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.
Typical Guest Count
15-50 people
Average St. Augustine Cost
$8,000-$15,000
Planning Timeline
6-8 months
Venue Options
30+ locations
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.
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.
The lush courtyard garden creates an intimate atmosphere, typically starting around 30 guests. The historic 1750 coquina home provides beautiful backdrops and indoor space.
Garden ceremony • Historic home
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.
Beach ceremony • Full day rental
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.
St. Johns County permit required (from $100) • Seasonal considerations
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
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
2 hours
Wedding party preparation, detail photos, first look if desired. Rental properties work great with separate floors for each party.
4:00 PM - Ceremony
30 minutes
Beach ceremonies have great natural light. Indoor venues let you choose any time of day.
4:30 PM - Cocktails & Photos
1.5 hours
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
1.5 hours
Seated dinner with toasts. More intimate than traditional reception timing.
7:30 PM - Dancing & Celebration
2+ hours
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. For 30+ guests, or anyone short on time, a day-of coordinator (typically $800-$1,500) keeps the schedule on track without the cost of a full planner.
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Vendor Packages and Pricing
Intimate weddings typically cost 40-60% less than traditional St. Augustine weddings while letting you book higher-end vendors and experiences.
Typical Budget Breakdown
Vendor
Traditional Wedding
Micro Wedding
Savings
Photography (8 hours)
$2,500-$4,000
$2,200-$3,500
Small discount
Catering (per person)
$85-$120
$95-$140
Higher per person, lower total
Florals
$1,200-$2,500
$400-$800
Major savings
Music/DJ
$800-$1,200
$400-$700
Significant savings
Venue
$2,000-$5,000
$800-$2,500
Major savings
Total
$15,000-$30,000+
$8,000-$15,000
50%+ savings
All-Inclusive Packages
Some St. Augustine vendors bundle services into intimate-wedding packages:
Historic Venue Packages
Some St. Augustine historic venues bundle venue rental, catering, and coordination into wedding packages. Inclusions, guest minimums, and pricing vary by season and venue—ask each venue directly for current rates.
Venue + catering bundles • Add-ons available
Beachfront Rental + Catering Combos
Many local caterers work with popular rental venues. This keeps planning and pricing simple.
Property + catering • Setup included • $150-$200 per person
Photography Considerations
Smaller weddings present unique photography opportunities and considerations compared to larger celebrations.
What's Different
More intimate moments: With fewer guests, we spend more time on couple portraits and family combinations rather than large group management.
Flexible timeline: We can take breaks, extend certain portions, or adapt to weather without impacting vendor schedules.
Guest interaction: Every guest matters, so we make sure to photograph each person and their connections to you.
Detail focus: With smaller guest counts, details like place settings, florals, and personal touches become more prominent.
Coverage Recommendations
For micro weddings, we typically suggest:
Recommended Coverage
6-8 hours for full day including getting ready
4-6 hours for ceremony and reception only
Engagement session often more valuable since you have fewer formal portraits during the wedding
Second photographer optional but helpful for larger groups (35+ guests)
Unique Photo Opportunities
Smaller weddings offer photography opportunities that larger ones often can't accommodate:
Group photos with everyone: Manageable group shots with all guests
Individual couple time: More opportunities for extended portraits
Guest interactions: Time to photograph meaningful conversations and connections
Detail shots: More focus on personal touches and decor elements
Candid moments: Less crowd management means more time observing natural interactions
Planning a Micro Wedding in St. Augustine?
We'd love to help document your intimate celebration. With over a decade of experience and 600+ weddings, we understand how to make the most of your day.
St. Augustine's climate affects intimate-wedding planning differently than larger weddings, especially for outdoor ceremonies.
Peak Season (October - April)
✓ Comfortable weather for outdoor ceremonies ✓ Pleasant for guests of all ages ✓ Reliable conditions for beach weddings
⚠ Higher venue and vendor pricing ⚠ More competition for bookings ⚠ Busier tourist areas
Off-Season (May - September)
✓ Significant cost savings (30-40%) ✓ More vendor availability ✓ Fewer crowds at beach settings
⚠ Afternoon thunderstorms common ⚠ High humidity and heat ⚠ Hurricane season considerations
Month-by-Month
January-March: Cool and dry, good for outdoor ceremonies. Book early as this is peak wedding season.
April-May: Warming up but still comfortable. Great transition season with lower peak pricing.
June-August: Hot and humid with daily afternoon storms. Morning ceremonies work best.
September: Hurricane season but often beautiful. Significant savings available.
October-December: Ideal weather returns. October especially popular for intimate celebrations.
Real Examples
Three representative micro-wedding approaches we see in St. Augustine, showing how different styles and budgets play out:
Beach House Celebration - 28 Guests
Venue: Vilano Beach rental house Timeline: 2 PM - 10 PM Budget: $12,000 total
This couple rented a large beach house for the weekend, with wedding parties getting ready on separate floors. Ceremony on the beach at 4 PM, cocktails on the deck, dinner catered by a local restaurant, and dancing into the evening.
What worked well: The extended timeline let them relax between events. Guests stayed the whole weekend, making it more like a celebration retreat.
Challenges: Coordinating bathroom space with 28 people and managing beach permit timing.
Historic Venue Elegance - 45 Guests
Venue: Lightner Museum Timeline: 4 PM - 10 PM Budget: $14,500 total
Indoor ceremony in the courtyard with reception in Café Alcazar. Professional catering, live music trio, and full florals created an elegant intimate atmosphere.
What worked well: Built-in elegance of the venue meant minimal decoration needed. Professional coordination handled all logistics.
Challenges: Higher per-person costs but worth it for the stress-free planning and prestigious location.
Backyard Garden Party - 22 Guests
Venue: Private St. Augustine home Timeline: 3 PM - 9 PM Budget: $8,500 total
Family backyard transformed with string lights, rented furniture, and local catering. Ceremony under century-old oak trees, reception on the patio.
What worked well: Most personal and budget-friendly option. Family involvement made it extra meaningful.
Challenges: Weather backup plan and coordinating multiple vendors at residential property.
Key Takeaway
Each approach worked because couples chose what fit their needs—whether that was picking the location, having a beautiful setting, or keeping things intimate. There's no single "right" way to do a micro wedding in St. Augustine.
Next Steps
Ready to start planning? Here's the action plan:
6-8 Months Before
Define your guest list (this determines everything else)
Set your budget and priorities
Book venue and key vendors (photographer, caterer)
Apply for beach permits if needed
3-4 Months Before
Finalize menu and catering details
Order flowers and decorations
Confirm timeline with all vendors
Send invitations (intimate weddings often use more casual invite styles)
If you decide on a smaller celebration with just immediate family
A micro wedding St. Augustine couples plan well offers the right balance of intimate celebration and traditional wedding elements. With local knowledge of venues, permits, and timing, your micro wedding can be every bit as memorable as a larger one—often more so, because you'll actually have time to enjoy it with the people who matter most.
Recent Work
Recent Intimate Wedding & Elopement Photography
Real couples we've photographed across St. Augustine.
Micro weddings include 15-50 guests and typically have all the traditional wedding elements—ceremony, reception, dancing. Elopements usually involve just the couple or immediate family only.
Yes. St. Johns County requires a special event permit for any beach ceremony, regardless of guest count. The wedding permit starts at $100, and a separate $50 commercial photography permit applies when a professional photographer is involved. Apply at least 30 days in advance through St. Johns County. Confirm current fees with the County before booking.
Beachfront vacation rentals, private courtyards, restaurant private dining rooms, and the Peña-Peck House garden all work well for very small groups. Grander historic venues like the Lightner Museum suit the larger end (40-50 guests). Many venues also offer smaller-event packages—ask about guest minimums.
Most couples spend $8,000-$15,000 for a micro wedding including venue, catering, photography, flowers, and officiant. This is significantly less than a traditional 150-guest wedding.
Alcohol is not permitted on St. Johns County public beaches. If you want cocktails, consider a beachfront rental property or venue with outdoor space near the beach.
October through April offers the most comfortable weather. Summer months are hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, though rates are lower.
We recommend booking key vendors 6-8 months ahead, especially photographers and preferred venues. Micro weddings are growing in popularity and availability fills up.
Not necessarily. Many couples self-coordinate with help from their photographer and venue. For groups over 30, or anyone short on time, a day-of coordinator (typically $800-$1,500) keeps everything on track without the cost of a full planner.
Florida imposes a 3-day waiting period on residents only (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, which makes it realistic to plan a micro wedding St. Augustine within a few months.
