The Pelican Club | Destination Wedding

Wedding Weekend

“Jupiter, Florida, has always been a very special place for me and for Mark,” says Maggie Lessing, now Maggie Caso. “We both grew up vacationing there with our families and when we started dating, we began taking many trips of our own there together. Being from New York, where most of our friends and family are also from, we also thought our guests would enjoy a nice warm escape from the cold, since we were married in December!”

They were married at The Pelican Club. “The first thing that drew us to the venue was its beautiful view of the Jupiter Inlet and famous Jupiter Lighthouse. Even when you’re inside the ballroom, no matter where you’re standing, the floor-to-ceiling windows make the lighthouse a focal point."

Aside from its incredible location and elegant, coastal vibe, another important factor was the size of the space. “We had 270 guests flying down from New York and it was very important that our room could hold that number of people comfortably, while still having a big dance floor. Lucky for us,The Pelican Club can accommodate up to 450 guests, but they also have a retractable wall that can be used for smaller weddings, so it still feels intimate no matter what size party you are looking for.”

Maggie and Mark had visited the venue during its early stages of construction. “Even when it was just cement walls, the view of the lighthouse was so incredible we knew it was going to be perfect for our wedding. Once the renovation was completed, it was even better than we had expected!”

A Seaside Entrance …

There were many memorable moments during their wedding. “My husband and I arrived to cocktail hour on a boat with our bridal party. We were picked up right after the ceremony and were able to enjoy this time with our best friends on a beautiful boat ride through the inlet. Our guests loved watching us pull up to the dock to join them at cocktail hour.”

Maggie tells us that the team at The Pelican Club crafted a unique menu. “Our friends and family are still talking about it. Stations included a massive raw bar, a lobster roll station, a Chinese take-out station, and a ‘Nobu’ station, a big hit for us and our guests from NYC. We also had a rosé bar complete with a pair of pink flamingos covered in pink carnations! To top it off we had a craft beer station made out of an ice sculpture with our monogram on it.”

They also loved the wedding suites. “The groomsmen’s suite had a variety of craft beers and food ready for the guys. The room was even equipped with video games for them to play while waiting for the day to begin. The bridal suite was my personal favorite. There was ample room, with plenty of full-length mirrors for my bridal party to get ready. We also took beautiful ‘getting ready’ pictures with my mom and maid of honor, and even my ‘first look’ with my dad. The room is bright and airy, which made for gorgeous photos.”

Both Maggie and Mark say that The Pelican Club’s location in the heart of Jupiter makes it a great spot for a destination wedding. “It’s just 30 minutes north of the Palm Beach Airport and only blocks away from Harbourside Place, with its great restaurants and shops for guests to enjoy during their stay.

“Aside from that, we all know the one thing you can’t control on your wedding day is the weather. We had peace of mind booking The Pelican Club because the outdoor deck space has a retractable pergola, so even if it rained on our wedding day, we could still enjoy those beautiful views outside.”

Maggie regards the venue as a “one-of-a-kind wedding experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Palm Beach. It’s insanely beautiful, both inside and out, and its central location makes it easy for guests to travel to for your wedding weekend. The team at the Pelican Club were true professionals and made the whole process seamless for us.”

Maggie & Mark’s Wedding Vendors — Ceremony-St. Paul of the Cross, North Palm Beach, FL. Reception-The Pelican Club. Gown-Modern Trousseau, from Harbor Bridal in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Band-The Mike Herman Band of Hank Lane Music. Florist-Dalsimer Spitz & Peck. Photographer-Starfish Studios

The Pelican Club, 1065 N. Highway A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477, 561.693.5063, lessingsweddings.com