St. Augustine wedding venues
Wedding venues in St. Augustine fall into a few groups: the historic buildings downtown, the waterfront places along the Matanzas, the beach itself, and the estates and gardens outside the city limits. The photographs make them look more similar than they are. The practical differences are what shape the day.
Parking is the first of those. A few venues have their own lots - Fountain of Youth and River House among them. Most of the downtown venues do not. Guests park in the city garage and walk in, or the couple arranges a shuttle, or everyone takes their chances with street parking and the small lots behind buildings like the Lightner Museum.
The second is what happens when the weather turns. An outdoor reception here needs a real tent and a plan B the couple is genuinely happy with, not a plan B they are resigned to. Couples planning from out of state tend to underestimate how hot an August afternoon is between two and four o'clock.
The third is water, and it is the one nobody expects. When a storm lands on a high tide - especially a king tide - the downtown streets flood. Not inconvenience flooding. There are days when there is two feet of water between the curb and the front door of a venue.
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Tell us about your businessQuestions couples ask about St. Augustine
Do St. Augustine wedding venues have their own parking?
Some do. Fountain of Youth and River House have their own lots. Most downtown venues do not, and guests use the city parking garage, a shuttle arranged by the couple, or street parking.
What time do most St. Augustine weddings start and end?
The common shape is a 4 p.m. guest arrival and a 10 p.m. end to the reception, with the ceremony starting around 4:30 and cocktail hour from 5 to 6. That holds fairly steady year-round.
Which months are busiest for weddings in St. Augustine?
Every month is busy except July and August. That runs against the usual advice that spring and fall are the only peak seasons here - in practice the calendar is full from September through June.
What happens if the streets flood on the wedding day?
It is a real risk during hurricane season, particularly when a storm coincides with a high or king tide. Downtown streets can take on enough water to block the entrance to a venue. Couples marrying between June and November should ask their venue directly what its flooding history is and what the fallback is.
Do we need a tent for an outdoor reception?
If the reception is outdoors, yes - and it needs to be a proper one. The weddings that go badly are usually the ones where there was no real backup and the couple had not made peace with using it.
Is a beach ceremony a good idea in summer?
It is doable, but the heat is the problem rather than the time of day. Even a 9 a.m. ceremony in high summer is hot and uncomfortable for guests. Expect a breeze, and plan the guest count around how much shade and shelter there is.