Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel Wedding Photography Guide
A photographer's guide to this historic downtown hotel wedding venue
We've visited Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel and love what it offers — we're looking forward to photographing our first event here. In the meantime, here's everything you need to know to plan your wedding day.
About Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel
Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel
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The Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel brings Marriott elegance to the heart of America's oldest city. Located on West Castillo Drive, this historic hotel venue offers the full-service amenities of a luxury hotel combined with the charm and character of downtown St. Augustine.
The centerpiece of the Renaissance wedding experience is the San Marco Ballroom—over 4,400 square feet of elegant event space with soaring ceilings, geometric architectural details, and large windows that flood the room with natural light. The ballroom accommodates up to 350 guests, making it one of the larger indoor wedding venues in historic St. Augustine.
What sets the Renaissance apart is the combination of convenience and elegance. On-site accommodations mean your guests can walk from their rooms to your ceremony. In-house catering from Castillo Craft Bar + Kitchen provides chef-driven menus. And the hotel's event planning team handles coordination from start to finish. For couples who want a polished, professional wedding experience in the heart of St. Augustine, the Renaissance delivers.
Why We Love Photographing at the Renaissance
That gold staircase is the reason we get excited about Renaissance weddings. The architectural detail, the warm tones, the way it frames a couple from above or below -- it gives us a portrait location that stands apart from every other venue in town. Most hotel staircases are forgettable. This one is a destination.
The San Marco Ballroom also has real photographic value. The large windows let in natural light that makes ceremony and reception coverage much more pleasant than a typical dark hotel ballroom. The neutral palette and geometric ceiling details give the room visual interest without competing with the couple. It photographs as elegant, not busy.
We also appreciate the downtown location. If there's time in the schedule, we can step outside and be at the Castillo, the bayfront, or St. George Street in minutes. That means we can mix the polished hotel interiors with the historic character of St. Augustine, giving couples two different looks without a long drive between locations.
Best Photo Locations
The Renaissance offers elegant indoor spaces and easy access to downtown St. Augustine photo locations:
San Marco Ballroom
The signature event space with over 4,400 square feet, soaring ceilings with geometric detail, soft neutral tones, and large windows allowing natural light. Perfect for grand receptions and ceremonies up to 350 guests.
The Grand Gold Staircase
A stunning architectural feature providing an elegant backdrop for formal portraits, couple photos, and dramatic bridal party shots. The gold detailing and historic character create timeless images.
Barcelona Room
An elegant mid-sized space accommodating up to 175 guests, offering flexibility for ceremonies or receptions with a more intimate feel than the main ballroom.
Kirkside Room
Intimate space perfect for small ceremonies and elopements up to 25 guests, or as a private getting-ready suite for wedding day preparations.
Poolside Areas
Outdoor reception spaces with poolside settings, offering a contrast to the indoor ballroom elegance and providing natural light photo opportunities.
Historic Downtown Location
Steps from St. George Street, the Castillo, and waterfront locations—easy access to iconic St. Augustine backdrops for portrait sessions.
Planning Your Timeline at Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel
We don't publish generic sample timelines because they're useless without knowing your wedding date. Here's why:
A 5pm ceremony works beautifully in summer but means portraits in the dark in winter. Your timeline needs to be built around your actual date and what matters most to you.
Get a Timeline Built for Your Day
Tell us your wedding date, ceremony time preferences, and what moments matter most. We'll send you a custom timeline that accounts for sunset, this venue's best light, and your priorities.
Request Your Custom TimelinePhotography Tips
Our recommendations for getting the best photos at the Renaissance St. Augustine:
Use the Gold Staircase
The grand gold staircase is the signature photo location at the Renaissance. Plan for formal portraits here—the architectural detail and lighting create dramatic images that stand out from typical hotel wedding photos.
Take Advantage of Hotel Accommodations
Book a block of rooms for your guests and use the hotel suites for getting ready. Having everyone on-site eliminates travel time and allows for relaxed, natural getting-ready photos throughout the day.
Explore Downtown Between Events
The hotel's downtown location puts you steps from iconic St. Augustine photo locations. Plan 30-45 minutes between ceremony and reception for quick portraits at the Castillo, bayfront, or historic streets.
Natural Light in the Ballroom
The San Marco Ballroom features large windows providing beautiful natural light. For late afternoon ceremonies, this creates soft, flattering light without heavy reliance on artificial lighting.
Coordinate with the In-House Team
Renaissance's event planners handle setup, timeline coordination, and vendor management. Communicate your photo timeline early so they can build in buffer time for portraits and family formals.
Renaissance St. Augustine Wedding FAQ
Common questions about weddings at the Renaissance St. Augustine
The Renaissance is a premium hotel venue with pricing that reflects Marriott-level service and downtown St. Augustine location. Contact the hotel's events team through their website for current wedding packages. In-house catering through Castillo Craft Bar + Kitchen is included. For photography pricing, check our packages page.
The San Marco Ballroom holds up to 350 guests for a seated reception, making it one of the larger indoor venues in historic St. Augustine. The Barcelona Room accommodates up to 175 guests for a more intimate feel, and the Kirkside Room handles small ceremonies and elopements up to 25 guests.
The Renaissance primarily offers indoor ceremony spaces. However, the poolside areas can be used for outdoor receptions. If you want an outdoor ceremony, consider pairing a nearby location like the St. Augustine waterfront or a historic courtyard with your Renaissance reception. The downtown location makes this easy to coordinate.
Yes, on-site accommodations are a major advantage of a Renaissance wedding. You can arrange a room block at a discounted rate for your guests. Having everyone under one roof eliminates transportation logistics and means guests can walk from their rooms to your ceremony. It's especially convenient for destination weddings.
Real Weddings Here
Browse galleries from weddings we've photographed at this location
