How to Elope in St. Augustine, Florida in 2026/2027

So you want to elope in St. Augustine? YES! It is an incredible choice. It is the oldest city in the United States, and with all those cobblestone streets, 500-year-old Spanish architecture, and some of the most dreamy golden-hour light you’ll find anywhere in Florida, it feels like it was specifically designed for intimate, romantic elopements.

Every alley, archway, and courtyard here has a story, and your wedding photos will look like they were taken somewhere in Europe, not North Florida. It’s romantic AND unique AND accessible AND close to the beach. I could go on. Around every corner there’s a new arch, a courtyard, a fountain, or a hidden garden, and your elopement day here genuinely feels like an adventure!

Let’s get into everything you need to know about eloping here!

Getting There

St. Augustine is easy to reach no matter where you’re coming from!

By air: The closest major airport is Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), about an hour’s drive north. From Jacksonville, you can rent a car and take a scenic drive down I-95 or the A1A coastal highway. If you’re flying from the west coast or internationally, connecting through JAX or Orlando is usually your best bet.

By car: St. Augustine sits right off I-95 and is an easy road trip from anywhere in Florida. From Jacksonville it’s about an hour, from Orlando about 2 hours, and from Miami about 4.5 hours. The coastal A1A route is slower but absolutely beautiful if you have the time.

Pro tip: Once you’re in the historic district, parking can get tricky, especially on weekends. If you’re staying downtown, plan to walk everywhere. If you’re driving to beach locations, St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia State Park have their own parking areas.

 

Best Elopement Locations in St. Augustine

These are some of my favorite locations for elopements and your portraits around St.Augustine!

Castle Ottis

Castle Otttis is one of the most unique elopement locations in all of Florida. It is a stunning non-denominational spiritual site just north of downtown, built as an artistic interpretation of a 1,000-year-old Irish castle. With its stone walls, soaring arched windows, spiral staircases, and stained glass, it genuinely looks like you’ve been transported to Ireland. The interior features 88 glassless windows that let in the most incredible filtered light, and there’s an altar, choir loft, and stone pews that make for an incredibly intimate ceremony setting.

If you want a moody, old-world, fairytale elopement — Castle Otttis is it!

 

Lightner Museum

The Lightner Museum‘s courtyard is one of the most popular ceremony spots in St. Augustine. It’s seriously drop-dead gorgeous! Think lush gardens, a lily pond, Spanish Renaissance architecture, and palm trees everywhere. It feels like you’ve stepped into a Mediterranean villa. A photo/event permit is required through the City of St. Augustine Department of Public Affairs or the Wedding Authority. Worth every penny for the backdrop you get. Learn more about that here!

 

Castillo de San Marcos

The 17th-century Spanish fort is one of the most iconic landmarks in St. Augustine, with dramatic coquina stone walls, cannon-lined battlements, and sweeping views of the Matanzas River. The coquina walls make for some seriously stunning couple portraits!

The St. Augustine Lighthouse

Exchange your vows with views of both the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway! The lighthouse grounds are a beautiful, historic setting, and you can actually climb to the top for panoramic views over the whole area, which makes for an incredible “just married” moment. Reach out to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum directly about ceremony permits and availability.

 

Flagler College (Formerly Hotel Ponce de León)

The grounds of Flagler College are absolutely stunning. Spanish Renaissance architecture, towering palm trees, a gorgeous fountain courtyard, and those warm red brick and coquina tones that photograph beautifully in golden light. Photography here is generally permitted on the public grounds around the exterior, but check ahead for any current rules!

Anastasia State Park

If a natural beach ceremony is your dream, Anastasia State Park is one of the most beautiful spots near St. Augustine. Miles of undisturbed white sand beach, sea oats, and dunes give you that classic Florida elopement feel with way more privacy than the public beach areas. A special event permit is required, so reach out to Florida State Parks for details. Activities like paddling, hiking, and camping here also make it a great spot for a full-on adventure elopement day.

 

Vilano Beach

Just north of the historic district, Vilano Beach is a quieter, more laid-back alternative to the busier beach areas south of town. It’s got that “local secret” vibe, and the coquina rock formations here are genuinely unlike anything else on the Florida coast. So dramatic and gorgeous for photos! Sunrise here is particularly special.

St. George Street & Downtown

Don’t underestimate just wandering the historic district for your elopement portraits! St. George Street and the surrounding alleys are lined with centuries-old buildings, tucked-away courtyards, wrought-iron details, and Spanish arches that make for incredibly rich, layered photos. The light here in the early morning (before the tourist crowds arrive) is pure magic.

 

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

About 30 minutes south of downtown, Washington Oaks is one of Florida’s most underrated state parks. There are two completely different landscapes here: formal gardens dripping with moss-covered oaks and blooming azaleas on one side, and the most incredible coquina rock formations on the beach on the other. It’s the best of both worlds and makes for a stunning, varied elopement day. A special event permit is required, so make sure to contact Florida State Parks for details.

As your Florida elopement photographer, I help all my couples find the perfect elopement locations and navigate any and all permit processes, so you never have to worry about doing it alone!

 

Best Time of Year to Elope in St. Augustine

Unlike much of the U.S., Florida’s best wedding season is honestly any time except summer.

Spring (March – May) is one of the best times to elope in St. Augustine. Temperatures are warm and comfortable, the gardens are in bloom, and the days are getting longer. The main thing to be aware of is spring break week bringing bigger crowds downtown, but with careful planning (weekdays, early mornings), it’s completely manageable.

Summer (June – August) is beautiful but hot and humid. If you’re set on a summer elopement, I strongly recommend a sunrise ceremony to beat the heat and dodge the afternoon thunderstorms that roll in almost daily.

Fall (October – November) is when St. Augustine really shines. Summer crowds have thinned, temperatures are finally dropping to a comfortable level, and the golden fall light is incredible. Mid-September through October is technically peak hurricane season, so travel insurance is a smart call, but with careful planning it’s a wonderful time to be here. And if you can time it for the beginning of the Night of Lights (which typically kicks off in late November), your elopement photos will be insane.

Winter (December – February) is the low season and, honestly, one of my favorites. Cool temperatures, zero crowds, and if you’re here during Night of Lights (running through January), the entire historic district is blanketed in millions of white lights, so it looks like a fairytale. Our days are shorter in winter, so lean into evening activities like roaming the beach with lanterns, a cozy dinner, or a walk through the lit-up city after dark.

 

Sunrise vs. Sunset in St. Augustine

St. Augustine is on Florida’s east coast, which means the sun rises over the ocean and sets on the opposite (inland/bay) side. So if you want that classic sunrise-over-the-water moment, this is your place! Vilano Beach and Anastasia State Park are both spectacular for sunrise. And for sunset, the Matanzas Bayfront downtown gives you gorgeous warm tones with the old city as your backdrop.

What If There’s a Hurricane?

Hurricanes are tracked well in advance (sometimes up to two weeks out), so you’ll have plenty of notice if one is heading toward St. Augustine. If you’re planning a fall elopement during peak hurricane season (September – October), I recommend investing in wedding and travel insurance for any deposits and hotel bookings.

The good news is that even if a storm is threatening one part of Florida, we can often adjust the plan to a different location that won’t be affected. And St. Augustine itself has a built-in advantage during rainy weather, for example, those beautiful covered archways and interior spaces like Castle Otttis photograph just as beautifully in the rain. But don’t worry, backup plans are always part of how I plan with my couples!

 

Where to Stay

Choosing the right home base makes a huge difference for your elopement experience. Staying in or near the historic district means you can walk to so many incredible spots!

Casa Monica Resort & Spa: This is the most iconic hotel in St. Augustine, a gorgeous Spanish Renaissance landmark right in the heart of downtown. It’s historic, romantic, and absolutely luxurious. Worth the splurge for an elopement stay!

Bayfront Marin House: A charming bed and breakfast right on the waterfront with stunning views of the Matanzas Bay and the Bridge of Lions. Cozy, romantic, and perfectly located for exploring the historic district on foot.

St. Francis Inn: One of the oldest operating inns in the country, with quaint rooms, lush gardens, and that Southern hospitality that makes you feel instantly at home.

Airbnb options near Vilano Beach or Anastasia Island: If a beach-closer stay sounds more like you, there are beautiful Airbnbs on both Vilano Beach (north of downtown) and Anastasia Island (south of downtown, close to the lighthouse and state park). Waking up steps from the ocean on your elopement morning? Yes please.

Fun St. Augustine Elopement Activity Ideas

Your elopement day doesn’t need to be confined to a courthouse. Adding in activities to your elopement day is what makes an elopement special. You’re here for experiences and creating epic new memories together, which is why you’ve chosen to elope!

Here are a few ideas for things you can do during your St. Augustine elopement:

• Wander St. George Street in the morning before the crowds arrive
• Grab coffee and breakfast crepes at a local café in the historic district
• Climb to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for panoramic views
• Do a private bourbon bottling experience at the St. Augustine Distillery
• Explore Castle Otttis
• Take a sunset sail on the Matanzas Bay
• Watch the moonrise from Vilano Beach
• Explore the coquina rock formations at Washington Oaks
• Have a beach picnic at Anastasia State Park
• Walk through the Night of Lights (November – January)
• Find a hidden courtyard in the historic district and pop some champagne
• End the night with a candlelit dinner at one of St. Augustine’s gorgeous restaurants

…the options are truly endless!

 

Sample St. Augustine Elopement Timeline

12p – Meet for getting ready photos

2p – First look

3p – Ceremony at Castle Otttis or your chosen location

3:30p – Explore the historic district for portraits

4:30p – Celebratory lunch

5:30p – Head to the beach or Washington Oaks for more portraits

6:30 – 8p Sunset on the beach, beach picnic, lantern photos

 

How to Legally Elope in Florida

Getting legally married in Florida is really simple!

Where to get your marriage license: Any Clerk of Court office in Florida. The St. Johns County Clerk’s office is right in St. Augustine. Both partners need to be present with valid photo ID, Social Security numbers, and any divorce decrees or death certificates if previously married. The fee is around $86.

Waiting period: Out-of-state residents can receive their license immediately, no waiting period! Florida residents have a 3-day waiting period unless you complete a premarital prep course.

Who can officiate: Florida law allows ordained ministers, clergy, judicial officers, clerks of circuit courts, and notaries public to officiate. You can also have a friend or family member get ordained online, which is totally legal in Florida!

After the ceremony: Your officiant signs the license, and you mail it back to the Clerk of Court within 10 days. They’ll certify it and send your official marriage certificate back to you.

St. Augustine Elopement Packages

St. Augustine is genuinely one of my favorite places to photograph elopements in Florida! The layers, the history, the light, and the variety of locations you can hit in a single day make it an amazing location to celebrate your love story.

My St. Augustine Elopement Packages include unlimited planning assistance, location recommendations, permit guidance, vendor referrals, and even complimentary officiant services —so you can focus on the fun and forget about the stress. You’ll also get a fully customized elopement timeline, sneak peeks within 24 hours, and an online gallery with all your high-resolution images. No additional travel fees, no hidden costs—just a freaking amazing adventure that you’ll remember forever.

Ready to start planning? Let’s chat and build your perfect St. Augustine elopement day!

Want more Florida elopement inspiration? Check out my full Florida elopement guide and my Night of Lights elopement blog for even more ideas!