The ideas here run from a sunset shoreline ceremony to a museum, a mossy oak lawn, a brick hall, a historic mansion, a rooftop terrace, a vaulted chapel and a beachfront ballroom, and they split by what you want to pay for: either the venue already supplies the styling, or you are buying the view and should keep everything else plain.
1. Golden Beachfront Wedding Ceremonies
Sunset decides everything with a beachfront ceremony, so build the schedule backward from it. Pick a start time that leaves your vows in the golden light, and tell the photographer so.
White chairs and a wooden arch with florals suit a shoreline because wind and sand are hard on anything delicate. I would keep the décor simple and let the water do the work.
Ask your venue early what happens if rain moves you inside. A beach view is worth a lot, but a backup plan is cheaper than a ruined evening.
2. Lightner Museum
A museum backdrop means you barely have to decorate. The stone bridge and the building’s historic facade give you portraits that look expensive without a florist’s help.
For a couple stretching a budget, that is the appeal: the architecture is already the styling. I would spend the savings on a good photographer who knows how to use it.
Ask the venue what hours it allows for photos and whether a ceremony can happen on the grounds. Those answers shape your whole timeline.
3. Oak Tree Lawn Ceremony
Spanish moss does what a rented arch cannot: it makes a plain lawn feel like a finished room. Under big oaks, you get shade and a ceiling of branches for free.
I like the chandelier hung from a limb. Pair it with wooden chairs and floral pedestals, and you skip the aisle runner and the heavy arch entirely.
Check where the shade falls at your ceremony hour, and walk the lawn in the shoes your guests will wear. Grass and heels can be a mismatch.
4. Exposed Brick Reception Hall
Brick walls do so much for a room that I would hold back on everything else in it. Red brick, crystal chandeliers and white linens already have plenty of texture and contrast.
White floral centerpieces on round tables fit that mix without competing. If you want one splash of color, put it in the napkins or a runner, not in every flower.
Skip heavy wall draping. Covering the brick means paying twice for a look you were already given.
5. Historic Mansion Estate Reception
Hosting dinner and dancing on a lawn beside a white mansion lets you serve guests of every age in one open space. Tables sit on the grass and the checkered dance floor gives the party a clear center.
Mossy oaks mean you can skip most overhead décor. I would put the money into the dance floor and good lighting instead.
Ask who supplies the floor, since a rented one adds to the bill. Plan, too, for how guests get from lawn to restrooms.
6. Waterfront Rooftop Ceremony Terrace
A rooftop terrace gives you a view of the water and boats, so the altar can stay modest. Floral arrangements on pedestals frame the vows without blocking the horizon.
String lights overhead are the best choice here, because they take over as daylight fades. Brown chairs in neat rows keep the look calm and let the water stay the star.
Wind is the thing to ask about. Weigh down anything light, and find out whether the terrace has a covered fallback.
7. Vaulted Ceiling Chapel Ceremony
Vaulted ceilings give an indoor ceremony its height, so the room does most of the work before a single stem goes in.
A floral arch at the end of the aisle, plus white flowers and candles along it, is all the dark wood floor and white walls need.
I would keep the palette white and let the candlelight pick up the wood. Adding more color would fight a room that is already balanced.
Ask the venue whether open flame is allowed in the aisle. If it is not, battery candles are the fallback.
8. Beachfront View Reception Ballroom
Large windows over the beach mean the view is your centerpiece, so keep the tables plain.
White round tables and white chairs under circular chandeliers leave the water in charge, and a touch of blue in the napkins or runners ties the room to the sea.
I would skip tall arrangements. They block sightlines to the windows, which is the very thing you are paying for.
Low florals keep the glass clear, and ask the venue where the sun sits at dinner time, since bright windows can glare.
Best Times for Weddings
Pick your season by weather and by what your guests will pay to get there.
Spring brings soft breezes and ideal weather, and fall stays warm with smaller crowds. Winter is quiet, romantic and easier on the budget.
Summer is the one people hesitate over, and I would not rule it out.
Families travel more easily with kids, and many guests save their vacation days for those months. Plan the ceremony indoors if you can, because July and August are hot and muggy, and rain tends to arrive around 2 pm.
Even if rain or heat pushes the ceremony indoors, you can still walk the historic downtown streets for portraits afterward. Schedule them about an hour before sunset, when the rain has usually passed and the air is much cooler.
Couples chase sunrise and sunset for softer light and cooler air, which is why those slots fill first; I’d lock one in as early as you can.
Marriage License Requirements
The ceremony can’t legally happen without a Florida marriage license, so put it on your calendar early. Both of you need proper identification with you when you apply, so check your documents well ahead of the date.
Then read the fine print on your venue’s booking terms. Check whether a package price covers the room, because many leave lodging out, and weekend bookings can come with a 2-night minimum that adds to the total.
Many venues only run ceremonies during set windows, so confirm the available hours before you fall for a date.
Budget for the money details too. A $200 non-refundable deposit may be due when you book, and a 5% staff gratuity can be added to the wedding package at that same time.
Both land before you have spent a dollar on flowers, so put them in your spreadsheet early.
Guest Accommodation Options
Many venues offer lodging, and I would ask about it on your first call. Keeping the wedding party under one roof saves you coordinating rides, and it makes getting ready on the day far simpler.
Ask whether the package price includes the rooms. Some don’t, so room rates can arrive as a separate line on the bill.
Ask about minimum stays as well, since weekends may require 2 nights. That affects what your guests pay, and it is better to tell them early so they can plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a wedding in Florida?
I can’t give you one average figure, because the cost depends on the venue and the package. Expect a $200 non-refundable deposit at booking, and some packages tack on a 5% staff gratuity right then too.
What are the best venues to get married in St Augustine?
The best pick depends on the look you want and how much décor you plan to pay for.
Reception options include an exposed brick hall, a lawn beside a white mansion, and a ballroom with beach windows. I’d choose the one where the building or view already does the styling.
What is the rarest month to get married?
I can’t name one month as the rarest.
Every season has its case: spring and fall have the best weather, winter is quiet and cheaper, and summer is easier for families traveling with kids. Sunrise and sunset slots fill first in any season, so lock one in early.
Do I need a marriage license to get married in St Augustine, Florida?
Yes, you need a Florida marriage license, because the ceremony can’t legally happen without it.
Bring valid ID for each of you to the application, and look over your documents weeks ahead so nothing holds you up. I’d sort the license out before finalizing anything else.
