Church
Cathedral Basilica St Augustine Wedding Guide
A photographer's guide to America's oldest Catholic parish
Real Weddings Here
Megan and James
About This Parish
The Brief
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The Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine wedding is at the first Catholic parish established in America, dating back to 1565. The current building, constructed between 1793-1797 with later restorations, stands as a testament to centuries of faith and heritage.
With its Spanish Colonial and Renaissance Revival architecture, stunning interior murals, and beautiful stained glass, the building provides one of the most meaningful and visually striking ceremony settings in Florida. The soaring ceilings and spiritual atmosphere create images with a sense of significance that few venues can match.
As a ceremony-only location, couples typically pair this parish with downtown St. Augustine reception spots like Flagler College, The Treasury, Casa Monica, or Villa Blanca—all within easy distance.
Why We Love Photographing Here
There's a weight and significance to photographing weddings at this parish that's hard to describe. This is where American Catholicism began, and couples who choose to marry here are becoming part of that centuries-long story.
Photographically, the interior is stunning. The warm wood tones, the beautiful murals depicting St. Augustine's history, the filtered light through stained glass—every angle offers something beautiful. The scale of the nave creates a sense of grandeur that makes the celebration feel momentous.
The location in the heart of downtown is another advantage. The Plaza de la Constitucion across the street provides beautiful open-air portrait space, and the walk between locations offers wonderful candid moments against St. Augustine's charming architecture.
Best Photo Locations
The building and its surroundings offer exceptional photography opportunities:
The Grand Interior
The soaring nave with its beautiful murals, ornate altar, and stained glass windows creates a breathtaking backdrop for the ceremony. The warm wood tones and reverent atmosphere make every moment feel significant.
The Grand Entrance
The iconic entrance doors are perfect for dramatic exit shots. The couple emerging into the light after being pronounced married is always a powerful moment. The stone facade frames the couple beautifully.
The Transepts & Center Aisle
The parish permits photographers to set up in the center aisle and the corners of the transepts. These vantage points, with the arched ceilings and filtered light, capture the processional, recessional, and the scale of the nave without intruding on the sanctuary.
The Plaza de la Constitucion
The plaza just across the street provides a beautiful outdoor space for post-ceremony portraits. The building serves as a stunning backdrop with the old oaks framing the scene.
Cathedral Place Street
The charming street in front of the building, with its colonial architecture and intimate scale, creates wonderful walking shots as the couple moves between locations.
Planning Your Timeline at Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
We don't publish generic timelines. They're useless without knowing your date. Here's why:
A 5pm ceremony works great in summer. In winter, it means dark portraits. Your timeline must match your actual date and what matters most to you.
Lighting & Golden Hour
The interior is illuminated by stunning stained glass windows. Late afternoon light creates dramatic color patterns inside.
Time for Photos
We recommend 30-45 minutes for portraits at Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, covering the interior nave, altar area, and exterior plaza.
Want more variety? Nearby options:
- Plaza de la Constitución — 1 minute walk, add 10 minutes
- Treasury on the Plaza — 1 minute walk, add 10-15 minutes
Winter & Nights of Lights
The building and surrounding plaza are centerpieces of Nights of Lights.
Venue Timing Notes
- Religious venue—ceremony restrictions apply
- Photography during mass is limited
Build a Wedding Day Timeline for Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
Every timeline we build starts from three anchors — your ceremony start time, sunset, and your exit. From there we plan the best light for portraits, family photos, and everything in between at Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.
Build My Timeline →Photography Tips
From photographing a ceremony here, these are our recommendations:
No Bride's Room
There are no facilities here for getting ready. Plan to arrive dressed for the ceremony. Many couples use nearby venues like Markland House, Casa Monica, or a downtown Airbnb for preparations.
Respect the Spiritual Setting
This is an active parish with specific guidelines for photography. The parish allows flash and external lighting during the processional and recessional, but not during the liturgy itself. Photographers and equipment may not be in the sanctuary (altar area) or its doorways during the liturgy—we work from the center aisle and the corners of the transepts, capturing every moment while respecting the sanctity of the service.
Use the Plaza
Don't skip the Plaza de la Constitucion across the street. The old oaks and plaza setting with the building in the background create stunning portrait opportunities that are uniquely St. Augustine.
Catholic Ceremony Length
Full Catholic wedding Masses typically run 45-60 minutes. Build this into your timeline, especially for receptions at venues with specific start times.
Coordinate with the Parish
Contact the parish office early. At least one spouse must be Catholic, and the Diocese of St. Augustine requires marriage preparation that begins well ahead of the date (plan on roughly eight months). The Wedding Preliminary Info Form and deposit are due at least six months before the wedding. The parish staff is helpful in coordinating logistics.
Plan Portraits Around the Half-Hour Window
The parish allows photographs in the church for one half-hour after the ceremony, since another wedding, Mass, or confessions may follow. We move efficiently through family and couple portraits inside, then continue outside and across to the Plaza. No on-site parking exists—we scout arrival and gear logistics ahead of time.
Portrait & Engagement Sessions at the Cathedral
The exterior of the Cathedral Basilica — the Spanish-mission facade, the exposed-bell Renaissance tower, the Doric-columned entrance — is one of the most recognizable backdrops in downtown St. Augustine, and you can photograph it entirely from public ground without any arrangement with the church. The Plaza de la Constitución directly across Cathedral Place gives you the stand-off distance to frame the full tower and entrance together; the live oaks along the Plaza add natural framing on the edges.
Light and Timing
The main facade faces south, across Cathedral Place. That means the front catches direct sun through the middle of the day — great for showing the tower and stonework detail, but harsh and contrasty for faces if subjects are placed right against the wall at noon. Early morning gives soft, raking light across the facade and a nearly empty plaza — the only realistic window for a wide, uncluttered shot of the full building. Late afternoon and golden hour warm the pale stone and let you work in the open shade of the Plaza's live oaks with the lit facade behind. Weekday mornings are by far the calmest; weekends and the stretch from spring break through summer bring steady foot traffic and tour trolleys.
Angles and Background Management
- Back up into the Plaza for the tower shot. A longer lens from across Cathedral Place compresses the tower and lifts it above street clutter. A wider lens from the Plaza fits the full bell tower and entrance in frame with the oaks softening the edges.
- Use the Plaza oaks for shade. Place subjects in the shadow of the live oaks — or in the building's own shade line — and let the lit facade read behind them as backdrop. This avoids harsh shadows on faces while keeping the architecture present.
- Time frames between traffic. Cars and tour trolleys along Cathedral Place walk into wide shots. A brief pause between vehicles clears the frame; shooting tighter crops the street out entirely.
Wardrobe
Warm, earthy tones and creams read beautifully against the pale stone and terracotta tile. Avoid bright whites, which blow out in midday sun on the facade and lose the contrast that makes the building read in the frame.
No city permit is required for a personal portrait or engagement session on the public sidewalk and in the Plaza — the city's film/photography permit is aimed at commercial productions and advertising shoots. Plan around Mass times: daily Mass at 7 am, Saturday vigil at 5 pm, Sunday services at 7, 9, and 11 am plus 5 pm.
Details & Contact
Address
38 Cathedral Place, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Capacity
Seats several hundred guests
Style
Spanish Colonial with later Renaissance Revival restoration, Sacred
Website
Ceremony Fee
Contact the parish office for current ceremony fees
Deposit
Non-refundable deposit required to reserve
Phone
(904) 824-2806
Note: The parish requires at least one spouse to be Catholic. Contact the parish office for marriage preparation requirements, available dates, and specific guidelines. They're very helpful and experienced in coordinating wedding ceremonies.
FAQ
Wedding FAQ
Common questions about getting married here
Contact the parish office at (904) 824-2806 for current ceremony fees. This is a ceremony-only venue, so you'll need a separate reception location. A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your date.
At least one spouse must be Catholic. The Diocese of St. Augustine requires marriage preparation that begins well in advance—plan on roughly eight months from your first meeting with the priest or deacon to the wedding date. The parish's Wedding Preliminary Info Form and deposit are due at least six months before the wedding. Contact the parish office early; they guide couples through the process.
No. The Cathedral Basilica is an active house of worship, not an event venue—there is no reception space, and no food, drinks, or alcohol are permitted in the church or on church grounds. Couples celebrate the ceremony here and hold the reception at a separate downtown location, several of which are within walking distance.
The Cathedral itself has no parking. The parish offers a free reserved lot at the Cathedral Parish School/Parish Center about four blocks south on St. George Street (email the parish manager to reserve for the time around your ceremony). The City of St. Augustine also has metered street spaces and lots nearby, enforced until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
A full Catholic wedding Mass typically runs 45-60 minutes. Shorter service formats may be available depending on your situation. Build the ceremony length into your timeline, especially if your reception venue has a specific start time.
Yes, with limits—see the lighting and sanctuary-access policy above. In short, flash and external lighting are allowed during the processional and recessional but not the liturgy, and we work from the center aisle and transept corners rather than the sanctuary itself.
Planning a Wedding at Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine?
We'd love to capture your Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine wedding day. Let's talk about your vision.
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