Elope in St. Augustine

Eloping in St. Augustine means strolling hand-in-hand through the historic streets, enjoying the idyllic beaches, and exchanging kisses in the beautiful historic gardens. The National Historic Landmark District offers the look of Paris right here in the USA (imagine your photos with the city as your backdrop!) Don’t miss celebrating your ceremony with a horse and carriage ride over the brick streets. Your sun & sea St. Augustine elopement or intimate wedding ceremony can be as unique as you wish. The city is famous for traditional inns, Spanish architecture, picturesque gardens, and romantic beaches. Wedding venues in St. Augustine are the stuff elopement dreams are made of, so we are thrilled to share a few of our favorites!

Weather is one worry you can cross off your list when eloping in St. Augustine. The ‘winter’ season in this Florida city hardly ever drops below the ’40s. It can get seriously hot in the summer so perhaps plan a candlelit evening ceremony during that time. Spring and fall are balmy and filled with sunshine for your St. Augustine ceremony (versus those pesky hurricane seasons!!). Don’t forget the breathtaking sunrises on beaches to the north and south, where unique coquina rock formations spread along the coastline – a truly magical place to elope or plan an intimate Florida wedding! Let us help you elope in St. Augustine and make your wedding day simple and stress-free.

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Places to Elope in St. Augustine

St. John’s County Beaches

You can’t go wrong with 41 miles of pristine white sand beaches for your St. Augustine elopement! Choose your sweet spot on the coastline, and we will help you with...

Peña-Peck House Garden

Your St. Augustine elopement in the ‘secret’ garden of Pena Peck House has a royal story. Have your Pena Peck House wedding in a place originally built by the Spanish...

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Are you dreaming of tying the knot in the famous Florida gardens and beaches and celebrating in the city of St. Augustine? Your Washington Oaks Garden State Park wedding is...

Villa Zorayda Museum

St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in the U.S., full of Byzantine-themed locations. Have your Villa Zorayda Museum wedding in an impressive (and highly romantic!) example of historic...

Ocean Hammock Park

St. Augustine boasts endless elopement hidden gems, and Ocean Hammock Park is one of them. The walkway to the beach has overhanging palm leaves and a breathtaking view, ideal for...

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Add videography to your St. Augustine elopement

$899

Our videography package comes with an edited 1 – 2 minute highlight reel (perfect for sharing on socials!), as well as a longform, minimally-edited film of the full ceremony.

Simply Eloped has been seen in

Simply Eloped was everything I needed in order to make my wedding happen.

Merlin and Dayron

Everything was perfect!! So happy that we went with this company. 🙂

Amanda and Scott

We decided to elope because we wanted the day to be all about us and our love! We knew that having a private ceremony would allow us to enjoy our day without any added stress or anxiety. It was the best decision we could have made, as we look back on our photos with so much joy!

Summer and Seth

We had such a pleasant experience with Simply Eloped, maybe in 20 years we can renew our vows with you guys!

Hailey and Thomas

Simply Eloped was a dream to work with.

Chelsey and Andrew

Seamless experience and stress free! Thanks!

Vicki and Michael

Loved everything. Thank you for making our day perfect!

Shauna and Jacob

Working with Simply Eloped was a dream. Because of COVID our plan A and plan B fell through and we had 4 weeks to plan our wedding- Simply Eloped came to the rescue and made it a stress-free process. The Simply Eloped staff was fantastic, the vendors were amazing, and everything came together beautifully. Our wedding day was a magical and stress-free day, it couldn’t have happened without the Simply Eloped team!

Danielle and Nathan

Organized, good reviews, “one stop shop” for elopement, had just what we were looking for within our budget.

Troimen and Marek

How to Elope in St. Augustine

Choosing to elope or have an intimate wedding in St. Augustine allows you to enjoy the historic city and its blissful beaches without breaking the bank. Whether you want to recite your vows with your toes in the sand or under a canopy of large oaks and magnolia, we’ve got you covered. We know just what makes St. Augustine ideal for elopements and small weddings, the best venues and beaches to choose from, plus all the nitty-gritty logistical details, from how to obtain your marriage license to how much a St. Augustine elopement package will cost you.

Why elope in St. Augustine?

Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the U.S. For more than 200 years, the city served as the capital of Spanish Florida, so there’s rich history is everywhere in this small town. In addition to a charming downtown with cobblestone streets and historic landmarks, St. Augustine has miles of pristine beaches: some with white sands and calm waters, others ideal for nature watching, fishing, surfing, kayaking, or sailing.

Where are the best places to elope in St. Augustine?

Although there are 42 miles of beach to choose from (many of which are wheelchair accessible), St. John’s County Beaches are a great option! We like North, Vilano, and Crescent Beaches. Pretty much all of the beaches have ample parking and restroom facilities. The maximum guest count is 50 people across beaches, however, due to Covid-19, that number is limited to 16 until June 1. No matter where you choose, you can’t go wrong with this stretch of coastline or the price—permits for St. Augustine beach elopements vary in price, but tend to process in about two weeks. Note that no alcohol, fireworks, or fires are permitted. It’s also important to always check tide conditions in advance of your ceremony and account for the requirements of the sea turtle nesting season from May 1 to October 31.

The Peña-Peck House Garden is a stunning historical house that sits in the heart of downtown St. Augustine and is walkable from most accommodations. Built in 1750 for the Royal Spanish Treasurer, Juan Estevan de Peña, the second story was added In 1837 by Dr. Seth Peck. Say your “I Dos” beneath the mature oak trees, which provide shade and a buffer to the outside world. This location allows up to eight guests and alcohol.

To the south of St. Augustine is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, where you can choose between a beachfront wedding or a lush, intimate ceremony in the rose garden. The beach is known for its unique shoreline of coquina rock formations while the park gardens are famous for a giant live oak tree. For this location, reservations need to be booked 10 months out, no alcohol is allowed, and up to 25 guests are permitted. If you’re looking for a holiday wedding, aim for November 15 through December 31 when the park is decorated for the Christmas season.

Lastly, we love the Villa Zorayda Museum, a unique Spanish Revival structure that’s ideal for an intimate, indoor St. Augustine wedding. Built in 1883, the building is adorned with architectural gems in the style of the 12th-century Moorish castle Alhambra. This venue can be booked year-round for an hour and a half ceremony after 5 pm. Up to 20 guests are permitted, although alcohol is not.

How much does it cost to elope in St. Augustine?

Eloping in St. Augustine is surprisingly affordable! Our St. Augustine elopement packages range from $450 for our most basic ceremonies to $3,025 for our deluxe Oasis package, with plenty of options in between. Our St. Augustine elopement packages pair you with a destination coordinator to help you navigate all logistics, saving you time and stress.

What is the best time to get married in St. Augustine?

Between March and May, you’ll find St. Augustine with fewer people, comfortable temperatures, and lower rates when it comes to hotels and airfare. Each year, hurricane season is from June to October, with storms typically peaking in August and September. Despite the potential for a storm, summer remains the most popular time to visit St. Augustine. From December through February temperatures can drop to the 40’s at night while daytime temps remain in the high 60’s with plenty of sun.

How do I obtain a marriage license in Florida?

To get your Florida marriage license you’ll need a driver’s license, state ID card, or valid passport, as well as your social security number if you’re a U.S. citizen (you don’t need the actual card). If you were previously married, you’ll need to know the exact date your previous marriage was terminated (if it was due to death within the last six months, you’ll also need a copy of the death certificate). Once you have all your documents in order, couples are required to show up in person at the County Clerk’s office to obtain a license (St. Augustine is located in St. John’s County).

A Florida marriage license is good for any county in Florida, although once the marriage is solemnized, the license does have to be returned to the county that issued it. The cost of a Florida marriage license is $93.50 (for Florida residents, completing a marriage preparation course will earn you a $32.50 discount). Your license is good for 60 days and must be solemnized by an ordained or licensed clergy, notary public, or a justice of the peace.

Do you need witnesses to elope in St. Augustine?

Nope! No witnesses are required in the state of Florida.

What’s the best way to get to and around St. Augustine?

The best airport to fly into is Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), which is approximately 50 minutes north of St. Augustine. If you’re planning on driving, St. Augustine is located on the northeastern shore of the state, close to the border with Georgia. St. Augustine is very pedestrian-friendly and once you arrive, the easiest way to get around is on foot or by trolley. Additionally, there are many local shuttles that go to the beach and other popular tourist destinations.

Article written by

Kiran Herbert

Kiran Herbert is an elopement officiant and writer who takes pride in making all of her ceremonies magical. Kiran grew up around the world but having spent a year living in national parks, she’s convinced that the U.S. is the most beautiful.

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Read the real stories of couples who eloped in St. Augustine!

Caran + Jesus

Every ceremony at Simply Eloped is unique because every couple is unique. Caran and Jesus embraced what was right for them and chose a ceremony that matched their style and personalities. Their tiny wedding on the shores of St. John’s Beach in St Augustine, Florida – accompanied by their fur babies and close friends & family – is a darling example of how special a small ceremony can be. Read more about how Caran and Jesus fell in love, got engaged and chose to elope in St Augustine with a darling beach wedding.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

Caran: I learned about Simply Eloped from a Reddit page on weddings. The reviews were so good and the website had locations we loved with packages that made sense to us.

What attracted you to a St. Augustine elopement?

Caran: We chose to get married at the beach in St Augustine. We would frequent St Augustine a lot while we were dating and it became a very special place for our relationship. Once Simply Eloped added that location it felt meant to be!

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day!

Caran: Working with Simply Eloped was very straightforward. It was easy to sign up for our package online and they reached out right away to match us with our officiant and photographer. They were quick to reply to emails and updated us as quickly as possible with updates.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Caran: Eloping can be whatever you want it to be! For us that meant including many aspects from a traditional wedding just on a smaller scale. With Simply Eloped they take the stress out of everything for you. At the end of the day your wedding is about you and your love, so do what makes you happy!

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Elope in St. Augustine

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