Venue Guide · Waterfront
La Venture Grove
Wedding Photos & Inspiration
A photographer's guide to an old Florida riverfront wedding venue in St. Johns
Our Wedding Gallery
See more from Evelynn & Kevin's wedding: the dress on the porch, a first look by the river, vows under the oak, and a pavilion full of lights.
Why We Love La Venture Grove
La Venture Grove is the kind of place that photographs like a memory. An old weathered house, a lawn that runs down to the St. Johns River, and oaks old enough that the Spanish moss hangs in curtains. Nothing here is trying to look like anything other than what it is, which is exactly why it works in pictures.
The property gives a wedding day real variety without anyone getting in a car. Getting-ready photos happen on the porch and in the house, the first look walks out to the water, the ceremony sits under one enormous oak, family portraits use the house as a backdrop, and the reception moves into an open-air pavilion strung with lights. Five distinct settings, all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
We photographed Evelynn and Kevin's wedding here, and the images on this page are from that day. The venue itself was built to host larger groups, up to about 170 guests, but it never felt crowded, and that shade under the oaks kept everyone comfortable through a Florida afternoon.
Best Photo Locations at La Venture Grove
The Farmhouse Porch
The old two-story house is the first thing you see and the natural home for getting-ready photos. The porch is covered, so the light stays soft and even for the dress, the details, and the last few minutes before the first look. The gravel path in front of the house is where the wedding party and family portraits line up.
The Riverfront
The lawn runs down to the St. Johns River, with cypress trees and lounge seating at the water's edge. It is the quietest corner of the property and the one we use for a first look and for a few minutes alone after the ceremony.
The Ceremony Oak
One massive live oak, moss hanging from every limb, with the aisle running straight toward it. The canopy throws dappled shade over the whole ceremony, which means no squinting and no harsh midday shadows on faces. White florals and lanterns read beautifully against all that green.
The Tree-Lined Paths
Shaded walkways wind between the house, the oak and the pavilion. They give the wedding party somewhere to laugh and walk, and they make an easy backdrop for couple portraits when the sun is still high.
The Open-Air Pavilion
The reception pavilion is timber-framed and open on the sides, with a circular chandelier and strings of lights overhead. It goes from a bright, airy dinner space to a warm, glowing dance floor once the sun drops, and the sparkler exit runs straight out of it down a lit path.
Planning Your Timeline at La Venture Grove
We don’t publish generic timelines. They’re useless without knowing your date. Here’s why:
Sunset moves through the year, so we build every timeline around your actual date and what matters most to you.
Build a Wedding Day Timeline for La Venture Grove
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 La Venture Grove.
Build My Timeline →Photography Tips for La Venture Grove
Let the Oak Set Your Ceremony Time
The canopy gives you soft, even light through most of the afternoon, so you have more flexibility here than at an open-sky venue. Aim to finish the ceremony with an hour or more of daylight left for portraits by the river.
Use the Whole Property
The house, the river, the oak and the pavilion each look completely different. Build ten minutes into the timeline for each and the gallery will feel like it covers a whole place, not one spot.
Plan for Sand and Gravel
Paths are gravel and the pavilion floor is sandy in places. Comfortable shoes for the wedding party, and a heads-up to guests, saves a lot of wobbling.
Ask the Venue About Rain
The ceremony and the reception are both outdoors under cover of trees and timber. Confirm the venue's wet-weather plan when you book so we can plan the portrait spots around it.
La Venture Grove Wedding FAQ
Common questions about weddings at this St. Johns riverfront venue
Ask us anythingThe venue hosts up to about 170 guests. The wedding we photographed there had around 80, and the property felt full without feeling crowded.
Yes. The ceremony we photographed was held under a large live oak, with the aisle running across the lawn toward it. Ask the venue directly about its plan for wet weather.
The farmhouse porch, the river's edge, the ceremony oak, the shaded paths, and the pavilion once its lights are on. Each one looks different from the others, which is rare on a single property.
On Moremen Road in the St. Johns area south of Jacksonville, about forty-five minutes from downtown St. Augustine.
Recent Weddings Here
A few of our favorite events from this awesome venue.
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