St. Augustine is beautiful all year round and truthfully you can elope here in any month. Here are just a few things to remember when you are choosing when you want to elope in St. Augustine.

November – January

Personally one of my favorite times of the year in Florida. The best part about eloping during these months is St. Augustine’s Night of Lights celebrations! The city is filled with million of lights at every turn and it is truly magical! There are a few ways you can enjoy the St. Augustine Night of Lights Celebration.

You can book a private sail for you and your partner and experience the lights from the river! Another way to view the cities Night of Lights is by hop on the Old Town Trolly and see the lights and hop on and off as you wish. If you are looking for something more relaxing and intimate, look into taking a carriage ride around the city. My favorite way to view the lights is to aboard a helicopter and enjoy the city from the sky. Lastly, you can also enjoy the light by foot and walk around the city.

February – April

Spring is another amazing time of the year to elope in St. Augustine. The weather is perfect with beautiful temperatures and little to no humidity. This is am extremely popular time to get married in St. Augustine to be sure to book your venue, Airbnb’s and obtain your permits with plenty of time before they are sold out. Towards the end of spring, the gardens in and around St. Augustine start to bloom and offer a breath taking photos.

May – August

Summer months in St. Augustine are extremely humid, but if you plan the right day you can make these months work perfectly for your elopement. In the summer time, the sunsets around 8pm, giving you an entire day to celebrate your marriage. The perfect activities dur the summer are water activities such as, jetsking, kayaking, parasailing, or swimming with the dolphins.

September – November

These months are beautiful, however there are a risk for hurricanes. If there is no threat of hurricanes during your elopement time I still advise a morning start to your elopement day as the afternoons and tend to have rainstorms. On the plus side, these tend to be slower months and you can experience less people throughout downtown.

The most important part of your elopement day is making sure you have the proper legal documents on hand and that they are valid.

To obtain your marriage license you will need to visit the St. Johns County Clerks office at 4010 Lewis Speedway St. Augustine, FL 32084. You can make an appointment between the hours of 8:00am – 4:30pm and both you and your partner must be present.

Florida residents obtaining their marriage license should be aware that there is a 3-day waiting period from the day you get your license to the day it can be used. If you both attend a premarital course this waiting period is waived and your license is active the day you get it. Florida residence can expect to pay $86 for their license unless they complete the premarital course – then your license fee drops to $61.

Non-Florida residents obtaining their marriage license will no required to wait 3 days to use their marriage license and should expect to pay $86 for their license.

Marriage License Requirements

When applying for your marriage license there are a few requirement that you need to be aware of to insure you have all the proper documentation.

• Both parties need to be present in person when applying for your marriage license.
• You will need to provide 2 forms of identification one being your social security number (you will not need a copy of your social card) and the second being one of the following; – Driver’s license (U.S. state or government) – Passport – U.S. military identification – State identification card (U.S. state or government) – Alien registration card

Who can marry us in Florida and Do I need witnesses

Florida requires you have one of the following officials to preform your marriage and sign your license;

– Ordained clergy

– Elders in communion with a church

– All Florida judges

– Notaries public of the State of Florida

In Florida you do not need any witnesses however you can have up to two different witnesses sign your marriage license if you wish.

*You must turn in your signed marriage license no later then 10 days after your ceremony to the clerks office*

St. Augustine, with its enchanting blend of Spanish colonial architecture and stunning coastal scenery, offers a captivating backdrop for any elopement. Beyond its well-known landmarks, the city is dotted with hidden gems, each providing unique and picturesque settings for unforgettable photos during your special day.

Cobble Stone Streets

The Streets of St. Augustine are filled with cobblestones and old shelled walls mixed with beautiful colors and history. There are several streets throughout downtown that give off this vibe.

For an extra add on to these photos you can rent a scooter through Saint City Scooters or a fun get away car from Seaside Adventures.

Castillo de San Marcos

The Fort is a perfect spot for photos early in the morning as the sunrises or in the evening. The fort can be a bit busy during the day so I highly suggest getting there earlier in the day.

Magnolia Ave

North of Downtown by Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth is a road called Magnolia Ave that is covered with canopy oak trees.

Lighthouse

The Lighthouse located on St. Augustine Beach is the perfect place for portraits during your elopement day. You can also say your vows here if you wish! Across the street at the Yacht Club during sunset you can see the lighthouse from their docks and it is amazing!

The Beaches

You read about the beaches above and how you can use them for your ceremony. If you do not wish to exchange vows on the beach we can always head to the beach for a beautiful picnic or late night couples portraits!

Memorial Presbyterian Church

This church makes for a beautiful backdrop to your elopement day photos! With its beautiful architecture the outside of the church is breath taking!

Flagler College

Right across from the Lightner Museum, Flagger College allows photos to be taken inside their courtyard and boy is it beautiful!

Airbnb’s

Airbnbs in St. Augustine offer a unique and cozy accommodation option for your elopement, allowing couples to enjoy a home-like atmosphere while being immersed in the city’s charm. With a variety of options ranging from historic cottages to modern waterfront homes, you can find the perfect place to relax and create unforgettable memories together before and after your special day.

You can read, view and book all about the local Airbnb’s I highly suggest here!

Hotels

Hotels in St. Augustine provide a range of convenient and comfortable accommodations, ideal for couples seeking a touch of luxury during their elopement. With many options located near historic sites and beautiful beaches, you can enjoy easy access to the city’s attractions while indulging in amenities that enhance your romantic getaway.

Here are a few hotels I recommend for your elopement!

There is so much to do in St. Augustine you need more than one day to see and do it all, but here is an example of a full day elopement where we can do as much (or as little) as you’d like.

Hour 1: Getting ready and detail shots at the Airbnb

Hour 2: Ceremony at one of the beautiful beaches around St. Augustine

Hour 3/4: Couples beach portraits and a private beach picnic… with cake of course!

Hour 5: Head back to Airbnb and touch up/change

Hour 6/7: Head to Downtown St. Augustine and enjoy the city

Hour 8/9: Abord a private sailboat and enjoy the city lights from the water

Hour 10/11: Meet friends and family for dinner

Hour 12: End the night at the Airbnb with wind down photos night portraits

Just so you can see what we can do is a shorter period of time on your elopement day, here is a 6 hour elopement day!

Hour 1: Meet at Washington Oaks Garden for your Private Ceremony

Hour 2: Couples Portraits around the gardens and out on their beach

Hour 3/4: Explore Downtown and visit your favorite museum

Hour 5: Pick up a cake and head back to the Airbnb

Hour 6: Cake cutting and champagne at your Airbnb