Tampa Garden Club

split the 9 consecutive hours they offered, but there was absolutely no wiggle room. We didn’t mind paying for the extra hours, but Bridgets attitude and tone did it for us. We just didn’t want to deal with that on our special day. We are very disappointed, since this was initially our first choice.

Bridget showed us around the grounds and explained their policies and timeframe for the event. She met us for a second tour with my father so that he could see the venue as well. Bridget was so great during the entire process. She always kept in contact regarding any paperwork or information needed. She answered the many questions that we had and offered advice and recommendations. The grounds and garden are beautiful, the conservatory and patio area were perfect for cocktail hour, and the ballroom was large enough to allow us to space the tables out. The view through the wall-to-wall windows toward the water was beautiful during the day, as the sun set, and in the evening. The ballroom is such a classy space that we really did not need many decorations to achieve the classic look we were going for. Our wedding was absolutely perfect and we know that is in large part due to the coordination and professionalism of Bridget and her team at the Tampa Garden Club.

yond to make sure the event was perfectly set up and keeping within the guidelines to make it safe. The venue was beautiful as was the lawn. With our many many changes and requests of Bridget she remained professional and personal with us - we cannot recommend enough! THANKS SO MUCH.

Early on in March of 2020 we contacted the director about questions and concerns for our wedding that was set for October. We were told they were going off of CDC guidelines, but also told "This situation is obviously very fluid so as things update/change we will definitely be in touch." When I had not heard from her in 2 months, I reached out again in June, asking if our wedding fell under the disaster preparedness policy. I also inquired on when a good time would be to postpone. It was then that she notified us that, under the current local and state ordinances they have been given, they were able to "accommodate" our 200-person guest count. We found this to be very unsettling. Our concern was not solely based upon having our 200 guests accommodated but done so in the safest way possible. When we expressed concerns over our immediate family's high health risk factors as well as the risk of pretty much all our 200 guests, she disregarded them, later calling them, "personal reasons." She also took that opportunity to informed us that we were past the postponement period. After several emails back and forth we were finally offered a postponement option for next year. However, we were told, "This option will not be extended again. If Covid is still a factor at the time of our new event date, we will be following the CDC, state and local guidance, on if your event can be held or not." This was the only option we were given, and we were denied a refund of our balance paid. If anyone has been on the CDC website you will see that large in person gatherings such as weddings of 200 people are considered highest risk of spreading Coronavirus. This is especially dangerous given Florida's incredibly high positive cases of Coiid 19. Therefore, is an unacceptable offer. The Tampa Bay Garden Club has been anything BUT "fluid" and should be ashamed of trying to profit from unsuspecting couples during this National Pandemic. Has anyone else experienced something like this after booking with the Tampa Bay Garden Club?

what my experience would be like with the new director. It turned out to be a great experience. I had many issues early on in my planning with a wedding planner I hired who was referred to me by the previous director, and when the new director (Bridget) took over, she was MORE than helpful throughout that whole mess. She is very professional, all the while being extremely personable as well. Wedding day was magic. The venue is truly such a blank canvas that you are able to create exactly the look you are going for! It took me lots of searching and lots of stress searching for a perfect venue before I found Tampa Garden Club. The venue was referred by a friend of my mother's who's son got married at this venue and she had nothing but wonderful things to say about the place. And she was not wrong! If you would like an affordable venue, where you are able to cater your own food, have your own rentals, and make the place EXACTLY what you want, then I highly suggest going to the Tampa Garden Club. It is the most beautiful place ever!

dding, but when we finally toured the Tampa Garden Club, we knew we had found the perfect fit. Located right near the water on Bayshore, the lush grounds provide the perfect tropical, floral Florida environment at its best. The indoor space is large and provides the perfect "blank slate" environment to create whatever vision you have for your event come to life. We hosted 125 guests and had a sizable dance floor. We held our ceremony outside in the garden, but there is plenty of space inside for a backup plan in case of rain, as well. Tampa Garden Club is affordable for all budgets, and both Wanda and Bridget helped us tremendously with recommendations and expertise to help our day meet all of our expectations. Communication and professionalism from both were top notch. We are so thankful to have found the Tampa Garden Club for our wedding!

he staff (Wanda, Portia & Bridget) were amazing and so helpful and encouraging from day one to the end. The venue is absolutely stunning as well, right on the waters of Tampa Bay with stunning greenery aside a marvelous conservatory and ballroom. We had the ceremony in the garden with 140 guests, then cocktail hour was in the high-windowed conservatory off the main ballroom where we held the reception. The cost was very affordable compared to other venues ($3600 with $1000 of it being a refundable deposit). It is a nonprofit venue, so the money goes back out to the community which I felt very good about. The staff gave me suggestions on vendors as well as wedding planning advice! I was not just a number to them, they knew my name the minute I walked in. All in all a spectacular venue :)

out to start being wet up, Wanda gave us an expedited tour and answered our questions. That was all we needed -- we were in love (again). It's a beautiful space that can accommodate a lot of people at a great price for those on a budget, so we booked it shortly after. As we got closer to the big day, I was able to reach out to Wanda with anything that came up, and she was a wonderful resource. She was so quick to respond to emails and was obviously looking out to make sure everything was done in our best interests. She understood we were doing a lot of DIY projects and really came through for us to make sure everything went off without a hitch! Even on the day of our wedding, at the end of July, she stopped by and brought my bridesmaids and I a fan to help keep us cool while we got ready! Our wedding was beautiful, and we loved that we were able to have such a lovely space while still working with the vendors that we wanted to. All of our guests commented on how gorgeous it was. We would definitely recommend the space to anyone looking for a Tampa area venue that has it all!

all at the same location and TGC is perfect for this type of wedding. The outside garden area is beautiful for the ceremony and you cannot beat the Bayshore Boulevard photo opportunities for your portraits and bridal party photos! Wanda was our point person for all things TGC related and she is awesome! I am an out-of-town bride and she gave my mom a tour as she was scouting venues for me and then also gave me a tour when I was in town. She is very friendly, goes above and beyond, and will always return your phone calls and emails and answer any questions that you may have. Our security guard, Anthony, was also great at making sure everything stayed in order at our wedding. I have no regrets about TGC except for choosing to go with a wedding planner/decorator from their preferred vendor list who completely dropped the ball on our wedding day (see my review of Ideal Design Events). However, their failures had nothing to do with the amazing people and service we received from TGC.

or a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony and the huge windows that looked over the Tampa Bay made for an amazing reception. Wanda was helpful and quick to respond anytime I needed anything. Everyone on the staff that we came into contact with were so friendly. It was truly a pleasure to use this venue and it made our special day something we will never forget!

er is really a great person to work with, she made everything easy and understandable. Loved this venue!! My wedding was one to remember.

e wedding. The bridal suite was perfect for finishing up while getting ready, but the air flow could be a little better. We did have 12 people getting ready, so that could have been a factor, but either way it was perfect. I LOVE being able to bring in all the vendors and they provide a list to choose from so you can contact whomever you would like. The venue was perfect for all 3 events -ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We had approximately 130 people, including staff and we felt very comfortable. If I could, I would get married there again tomorrow because of how perfect it was.

nk slate that you can really dress up for any style. The view of Bayshore and the natural light that floods in makes the venue a great spot for a daytime wedding.

ny was very large, and it just didnt seem like enough time for everything. With that being said, everything "got done" it just all went by in a blur...but that may also just be the nature of an amazing wedding:).

olds, and the beautiful grounds were key factors in our choice. Our reception was so beautiful, and it's a very special memory for us to have while we pass the Bayshore Garden Club on our every-day driving.

payment. I wanted to peak in the windows the weekend before my wedding to see how they had set up the room and she SHOVED me out the door although no one was there but service people. After telling my vendors they could get in the facility the night before, she calls that day and says she changed her mind. This left all my vendors scrambling to get everything done in limited amount of time since she said they would have the evening before. She walked around during my reception (clearly she was not a guest given my prior experience) and the best part....she turned all the lights on at the end of my reception. We were literally 5 minutes past the time of our event. 5 MINUTES! It felt like we were at the high school dance and the teachers were shoving us out. It's sad that I will always remember her complete rudeness on my wedding day. Would it have killed her to let the bride and groom exit before turning on all the lights?!! It was 5 minutes. If Teresa is still in charge, go elsewhere or you will wish you did.