Wow. Gulf Drive truly helped put on the wedding of our dreams. It was even more perfect than we imagined. The BIGGEST shout out to Julie and Ben.. they were phenomenal to work with and we are forever grateful for them. They had their work cut out for them with us (somehow?!) getting 98 guests to come celebrate our wedding!! Not only that, but we rolled in with a trailer full of stuff (I opted to create everything decor wise for a boho vibe bc I’m crazy, they do have decor you can rent!!) and they set it up/ took it down and it was absolutely perfect😍 everything ran flawlessly. When we booked it, they connected us with so many preferred vendors which was super helpful being out of state! We were able to freely communicate with them in a timely manner whenever there were questions and had 60 and 30 day check in meetings to make sure everything was ready and on track. (Which we loved!) They were incredibly flexible and moved MOUNTAINS. We were able to bring our golden retrievers to be a part of the ceremony which meant the WORLD to us. We were able to have a s’mores bar. They made a special marshmallow martini per my special request (and was one they were not familiar with, but figured it out!💗) and heavens. The staff. They were PHENOMENAL. Special shout out to Brandon and Sasha too!! We heard about how incredible the staff were and how beautiful the venue was for the entire next month! Everyone loved them and Gulf Drive just as much as we do and we could not be more thankful to have chosen them to help us for the biggest day 💗
Beth Sent on 10/26/2021
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Great venue, assistance and food!
This venue is great. Rachel is easy going and very helpful. They were very accommodating with the decorations we brought in, offered guidance and assistance and helped us make the wedding a wonderful event. The location was amazing! Beautiful beach, great Tiki hut and everyone loved the food. Thank you all so much for helping to make this a joyful occasion.
Laticia Sent on 10/29/2020
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They are amazing
It was so perfect it was better than I imagined❤️❤️❤️
Are you interested?
Ginny Sent on 06/23/2020
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Highly Recommend!!!
We wanted a simple small ceremony and everything turned out perfect! I would highly recommend! Megan was wonderful to work with, from making sure everything was set up as needed to making sure we had LOTS of pictures to go through after.
Michael Sent on 06/15/2020
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A lifetime of memories in one day
The venue was amazing and the staff made everything so easy. Weddings can be very fast paced and everything was coordinated so well that I don't think we could've missed a beat if we tried. They made the process feel effortless on our end.
Debra Sent on 01/12/2020
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Wedding Ceremony and Reception
The Gulf Drive Cafe team did an amazing job in helping us plan our dream wedding! Everything was set up on the beach for the ceremony and the reception dinner and it was incredibly beautiful. They did a great job of keeping the ceremony private. And when it started to rain during the reception dinner, they quickly adjusted so that we could stay outside under the hut, serving us in the rain. The food was also outstanding! We would highly recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe, as they really went above and beyond to make our wedding and reception perfect!
Ginny Sent on 01/09/2020
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Breathtaking
Megan went above and beyond to make sure everything was exactly how we wanted it!
Chris Sent on 12/24/2019
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Beautiful and Special in Every Way
All the staff at Gulf Drive Cafe were more than helpful and courteous throughout the process, from planning through our wedding day. The venue is like no other, with a perfect setup for a ceremony and reception all on the beach. We couldn't have had it any better on our special day. Thank You Gulf Drive Cafe for being an integral part of such a significant part of our lives!
Cindy Sent on 10/24/2019
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Cindy Silverman
THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING!!! Could not recommend enough. They really made sure everything went perfect!!!!!
B Sent on 09/24/2019
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So easy to work with for a destination wedding.
Rachel, Megan, and the rest of the crew at Gulf Drive Cafe were an absolute DREAM to work with. My (now husband) and I had a small destination wedding; they asked all the right questions in order to understand the vision we had for the big day, and worked with us to have a sit-down dinner rather than a formal reception. We planned together via phone/email and had an in-person meeting the day before to go over last minute details. Everything was set up and ready to go day-of, and they helped with coordination, timing, and making sure everyone was taken care of. Couldn't have done it without them!
Leah Sent on 05/06/2019
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Great for a destination wedding!
We loved working with Gulf Drive! They were very professional and were very easy to work with. I'm from Ohio and mostly planned everything over the phone. It all turned out beautiful and I wouldn't change a single thing! If youre looking for a beautiful beach wedding, this is the best place to do it!
Stacie Sent on 05/03/2019
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Gulf drive cafe
This venue was amazing!! Stefanie and Stephanie are incredible ladies and made our special day so memorable. They touched on every aspect and made the planning process so easy for us. We can’t begin to describe how happy we are!!!
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Samantha Sent on 04/22/2019
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Beautiful Beach Wedding
My husband and I are so glad we decided to have our wedding at the Gulf Drive Cafe. Stefanie and her team were excellent and made planning our wedding all the way from California so much easier. She was always quick to respond to emails and wanted to make sure our day was everything we wanted it to be. We were also provided with a list of preferred vendors which proved to be extremely helpful. All the vendors we chose from their list turned out to be wonderful as well. The location is beautiful and having the sunset as a backdrop for our reception was amazing. The day truly exceeded our expectations and our guests had a great time. I would highly recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe for your dream beach wedding.
Angela Sent on 03/21/2019
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Beautiful wedding venue
This was my fairytale beach wedding come true! Everything is included with the package deal and they will also do the food, menu ordering, buffet or lite menu. Stefanie was a joy to work with. It is very evident in her work they she enjoys making the perfect wedding for her clients. I high recommend the Sunset Weddings ❤️❤️
Paul Sent on 03/19/2019
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Great beach venue
Stephanie and her team will make your wedding day stress free. It's a very scenic venue right on the beach.
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Andrea Sent on 02/19/2019
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Perfection!
Stefanie, McKenna, and the staff at Gulf Drive Cafe did a wonderful job from start to finish with our wedding day! It was so laid back and stress free and allowed us to really enjoy our guests and have a good time.
Derek Sent on 01/03/2019
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Informal Beach Wedding
We had a small (35 people) informal wedding and reception at the Gulf Drive Cafe that turned out great. The location looked great, food was very tasty, the staff was very attentive and everything went to plan. The only slight negative to the whole night was keeping oblivious wandering beach goers out of our sunset wedding pictures, but that was not their fault. Designate a few beach attendants to help.
John Sent on 12/31/2018
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Perfect Beach Wedding - Perfect Wedding Team
Our Planners Stefanie and McKenna handled every detail.
During our Prep Meetings we shared our hopes and goals and they made it Happen.
Marybeth Sent on 12/30/2018
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Better than we could have ever dreamed!
We loved everything about having our wedding at The Gulf Drive Café and Tiki with the Sunset Weddings staff. We had a long engagement and booked this venue about a year and a half out from our wedding date but Stefanie never made us feel like we weren’t a priority because our wedding was far away when we reached out with questions. Because it was destination, we knew it was going to take extra effort planning and the Sunset Wedding staff was incredibly accommodating with quick response emails, Skype meetings, and being flexible when we were able to make trips to have meetings in person. Now to the good stuff, I am a perfectionist designer so I needed to be pretty hands on with everything and I’m sure that can get annoying but I never ever was treated that way. Stefanie welcomed all my ideas with open arms and we worked exceptionally well together. As the date got closer, the weather was looking scarier and scarier. We communicated our plan b and brainstormed different ways to keep it magical and it honestly turned out perfect regardless of what the weather was doing. I had all the faith in the world that Stefanie and McKenna would be able to pull off absolutely anything, and they did. They listened to our vision of all the handmade decorations and where they should go and when we showed up to the venue, I cried because they did such an incredible job setting everything up. Those two girls will have a special place in my heart forever! The backdrop of the beautiful beach with the large tiki hut and mini tiki’s is unmatched. We also did the caribbean taco bar as our dinner and people were raving about how unique, fun and delicious it was. If you’re a big fan of the beach, working with people that genuinely care about you and making your day perfect, I HIGHLY recommend getting married here, you won’t be disappointed!!!
Cristina Sent on 12/30/2018
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Highly recommend it
We are very happy we got married at this location and with the sunset by gulf drive cafe. We were able to plan this wedding being in a different country! Unbelievable, living in south america we decided to contact sunset weddings by email and they arranged it all!! Emails and one skype interview! By the time we got there everything was taken care off, no worries, a perfect beach wedding without the stress. The wedding team really takes care of you!!
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Rachel Sent on 12/30/2018
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If you are looking for a FLAWLESS day, look no further!
Sunset Weddings at Gulf Drive Cafe was an absolute dream wedding venue! Stefanie and McKenna made our day exceptionally special and made sure that my husband or I never lifted a finger. They made EVERYTHING happen and because of that, it still feels like a fairytale. When I first started looking for venues, I was lost in a sea of decisions (no pun intended), but as soon as my then fiancé and I met Stefanie and toured Gulf Drive cafe we knew we had found our venue! Stefanie and McKenna go through every single detail with you to make sure everything is perfect—what I really loved was that if I couldn’t decide what I wanted or some other little detail, they gave advice and helped us come to decisions based on our vision. I cannot say enough about how amazing this venue and the ladies that helped make our dream wedding a reality were! If you are looking for a local Florida feel w/gorgeous sunsets and amazing people, look no further!!
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Michellee Sent on 11/14/2018
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It was my everything!
Firstly we had the awful task of locating a venue without the opportunity to see it first hand as we are from Massachusetts. Making everything much harder than it already was. After looking at dozens of venues online we came across The Sunset by the Gulf Drive Cafe! The pictures looked incredible, such a beautiful location and such a beautiful venue. We both fell in love with the look and feel of the venue over pictures alone. We got in contact with Stefanie and WOW words aren't enough to explain how professional, nice, enthusiastic she was. She is the TRUE definition of a wedding planner. She really put our minds at rest and we knew even though we hadn’t seen the venue it was definitely the right place for us. During all the months leading up to the wedding we were in contact with Stefanie and McKenna- we obviously had so many questions and requests through not being able to be there physically, but they were there and quickly responded to all our emails and give helpful friendly advice for everything. Stefanie and McKenna were there for us EVERY step of the way. People often ask us what was the best part about our wedding day and for both of us the best part about the day was that we didn’t worry about anything. If we had any advice to couples looking to plan their wedding- I think we would both advise that preparation goes such a long way. Always listen to the advice the venue has to offer, they will know best! They’ve seen many weddings so they know what will work and what may not come off as well as you’re thinking. Thank you guys for everything my wedding was truly a fairy tale.
Niesje Sent on 11/13/2018
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Best wedding
Let me just say, Stephanie and McKenna blew mine and my husband mind with how gorgeous everything was. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We were so happy with how everything turned out. It was beyond our expectations. The food was great, all of our guest raved at how good the food was, the shrimp and chicken was a crowd favorite. Stephanie and McKenna were awesome to work with very easy going and catered to our needs and just really gave us everything we asked for. I wouldn’t have changed a thing that they did for us. If you book here you will not be disappointed.
Jessica Sent on 09/21/2018
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Stefanie and the entire staff at Gulf Drive Cafe helped to make our wedding absolutely perfect!!
Kamila Sent on 09/12/2018
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When using Guld Drive Cafe, there were absolutely no issues. Stefanie was amazingly responsive with anything and everything we needed. The ceremony and reception was amazing and highly recommend them!!!
Kelli Sent on 08/20/2018
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When we started looking at venues for our destination wedding, we came upon The Sunset by Gulf Drive Cafe and immediately fell in love. We wanted a small intimate wedding with family and friends on the beach. Stefanie brought our dream to reality. The beautiful sand, tiki huts, and the arch in which we were married provided such a stunning background and magical day. We couldn't of had a more perfect day!
Upon booking our destination wedding, we were given a preferred list of local vendors, photographers, etc to contact (which did help being so far away). Unfortunately, Mother Nature brought the red tide our way and a Plan B was made just in case the smell was too bad (thank goodness our wedding day had no issues) but it made me feel much better knowing a back up plan was thought of by Stefanie and her team.
The wait staff made sure drinks were in hand for all our guests at all times. Stefanie and her team had everything covered – guests, seating, our cake / cupcake table, decorations ... everything was BEAUTIFUL!!
The FOOD was amazing! Everyone LOVED it!
Thank you to the entire team at The Sunset by Gulf Drive Cafe!!!
Kelli & Frank
Amy Sent on 07/31/2018
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We were treated so well at the sunset. I am a huge fan of organization and it seemed she thought of everything, even things I hadn't given any thought to before. It was a wonderful stress free experience.
Sierra Sent on 07/01/2018
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The venue was beautiful! Stefanie and the staff were professional, friendly, and everything ran smoothly! It was pretty easy and fun planning a destination wedding at the venue! Decorations looked awesome! There weren't any surprises along the way. I had my perfect day!
Scott Sent on 06/29/2018
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Stefanie at Gulf Drive Cafe is a true professional and her passion shows when you get the honor to work with her. Awesome job Stefanie...Thank you for the memories!!! - Scott & Karen Rushnell
William Sent on 06/10/2018
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Awesome service for our wedding everything was set up on time food and beverages were outstanding.
Emily Sent on 06/05/2018
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We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding at the Gulf Drive Cafe! The weather, venue, and service were amazing! Stefanie and Sarah were awesome to work with. We are from out of town so it was nice to have them both as they were so helpful and quick to respond through emails and phone calls during the planning process. I didn’t have to worry about a thing! Also, Sarah was a rockstar the day of!! She was a key role in making our wedding day run smooth and perfect! Multiple guests came up to me and said it was the best food they have ever had at a wedding. I have 3 sisters and they all have their sights set on getting married at the Gulf Drive Cafe. We HIGHLY recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe!
Janelle Sent on 05/24/2018
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Our wedding day was absolutely perfect at Gulf Drive Cafe! Our wedding coordinator Stephanie was so helpful in every aspect! She had suggestions and advice for everything and was so helpful in planning our wedding! We live out of state and we were a little nervous as we had never even visited the area prior to our rehearsal night. The food, atmosphere, and location are top notch! We had the most beautiful sunset the night of our wedding. The photographer was also amazing! Couldn't have asked for a better place to have our wedding! We highly recommend them! The whole process was simple and easy from start to finish!
Kristin Sent on 05/24/2018
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Our wedding was beautiful and absolutely perfect! Stefanie was always so patient during the whole planning process and made the wedding day stress free (as much as possible!) The venue is gorgeous!
Jessica Sent on 04/04/2018
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Stephanie was the perfect wedding planner for the day of, we truly enjoyed having our wedding at the Gulf Drive Cafe. Everything turned out perfect and we couldn’t have hoped for better! The staff and Stephanie were exceptional, very professional and always available when we had questions! No doubt the best night ever!
Katie Sent on 03/29/2018
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Stefanie was AMAZING! We had a very simple wedding with just 3 guests. She went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect and responded to any questions we had right away. There was no stress and that’s all we truly wanted. The elegant white linens and starfish hanging from the arch were perfect along with the sand ceremony she helped give some great ideas on! I highly recommend whether it’s a simple ceremony like ours or a wedding party of 200 you’ll be in great hands! Thanks for all Stefanie and everyone at Gulf Drive Cafe!
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Lisa Sent on 12/26/2017
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Our son and daughter-in-law had a beach wedding planned on Anna Maria Island, Florida for December. They had a very small budget. When their original plans fell apart 3-4 weeks before the wedding we contacted Gulf Drive Cafe in Bradenton Beach. They were able to work with us on very short notice. The cost was over our original budget but they provided us with a wedding coordinator, Stephanie who took care of all the details that we didn't have the time to handle. When the weather forecast kept getting worse each day leading up to the wedding Stephanie and Gulf Drive Cafe were wonderful, they came up with a great solution to move our guests inside for dinner. Then on the day of the wedding when the weather still wasn't cooperating for a beach ceremony they were able to move the ceremony inside as well. Stephanie was great to work with. She had lots of ideas and she got back to us within minutes of every phone call with answers to all our questions and special requests. She sent follow-up emails immediately after every conversation and kept us informed of the costs the entire time. Everything turned out beautiful. You can't control mother nature but Gulf Drive Cafe did everything in their power to make it a memorable evening for the Bride and Groom and all their guests. We highly recommend using them!
Virginia Sent on 12/05/2017
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Everything was beautiful. Thank you Stephanie for stepping in at the last minute. It was everything we dreamed it would be. Dawn And George Sheridan
Simma Sent on 11/16/2017
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Gulf Drive Cafe is an amazing wedding venue! My husband and I got married here on November 4th, 2017 and it was absolutely gorgeous. We looked at a lot of different venues and this one was by far the best. The tikki hut looked amazing with our decorations and the ocean as our backdrop was magnificent. We received so many compliments from our guests saying it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended. The staff was amazing and so friendly....And then there is Laura. Oh my goodness she is the BEST coordinator EVER. She not only saved us money, but was able to pull off a very difficult wedding! We had an Indian/American fusion wedding. Laura was able to coordinate with our vendors which is very difficult, because there were a ton! When some of our vendors went over time and showed up late she was able to build in time into our schedule and save us about an hour! She was so incredibly accommodating I could not believe it! I truly believe this is her passion and calling. Her job is not an easy one! She is so warm-hearted and truly wants to best for her customers. What an amazing venue and staff!!!!
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Katie Sent on 08/07/2017
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Laura was seriously unbelievable with our wedding! We brought a lot of our decorations and she set everything up for us so we can all relax for the big day! She was always making sure we had everything we need and she went above and beyond in so many ways to make our day special! She helped me go to the bathroom in my big wedding dress, she bustsled my dress, she always. Made sure we had drinks or food, she controlled a whole party of 50 people, and she even took some pictures on her phone for us since we forgot one or two pictures we wanted with our photographer!! Laura can organize any event!
Casey Sent on 08/06/2017
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Laura and the Gulf Drive Café.....beautiful, amazingly, absolutely perfect!! The venue was gorgeous, service was phenomenal & my night was surreal. Laura made sure the planning process was easy, well organized, and that the night went off without a hitch. Laura and her team make the wedding crazies a lot less crazy : ) Thank you Laura & GDC for helping the happiest day of my life be even happier!
Briana Sent on 03/26/2017
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We booked the Gulf Drive Cafe for our wedding and couldn't be happier with our decision. Laura and her staff were AMAZING to work with! Laura's level of service during planning, rehearsal, and the day of was exceptional. Any question or request I had she was already prepared for and made it happen. She knew when to give her input but always let me choose which made it that much more meaningful. Her can do attitude created a positive experience, even through the stressful planning and finalizing stages. The staff was very personable and did everything to make our day special. Laura made it easy to relax and enjoy the celebration while she coordinated everything with great attention to detail, which we much appreciate. Although the weather was beautiful, we did have some high winds. Laura and her team adjusted the set up to accommodate for this and it was absolutely perfect. Our guests were very pleased with the location, service and convenience of the beach ceremony flowing directly into the reception. We were also extremely pleased with the food. We are so grateful for Laura and her team making our day so special and unforgettable!
Sam Sent on 03/11/2017
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Best experience ever, Laura was great and I def recommend her and the gulf drive cafe to everyone!
Kami Sent on 02/01/2017
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The Gulf Drive was a perfect choice for our wedding. We drove all over the Gulf Coast before finding this place and we could not have made a better decision. Laura was great to work with and made all of my worries of a destination wedding go away I just a couple phone calls. I would highly recommend this place as you will NOT be disappointed. Our wedding could not have been more perfect. Laura does an amazing job.
Paula Sent on 01/19/2017
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Most romantic spot on the beach!
Tina Sent on 12/28/2016
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We all love, love, love Laura Snow. She went about and beyond for our wedding planning at Gulf Drive Café. Everyone loved Laura Snow. EVERYONE!
M Sent on 11/13/2016
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We got married in early October of 2016. Laura and the Gulf Drive staff were amazing! They did a great job setting up for our ceremony and reception and Laura was so accommodating and made sure everything stayed on track. It rained right before the ceremony was suppose to start and Laura and her staff did a great job quickly setting up a ceremony under the Tiki Hut. We couldn't have asked for a better venue!
Maria Sent on 11/05/2016
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I would highly recommend booking your venue at Gulf Dr Cafe with Laura. She was Amazing! The team was great to work with and the night of events where guided by their help in managing the event. Laura and her team at Gulf Dr. made this experience smooth and less stressful on my end.
Samantha Sent on 09/18/2016
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I can't say enough good thing about our wedding at Gulf Drive! Our wedding coordinator Laura went above and beyond on our wedding day to make sure everything was perfect! Gulf Drive Cafe is a beautiful scenic venue if you are looking for a fun and laid back beach wedding! I would definitely recommend Gulf Drive Cafe to anyone!
Becky Sent on 09/09/2016
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Laura is awesome she went above and beyond!! She is so personal and pays attention to every detail!! She is really good at keeping thing rolling so you don't have to worry about a schedule!!! The food was great!! We dropped off decorations and Laura did it all it was so peaceful, perfect and beautiful!!!
Becky Reyes
Colleen Sent on 05/12/2016
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Tela was extremely helpful, friendly, and very timely with her responses to my questions. She helped make our reception perfect. Our bartender had to cancel at the last minute so she filled in; she was so good that I didn't even know this until after the event was over!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Debbie Sent on 04/26/2016
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I planned my sons rehearsal from out of state and working with Tela at Gulf Drive Cafe was a joy. She was very patience with our requests and was able to make everything we were looking for possible. The dinner was delicious, the service was great. The entire evening was just fabulous.
Lindsey Sent on 04/25/2016
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Our wedding at the Gulf Drive Cafe was a dream come true!
Beth Sent on 04/25/2016
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From the time I originally booked my wedding and the actual event there was a change in coordinators. I must say... particularly with short notice, Tela dove in and took total control of every little detail. Our wedding day was creme de la creme, from beginning to end. I dare say she even ordered up perfect weather for our beach ceremony. Our guests commented not only on how great the food was, but the quantity and availability at the buffet table. Our bartenders accommodated every request and kept the fun flowing. I had indicated early on I wasn't interested in the little details and after conveying my wants & needs, I never once had to worry about the execution. Several people mentioned it was the most elegant casual event they could have imagined. The next day my 13 year old niece proclaimed that when she marries she wants a beach wedding.... because in her eyes all she saw was PERFECTION.... me too! THANK YOU to each and every member of the Gulf Drive Cafe team that made my wedding day PURE ENJOYMENT!!!
Sydney Sent on 02/29/2016
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We loved having our wedding and reception here. We were supposed to get married on the beach but there was a wind storm that day so Tela and the crew set up a ceremony for us where we would ultimately have our reception as well. They are great people and work very hard. If we had to do it all over again we chose this place! The service was great, bartender was amazing, and the food was incredible! Tela is an amazing event planner and will work with you on things as best as she can. We highly recommend her!
Karyn Sent on 10/14/2015
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I will begin by saying, I was a bit nervous to choose this venue due to the reviews I read online. We decided to go with this venue anyway because it was the most beautiful and fun spot on the island. When I envisioned my wedding-this was exactly what I pictured so we decided to chance it. We weren't going directly through the venue either, we were using Sand Petal weddings as our coordinator. We did have lunch there a few weeks before the wedding and was a little nervous because the staff and food weren't the best(very slow and food kept coming out wrong). It could have been due to the fact they were crazy busy and only had 2 people working the whole bar.
Well, let me tell you, I am SO happy we did! What an amazing day it turned out to be! The venue, beach, food, weather-EVERYTHING was absolutely perfect! I was pleasantly surprised by the Tiki Hut and my guests raved about the food(tropical chicken and prime rib w/homemade mashed potatoes)! There was not one thing I would have changed-well maybe time but that wasn't anyone's fault.
I would 100% recommend this venue! Sand Petals is an amazing group of women that honestly care about you and even though I didn't directly deal with Gulf Drive, Kelli even showed up to greet me and make sure everything was amazing-which it was! If you want a super fun, relaxed, BEAUTIFUL wedding-choose Gulf Drive!
Jessica Sent on 05/15/2015
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Kelly is amazing at what she does. Every time I needed to meet with Kelly she was available to meet with. She was very easy to communicate with via text email and phone whenever I needed an answer to a question and she replied very quickly. Kelly's expertise helped me with many of my decisions. The ceremony was perfect, set up was smooth and everyone worked together to get everything done. The reception was absolutely beautiful! The staff and waiters were on point no one was left waiting for anything. The food was very tasteful! The prime rib was definitely my favorite! I recommend the prime rib carving station to any bride trying to decide what to have for food. All in all I would recommend Kelly and her staff at Gulf drive cafe to host any brides wedding
Melissa Sent on 03/13/2015
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I just had my wedding there a few days ago (sunday) and Kelli did everything perfect, We had our ceremony on the beach the arch was set up beautifully; We also had our reception after and the setup was wonderful, Everything that I Invisioned!
My wedding was so perfect and beautiful, Kelli really went the extra mile to make my day so speical .The location has gorgegous views, The food was excellent good sized portions, eveyone at my wedding had such a wonderful time, and also said it was the best wedding they ever went to !!! The staff was very nice and polite,
My husband and I highly recommend to a friend or anyone to have there special day at gulf cafe! They are very reasonable price wise ! Kelli is a wonderful person to work with she will make your day magical!
We can't thank Kelli enough she is an amazing person she made our dreams come true on our wedding day!
Lindsay Sent on 03/08/2015
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The location was awesome! Kelli and her team did a wonderful job and everything came together nicely. We had the Caribbean Chicken & Mahi Mahi with pineapple/mango sauce for entrees, which was excellent. I also recommend the meatballs with homemade BBQ sauce, fresh fruit w/strawberry dip & bruschetta for appetizers. All the food was so good and the service during the reception was excellent. Kelli and her team were there to help with anything we needed for both the ceremony & reception. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone wanting a beach/destination wedding. Thanks for making the day so nice for the Bride & Groom!
Rachel Sent on 05/28/2014
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Everything for our wedding was perfect. The food was amazing and the staff were great! My guests raved about the food as well as the bartender and staff. It was stress free and relaxing. If your planning your wedding you should look at the gulf drive café/tiki hut! We were very pleased with everything. Thanks again for a perfect day!
Kieara Sent on 04/21/2014
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We got married here on 04/12/14. It was perfect for the beach wedding I've always dreamed of! The staff was excellent & very prompt & prepared.
Sharon Sent on 04/17/2014
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We are so glad that we chose this location for our Grooms barbecue dinner, wedding,wedding reception and the next day breakfast; complete with an omelette bar. Our family and friends still talk about the seafood Paella that was made right before us all and served individually to each of our guests! The Wedding Planner was so easy to work with and the Wait Staff prompt and courteous. Thank you all for helping us have the best day!
Kind regards,
Ben and Sharon
Stephen Sent on 01/05/2014
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My family had an afternoon event including Thanksgiving dinner for approx. 30 people. We were treated as if we were family. You could not have had better service at home. Very highly recommend this place for any event.
Sharon Sent on 10/07/2013
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We loved having our Wedding and Wedding Reception at the Kokonut Hut. Despite the worst Rain in many years our Wedding was very memorable thanks in large measure to the staff. Angie, the Event Planner,from the time I first contacted her, was exceptional in her dedication to coordinating the details for our Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding, Wedding Reception and Morning after Breakfast. My Wedding Planner Sheila, commented on how much she enjoyed working with Angie because of her professionalism. Additional thanks to Stacey, the Banquet Captain, and Willie, the Banquet Assistant, for their tireless efforts and long hours on behalf of our events.
Amy Sent on 02/24/2013
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We had an amazing wedding at the Tiki Bar. The staff was accommodating, and the set up was beautiful. I would highly suggest getting married there!
Erica Sent on 05/24/2012
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Location and environment was perfect and exactly what we were looking for. The ceremony on the beach with the beautiful sunset was amazing and the reception at the Tiki hut was very convenient and had the tropical elgance we wanted. Overall the staff was very friendly. Management was very accomodating and professional. Great value for the most important day and would defenitely recommend it to anyone! Thanks Gulf Drive!
Audrey Sent on 06/27/2017
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Laura is a rock star and the location is gorgeous! I looked everywhere around Florida and just kept coming back to this venue - it was exactly what I was looking for. Laura was so helpful and patiently answered my millions of questions beforehand. This was a destination wedding for me so I was a little nervous, but everything came together perfectly. Reading another review, yes, there was a service charge added to the total, but that's not uncommon at all. Laura was willing to make as many adjustments to the contract as we wanted and everything was very clearly laid out before we signed - there was nothing hidden or unexpected that popped up at the end. Back to Laura - wow. I had plenty of friends and family ready and willing to set up the reception location but needn't have bothered - we dropped everything off in the morning, gave her a general idea of what we wanted and by the time a couple of people went over to set it up it was already done and beautiful. Whether it was handing us our first cocktail as a married couple, snapping some unique shots with her phone that the photographers didn't catch, or delivering our dinner to our table so we could relax instead of going through the buffet line, she made everything so easy and effortless that I was truly able to enjoy the evening without worrying about anything at all. When we decided on a flower girl at the last minute and didn't have a handled basket, she made one by tying a little strip of burlap onto a basket for her. I never felt like I had to compromise on anything that I wanted - she made it all happen without exasperation and seemed happy to help the entire time. After the blur of the evening I tried to think back to anything that had gone wrong or anything I would have done differently and honestly could not. I am so glad that I chose this venue.
Tara Sent on 06/17/2017
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Laura Snow is more than you could want in an event planner. She went above and beyond in every aspect imaginable to make our special day as memorable as possible.
Anna Sent on 11/01/2016
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We’re so happy we chose to get married at Gulf Drive. The view and atmosphere of the beach ceremony and tiki hut reception were exactly what we were looking for, and the staff made the day unforgettable. We were able to plan most of the details over phone/email all the way from Texas without issue. I’m still amazed at the value we got for the money we spent, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The waitstaff was super attentive and kind, and went out of their way to make us feel special. The bartender (Randy) even came over to our breakfast table the following morning to ask us how we were feeling. The whole staff is clearly made up of good people who wanted us to have a great time.
Our coordinator Laura was fantastic as well. She went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. One of our wedding guests even mentioned that she (politely) chased a few tourists off the beach and out of camera frame during our ceremony. Laura clearly has a lot on her plate, so if you can’t get a hold of her immediately, just be sure to follow up. She alleviated any concerns we had, no matter how small or silly they may have seemed to her, and took extra good care of us the day of the wedding. We even found a little note from her on some to-go boxes filled with leftover food.
This was everything we wanted and then some, and we can’t recommend this place enough.
Audrey Sent on 10/14/2022
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If you want a true beach wedding, book this venue!
I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary than by reminiscing on our perfect day last fall. And with that, comes reviews that I should have written a year ago. I have such a hard time writing these because its difficult to capture emotions and feelings just by reading text, but I'll give it my best shot. Having our wedding at the Tiki Hut at Gulf Drive Café was exactly what we were looking for – ceremony and reception directly on the beach, beautiful scenery for our traveling guests to enjoy and an unforgettable night with family and friends. They 110% delivered!! I would absolutely, without question, highly recommend this venue if you are looking for the beach wedding vibe!!
We live in the Midwest and initially visited the area in September 2019. We signed a contract for 10/10/2020 that same day and started to plan. Unfortunately, we all know what 2020 brought to the table and made the decision in July to postpone our celebration for another year. They weren’t very accommodating to our date change at first, but fortunately agreed to move our date without charge to 10/8/2021. Over the course of the next year, we had many issues with their wedding coordinators. That position had high turnover, so we were bounced around to different people and constantly had to re-explain our BEO to anyone new. Communication was extremely difficult and I won’t lie, I began to 2nd guess our entire wedding celebration. However, Rachael Parker (who we originally met with in September 2019 but left sometime in 2020/early 2021) came back and ended up being our final wedding coordinator. She remembered everything from our original meeting all those years ago and executed our entire vision PERFECTLY! We couldn’t have been more pleased with how our day turned out and this is mostly because of Rachael. Our guests had nothing but great things to say and didn’t want to leave the beach!! Also, the food was incredible!! Book this venue!! 10/10!
Sarah Sent on 11/21/2020
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The most amazing day ever! 11/7/20
We just wanted to take the opportunity to sincerely thank the Sunset AMI Wedding staff at the Gulf Drive Cafe for making our wedding so memorable on 11/7/20.
All of the guests we’ve talked with have commented on how great the staff was. They all really went above and beyond for us and I don’t want them to think that it went unnoticed. Everyone from the bartenders to Brandon and the rest of the servers made it a special evening for us. It’s not very often that you hear the staff was one of the highlights of the wedding!
Above everybody else, we wanted to thank Rachel and Julie, the coordinators, for all of their hard work and efforts on the wedding day. We could tell that they really cared about making the evening a memorable one. While the weather didn’t cooperate, they did everything they could to make us comfortable and we sincerely appreciate it, that involves giving out free tees and sweat shirts to drenched, chilly guests!
Words can not say how thankful Paul and I are for everything. This crew made the day special for us and all of our guests. Next time we’re on the island, we’ll be sure to swing by and say hello!
Ashley Sent on 01/29/2019
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Amazing all around!
Stefanie and her staff were amazing throughout the whole process! She was very accommodating, and responsive! Absolutely wonderful place to have a reception!
Kristin Sent on 10/23/2018
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Unforgettable day
Wedding day was amazing! Stephanie and staff put together an unforgettable day. Decorations/set up of reception were beautiful. Staff was always on top of keeping the day flowing, keeping wedding crashers out :), and making sure we enjoyed the day. If you are looking for a beach wedding this is the venue I would recommend. I had a day that I will never forget. Thank you to everyone at the Sunset by Gulf Drive Cafe.
Amanda Sent on 10/20/2018
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5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Perfect Day!
Amazing venue!
Every detail was perfect.
Stefanie went above and beyond making sure we had our perfect wedding.
Meetings with the chef for an incredible menu.
They worked with us, guided us, and anticipated exactly what we wanted, someone's before we even really knew for ourselves.
It was an absolute pleasure working with the entire staff of Gulf Drive Cafe!
Tori Sent on 05/11/2018
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
We had the most beautiful day we could have imagined. Stephanie did not disapoint in any way. She continued to impress me each time we met or spoke. She would always have great ideas and was so easy to work with. It was so nice to work with someone who truly cared about our special day. We met Stephanie a few months before our wedding when she started at the Drive. She eased all of my nerves from the first time we met. Laura had prepared her perfectly and she did not miss a beat!We had a ton of family come from out of the state and she made it super easy to accommodate them in anyway. We were told over and over how it was the most beautiful wedding they ever attended. It truly was a Florida dream sunset wedding. Being born and raised here I always dreamed of a beach wedding . The venue provided a relaxing and classy beach wedding with the most beautiful sunset. Their food was so good! They had a wonderful selection. If they could provide a bridal suite in the future I think it would really benefit all involved. That aside there are lots of hotels within walking distance. I had A LOT of questions throughout the planning and Stephanie was always quick to respond. I highly recommend The Gulf Drive Cafe as I couldn't imagine any other place for a beach wedding.
Marci Sent on 05/09/2018
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
I cannot day enough great things about Sunset Weddings at GDC! Stefanie and her team helped make our Cinco de Mayo wedding a success! Following the initial booking our original wedding coordinator left GDC, but Stefanie immediately helped to put our minds at ease and guided us through the planning process to make sure all of our needs were met. In addition to her great team at GDC, she provided recommendations for local vendors which included DJ, florist, officiant, and photographer. I would recommend each of these highly!!!
Maggie Sent on 05/02/2017
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
We were thrilled with our experience with Gulf Drive Cafe. The venue is casual yet beautiful for a beach wedding. Our wedding coordinator Laura went above and beyond to make sure everything was on point. Laura is professional, attentive, organized and available with suggestions and answers to all of our questions. She made the wedding planning process smooth and easy. We could not be happier!
User2361326 Sent on 10/11/2015
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
I planned my wedding from WI and Kelli was wonderful to work with. I was very happy with how everything turned out! We had plenty of food and the staff were pleasant and professional. Everyone went out of their way to help us with anything we needed and were determined to give us the best day possible, which they did! I would highly recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe for anyones wedding!
We had approximately 50 guests with open bar and a great taco bar buffet. I felt that the venue/food/drink was a little overpriced but worth it in the end.
User2358630 Sent on 10/09/2015
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
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5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
My wedding was beautiful! The venue was amazing and so was the staff. I had an amazing time. I do think I spent a lot of money even though my wedding was relatively small.
Victoria Sent on 05/21/2018
4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Stefanie and her Team were so great. It was so comforting that even from so far away we did not have any stress at all.
Everything turned out the way we imagined.
Audra Sent on 10/18/2016
4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Perfect location and all of our guests raved about the food....we wouldn't know, because we didn't even eat on our wedding night! The bartenders were on point and very social with all our guests. Laura was a breath of fresh air after the venue switched event managers. She took all the stress out of the planning phase and made things very simple and was attentive to our wants and needs. I couldn't have pictured a more perfect day thanks to the wonderful set-up staff of Gulf Drive Cafe and to Laura for all her hard work to make it all happen!!!
Kathleen Sent on 01/15/2014
4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Value
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
The venue was perfect for our staff party. The food was delicious. My only issue was the band next to us, but I was told ahead of time that they would be there. It just made it difficult to hear our conversations over the band.
Fred Sent on 02/05/2013
4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Our experience with the staff was excellent. They were easy to communicate with and wanted to make our day special! The venue was perfect for our guests!
Ginger Sent on 06/23/2020
4.6 out of 5 rating
4.6
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Renewal of vows
They were very sweet and. Accommodating. To my needs . Very flexible with time. Food and bar meet Tori expectations
Shannon Sent on 11/30/2018
4.6 out of 5 rating
4.6
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Incredible time!
Stepf and the staff at The Sunset were incredible! They made sure our guests were happy and my husband and I had everything we needed for a perfect ceremony and reception!
Kelli Sent on 11/09/2011
4.6 out of 5 rating
4.6
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
3.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
When we came down from Clearwater to visit Gulf Drive Tiki I knew it was "the place" as soon as I saw the gigantic tiki hut in person! This place is absolutely beautiful and was exactly what we were going for! They also catered the reception and the food was AMAZING. If you love seafood you must have the Seafood Paella! Pete makes the Seafood Paella right under the tiki hut for guests to see. All of our guests raved about it! It was a perfect fit! The service the day of was fantastic. They don't respond well to emails so be sure to call them, its totally worth it!
Michelle Sent on 09/13/2018
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Love this place! My wedding turned out amazing thanks to them. I would highly recommend Gulf Drive Cafe. They took care of everything, no worries. Stefanie was fantastic!
Sheila Sent on 03/03/2016
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Tela was absolutely wonderful to work with! I live out of state so most of our interactions were through e-mail but she was always quick to respond, flexible and helpful with all my needs. It rained the day of our wedding but was supposed to clear up by the 5pm ceremony start time. Unfortunately, it did not. The ceremony had to be moved last minute inside the tiki where the reception was being held so I was a little concerned how it would look. To my surprise, it looked great! Tela did an amazing job with the setup:) We had some issues with the food but a lot of that was due to the rainy weather and the timeline being off. I would definitely recommend Tela and the Gulf Drive Café as venue for anyone considering it.
User2464284 Sent on 12/12/2015
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
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4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Although sometimes the wedding coordinator was difficult to get in contact with, she was very nice and helpful! The venue is beautiful and reasonably priced. The food was great, although I didn't have much time to eat as I was walking around greeting guests. We had our wedding in the evening, so there weren't too many onlookers on the beach. The only thing I would recommend is that if you have your wedding here in the summer, bring fans! It happened to be a hot night with no wind, and I wish we would've went out and bought a couple fans to circulate as I didn't realize the pavilion didn't have fans. Overall, it was a great experience!
Becky Sent on 11/03/2015
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Kelli and Tela were great to work with!! Everything went very smooth and while planning the wedding from out of town they made it seamless.
Jennifer Sent on 04/04/2018
4.4 out of 5 rating
4.4
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
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5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Our wedding was absolutely magical! 100% recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe, we were so happy with everything! The service was top notch and their attention to my husband and I made it all worth it!
+4photos
User2616597 Sent on 05/21/2016
4.4 out of 5 rating
4.4
Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Great venue and great service. Would book again
Carrie Sent on 10/07/2013
4.4 out of 5 rating
4.4
Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Loved my wedding, it was my vision come true. I worked with Angie and she was great. Very responsive with phone calls and texts, wanted to make the day perfect for us. Venue was exactly what I wanted.
Bonnie Sent on 04/27/2016
4.3 out of 5 rating
4.3
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Tela was very helpful in coordinating our meal and reception venue. The DJ I had scheduled could not provide services with a month left, but Tela found another DJ service which was fenominal!!! Tela was very responsive and helpful with all of our planning.
Lauren Sent on 06/27/2017
4.2 out of 5 rating
4.2
Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Laura you did such a wonderful job for us and we couldn't be more greatful. We will be back!!
Scott Sent on 05/25/2012
4.2 out of 5 rating
4.2
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
3.0
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Everybody at the Gulf Drive is extremely friendly and helpful. We loved the Tiki Hut. It was a great place for our wedding. The location is superior to everywhere else for weddings on the island because there is just enough beach for you and your guests to enjoy, but not enough that you will have beach-goers lounging there. The food was good. It always has been since we have been going there. When we return to AMI we always try to make a trip to the Gulf Drive.
Peter the caterer is great. He is very knowledgeable and has many relationships with other vendors that are worth giving your business.
The only real problem we found was most people there are on island time. Meaning they are very laid back. Which is usually a good thing, but for the amount business they do and the services they offer, it explains why we rated them as we did in the first three categories above.
We most certainly recommend the Gulf Drive to anyone, dining or events. We love it!
Frederic Sent on 02/06/2013
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Overall great experience for the celebration of our wedding. It took a little bit time to get everything organized, but once our big day arrived, everything went smooth. Thoughtful service, good selection of food/drinks, professional staff and great customer care.
Hint: include the "prime ribs" in your menu, it looks great on a buffet with its own stand and chef.
Jennifer Sent on 05/25/2012
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
3.0
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
3.0
Value
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
I had both my ceremony and reception at Gulf Drive Cafe Tiki Hut. Overall it was an amazing time. They were just starting to do weddings when I was there, so I am sure they have ironed out some of the kinks. I will list the pos and negs:
Positive:
1. Great location at an affordable price- it doesn't get any prettier
2. Good food and great selection - it is fantastic to be able to customize your menu to what you want- the chefs are very creative
3. The bartenders and servers were attentive and provided everything we needed without asking
4. Once everything is settled, they do everything exactly as you request and are great at dealing with last minute difficulties.
Negative:
1. At the time there was no "price list" and costs were just being thrown out there. The only thing that was definite was the rental of the tiki hut
2. Pete who runs things is an EXCELLENT chef, idea man, and overall manager. But organization-wise it was difficult. I had to write my own contract and had to call several times (every time) before he would get back to me. Email forget it. But on the day he made it all happen and gave me my dream wedding. He just needs more experience with Bridezillas :-)
3. The bathroom situation is akward because you have to go into the restaurant to use the (very small) facilities.
4. There is no place for a bride to get ready or hide herself before her grand entrance. I had to rent my own dividers to have a private place before the wedding.
Overall it was a beautiful day and they made things as easy as they could for a bride. And again the food was AMAZING!
Tim Sent on 05/23/2012
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating
4.5
My wife and I celebrated our wedding and reception at the Gulf Drive Cafe and Tiki on May 7, 2011. While we weren't the first wedding for the Gulf Drive Cafe, I think we were their largest at that time and I think we challenged their staff. We had approximately 110 people. Despite the size, we fit comfortably under the Tiki. Despite the size, the service was good, and the servers professional. At the time, the bar configured differently, and I think my largest complaint was that we had an open bar for guests and I found myself having to police beach stragglers from time to time. The bar tenders were a good, they kept everyone happy and the drinks flowing. I was pleased that they were able to accommodate my request for a couple of out of the ordinary requests for alcohol (Chimay and Cachaca). The food was very good - the boursin cheese wrapped grapes were out of this world. Everyone was quite happy with the food. The wedding coordinator was for the most part "Johnny on the spot". He helped us configure the Tiki to accommodate the DJ, the cakes, the food and the photo booth. Overall, I'd definitely recommend the Gulf Drive Cafe and Tiki. The pictures after the sunset with the table lighting and the subtle area lighting were very soft and glowing.
Daniel Sent on 03/14/2012
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
2.5
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
3.5
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
The Tiki at the Gulf Drive Cafe is an absolutely beautiful venue for a wedding or reception. We would definitely recommend it. We had a few issues with communicating with the venue's management during the planning phases, but they definitely redeemed themselves the week of/day of our wedding. Everything was ready as promised, they were accommodating and they did a great job on our special day. Thanks Gulf Drive!!
Lisa Sent on 10/10/2018
3.8 out of 5 rating
3.8
Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Value
4 out of 5 rating
4.0
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating
3.0
My major complaint, we were told that we could cancel the band so that it wouldn't conflict with our playlist we put together playing of the speaker. Then we were told the band could not be cancelled but they would book a band with a music taste in mind. That didn't happen. Instead we got a DJ blasting his music. We were not able to hear the playlist we thoughtfully put together weeks in advance. I took some complaining from my sister to finally get the music turned down, but half or more of the night had already gone by.
