The Rusty Pelican is a Tampa-based tropical wedding venue that offers a classic atmosphere and waterfront ballrooms. Set directly on Tampa Bay, the space has breathtaking scenic views and picture-perfect backdrops for coastal celebrations.Your guests will be enchanted by the sophisticated design, local marine life and the soothing sound of crashing waves.
Facilities and Capacity Couples can choose from multiple ballrooms at The Rusty Pelican. The Grand Ballroom, which accommodates up to 250 guests, is the largest ballroom. With floor-to-ceiling windows, family and friends can take in the spectacular view of the water. Both the Pelican Room and Coral Room can comfortably fit up to 100 guests, complete with front row seats to a beautiful tropical sunset. For more intimate weddings, the Bay Room offers a stunning fireplace and stained-glass windows for 50 guests. The Tampa Room can also host up to 50 guests and has its own private entrance. Outside, the Wedding Gazebo has a private waterfront, garden setting for stunning outdoor ceremonies for up to 250 guests.
Services Offered The Rusty Pelican offers various wedding-related services. These include:
All-inclusive packages
Custom menus and packages available
Preferred vendor partnerships for additional services
Personalized planning and coordination
Cuisine An array of menus are available to please your palate. Their extraordinary dining experience is casual yet elegant, ensuring that your day is memorable. Meals can be served as buffet, hors d’oeuvres, plated and stations.
Additional Occasions The Rusty Pelican will gladly host all of your celebrations including:
Bridal & Baby Showers
Engagement Parties
Rehearsal Dinners
History In 1978, the coastal wedding venue was founded. It has a reputation for being a popular landmark and exotic escape for both locals and tourists.
Location Centrally located in the Rocky Point District of Tampa, The Rusty Pelican is just minutes from Tampa International Airport and in close proximity to many hotels and multiple tourist attractions.
We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary there.
“We absolutely loved the Rusty Pelican! So many people complimented both the nice and attentive staff!
Sent on 11/27/2019
Stefanie Halperin
· Married on 11/22/2019
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Amazing ceremony and reception!
Our wedding could not have been more perfect, all thanks to the staff at the Rusty Pelican and their preferred vendors.
Sent on 11/30/2019
Matt Fishman
· Married on 07/06/2019
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Worth every penny
The Rusty Pelican was one of the first locations my now wife and I toured and we instantly fell in love. The location sets it right on the water and our wedding was right around sunset. The view was absolutely magnificent. From the start, the Rusty Pelican event staff makes you feel comfortable and assured that your wedding will go off without a hitch. Our event coordinator was Don Valente and we cannot thank him enough for all that he did. Don took care of everything. He made sure we had our vendors lined up, he organized the room to ensure the best flow of traffic, and made sure everything was set up perfectly the day of the wedding. If you choose this location, know that you will not need a day of coordinator. They do an excellent job of making sure everything is in place to make your day perfect. This location is not cheap...but my wife and I can honestly say that every single dollar spent was 100% worth it. The food was AMAZING, but the staff was even better. Our dinner coordinator was Norma and she was absolutely outstanding. One nice thing about using this location was their understanding of the craziness of the day. They make sure that the bride and groom have a small separate moment to enjoy a small meal before everyone else eats dinner. Norma made sure we had champagne and some food and her staff was incredible when it came to tending to tables or helping our guests. Thank you so much to all of the staff at the rusty pelican for making our day so incredibly special.
Sent on 07/26/2019
The Rusty Pelican's reply:
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your Special Day! We were so happy to have you! We appreciate the kind words and your taking the time to provide us with your feedback. I will be sure to share this with the rest of the team! We're hopeful you will visit us again sometime soon!
Alessi Bakery has been celebrating making beautiful wedding cakes for Rusty Pelican couples for over 5 years. The Rusty Pelican provides couples the perfect romantic setting on the water. Mixed with a great location, experience and attention to detail they excel in making your event fabulous!
One of the best waterfront venues for your wedding and reception--Don and Jill are both great people to work with for all your needs and wishes. I heartily endorse them Joe Braccio Spcollege
The Rusty Pelican is such a gorgeous facility for any type of event in the Tampa area. The view is spectacular, the people are wonderful, and the food is delicious. We love working with the Rusty Pelican and love the location!
