Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, Florida

by Lisa Matte

You and your betrothed become the happy couple atop the wedding cake when you exchange vows at Florida's Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa. The vintage pink hotel, aptly compared to an ornate wedding cake, presides over the sugary sands of St. Pete Beach in a regal manner reminiscent of fairy tale castles described in classic children's stories.

Built on a legacy of love lifted straight from the pages of those whimsical fables of princes and princesses who find true love despite seemingly insurmountable odds, the Don CeSar stands in silent tribute to the star-crossed love of hotel developer Thomas Rowe and his one true love, a Spanish opera singer named Lucinda.

Separated from Lucinda by her family who forbade them ever again to see one another, Rowe settled in Florida where he spent three years overseeing the construction of the Don CeSar in the form of a pink palace with the fountain of an angel he had promised he would one day build for his lady love. When it opened on January 16, 1928, the Don CeSar was an immediate success.

Lucinda, who died without ever seeing the fairy tale castle built in her honor, wrote to Rowe in a deathbed note, "Tom, my cherished love...We found each other before and shall again. This life is only an intermediate...Time is infinite. In its suspension, I wait for you, by our fountain of the angel, to share our timeless love, our destiny in time..."

Rowe died in the hotel on May 5, 1940, but legend - and documented reports of sightings - suggest he and Lucinda did eventually meet again. Through the years, guests and employees have reported seeing a dapper gentleman wearing a white suit and Panama hat strolling hotel grounds in the company of a beautiful dark-haired woman. The descriptions invariably match those of Thomas Rowe and Lucinda. A sad story with a happily ever after ending in true fairy tale form!

For more information about weddings at the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, call 800/282-1116 or log onto www.doncesar.com

Photo courtesy DonCesar Beach Resort and Spa

Boston-based travel writer Lisa Matte is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Author of City-Smart Boston (Avalon), Lisa's work has appeared in numerous national and regional publications including American Way, Skylights, AAA Journey, Bridal Guide, Coastal Living, Outbound Traveler, and Travel Weekly.