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Weddings

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About

Contact a Event Specialist at TheRustyPelicanTampa.com/Events or call 813-281-1943 to start planning your special day.

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.


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.

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Frequently asked questions

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

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

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

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

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

5

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Restaurant

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

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

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Chair Covers
Dance Floor
Decor
Drapery
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access
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Any other questions?

Message vendor
4.6 out of 5 rating
334 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.7 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.6 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.4 out of 5 rating
92% Recommended by couples
S B
S B Sent on 03/17/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Great venue, handled almost everything

We had our small (40 guest) wedding ceremony and reception at the Rusty Pelican Tampa in Feb. 2024. We had the ceremony at their outside gazebo and our reception in the Tampa Room. This venue did so much to make our day run smoothly, from the planning process to the banquet captain on the day. Anytime we had a question or a concern leading up to our wedding day, they answered within 24 hours, and on the day itself there was always someone available. They also accommodated several special requests without any issue. We purchased the Platinum package and the extra perks were totally worth it in our opinion.
Ashley
Ashley R. Sent on 03/27/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommended

We had to post pone our wedding for over a year and a half, in the beginning we had a different event coordinator from rusty pelican who was not helpful and made everything more difficult. But then, Micheal Jessup became our new coordinator and he was AMAZING! very responsive, experienced and helpful. Leading up to the wedding day he answered my millions of questions and was always very knowledgeable. He made sure everything went smoothly the day of as well! We had a great wedding day, thank you!
E
Elaine M. Sent on 01/29/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing wedding at the Rusty Pelican

We got married at the Rusty Pelican last weekend and honestly everything went as perfectly as I could have imagined. We worked with Michael as our coordinator and Carlos as our banquet captain. We were planning from a different state and so were so grateful with how well organized and run this venue is for weddings. The setting can't be beat, leading to amazing photographs to remember our day by. Almost every single guest told us how much they enjoyed the food. And the day was run so smoothly that neither of us had to worry about anything. It truly was the best day and that is in large part to the amazing work done by the staff at the Rusty Pelican! Can't recommend highly enough.
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Awards

334
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 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
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Real Weddings

Danielle & Jacob
29 photos · 02/18/2022
Victor & Mabel
78 photos · 08/22/2020
Joanna & Corey
57 photos · 02/02/2020
Steven & Heather
22 photos · 10/19/2019
Kala & Greg
69 photos · 07/20/2019
Sukhi & Troy
37 photos · 11/11/2018

Pricing

Do you want more pricing details?

Professional Network & Endorsements

14 Endorsements
Alessi Bakery Alessi Bakery Wedding Cakes

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!

Joe Braccio Joe Braccio Wedding Musicians

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

Avalon West Carriage Service Avalon West Carriage Service Wedding Limos

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!

Map

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The Rusty Pelican frequently asked questions

The Rusty Pelican includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The Rusty Pelican includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at The Rusty Pelican includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Limited Bar
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by The Rusty Pelican for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Restaurant
The Rusty Pelican offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The Rusty Pelican offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The Rusty Pelican offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Wifi
The Rusty Pelican offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Chair Covers
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Drapery
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
The Rusty Pelican 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 quality of service, 4.6 in average response time, 4.6 in professionalism, 4.6 in value and 4.4 in flexibility.

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