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Weddings

About this vendor

Kasey Bussell
Kasey Bussell
Director of Events

No business details yet

97 years in business

We speak English

4 team members

Based in St. Pete Beach, Florida, The Don CeSar is a coastal historic resort hotel that serves the greater Tampa region. From the tropical courtyard to breathtaking Gulf view Terraces, the venue is out of an elegant nautical dream. The legendary Pink Palace is beach front to the Gulf of Mexico, providing a breathtaking backdrop since 1928. This beachfront wedding venue welcomes celebrations both grand and intimate.


Facilities and Capacity
The Don CeSar has 10 amazing event venues that can host up to 250 guests. We provide beautiful locations for rehearsal dinner, beachfront and courtyard ceremonies, and elegant indoor and outdoor reception locations. Sophisticated receptions can be held in the King Charles Ballroom, a space with stunning beach and sunset views, or the Grand Ballroom, a historic and lavish room with unique and decorative details. Elegant affairs can also be hosted in the North and South Terrace Ballrooms, Buena Vista Ballroom or Del Prado Ballroom.

Services Offered
The team of experts is ready to design the beach wedding of your dreams. They provide detailed and sophisticated services through the following offerings:

  • Event Menu and Event Space Diagram planning
  • In-house bar
  • In-house catering
  • A list of Reccommended Vendors

Cuisine
At The Don CeSar, couples can enjoy a culinary masterpiece of selections to delight every pallet. Your imagination is the only limit. Serving styles include:

  • Hors d’oeuvres
  • Plated
  • Buffet
  • Stations
  • Wine Service with Dinner
  • Champagne Toast
  • Wedding Cake designed by our masterful Pastry Chef
  • Servers
  • Bartenders

Accommodation
The venue offers special room rates for wedding parties. Guests can choose from 277 beautifully detailed rooms, including 36 suites, with 2 Penthouses. Each room is designed and inspired by the soothing colors and textures of the beach.

Other Facilities
To enhance your wedding day, the venue has additional amenities including:

  • On-site parking
  • Valet parking
  • Wheelchair access
  • Spa
  • Beach Services including cabana rentals
  • Fitness Center

Other Services
The Don CeSar is willing to host all of your wedding-related events. These gatherings include:

  • Engagement Party
  • Bridal Showers
  • Welcome Party
  • Rehearsal dinner
  • Farewell brunch

Location
Tampa International Airport is 29 minutes away, while St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is 22 minutes away. Downtown St. Petersburg is a 13-minute drive away. Nearby, guests can enjoy Shell Key Preserve, Gulf Beaches Historical Museum and Lazarillo Park.

Pricing & Deals

$7,500 starting price $7,500 starting price
$40,000 average price
Ceremony
$3,500 starting price
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FAQ

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

No

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?

$3,500

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

$3,500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar

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

25

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

10

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Beach
Historic Building
Hotel
Resort
Rooftop
Waterfront

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
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

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

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of The Don CeSar

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

Review summary

Powered by AI

The Don CeSar is highly praised by couples for its beautiful setting, exceptional service, and attentive staff. Reviewers commend the coordinator, Jennifer Guidry, for making the planning process seamless and accommodating unique requests. Guests enjoy the luxurious amenities, delicious food, and impressive service, especially during the wedding ceremonies and receptions. The venue's staff, including Kasey Bussell and Vianka Garcia, receive high praise for helping to create memorable and royal experiences for couples and their guests. Overall, the Don CeSar is recommended for those seeking a dream beach wedding experience with top-tier service.

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.

The Don CeSar is highly praised by couples for its beautiful setting, exceptional service, and attentive staff. Reviewers commend the coordinator, Jennifer Guidry, for making the planning process seamless and accommodating unique requests. Guests enjoy the luxurious amenities, delicious food, and impressive service, especially during the wedding ceremonies and receptions. The venue's staff, including Kasey Bussell and Vianka Garcia, receive high praise for helping to create memorable and royal experiences for couples and their guests. Overall, the Don CeSar is recommended for those seeking a dream beach wedding experience with top-tier service.

Weddingwire
4.8/5 137 reviews
Google
4.4/5 4408 reviews
Paige
Paige Sent on 05/16/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Unbelievable!!

We had an AMAZING wedding at the Don Cesar and would 10/10 recommend them as a venue for couples looking for a high quality experience for themselves and their guests!

Our coordinator, Jennifer Guidry, made our planning process a breeze. She was so responsive and flexible with our many “out-of-the-box” requests for DIY decor and unique elements.

Our guests had an incredible time hanging out at the hotel before and after the events — raving about the pool and beach. Guests also highlighted the other vendors we chose — most of whom came from the Don’s preferred vendor list!!
Jason
Jason Sent on 04/22/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The best in St Pete

We had our sons "Rehearsal Dinner" there. My wife and I had ours there 30 years ago and it is was very special to be able to recreate the party. While it was officially the rehearsal dinner it was actually for 64 guests. We had an amazing dinner, watched the sunset on the private balcony and the staff and team at the Don were absolutely perfect. They made the entire process extremely easy and I am sure we will be back soon when planning my daughters wedding!
Chelsea
Chelsea Sent on 04/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

perfect wedding venue

Ever since I first saw the Don CeSar, I knew I wanted to get married at the historic hotel for its grand appearance and beautiful décor. From the moment we toured the hotel to our wedding weekend, the Don CeSar was nothing short of amazing to work with for our destination wedding. Despite being closed for 6 months due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Don CeSar General Manager, Barbara, and the Director of Events, Kasey, had open communication and made the entire wedding planning experience as seamless as possible. They were compassionate, caring, and did everything in their power to make sure the hotel and its courtyard was reopened (and in great condition!) in time for our wedding. (We were the first wedding back the weekend of hotel’s reopening.) Kasey, Barbara, the hotel staff, and the hotel banquet team (chefs, servers, and bartenders) went above and beyond to make sure our wedding day was the best day of our lives. We truly received a royal experience as the bride and groom. Additionally, the hotel and its staff made sure that our guests were properly accommodated. Every single one of our guests were impressed by the hotel staff’s amazing top tier service and had nothing but great things to say about the hotel.
When it came to the actual wedding day, the banquet team provided first class service. They even accommodated unexpectedly moving our cocktail hour indoors due to rain without missing a beat. The banquet chef prepared an impressive meal to perfection for our 180 guests. One guest even made a point to say that it was “the best filet and salad” they had ever had. The pastry chef, Amanda, also prepared a cake that was a rendition of my grandmother’s 1950's wedding cake. The spectacular appearance and taste well exceeded our expectations. The servers and bartenders were nothing short of amazing as well. There were no lines to get a drink, and each server was very attentive. My planner, florist, and rental companies had zero issues working with the venue to set up the grand ballroom. The band/violinist were able to perform without any issues. Our wedding day/weekend was truly perfect and the Don CeSar made it memorable and beyond anything I could’ve ever dreamed of. I would highly recommend this wedding venue to any newly engaged couple looking for the best beach wedding experience. There is nothing else quite like the Don CeSar.
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Awards

137
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
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Are you interested?

Real Weddings

Brittany & Scott
38 photos · 06/25/2022
Jasmyne & Corey
37 photos · 11/06/2021

Team

Kasey Bussell
Kasey Bussell
Director of Events
Jennifer Guidry
Jennifer Guidry
Catering Event Sales Manager
Jaclyn  Azcui
Jaclyn Azcui
Catering Event Sales Manager

Professional Network & Endorsements

DeArruda Weddings + Marriage DeArruda Weddings + Marriage Wedding Officiants

The charm of the "Pink Lady" is unsurpassed. But the historic hotel, the sugar sand beach, and gentle gulf breezes would be just another beach resort if it weren't for the amazing staff. I've had the pleasure of working with the catering and event professionals who conduct every wedding as if it was for their own family! I am honored to be a preferred vendor at this word class resort. And you will experience the joy of knowing that everything will be just right when your wedding is hosted at this jewel on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Joe Braccio Joe Braccio Wedding Musicians

The Don Cesar is the Pinnacle of all Events Facilities in the Tampabay area. They are staffed by highly professional personnel who go the extra mile for their clients in all areas. I have been privileged to have played there for over 25 years and have witnessed firsthand the enthusiasm their clients have had for the Venue. ---Joe Braccio Spcollege and Eckerd college adjunct Professor

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The Don CeSar frequently asked questions

The Don CeSar includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The Don CeSar includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at The Don CeSar includes:
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
The space offered by The Don CeSar for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Beach
  • Historic Building
  • Hotel
  • Resort
  • Rooftop
  • Waterfront
The Don CeSar offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The Don CeSar offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The Don CeSar offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
The Don CeSar offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Tables
The Don CeSar is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in flexibility and 4.8 in value.
The Don CeSar currently offers 1 offer promotion for wedding services.

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