HELP!! I need a super affordable venue for a Tampa/Clearwater destination ceremony & wedding in July 2013!!!!

Hi Jessica! I actually live in Tampa, so I can try to help. One suggestion is the Ybor City Garden Museum in Ybor City -- it's an outdoor garden with a vintage feel, but is not all inclusive. There are a few hotels close by and lots of night life for guests to enjoy.

I'm getting married at the Peninsula Inn in Gulfport, they have a courtyard and have 11 rooms, with another inn about five blocks away. We are having a brunch, though, for about 90, and for the wedding there and all, we'll probably be spending betweed $5-6K (without counting attire, rings, etc.)

There are other ladies from this area around, so hopefully they'll stop in to help. And I hope you'll update your avatar (the rings) to a unique picture so we can remember you and help you more in the future! This post tells you how to do that and more about the forums: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/new-to-the-weddingwire-forums-please-read-before-you-post/b433c40c1a62b96a.html

Thanks so much! I will definitely look into the museum & update my avatar! :-)

No problem. Do you live in Tampa, or you're just having the wedding over here?

Look at the event factory they include almost everything.

I love Ybor City. I've never been to the garden museum but the feeling around there is amazing and so much to do!

I would look for banquet center's. I know around NY we have a few that have outdoors area. And also we have a couple historical homes that you are able to use the garden and then have a tent available. Good luck!

It's closer to Clearwater, but check out the Dunedin Golf Club... It's where we are getting married, beautiful, and very affordable: www.dunedingolfclub.com

We are on about the same budget and guest list, and it is possible here.

My SIL got married at the Event Factory and I didn't like it at all, but then again it just wasn't really my style (and from your post, probably wouldn't be yours either...)

The Tampa Garden Club is nice, as well.

Hello, I'm having a small intimate wedding in a cute venue called La Belle Maison in Dunedin. Its pretty cute and very affordable.

Good luck!

I live in Brandon and my wedding wil be at the River HIlls Country club in Valrico. Its very affordable and they include the food (the prices are fabulous). If you're having a small wedding I'm sure you can pull it off. I'm staying at 100 guests (fingers crossed) and our budget is 8k as well. They charge extra for the ceremony (500 i think) we opted out for that because I will be using my friend's church free of charge. I was going to have it in my mom's front yard (beautiful btw) if the church was not an option. Good Luck! and welcome : )

I live in the Cincinnati Area. We both have large families and in order to avoid conflict and a HUGE wedding we want to have a destination wedding. We had a first vacation together there and we feel like it will narrow down the guestlist tremendously!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I will start looking now. I also looked at the Event Factory and it just wasn't my style. I'm artsy and into more earthy, natural, homey type spaces.

If Sarasota isn't too far for you, check out Sarasota Garden Club (I got married there) and South Gate Center (listed here on WW).

Thanks I will look there as well :-)

My destination wedding was at 6100 Gulf Blvd on St. Pete Beach behind the Howard Johnson Hotel. That area of the beach isn't crowded and public, so it was completely free of charge! They gave us room discounts for our guests too. Vicky of BeachAngels (on facebook) is the one who helped us with plans and finding our officiant. Our photographer was amazing! We used Shelly Cline Graves of A&C Photography, and Matt&Dom's took care of our incredible cake & flowers! All great values!!!! Sadly the restaurant that held our reception closed down this year or I would have referred them as well. So remember: you don't have to pay for a hotel's beachfront view. Hotels only own the beach so many feet out from the street. Just beyond that it's Public and first come -first serve! We're in Cincinnati and Vicki helped us plan the whole thing before we got there. Here's Vicky's contact info - she really was amazing! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beachangels-Notary-Weddings/10690493910 Good Luck to You

We are getting married at the St Pete Rec Center on Boca Ceiga Bay in St Pete Beach! I love everything about the venue!

http://www.spbrec.com/facility-rentals/

Thanks you guys! I will look into those places as well. It is kind of frustrating for me to have a destination wedding simply because I do like being very hands on and love DIY projects but I just know that having a wedding in Tampa/Clearwater has the potential to be so different and so beautiful so I will continue looking! Thanks again! :-)

Jessica, this is the venue that Nancy T. of Barefoot Weddings mentioned above. You can e-mail me at *************@*******.*** for more info.