Outside the Ballroom: Shephard's Beach Resort

Hidden in Clearwater Beach is the Shephard's Beach Resort. The main purpose of this venue is a nightclub and it only moonlights as an event venue. It is tucked away just off the main road that runs through Clearwater beach, but the outside looks nothing like it's trendy inside.

The "Wave Room" is super modern with it's trendy lights and back lit bar area. There is also an upstairs area which leaves tons of extra dance space downstairs. The Wave Room can accommodate up to 160 guests. You can see the rest of the event space at Shephard's Beach Resort here.





I love the flat screens scattered throughout the room. Kim and Andrew used them to show off photos from their engagement session.



Upstairs you'll find booths for your guests which give the space a very intimate feel.



The room boasts large windows which provide a great view of the water.



An awesome grand staircase for the perfect entrance!



I love the lights lining the walls in this hallway. They remind me of the ocean waves... hence the name "Wave Room."

What you need to know about this venue:
Location: 601-619 S Gulfview Blvd. Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
Price range: $$
Ceremony site: Yes
Reception site: Yes
Outside caterer's allowed: No
Parking available: Yes
Valet: Yes
Outdoor space: Yes
Capacity (without a dance floor): up to 160
Styles: Banquet/Reception Hall

Outside the Ballroom: This is a series about discovering other amazing venues that exist for weddings and other events, ranging from castles, to traditional antique ballrooms, to bed and breakfasts, to anything that cannot be classified as a modern ballroom or meeting room. We also want to hear from you about the venues you've discovered, so please submit them in the comments or email them to info@pilsterphotography.net with Outside the Ballroom in the subject. For more info you can find it at the Introduction.

Columbia Museum in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida-Chapter 3: The Mad Tea Party: The Alice in Wonderland Wedding of Jessica & Wade

(Your regularly scheduled "Outside the Ballroom" is being put on hold until Friday to bring you Chapter 3 and the conclusion of our Alice in Wonderland wedding!)


Don Vicente, Ybor City, Tampa, Florida





Have you ever stepped into a place that feels like a dream, but you pinch yourself and you don't wake up. You look around and there are others like you who don't quite fit in, but they are there with you. Then there are those that totally look like they are in the right place, but everyone is mingling and it really starts to feel like it's not a dream. What if this world was a reality and where you thought you had come from was the dream?

During Jessica and Wade's ceremony, Mandaddy, the officiant, said something to the point of "When you responded to that RSVP, you did not know what you are getting into."

What Jessica and Wade told me at our first meeting excited me, but what actually transpired went beyond what I had imagined. I am so thankful they invited me into their world to capture it, it was an amazing place.

One of my favorite things in life is skipping from one place to the next, one experience to the next, one reality to the next. Sometimes the many experiences will look the same and other times, the times that I enjoy the most, they are like nothing you could have imagined. Jessica and Wade turned their dreams inside out, fed all of their guests something from a little bottle that said "shrink," and suddenly everyone was there together.





With five different locations it only added to the experience of never really knowing where you were at. Three of them were venues, and two were hotels. By the time we showed up to the last one, we had found our rabbit and he was telling us how late we were for a very important date. Then he just ran off!





















































Did you notice Jessica's outfit change? Two amazing dresses in one day!















Did you notice that those are playing cards being thrown at them. This was something we had talked about the night of the engagement session, so it was really cool to see it happen!

If you missed the first chapters or the engagement session you can find it here.



The Characters -
Event design by Jessica and Wade
Wedding Consultant/Day of Coordinator - Erica Petramala with Occasions
Videographer - Eric Von Billington
Photography - Pilster Photography
second photographer/assistant - Tara Sproc (I can not say enough amazing things about her, she did a fantastic job!)
Ceremony- Bok Tower
The Mad Hatter Tea party was at Chalet Suzanne
The girls got ready at the Holiday Inn Express and the guys at Bok Tower
Second Reception- Columbia Museum
Hair and Makeup by Holly Nazaro from Collective Creations
Ceremony Music by guitarist Bobby Koelble
Officiant- Chuck "Mandaddy" (Who kept the crowd crying and laughing at the same time and is also available for Death Metal Performances)
Floral done by Events in Bloom
Music provided by DJ Hellroy
Cakes by A Piece of Cake & Cupcake Spot
Catering by Columbia Restaurant
Rentals from Coast to Coast
Awesome artwork by Travis Louie



Thanks you two for inviting me to some amazing parties and letting Pilster Photography be a part of your day!



I don't think this will be my last meeting with Jessica and Wade or the white rabbit.

Chalet Suzanne, Lake Wales, Florida - Chapter 2: The Simply Dreadful Luncheon at: The Alice in Wonderland Wedding of Jessica & Wade

After the ceremony it was time to get out of the heat and enjoy some lunch. One of the biggest reason's that Jessica and Wade chose Chalet Suzanne was the mismatched furniture and dishes. They still added some amazing decorations, but they didn't need to do much! The chalet was perfect!







The tree held the seating assignments.




















Tea anyone?





A cupcake tower, with all of the cakes in teacups









Did I mention they have a sense of humor.





Now it's off to the final chapter and the place where the you really enter a world like no other.

While you are waiting, tide yourself over with something from their engagement session or the ceremony if you missed it.

The Characters -
Event design by Jessica and Wade
Wedding Consultant/Day of Coordinator - Erica Petramala with Occasions
Videographer - Eric Von Billington
Photography - Pilster Photography
second photographer/assistant - Tara Sproc
Ceremony- Bok Tower
The Mad Hatter Tea party was at Chalet Suzanne
The girls got ready at the Holiday Inn Express and the guys at Bok Tower
Second Reception- Columbia Museum
Hair and Makeup by Holly Nazaro from Collective Creations
Ceremony Music by guitarist Bobby Koelble
Officiant- Chuck "Mandaddy" (Who kept the crowd crying and laughing at the same time and is also available for Death Metal Performances)
Floral done by Events in Bloom
Music provided by DJ Hellroy
Cakes by A Piece of Cake & Cupcake Spot
Catering by Columbia Restaurant
Rentals from Coast to Coast
Awesome artwork by Travis Louie



It means a lot to me when my clients treat me like a guest! It truly makes me feel welcome and part of their family. Thank you!