue offers include:

  • Bridal suite
  • Event planning
  • Set up
  • Parking
  • Valet

History

In 1903, a plumber by the name of George Turner, Sr. purchased the six acres that would become a world-famous botanical attraction. Three generations of the Turner family continued the vision that created this unique tropical garden with its flowing ponds. Rooted in a 100-year history, Sunken Gardens was designated a Local Historic Landmark in 1998. The City of St. Petersburg purchased Sunken Gardens in 1999 with the goal of preserving the historic botanical garden and providing cultural and educational opportunities.

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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?

$7,500

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

$7,500

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?

$2,500

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

$2,500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Parking
Set Up
Tables

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$28

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

2

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Historic Building

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower

What event services do you offer?

Get Ready Rooms

What bar services do you provide?

Cash Bar
Open Bar

What event items are available?

Chairs
Furniture
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet

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?

January
February
March
April
May
June
September
October
November
December

Reviews of Sunken gardens

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Sunken Gardens is highly recommended as a wedding venue, with a picturesque setting and helpful coordinators like Stacey, Sarah, and Stephanie. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for ceremonies and receptions, though some limitations exist due to being owned by the city. The staff provided excellent support throughout the planning process, and guests enjoyed the beautiful gardens and unique atmosphere of the venue, making it a top choice for couples seeking an affordable and enchanting wedding location in St. Pete.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Sunken Gardens is highly recommended as a wedding venue, with a picturesque setting and helpful coordinators like Stacey, Sarah, and Stephanie. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for ceremonies and receptions, though some limitations exist due to being owned by the city. The staff provided excellent support throughout the planning process, and guests enjoyed the beautiful gardens and unique atmosphere of the venue, making it a top choice for couples seeking an affordable and enchanting wedding location in St. Pete.

Nicole
Nicole Sent on 07/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful choice!

Beautiful backdrops, wonderful coordinators, and amazing experience! Highly recommend for your future wedding.
Sarah
Sarah Sent on 03/17/2025
5 out of 5 rating

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.
Hailie
Hailie Sent on 12/27/2023
5 out of 5 rating

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!
J
Jessica Sent on 12/19/2023
5 out of 5 rating

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).
J
John Sent on 12/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

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
Shira Sent on 11/16/2023
5 out of 5 rating

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.
A
Amanda Sent on 01/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

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.
J
Julia Sent on 06/15/2022
5 out of 5 rating

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!
Nicole
Nicole Sent on 05/24/2022
5 out of 5 rating

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!
LauraC-G
Laura Sent on 03/13/2022
5 out of 5 rating

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.
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Awards

109
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

Map

Sunken gardens frequently asked questions

Sunken gardens includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Sunken gardens for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Historic Building
Sunken gardens offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Sunken gardens offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
Sunken gardens offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Get Ready Rooms
Sunken gardens offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Furniture
  • Tables
Sunken gardens is recommended by 92% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.7 in average response time, 4.6 in quality of service, 4.6 in professionalism, 4.5 in value and 4.4 in flexibility.
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