The Rusty Pelican is a Tampa-based tropical wedding venue that offers a classic atmosphere and elegant banquet hall. Because it sits along 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 enjoy multiple event spaces at The Rusty Pelican. The Grand Ballroom, which accommodates up to 250 guests, is the largest banquet room. 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 people, 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 garden setting for sweet outdoor ceremonies with up to 250 guests.
Services Offered
To help the day run smoothly, The Rusty Pelican has various wedding-related services. These offerings include:
Cuisine
The venue has various menus 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 catering and bartending services include:
Other Services
The Rusty Pelican will gladly host your wedding-related festivities. These occasions include:
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
Based in the Rocky Point District of Tampa, The Rusty Pelican is just eight minutes from Tampa International Airport. It is about 20 minutes from multiple tourist attractions, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island and Museum of Science and Industry.
Recommended by 92% of couples
17 User photos
Matt Fishman · Married on 07/06/2019
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!
Mari · Married on 06/08/2019
Wedding venue....PERFECT!
We couldn’t have asked for anything to go more smoothly!!!! This venue not only had the best view, but from start to finish was an easy process!!! We couldn’t have asked for a better venue for a perfect day!!
Sent on 06/11/2019
The Rusty Pelican's reply:
We are so happy we were able to help you make your day a huge success! Wishing you many of years filled with love and happiness! Come visit us again soon.
Anne · Married on 05/18/2019
Incredible Venue and Service!
We looked at 20+ venues in Tampa and did a lot of research before deciding to use The Rusty Pelican as our reception venue. It was a great decision!! Rusty Pelican not only has amazing spaces with spectacular views, it also has great service and delicious food! There are so many perks to the package, including an event coordinator and banquet manager (we worked with Don and Norma who were both great - so professional and responsive), that create even more value on top of the views and food. Additional pros of using Rusty Pelican are that all the food is made in house at the restaurant (instead of catered) and it includes a lot of the stuff you would have to rent otherwise (like tables, chairs, linens, etc.). So we had minimal other contracts and coordination with other vendors which was so helpful in the already stressful planning process. I would highly recommend Rusty Pelican as your venue!
Sent on 05/25/2019
The Rusty Pelican's reply:
Thank you for your kind words Anne! It was such a pleasure to be a part of your wedding day. Wishing you many of years filled with love and happiness!
The Rusty Pelican Price Rates
15 Endorsements
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!
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