St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2008 - (Page 14) Choosing the perfect location for your wedding can be as stressful as finding the perfect dress. But here where flowers bloom year ‘round, beach sunsets are footsteps away and indoor venues offer spectacular views, there will be no regrets about your choice. » Wedding Venues Let the surf be your bridal march and get married on one of the area’s many sugar-sand public beaches. As its name suggests, Honeymoon Island State Park near Dunedin is a romantic choice (www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm). If you want the water backdrop, but not the sand, the bucolic War Veterans Memorial Park overlooking Boca Ciega Bay may be for you (727-549-6165). Starlite Cruises’ paddlewheel boat adds nostalgic romance to your vows (727-462-2628). If you are torn between a church wedding and one at sea, have both with a ceremony on Weddings on the Water’s floating chapel (727-466-0969). You won’t need to order flowers for a wedding at the perpetually blooming Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg (727-551-3100) and Florida Botanical Gardens at Pinewood Cultural Park (727-582-2100). If you prefer a medium-to-large indoor wedding with waterfront views, consider the Mahaffey Theater Grand Ballroom in St. Petersburg (727-8925746) and the Harborview Center in Clearwater (727-462-6778). Classical romance is in the air and on the walls Weddings on the Water's floating chapel. : WHEN TO TIE THE KNOT Because the weather is mild year ‘round, there’s never a bad time for a wedding, but plan according to seasonal changes. Spring (March – May) and fall (September – November) are ideal times for outdoor weddings as summer can bring afternoon showers and winters can be chilly to bare shoulders. For sunset weddings, be sure to check historical sundown times. ~ LW at The Museum of Fine Arts (727-896-2667) in St. Petersburg, which can be rented for weddings and receptions. Built as a St. Petersburg church in 1926, Mirror Lake Lyceum’s antique chandeliers and ornate architectural details add a vintage grandeur to nuptials (727-821-1926). For a traditional church wedding beneath the glow of Victorian stained glass, exchange vows inside the historic Andrews Memorial Chapel built in 1888 (727-736-1176). ~ Lynn Waddell : FIND IT : EDITOR'S NOTE For a small, truly intimate and affordable wedding consider renting a beach vacation home. The beach is a natural sanctuary and needs little decoration. The home kitchen gives you freedom from required venue caterers, and the house can also double as your honeymoon getaway after the ceremony. Check the listings beginning on page 73 to find a home to suit your needs, or visit www.FloridasBeach.com. COUPLES can acquire marriage licenses at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court on weekdays. For more information, call 727-464-4876. 14 : All a b o u t w e d d i n g s http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm http://www.FloridasBeach.com
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