Civitan Beach House

Celebration of Marriage Beach  Party

Please click "Party Info Updates!" for the latest info!

Let's Party!

Hey everyone! As most of you know, Helen and Mike got hitched on April 16, 2023! We had a small ceremony with family up in CT, and have been planning this large celebration for the fall in Florida. Read on for details, RSVP information, and more!

Venue details:<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/fhh8rt56TV1faKDNA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Civitan Beach House</a>18604 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL 33785 The Civitan Beach House is directly on the beach, less than 2 miles from where Helen and Mike live. The venue has an indoor space for dancing, eating, drinking, and general shenanigans, as well as a deck on the back and a step down into the sand! While we are still working out the details, there will be dancing and walking barefoot in the sand, so think beach wedding attire. As the date approaches, we will be providing more detailsThe venue has limited parking so we suggest carpooling or better yet, taking an Uber to and from. We kindly ask that you RSVP by September 22nd.

Our Wedding

October 11, 2023 Hello everyone! The big day is approaching, and we could not be more excited to see all of you! Please see below for additional details and logistics... Contact Info:&nbsp;please text as needed, or call if important!Mike: 203-537-1618 cellHelen: 914-522-1406 cell Party Venue Info:<a href="https://stpetecivitan.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Civitan Beach House</a>&nbsp;- website<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/GZGQRMQpFYC6G61b6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">18604 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL 33785</a>&nbsp;- Google MapsParking is limited to about 30 cars, so please consider carpooling or using a ride-share app. Important note for out-of-town people:&nbsp;we are going to host a small party&nbsp;Friday evening&nbsp;at our beach condo building, starting around 6pm, with local BBQ served around&nbsp;6:30. If you are arriving to town on Friday and want to come see our new place at the beach that night, please&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/pZgLBACXjtRsKacf6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CLICK HERE&nbsp;</a>so we can get a headcount. We will provide further details directly. General schedule for Saturday night, 6pm until 10:30pm: 6:00pm - Please arrive at the venue, find your seat, grab a drink, and head out on to the beach! 6:00-7:30 - Sunset on the beach (7:05pm), right out through the back door of the venue. There will be a place to remove your shoes and to wash your feet when coming back inside. There will be music out on the beach as well! 7:30 - H&amp;M make their official entrance and we will say a few words etc. Dinner will follow shortly after. 8:00 - Dancing commences! Helen and Mike have primed the DJ with many of our favorite dance songs. We will also still have beach access, and it will be a new moon outside so a great opportunity to go out and see the stars! 10:30 - The party is over!&nbsp;Sort of...&nbsp;we are going to migrate to&nbsp;<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/thsyZL7gXU9iJQ5T9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Friendly Tavern</a>, just down Gulf Blvd. It's a large bar with both indoor and outdoor space, and karaoke on tap along with the beer!The Friendly Tavern, 18121 Gulf Blvd, Redington Shores, FL 33708 Let's talk weather.&nbsp;In short, it's going to be "Florida" outside; a chance of scattered storms all day and night, but down here that doesn't mean much. (St. Pete is in the Guinness Book as the sunniest place on earth, and showers always seem to go around us.) The temperature will range from mid-80s during the day to mid-70s at night. It will be breezy on Saturday, so you may want to bring a light jacket or cover-up for on the beach. Sunday boat ride?&nbsp;If you are around on Sunday afternoon, we have access to a boat and would love to take you out for a cruise on the Intercoastal waterway to see dolphins, manatees, birds, and more! The boat will depart at 2:30pm. If you're interested in joining us,&nbsp;please contact Mike&nbsp;@ 203-537-1618.&nbsp;Seating is limited!! Random notes: There is a solar eclipse on Saturday! Florida will likely see a&nbsp;50-60% partial eclipse, beginning at 11:38am&nbsp;EDT. Remember not to stare directly into the sun!! Our beach sand is among the softest and powdery sand you'll ever feel. But it also sticks to feet, clothes, and anything else, and can be tough to remove. There will be a hose to rinse feet and legs, but you may not want to put clothing down on the sand, for example. We are going to have a website set up where you can upload photos and videos that you take at our party! Look for the QR Code to scan at the event, then it is simple to upload any photos you want! Please reach out with any questions you may have. Text is best, but if it's important then don't hesitate to call us directly! Our contact info is above.&nbsp; WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR SPECIAL EVENT WITH YOU ALL! Helen and Mike (H&amp;M)

Hello friends and family! With the party approaching, we wanted to provide additional info on what to expect:   ·       Location: Civitan Beach House, 18604 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL 33785 ·       Time: 6pm until 10:30pm, with after-party details to be announced. Please try to arrive on time! ·       Dress code guidance: Please dress smart-casual but not necessarily formal. Think Tommy Bahama-style clothing. We recommend shoes or sandals that are easy to remove so that you can venture onto the beach barefoot. There will be a place to store shoes on the back patio. ·       Parking and transport: The parking lot will only hold 32 cars if done properly. The venue will provide parking guidance, but we highly recommend using Uber, Lyft, or the <a href="https:" />Suncoast Beach Trolley</a> if you are staying on Gulf Blvd. (Or drinking, of course.) Those traveling in from downtown STP can use <a href="https:" />the Sunrunner</a> to get from downtown to the beach (east to west), then switch to the Beach Trolley to get north to the venue. Google Maps can provide timing information.     Schedule of Events:   ·       6:00-7:30pm: Cocktail hour (Sunset is at 7:05pm) Inside there will be an open bar and charcuterie board along with passed hors d’oeuvres. Please bring your appetite! Outside on the beach, the sun will set that night at 7:05pm, directly into the Gulf of Mexico. We will have a Calypso steel drummer playing to add a Caribbean feel to the sunset. The back entrance that takes you to the sand and water has a hose next to the patio for you to wash off the sand. We recommend no shoes on the sand but if you insist, keep your footwear in mind. ·       7:30pm, indoors: Comedy Hour… Kidding, sort of. Helen and Mike will say a few words, or in Mike’s case, a lot of words, before reading our April wedding vows in front of everyone. ·       7:45 – 8:45: Time to eat!! We will have a staff-served buffet with some yummy food that passed Helen and Patricia’s very discerning palates. If you did not indicate on the website RSVP, please let us know if you are a vegetarian/pescatarian. ·       8:45pm: Let Them Eat Cake… Now it’s time to cut the cake, with maybe a game or two to play! We wanted to throw in a few things from our small ceremony in April and we figured this group would appreciate this tradition. Honestly, we just wanted an excuse for Patricia to bake. ·       From Cake to 10:30pm: Par-tay! It's time to dance the night away! Did we forget to mention the DJ? Our DJ will be inside playing all night to keep the evening flowing. While the drumming soothes you in the sand, the DJ will have some light music playing until we come inside. After that, he will be running the show. But don’t worry, he was given a set list from the infamous Club 604!   Additional Info: ·       PLEASE SHARE YOUR PICS AND VIDEOS! At the event, we will have a QR code that you can scan and upload pics you take during the event! ·       The sand is incredibly soft on the beaches here. You will be able to sit on the patio to further wipe and dry your feet before coming inside. Also, the beach is very shallow, so you can stand in the edge of the surf without risk to life and limb. We cannot stress enough how fantastic the sunset is on the beach! (Photo tip from Mike: when taking pics of people with the sunset behind them, set your flash to ON or they will be dark silhouettes!) ·       Who is this Patricia we speak of? She is a dear friend who is an amazing chef. You will surely know who she is by the end of the night if you don’t already. ·       What is Club 604? If you have to ask… ·       Last call at the bar will be at 10pm. The DJ will be slowing things down and helping to get everyone out by 10:30pm. ·       After-party details will be provided shortly. ·       Contact info: <a href="mailto:HelenAndMikeLandry@gmail.com" target="_blank">HelenAndMikeLandry@gmail.com</a> – Mike: 203-537-1618 – Helen 914-522-1406

Party Info Updates!

In July of 2020, Mike was out for a walk in St. Petersburg with his good friend Todd. While walking, they ran into a group of people that also lived in the same apartment building as Mike and Todd. Todd introduced Mike to a woman in the group named Helen, explaining that she had also just moved from NYC and that they probably had some similar stories and experiences. By August, Mike and Helen had grown quite close and began dating! In January of 2021, Helen's lease was up for renewal, and she suggested to Mike that instead of having two apartments in the same building, she could give up her apartment and they could rent a place at the beach instead, to which Mike replied, "Brilliant!" Fast forward a couple years and the lucky couple got engaged on December 18, 2022, bought a condo on that brilliant beach, and tied the knot on April 16, 2023 in a small family ceremony up in CT! The plan has always been to have a large party in their new home state of Florida and they hope you will be able to join them as they continue to celebrate their first year as Mr &amp; Mrs.

Where it began...

Our Story

Helen and Michael will be married at The Mill on the River on April 16th, 2023! There will be a brief ceremony at 11am, outdoors by the gazebo if weather permits, followed immediately by a brunch indoors with music and an open bar! The party will end at 2:30pm.

The Ceremony

Wedding Ceremony & Party

Party Q + A

The largest airport close by is Tampa/TPA (~35-40 away), and is fantastically easy to get in and out of. Most major airlines fly to here.

Tampa International Airport

Smaller airlines fly in and out of Clearwater-St. Pete/PIE (20 minutes away).

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport

The mother of all Florida airports, every airline you've ever heard of goes here, and a bunch you've never heard of. It's about 90 minutes from us, but traffic can create major issues on any (every) given day.

Orlando International Airport

This question is a tough one, because one of the main hotels we intended to use (the DoubleTree in North Redington Beach) is closing for five months for renovations. Gulf Blvd is the main road that runs along the beach, and there are a ton of boutique hotels along the road, although very few chain hotels, so sites like Hotels.com can be useful for finding a spot.&nbsp;Many guests are also using AirBnB or VRBO to find temporary lodging. The party venue is at 186th St. and Gulf Blvd, while Helen and I live at 174th and Gulf, and most things we like to do are around us or to the south. South is also closer to downtown St. Pete (30 minutes away), where there is a ton of hotels, shops, food, activity, nightlife, and more.

Where should we stay?

Cambria Hotel St. Petersburg-Madeira Beach Marina

Courtyard by Marriott St. Petersburg Clearwater/Madeira Beach

One of our favorite boutique hotels downtown! A good onsite restaurant and tap room, with a hopping pool scene. Note that the Hollander is a favorite of the gay community, but that just makes the party scene there that much more fun!

Hollander Hotel St. Petersburg / Downtown

One of our favorite locations to eat, and not just because it is across the street from us! Fantastic food and strong drinks paired with a fun staff!

Burrito Social

One of the fanciest restaurants in town, you need reservations in advance. It is a bourbon distillery created by four of the Special Forces soldiers that were the first into Afghanistan, on horseback no less! Fantastic place.

The Urban Stillhouse

I can't stress enough how incredible this tiny place is! They made Yelp's 2020 list of Top 100 Places in the US to Eat, and they have the best schnitzel that I've ever had.

The German Knodle

Fantastic Mexican food and drinks!

VIP Mexican American Cuisine IRB

A local favorite, solid food and karaoke most nights. Try the wings, get them "hot"!

Friendly Tavern

One of our top three places to eat, but limited space. No reservations, but tables open up pretty quickly. Everything is made fresh from scratch each day based on locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

Broke N Bored Grill

There is a trolley that runs twice an hour along Gulf Blvd, it's $10 for the entire day for up to a family of four people. There is also a bus line called the SunRunner that goes to and from downtown St. Pete out to the beach, where you can connect to the trolley. Uber and Lyft are certainly here, but may be busy on a Saturday night. Getting a rental car is up to you. If you are flying in on Saturday and out on Sunday, you can likely just get by with Uber as needed. We are also looking into renting a bus to carry people from downtown to the venue.

Do I need a rental car?

Travel, Lodging, and Food

Downtown St. Pete has amazing shops, food, nightlife, sports, 14 microbreweries, a pier that goes 1/2 mile out into Tampa Bay, and much much more.

Downtown St. Petersburg

The Dali Museum is the largest collection of Dali's work in the world, and they are just opening a new $38 million expansion.

The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum)

Sunken Gardens is a great place to walk among hundreds of tropical plants and flowers, easy to walk and explore.

Sunken Gardens

There are numerous fishing and boating options everywhere. Come see the dolphins and manatees!

Fishing and Boating

"We got 99 problems, but the beach ain't one!" The beaches are spectacular! Clearwater wins Best Beach in the US every year, and it's a couple miles north of the venue, but the beaches all along St. Pete are exactly the same and far less crowded.

The Beach!

Tarpon Springs has the biggest Greek sponge diving community in the world outside of Greece, and is always fun to go see.

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

The Chihuly Museum is fantastic, displaying gorgeous works of glass art.

Chihuly Collection

John's Pass has a number of bars, restaurants, and shops along the water and is a popular tourist destination.

John's Pass Village & Boardwalk

This is the nicest hotel in St. Pete. It's over a century old, and painted a beautiful shade of beachy pink. Some weekends they have polo matches on the sand on the beach, and they have multiple bars, restaurants, and pools. The Don is not cheap, but it is well worth the trip to go see it, even if you don't stay there.

Helen & Mike

Helen & Mike

H&M Photo Gallery