Beach
Guy Harvey Resort St Augustine Wedding Guide
A photographer's guide to this oceanfront St. Augustine Beach resort
About Guy Harvey Resort
The Brief
More details Less details
Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach is an oceanfront hotel set directly on the sand at 860 A1A Beach Boulevard. For weddings it pairs full-service, in-house catering with ceremony and reception options that range from a barefoot beach ceremony to the indoor Nautilus Ballroom, plus poolside and patio settings in between. On-site guest rooms make room blocks and getting ready on property straightforward.
Named for the marine artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, the resort carries a distinctly coastal, casual personality—well suited to couples who want a relaxed Florida beach celebration rather than a formal ballroom-only affair.
What Works Photographically at Guy Harvey Resort
The strongest asset here is the oceanfront itself. With the sand just steps from the event spaces, the open beach gives plenty of room for ceremonies, wide wedding-party groupings, and clean horizon-line portraits. East-facing Atlantic light means the harsh sun sits behind you in the afternoon, and the hour before sunset turns soft and warm for couple portraits on the sand.
The property also offers backdrop variety beyond the beach: the poolside patio and the Terrace Patio beside the ballroom for cocktail-hour candids, coastal landscaping and palms around the grounds, and the indoor Nautilus Ballroom for evening reception coverage. That range keeps the day's images from looking one-note while staying true to the relaxed, coastal feel of the resort.
Best Photo Locations at Guy Harvey Resort
The resort offers multiple photo opportunities. Here are our favorite spots:
The Beach
The resort sits directly on St. Augustine Beach with oceanfront sand just steps from the event spaces. The open stretch gives room for ceremonies, wedding-party groupings, and wide portrait compositions against the Atlantic.
Pool Patio
An outdoor poolside lounge area used for casual receptions and cocktail gatherings. The relaxed coastal setting suits candid cocktail-hour coverage and sunset portraits nearby on the sand.
The Terrace Patio
An outdoor patio adjoining the Nautilus Ballroom—a natural spot for guests to mingle and for soft-light portraits just outside the reception.
Resort Grounds
Palm trees and coastal landscaping around the property add variety beyond pure beach frames for couple and detail shots.
Nautilus Ballroom
A roughly 2,800-square-foot indoor ballroom used for receptions and indoor ceremonies—a climate-controlled space that doubles as the weather backup.
Planning Your Timeline at Guy Harvey Resort
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
East-facing Atlantic beach—the sun sets behind the resort rather than over the water, so late-afternoon light falls soft and warm on the sand without harsh glare off the ocean. Sunrise is the dramatic over-water moment here.
Time for Photos
We recommend 45-60 minutes for portraits at Guy Harvey Resort, covering the beach, pool patio, ballroom, and grounds.
Venue Timing Notes
- Beach ceremonies with more than 15 attendees require a beach permit (the resort assists with this)
- Resort venue—coordinate timing with the on-site events team
Build a Wedding Day Timeline for Guy Harvey Resort
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 Guy Harvey Resort.
Build My Timeline →Photography Tips for Guy Harvey Resort
For getting the best photos at this oceanfront resort, these are our top recommendations:
Check the Tide Schedule
Low tide provides maximum beach space; high tide can limit ceremony area. We always check tide charts when planning your timeline.
Embrace the Casual Vibe
Guy Harvey Resort has a relaxed, Florida beach atmosphere. Couples who lean into this aesthetic—barefoot ceremonies, flowing dresses, casual attire—photograph beautifully here.
Sunset Timing is Critical
Schedule your ceremony to end about an hour before sunset. This gives us time for formal photos while still capturing golden hour portraits.
Have Indoor Backup Plans
Summer afternoon storms are common. The resort's indoor spaces can make a beautiful backup ceremony setting when weather changes plans.
FAQ
Guy Harvey Resort Wedding FAQ
Common questions about weddings at Guy Harvey Resort
Contact the resort's sales and events team for current package pricing. As a full-service oceanfront hotel with in-house catering, event packages bundle the food and beverage with the venue, and the resort lists menu assistance, event consultation, floor-plan development, ceremony and banquet chairs, banquet tables, house linens and napkins, setup and breakdown, Wi-Fi, and parking among the included items. Final rates vary by guest count, season, and day of week, so we always recommend requesting a current quote.
The resort's Nautilus Ballroom—about 2,800 square feet—seats up to roughly 150 guests for a reception, with flexible floor plans. For smaller gatherings, the Fair Winds meeting room handles intimate groups and can be divided into two rooms. Outdoor beach and poolside settings are also available for ceremonies and casual receptions.
Yes — it's beachfront (see above), which means a beach permit is required for ceremonies with more than 15 attendees; the resort can help you arrange it. If you prefer to avoid sand, the Terrace Patio beside the ballroom and the poolside patio offer coastal settings on solid ground.
Catering is handled in-house by the resort's executive chef and food and beverage team, with customizable menus. Outside catering is not used, though a wedding cake from a licensed bakery may be brought in with advance approval. On-site dining and bar options include Santiago's Florida Kitchen & Craft Bar and Guy Harvey's Surf Shack Tiki Bar.
Yes. As an oceanfront hotel, the resort can arrange guest room blocks on property, including oceanview rooms—convenient for getting ready and for out-of-town guests. Complimentary self-parking is included, and the resort offers dog-friendly rooms for an added nightly fee. The Old Town Trolley Beach Bus also connects the property to St. Augustine's historic district.
The Nautilus Ballroom provides an indoor, climate-controlled backup. Florida afternoons can bring brief storms that pass quickly, but having an indoor plan means your ceremony or reception can proceed regardless, and the resort's events staff is set up to move between outdoor and indoor spaces.
Recent Weddings Nearby
Janet & Rick
Sarah & Nathan
Alexandra & Jason
Skye & Elliot
Giselle & Duncan
Danielle & Von
Planning a Wedding at Guy Harvey Resort?
We'd love to capture your Guy Harvey Resort wedding day. Let's talk about your vision.
Get in Touch