Splendor on the Beach

Ellen and Sean:

Boho Styled Wedding at The Sunset Beach House

There is no better place than the beach to celebrate a wedding. And if you are lucky enough to host it at a private vacation rental for a "wedding weekend," the benefits are numerous. 

Such was Ellen and Sean's vision for their wedding. Both had worked for us in the past and realized that the Sunset Beach House on Treasure Island, was the perfect setting for their laid-back, boho styled fete. 

Ellen's mom, Rita, also had been a long-time staffer who knew she wanted us to caterer and handle the details for her daughter's day.

Selected Photos by Essentia Photography

I can't emphasize the word privacy enough when recommending a private rental home for a wedding weekend. Not only do you have the privacy and seclusion of a beachfront in a residential neighborhood (not on a busy resort beach area), you don't have shared space with anyone other than family and friends!

You can bring in all of your own food and libations. No bar tabs. No pricey hotel restaurant food. . . and all wedding-related activities can be held in one place throughout the whole weekend. 

AND your wedding pictures on the beach won't have a lot of strangers in sight!

Ellen and Sean had mostly bridal party members stay at the Sunset Beach House with them (18+ guests). And because of its convenient location, there were lots of other small condo and short term rental cottages within walking distance for other close family.

Here's some of our favorite pics from Ellen and Sean's wedding day on the beach!

 

Both Ellen's sister, Kate, and son, Andrew are former staffers who left us to go off to college!

Planning, Catering, Coordination: Catering By Robert / Event Concepts. FL
www.cateringbyroberttampa.com
DJ/Entertainment by DJ Josh of DeLite Entertainment
www.deliteentertainment.com
Fresh Personal Wedding Flowers: Carmen's Flowers
www.carmensflowerstampa.com

A Beach House Setting for Weddings

The Sunset Beach House on Treasure Island, has become one of the most popular destination wedding rentals on the West Coast of Florida. Its spacious sandy, back yard facing the beach and Gulf easily accommodates up to 150 wedding guests at rented tables and chairs. Combine that with overnight accommodations for up to 18 people, the Sunset Beach House is a perfect wedding weekend getaway.

We had the pleasure of hosting Robin and Chris's wedding there this past spring. This being a second marriage for both, they already had a house-full of children between them. So the Sunset Beach House had the perfect accommodations with three small apartment units, main house, and loft efficiency.

The couple sought us out because they felt we could offer them a one-stop-shop of services they would need for their celebration. They began their journey by meeting most of our vendors at open houses we hosted after they booked. Both Robin and Chris had busy work schedules in their hometown of Inverness, so streamlining these efforts into combined meetings on trip to Tampa were a big help.

They clicked immediately with Eladio and Rick of DeLite Entertainment for their dj and photography needs; hired Carmen for their flowers; tested Sweet Tweets Cakery's samplings at an open house and secured their services, and found Vicki of Beachangels Notary at our April open house, just the person they needed to marry them.

Catering By Robert / Event Concepts . FL took care of everything else via its Destination Wedding Event Services Package. This package not only included a full dinner buffet with hors d'oeuvres, but also all chair and table rentals, ceremony arbor and decor, open bar service (client furnishes own alcohol), full coordination, planning, linens, chair covers, and much, much more.

 

Robin and Chris accessed the beach house in mid-afternoon on Friday, several hours before our scheduled rehearsal on the beach. Vicki joined us and we spotted the best direction for the focus of the ceremony for the next day (so that the sun was not blinding the guests).

The Friday evening hours gave Chris some testing time for installing twinkle lighting around the large oak tree in the center of the celebration area. The next day, we arrived to set up decor, tables, chairs in both the ceremony and reception areas. Instead of a regular dance floor, Robin and Chris decided to keep the sand at their feet.

Although we often utilize the reception chairs for the ceremony first, the couple decided that their short ceremony would pose no problem for everyone to stand. We set up a simple decorated bamboo arch and an aisle lined with shepherd's hooks and turquoise Chinese lanterns.

 

Robin had chosen a peach-coral color with the turquoise accents for the guest tables. She utilized our tall glass cylinder vases with fresh stems of orange orchids provided by Carmen. Gold chargers with coral napkins and white chair covers and turquoise chair ties completed the look. Each table was named after the couple's favorite local beaches.

 

 

At the sign in table, guests found votive candle holders with their names on them and their assigned tables. Guests also were able to do thumbprint entries onto a large tree sign in poster.

  

 A single table under a covered porch served the hors d'oeuvres first and then wedding cake and candy station later.  The bride's sister matched the candies with the turquoise, silver, and Robin Blue wedding colors.

 

 

 
The weather was perfect for the event. But the space definately can accommodate a good sized tent to protect from rain if necessary.

Robin and Chris worked with Eladio and Rick on a surprise FIRST DANCE that included a pre-choreographed dance moves set to popular hit music. This really set the fun tone for the rest of the evening.



We positioned the buffet along the boardwalk in front of the efficiency apartments utilizing one of the unit's kitchens as our prep area and water source. The bar was located near the sweetheart table on the southside of the property. The large oak tree provided an excellent focal point for the bride and groom's table.

 

 

Events outdoors on the beach must end by 10 p.m. But good timing among us and our vendors gave Robin and Chris and their guests plenty of time to enjoy a great buffet meal, sunset pictures, and of course lots of dancing.

A three day wedding weekend complete with overnight accommodations is $4300 plus tax at the Sunset Beach House.

Because of its popularity, it books up fast. Valet service is highly suggested. There is a lot of on-street parking available but it should be left to the professionals to find. Having guests find their own spaces may delay in the start of the event. We recommend Courtesy Valet (www.courtesyvalet.net) for this service.

 

 

 

For more information on the Sunset Beach House, visit the web site at wwww.mysunsetbeach.com

 

Many thanks to Richard Harris of DeLite Entertainment to sharing many of the photos above. Also kudos to everyone involved in this event, especially Robin and Chris and their wonderful families.

Planning, Decor, Coordination, and Catering:
Catering By Robert / Event Concepts. FL
Bradley Dempsey, Event Designer

Entertainment and Photography: DeLite Entertainment
Wedding and Reception Flowers: Carmen's Flowers
Officiant: Vicki of Beachangels Notary
Wedding Cake and Cupcakes: Sweet Tweets Cakery
Venue: Sunset Beach House, Treasure Island, FL