In This Guide
Last updated: May 2026
What Is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding St. Augustine couples increasingly choose is an intimate celebration with 15-50 guests that includes all the traditional wedding elements—ceremony, reception, dinner, and dancing—just on a smaller scale. They've become increasingly popular in St. Augustine as couples look for more meaningful, personal celebrations.
After photographing 600+ weddings in St. Augustine, we've watched intimate celebrations grow from the occasional request to a steady share of our bookings. Couples love the flexibility to focus on what matters most while still celebrating with their closest family and friends.
Why Couples Choose Micro Weddings
- More budget for experiences (better venue, food, photography)
- Intimate atmosphere where you actually talk to every guest
- Flexible timeline and customization
- Less stress and planning complexity
- Focus on closest family and friends only
Vs. Elopement: Understanding the Difference
Many couples ask us about the difference between micro weddings and elopements in St. Augustine. Here's how we explain it:
| Element | Elopement | Micro Wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Guest Count | Just couple or 2-8 immediate family | 15-50 close family and friends |
| Reception | Usually just dinner out | Full reception with dancing, toasts |
| Timeline | 2-4 hours total | 6-8 hours like traditional wedding |
| Planning Time | 2-3 months | 6-8 months |
| Typical Cost | $3,000-$6,000 | $8,000-$15,000 |
How to Decide
If you find yourselves saying "we have to invite..." more than a few times, you're probably looking at a micro wedding rather than an elopement. That's perfectly fine—just plan accordingly with timeline and budget.
Pop-Up Weddings in St. Augustine
A pop-up wedding is the quick, simple version of the micro wedding: a short, pre-styled ceremony at a beautiful St. Augustine location, built around just the two of you or a handful of your closest people. There's no reception to coordinate and no long vendor list to manage—you show up, and everything else is already handled.
This is exactly what our all-inclusive elopement package is built for. We provide the planning, help find the perfect location, and work with you to customize your vows. On the day, Jill—who is ordained—officiates while Rob takes the pictures, so the two people who planned your ceremony with you are the same two people there running it.
It's an easy way in if a full micro wedding feels like more than you want to plan, or if "small" for you means five people instead of thirty. Because it's built around a small guest list to begin with, the same package doubles as an all-inclusive micro wedding for couples who want that quick, simple structure with a few more people there to share it.
See what's included in our all-inclusive elopement package to find out if a pop-up wedding is the right fit for your day.
Best Micro Wedding Venues in St. Augustine
St. Augustine offers strong options for intimate weddings. After working at dozens of locations, here are our top micro wedding St. Augustine venues by guest count and style:
Historic Indoor (20-50 guests)
Lightner Museum
The enclosed courtyard and Café Alcazar space work beautifully for the larger end of the micro-wedding range. It's a grand historic venue (typically 75+ guests), so it suits couples leaning toward 40-50 guests rather than a small dozen. Ask the venue for current packages and minimums.
Peña-Peck House
The lush courtyard garden creates an intimate atmosphere, typically starting around 30 guests. The historic 1750 coquina home provides beautiful backdrops and indoor space.
Beachfront (15-40 guests)
Beachfront Vacation Rentals
Larger Airbnb properties on Vilano Beach or St. Augustine Beach work well for intimate celebrations. Two-story houses are especially good when wedding parties want to get ready separately.
Public Beach Access Points
Ceremonies at 14th Street, 8th Street, and other beach entrances offer beautiful backdrops with nearby parking. A permit is required for any beach ceremony.
Beach Rental Warning
Always tell your Airbnb host about your wedding plans. We've seen police show up when property managers weren't expecting 40+ guests at a "family vacation." Paying a small extra fee prevents big problems on your wedding day.
Private Restaurant Spaces (20-50 guests)
Several St. Augustine restaurants offer private dining rooms for intimate receptions:
- Ice Plant Bar: Industrial-chic space with full catering
- The Floridian: Private rooms with Southern cuisine
- Caps on the Water: Waterfront dining with sunset views
Permits and Regulations
Navigating St. Augustine's wedding regulations is crucial, especially for beach ceremonies.
Beach Ceremony Requirements
Required Beach Permits
- St. Johns County (not the City) manages these beaches and requires a special event permit for ANY ceremony
- Apply at least 30 days in advance through St. Johns County Beach Services
- Wedding permit starts at $100 (under 200 guests), regardless of headcount
- A separate $50 commercial photography permit applies when a professional photographer is involved
- A certificate of liability insurance is required when using third-party vendors
- Permit covers ceremony only, not reception
Fees and rules change—confirm current amounts with the County. See our full St. Augustine wedding permits guide.
Beach Restrictions
St. Johns County public beaches have strict regulations that apply to all ceremonies:
- No alcohol permitted on public beaches
- No glass containers (including unity ceremony materials)
- No amplified music without special permits
- No decorations that could blow away (balloons, lanterns)
- No fires or fireworks
- Parking limitations at popular access points
Marriage License
Florida residents have a 3-day waiting period (waivable with a state-approved premarital course); out-of-state couples have no waiting period and can marry the same day the license is issued. The license costs $86 ($61 with the premarital course), is good for 60 days, and is issued at the St. Johns County Clerk's office on Lewis Speedway. Florida does not require witnesses for the ceremony.
Private Property Weddings
Many intimate weddings happen at vacation rentals or private homes. Key considerations:
Rental Property Guidelines
Check with property owners about guest limits, noise restrictions, and additional fees. Most charge $200-$500 extra for events. Getting permission upfront prevents disruptions on your wedding day.
Planning Your Timeline
A micro wedding offers more timeline flexibility than a traditional venue wedding. Here's how to structure the day:
Sample 6-Hour Timeline
2:00 PM - Getting Ready
Wedding party preparation, detail photos, first look if desired. Rental properties work great with separate floors for each party.
4:00 PM - Ceremony
Beach ceremonies have great natural light. Indoor venues let you choose any time of day.
4:30 PM - Cocktails & Photos
Family formals, couple portraits, guest mingling. On the east-facing Atlantic beaches the soft golden light comes at sunrise and again as the sun drops low behind you late in the day—great for warm, glowing portraits.
6:00 PM - Dinner
Seated dinner with toasts. More intimate than traditional reception timing.
7:30 PM - Dancing & Celebration
First dance, cake cutting, dancing. Can extend as long as you want with private venues.
Timeline Flexibility Advantage
Smaller celebrations give you more freedom than big weddings. Running late? No problem. Want more time for cocktails? You can do that. You don't have to follow strict dinner schedules. This makes planning easier and less stressful.
Coordinator vs. Self-Planning
For groups under 25, many couples self-coordinate with help from their photographer and venue. Once you're past 30 guests, though, a day-of coordinator (typically $800-$1,500) is worth the cost — they handle timing and vendor logistics so you're not fielding questions on your wedding day.
