The Wedding Authority Wedding Photography Guide
A photographer's guide to St. Augustine's busiest downtown wedding venue
About The Wedding Authority
The Wedding Authority
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The Wedding Authority is downtown St. Augustine's busiest wedding venue—and there's a good reason. Located within the historic Lightner Museum Building at 75 King Street, they've been hosting ceremonies for over 30 years. They do multiple weddings every day, which means they've seen it all and run like clockwork.
The venue operates two ceremony spaces: the stunning Lightner Museum Courtyard (outdoor, up to 100 guests) and the intimate Amore Wedding Chapel (indoor, up to 50 guests). The courtyard is the star—a hidden garden dating to 1888 with a koi pond, stone bridge, Spanish moss, palm trees, and tropical landscaping that feels completely removed from the downtown bustle just outside.
What makes The Wedding Authority so popular for elopements and intimate weddings is their all-inclusive approach. Packages include ceremony coordination, professional officiant services (Rev. Bill Young), city permits, liability insurance, setup and breakdown. You show up, get married, and they handle the logistics.
Why We Love Photographing Here
The Wedding Authority gives us something rare in wedding photography: multiple completely different backdrops within 50 feet of each other. The koi pond reflections, the iconic stone bridge, the loggia architecture, the lush tropical landscaping—we can capture incredible variety without relocating or eating into your timeline.
The courtyard's natural canopy creates soft, filtered light that's flattering throughout the afternoon. No harsh shadows, no squinting—just beautiful, even illumination. Golden hour (about an hour before sunset) is particularly magical as warm light filters through the Spanish moss and palm fronds.
And the location? Unbeatable. After the ceremony, we're steps from downtown St. Augustine's most iconic spots—Flagler College, the Plaza, St. George Street, the Lightner Museum entrance. We can capture completely different looks without driving anywhere.
The staff here knows what they're doing. After 30+ years and countless weddings, they manage guests during photos, keep the ceremony space clear, and handle the logistics so we can focus entirely on capturing your day.
Best Photo Locations
The Wedding Authority offers intimate photo opportunities on-site, plus easy access to downtown St. Augustine:
Lightner Museum Courtyard
The crown jewel—an outdoor garden dating to 1888 with koi pond, stone bridge, Spanish moss, and palm trees. This historic courtyard offers multiple distinct backdrops within 50 feet of each other.
The Stone Bridge
The iconic bridge over the koi pond is THE shot at this venue. Reflections in the water, the arch framing couples—it's classic St. Augustine romance.
The Koi Pond
Beyond the bridge, the pond itself offers beautiful reflection shots. The fish add life and movement to images, and the surrounding tropical plants create a lush backdrop.
Amore Wedding Chapel
The indoor chapel option offers a classic, intimate feel without being overwhelming. Ambient lighting makes it versatile for any time of day and a reliable backup for rain.
The Loggia
Historic covered walkway with beautiful architecture and columns. Protected from sun and rain, this offers elegant framing for portraits.
Tropical Landscaping
Palm trees, Spanish moss, tropical plants—the entire courtyard feels like a hidden garden oasis in the middle of downtown.
Nearby Downtown Locations
Just steps from St. George Street, the Lightner Museum entrance, Flagler College, and the Plaza—perfect for extended portrait sessions after the ceremony.
Sample Elopement Timeline
Here's a timeline that works beautifully for an afternoon elopement at The Wedding Authority:
Arrival & Getting Ready
Arrive at the venue and use their getting-ready space for final touch-ups.
First Look
An intimate first look on the stone bridge or in the courtyard garden—just the two of you.
Ceremony
Exchange vows in the courtyard surrounded by your closest loved ones, with the koi pond and gardens as your backdrop.
Portraits
We capture couple and family portraits throughout the courtyard—bridge, koi pond, loggia, tropical plantings—all within steps of each other.
Downtown Portraits
Venture into downtown St. Augustine for additional portraits at Flagler College, the Plaza, or St. George Street.
Photography Tips
Our recommendations for getting the best photos at The Wedding Authority:
Golden Hour is Magic Here
Book your ceremony about 1 hour before sunset. The courtyard's natural canopy creates soft, filtered light that's gorgeous at golden hour.
Winter = Nights of Lights
November through January, the entire courtyard is illuminated with twinkling lights through the palm trees. It's absolutely magical for evening ceremonies.
Everything is Included
The Wedding Authority includes ceremony coordination, officiant (Rev. Bill Young), permits, insurance, and setup/breakdown. One less thing to coordinate.
Multiple Backdrops, One Location
The koi pond, stone bridge, loggia, and tropical landscaping are all within 50 feet. We get incredible variety without relocating.
Weather Backup Built In
If Florida weather doesn't cooperate, the Amore Chapel is ready to go. No scrambling for a Plan B.
They Handle Crowd Control
After 30+ years of operation, their team knows how to manage guests during photos. They keep the ceremony space clear so we can work efficiently.
Planning Your Wedding
Practical tips for planning your ceremony at The Wedding Authority:
High Volume Venue
The Wedding Authority is one of St. Augustine's busiest venues, hosting multiple events daily. This means they run like clockwork—very organized, efficient, and professional.
Parking & Logistics
Downtown parking can be tricky. The city parking garage is nearby on St. George Street, or guests can use metered street parking. Consider noting this for out-of-town guests.
Weekday Ceremonies
Weekdays offer better pricing and fewer downtown crowds for portraits. Tuesday through Thursday ceremonies are popular for elopements.
Reception Offsite
The Wedding Authority focuses on ceremonies. For receptions, couples typically move to a nearby restaurant or venue—Ice Plant, The Floridian, Casa Monica, and others are all walking distance.
Vendor Friendly
They're flexible with outside vendors and happy to coordinate with your photographer, florist, and others. Their preferred vendor list is helpful but not required.
Book Early for Peak Dates
Saturdays and holidays fill up fast. If you have a specific date in mind, reach out early—especially for fall and spring peak season.
Photo Gallery
Here's a look at weddings and elopements we've photographed in the Lightner Courtyard:
Venue Details & Contact
Address
75 King Street, Suite 114-116, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Capacity
Up to 100 guests (courtyard) / Up to 50 guests (chapel)
Style
Intimate, Garden Courtyard, Historic Chapel
Website
Note: Venue details may change. Contact the venue directly for current pricing, availability, and policies.
The Wedding Authority FAQ
Common questions about weddings at The Wedding Authority
Ceremony packages at The Wedding Authority start around $775-$1,000 for smaller guest counts. This includes ceremony coordination, professional officiant services, city permits, liability insurance, setup and breakdown. Pricing scales based on guest count and date (Saturdays and peak season cost more). Contact them directly for current rates.
The Lightner Museum Courtyard is an outdoor garden space with koi pond, stone bridge, Spanish moss, and tropical plants—capacity up to 100 guests. The Amore Wedding Chapel is an intimate indoor space with classic chapel ambiance—capacity up to 50 guests. Many couples book both as a weather backup.
The Wedding Authority operates within the historic Lightner Museum Building at 75 King Street, but they are a separate business. They have exclusive use of the courtyard garden for weddings and events. The Lightner Museum itself is a separate attraction in the same building complex.
No—that's one of the perks. Rev. Bill Young provides officiant services as part of their packages. He's performed thousands of ceremonies and works with couples to personalize vows. If you prefer to bring your own officiant, that's also an option.
The Amore Wedding Chapel serves as the indoor backup. Since it's on-site, there's no scrambling or travel involved—you simply move to the chapel. Most couples book with the courtyard as primary and chapel as backup.
The Wedding Authority focuses on ceremonies rather than receptions. Most couples celebrate with dinner at a nearby downtown restaurant after—Ice Plant, The Floridian, Columbia, or Casa Monica are all walking distance. They can recommend options based on your group size.
Real Weddings at The Wedding Authority
Browse galleries from weddings we've photographed at this beautiful venue:
Planning a Wedding at The Wedding Authority?
As experienced St. Augustine wedding photographers, we've captured dozens of weddings here and know every photo opportunity. Let's talk about your vision.
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