WEDDING — Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park (St. Augustine)

1. Estate Introduction & Setting

A welcome evening can be as simple as lanterns along the patio rail and a trio of coastal tastings—something bright from the raw bar, something warm from a Southern inheritance, and a cordial that invites conversation. The point is not to impress but to let the place speak for you: the hush of the water at dusk, the way moss stirs in the breeze, the feeling that the city is near but has no claim on your time.

If families are meeting for the first time, consider a brief walk to the boardwalk at golden hour. A modest toast that names each parent, thanks them for the years that led to this night, and invites everyone to claim the weekend as their own can accomplish more than a dozen introductions made in a crowded room.

Set at the quiet northern edge of historic St. Augustine—where Magnolia Avenue tunnels beneath live oaks and the Matanzas widens toward the inlet—the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park offers a wedding setting whose romance is inseparable from the ground it occupies. The park’s fifteen acres meet the water in a series of lawns, decks, and a 600‑foot observation riverwalk; peacocks wander the edges of pathways; a watchtower keeps a courteous vigil over the shoreline; and, just beyond, the Great Cross at Mission Nombre de Dios rises above the marsh like a steadying landmark for orientation and for memory. Guests arrive curious, and before evening they become participants in a story that St. Augustine has been telling since the sixteenth century.

The address—11 Magnolia Avenue—sits a minute’s stroll from one of the most photographed streets in the nation, with its arch of ancient branches and lacework moss. The park looks outward to Matanzas Bay and the St. Augustine Inlet, and inward to exhibits that honor Timucua heritage and early Spanish settlement; it is surprisingly peaceful for its proximity to the old city’s lively core. Jacksonville International Airport lies just over an hour to the north by highway; Daytona Beach International is about forty minutes south; and Orlando offers a broad web of flights within a two‑hour drive. Once within the park gates, distances become short and pleasing—terraces knit to lawns, lawns to decks, and decks to an evening room where candlelight finds glass and silver and a view of the water that remains quietly present throughout the night.

Couples drawn to destination weekends discover that the site behaves like a small coastal campus. Rehearsal cocktails settle naturally on a patio near the pavilion, guests return the next morning for strolls along the riverwalk or for a visit to the Spring House and Planetarium, and the ceremony itself gathers everyone under oaks that have watched centuries pass. What follows feels less like shifting between venues and more like moving through chapters of one narrative—St. Augustine’s history lending beauty and proportion to a very modern celebration.

Because the park is an attraction by day and an event space by evening, it welcomes wedding parties with practical grace. Parking is close and plentiful; paths are level and navigable for elder guests; and the waterfront breeze gives fabric a slow, photogenic movement without competing with vows. As the sun lowers toward the harbor and the bridge lights emerge, the lawns become a threshold between history and celebration: the kind of threshold on which people feel comfortable making promises.

2. Estate & Architectural Features

Décor thrives when it takes its cues from materials already present. Coquina and weathered timber suggest a palette of soft limestone, pale sand, and the faintest green of palmetto; brass or pewter reads handsomely against candlelight, while clear glass allows the river to remain the horizon of the room. Indoors, fabrics with a gentle hand photograph beautifully and quiet the acoustics just enough that toasts become intelligible without amplification.

Lighting should be drawn as hospitality first and spectacle second. Create pools where conversation gathers—at bars, escort displays, and the margins of the dance floor—then lift the edges of the oaks or tent lines with a measured glow. In images, this balance reads as intention; in the moment, it reads as welcome.

The park’s built language is a conversation between coquina, timber, and water. The Spring House—a coquina structure raised in the mid‑twentieth century around a spring recorded in a seventeenth‑century Spanish land grant—speaks to the site’s layered mythology and its documented past. Arcades and wooden galleries step lightly through the oaks; decks extend toward the marsh; and the look‑out tower recalls the early watch stations that guarded this harbor long before the spyglass made distance easier to read. Rather than imposing a single architectural style, the grounds orchestrate materials and views so that guests experience shade and sunlight, enclosure and prospect, in a rhythm that feels naturally suited to ceremony and conviviality.

For weddings, the most significant architectural gesture is scale. Lawns finish in long, clear horizons; the Founders’ Riverwalk draws a precise line over the water; and the Magnolia Room and Events Pavilion gather guests at human height where conversation and candlelight carry well. Subtle neutrality in wall and floor surfaces lets color and floral design take the role of protagonist indoors, while the exteriors remain photogenic in their simplicity—coquina textures, hand‑wrought iron, weathered wood, and the ever‑present geometry of the water’s edge.

Photographers appreciate the park for its sequence of thresholds: a shaded arcade for first look; a quiet bend of the boardwalk for portraits in the soft minute just before sunset; a lawn whose processional line is intuitively legible; and patios that receive evening light without glare. The architecture doesn’t ask for attention; it offers invitation. Guests feel at home because spaces are understandable at a glance and beautiful from every angle.

3. Ceremony & Reception Settings

For the aisle, choose a geometry that favors meaning and sound: a center run flanked by chairs under the oaks, or a gentle arc that steers the eye toward water while keeping vows close to those who have come to listen. Place musicians slightly forward so that their timing can follow the step of the wedding party; invite guests to remain seated for recessional and let the room open naturally before you turn to walk back through it together.

Cocktail hour is the hinge on which mood turns. Arrange service to begin at the edges and move toward the center, give the photographer five protected minutes at the Riverwalk as the light settles, and trust the room to find its own comfortable noise before dinner is called with a quiet cue from the band or DJ.

The most graceful evenings here keep to a choreography that follows the site’s natural pace. Guests are welcomed through the gates and along shaded paths to a ceremony lawn that leans gently toward the bay. The breeze carries over vows without taking them, the peacocks keep a respectful distance and occasionally offer their green‑blue punctuation, and recessional photographs collect oak, sky, and water in generous proportions. A stroll to cocktails on the patios becomes a reveal: the first long view down the riverwalk, the silhouettes of the watchtower and Great Cross, and the feeling that St. Augustine itself has turned to watch.

Dinner takes its form indoors or out depending on season and preference. The Magnolia Room—with retractable doors to open‑air patios—reads as a continuation of the landscape rather than a subtraction from it; the Events Pavilion, with covered, climate‑controlled space, protects formality while keeping the edges porous to breeze and conversation. Tented lawns are practical in shoulder months and add a flattering verticality to the evening light. In each case, transitions are kind to guests: steps are shallow, wayfinding is obvious, and the next chapter is always within a short, pleasant walk.

When weather asks for a different plan, it can be granted without losing the tone of the celebration. A clear‑top reserved with a 72‑hour release, an adjacent patio held for cocktails, and an escort display designed to read equally well in prefunction or among the oaks will turn contingency into choice. It is in these moments that the park’s combination of interiors and immediate outdoor rooms shows its intelligence.

Signature Venues (Linked)

• Weddings & Events — Fountain of Youth — Overview, capacities, and inquiry

• Magnolia Room & Patios — 2,500‑sq‑ft indoor room + 2,800‑sq‑ft open‑air patios

• Events Pavilion — 3,000‑sq‑ft pavilion; up to 150 seated / 300 standing

• Founders’ Riverwalk — 600‑foot observation boardwalk over Matanzas Bay

• Spanish Lookout (Watchtower) — Historic‑interpretive tower; photogenic backdrop

Recommended Rentals, Décor & Lighting (Linked)

• EventWorks — Full‑service rentals; Jacksonville showroom

• Curated Events — Tents, tabletops, lounge collections

• Mugwump Productions — Event design, rentals & lighting

• St. Johns Illuminations — String lights, uplighting, chandeliers

Processionals on lawn and boardwalk benefit from sound planned with the same care as florals: a discreet lavalier for vows, a small reinforcement for readers, and dinner‑volume calibrated so toasts carry without pressing conversation to the room’s edges. Lighting should honor the site’s scale—warm pools where people gather, gentle uplight on oaks, and a dance floor that keeps faces legible while allowing night to do some of the work.

4. Amenities, Weekend Rhythm & On‑Property Experiences

If a children’s hour is planned, the park lends itself to a small adventure: a docent‑led story near the Timucua village while parents enjoy a drink nearby, a brief look through the Planetarium, or a gentle scavenger hunt that returns everyone to the patio rewarded with lemonade and something sweet. The goal is not programming for its own sake but a continuity that lets adults and children share the same memory from different vantage points.

For wedding‑party mornings, a calm schedule yields the brightest photographs. Hair and makeup in a room with consistent natural light; attire steamed and ready before lunch; a first look timed to avoid the hottest hour; and a small plate and water for the couple just after vows so they arrive at dinner delighted rather than depleted.

Because the Fountain of Youth is both a landscape and a living museum, it supports a wedding weekend that feels layered rather than crowded. Mornings invite a quiet walk along the Riverwalk when the water is calm and the city is still; midday offers curiosity—Planetarium shows about the night sky of 1513, demonstrations by docents in the Timucua village, a pause at the Spring House to taste the sulfur‑laced water that has drawn travelers for generations; and late afternoon draws the party back to vistas where the marsh turns gold and the watchtower keeps its silhouette against a wide sky.

For families and friends extending their stay, the park’s location is forgiving. The historic district is a five‑minute drive for galleries and cafés; Anastasia State Park and St. Augustine Beach are just across the bridge; and nearby preserves promise shaded trails and views over the estuary. Children are delighted by peacocks and blacksmithing; elders appreciate level paths, benches with views, and the unhurried sequence of exhibits. Between scheduled events, guests feel guided without being managed—free to discover and yet always close to the center of things.

Small courtesies become the hallmarks of the weekend: welcome water at the ceremony approach; a sunscreen basket and hand fans that photograph as part of the décor; a late‑night pass of something warm and friendly just as music finds its last momentum. These details read as care, and later they become part of the way your guests tell the story of the evening.

On‑Site Highlights (Linked)

• Founders’ Riverwalk — 600‑ft walkway over Matanzas Bay and the inlet

• The Spring House — Coquina building encasing the historic spring

• Navigators’ Planetarium — Historic navigation show; night sky set to April 2, 1513

• Spanish Lookout (Watchtower) — Interpretive tower recalling early coastal defenses

• Peacocks in the Park — Flock of Indian peafowl noted for dramatic displays

5. Why Couples Choose the Park & Reviews

Out‑of‑town guests often remark that the weekend felt like a holiday stitched to a ceremony. They walked beneath oaks to a view of the bay, learned something of the city’s beginnings without being lectured, and danced under a sky that seemed to belong only to this gathering. The impression is of abundance without excess—beauty made comfortable and formality softened by place.

Couples planning from afar find that the venue and its partners speak the same language of clarity. Floor plans arrive with scale; suggested vendor lists reflect experience rather than obligation; and communication maintains a courteous tempo that makes decision‑making pleasant. In the last week, the plan feels complete enough that you can live inside it rather than manage it.

Couples choose the Fountain of Youth because the place itself participates in the ceremony. The river sits at a respectful distance like a guest who listens; oaks frame the aisle with the kind of composure that makes a processional feel inevitable; and after twilight, the boardwalk and patios feel as if the evening has set its own room under the sky. Practical comforts—nearby parking, intuitive paths, and flexible indoor‑outdoor arrangements—combine with the glamour of a waterfront outlook and the romance of St. Augustine’s storied past.

Guests speak warmly of staff who balance formality with ease, of kitchens and caterers that deliver dinner as dinner rather than merely service, and of planning teams who manage logistics so skillfully that the celebration feels authored rather than scheduled. Parents remember that elders were seated near toasts and first dances without feeling crowded; friends recall that photographs seemed to happen without interruption; and couples carry away a feeling that the day held both gravity and joy in equal, generous measure.

Selected Remarks (Linked)

• “The setting was breathtaking and unique, with the peacocks adding to the charm.” — WeddingWire

• “The Magnolia Room and patios gave us indoor comfort with an outdoor soul.” — The Knot Reviews

6. Heritage & Resources — History at the Water’s Edge

The park stands on ground associated with the earliest years of European settlement in what would become the United States, reflecting both Spanish ambitions and Timucua presence. Its exhibits explore the 1565 founding of St. Augustine, the lifeways of the native Seloy, and episodes that shaped the town—from early watchtowers to the 1586 raid by Sir Francis Drake. A walk along the Riverwalk makes the geography legible: the inlet and bay that framed the town’s fortunes; the Castillo’s profile to the south; and, nearby, the Mission grounds where the Great Cross marks centuries of devotion and endeavor.

Couples sometimes weave this heritage into the finer details of the celebration: a cartographic motif drawn from sixteenth‑century maps on escort cards; a reading that acknowledges the Timucua who first knew these shores; or a recessional timed so that the last notes of music coincide with the day’s softening light on the water. These gestures do not turn a wedding into a history lesson; rather, they allow the couple’s story to join a longer one with respect and grace.

Historical Notes & Exhibits (Linked)

• Weddings & Events — Venue Overview — 15 acres, waterfront views, peacocks, capacities

• Spanish Lookout — Watchtower — Interpretive tower and the 1586 Drake raid context

• Founders’ Riverwalk — 600‑foot observation walkway

• Mission Nombre de Dios (adjacent) — Shrine grounds and Great Cross beside the park

7. Photography & Videography — Light, Oaks & Water

Ask your photographer to walk the grounds during the site visit. Together you will mark three or four waypoints: a shaded arcade for portraits without squinting, an overlook on the boardwalk for the last five minutes of color, a corner near the watchtower where lanterns and timber yield handsome night frames. On the day, these choices become a confident route that avoids searching while guests wait.

If you value film, say so aloud. Request vows captured close and steady, toasts recorded from two angles so faces remain legible, and ten minutes reserved for blue‑hour footage while guests find their seats. Good teams welcome this guidance, and your edit will feel like memory rather than montage.

St. Augustine’s maritime light rewards careful timing. Morning casts a clear wash across the bay; late afternoon warms the marsh and turns live‑oak foliage luminous; and blue hour on the patios lends a soft saturation that flatters complexions and fabrics. A practical sequence begins with details in a quiet room, a first look beneath an arcade or along Magnolia Avenue, ceremony on a lawn oriented for sound and sight lines, and a ten‑minute detour to the Riverwalk just as the horizon keeps its last color. Night portraits near the watchtower or the Spring House let lantern light meet coquina textures in frames that age beautifully.

Videographers find the park generous with second angles—through doorways, across patios, from a corner of the deck—and with ambient sound that carries well without becoming insistent. Share priorities in advance: vows close and clear, toasts legible from two perspectives, and a brief window for blue‑hour footage that settles the mood of the edit. Teams familiar with the site will lead efficiently; teams new to St. Augustine will discover that the park reads like a well‑made film set in natural light.

Recommended Photo & Video (Linked)

• Sara Purdy Photography — Coastal weddings; Palm Coast/St. Augustine

• Life and Love Studio — Photography + video team; St. Augustine

• Brooke Images — Editorial storytelling; Jacksonville & Beaches

• Day Eight Studios — Photo + cinema; St. Augustine

• Orbit East Productions — Elan Nicol — Photography + videography; Northeast Florida & beyond

8. Local Attractions & Places of Interest

Publish two light itineraries on your website: a quiet circuit through gardens and preserves with lunch back at the bayfront, and a livelier route that threads museums, a lighthouse climb, and a concert at The AMP. Keep descriptions brief—three sentences and a link—so guests can decide in a glance and still be back on the patio as the sky begins to color.

When guests extend their stay, St. Augustine offers a rare blend of history, gardens, music, and beaches; the brief notes below make it easy to choose an outing and still return in time for the evening’s light.

Museums & Historic Sites (St. Augustine)

• Castillo de San Marcos (NPS) — 17th‑century coquina fortress on Matanzas Bay; essential history

• Lightner Museum — Gilded Age collections inside the former Alcazar Hotel

• Flagler College — Historic Tours — Spanish Renaissance campus with Tiffany glass

• St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum — 1870s lighthouse, museum, and panoramic views

• Colonial Quarter — Living history, exhibits, and performances

Gardens, Parks & Preserves

• Mission Nombre de Dios & Great Cross — Pilgrimage grounds and 208‑ft Great Cross beside the park

• Anastasia State Park — Beaches, dunes, and tidal estuary trails

• Washington Oaks Gardens State Park — Formal gardens and coquina‑rock shoreline

• Princess Place Preserve — Trails, estuary views, historic lodge

Music & Theatre

• St. Augustine Amphitheatre (The AMP) — National touring acts beneath the oaks

• Ponte Vedra Concert Hall — Intimate venue for live music and lectures

• Florida Theatre (Jacksonville) — 1927 movie palace with concerts and comedy

Beaches & Nature

• St. Augustine Beach — Wide Atlantic beach with fishing pier

• Vilano Beach — Sunrise views and coquina sands just across the inlet

• GTM Research Reserve — Nature trails, kayak launches, and educational center

• Flagler Beach & Pier — Quintessential surf town and scenic pier

Unique Outings

• Founders’ Riverwalk (on‑site) — 600‑ft observation boardwalk with views of bay and inlet

• Navigators’ Planetarium (on‑site) — Historic navigation show; night sky circa 1513

• Marineland Dolphin Adventure — Historic oceanarium with educational encounters

• European Village (Palm Coast) — Courtyard of cafés and boutiques

9. Accommodations & Room Blocks

Rooming lists benefit from the same courtesy as seating charts. Gather elevator preferences, crib requests, and terrace wishes early; two weeks before arrival, send a consolidated note to each property and copy your planner. The payoff is visible at check‑in, when names are known and small comforts appear as if by instinct.

A welcome placed in each room can be modest and memorable: local citrus, sunscreen and aloe, a map marked with morning walks, and a handwritten card thanking each guest for making the trip. These gestures set the tone before the first glass is lifted.

Because the park sits within a mile of the historic district, lodging options span walkable inns and modern hotels. Couples typically hold a small block near the bayfront for elders who appreciate proximity and quiet, and a second block closer to dining and nightlife for friends who will linger after events. A dedicated reservations link on your wedding website simplifies questions in the final month; two weeks before arrival, a courteous reminder nudges anyone who meant to book but didn’t.

For rooming lists, note simple preferences—elevator adjacency, cribs, early check‑in for hair and makeup—and send a consolidated note to each property. The result is smooth arrivals on the rehearsal day, and an equally smooth departure after farewell brunch.

Suggested Lodging (Linked)

• Bayfront Marin House — Historic inn on the bayfront; adult‑oriented

• Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront — Walkable to Castillo and downtown

• Casa Monica Resort & Spa — Gilded‑Age landmark hotel in the plaza district

• Marker 8 Hotel & Marina — Boutique option over the Bridge of Lions

• Hampton Inn St. Augustine Vilano Beach — Quiet beach neighborhood just across the inlet

10. Culinary, Cakes & Desserts

Consider a dessert table that reads as a miniature landscape—tiers for ceremony, petite sweets for choice, and a delicate non‑dairy option for kindness. If a late‑night bite appears, make it friendly to hands and conversation: warm biscuits with country ham, a crisp bite of something savory, and water offered where dancing is strongest.

Evening menus here read best when they borrow lightly from the coast—bright citrus against seafood, a cool herb on late‑summer vegetables, a short course that gives the dance floor back its momentum. Tasting appointments should confirm pacing (plated, stations, or family‑style) and signature drinks that nod to St. Augustine without demanding bartending acrobatics. A late‑night pass might reprise a coastal note—miniature crab cakes with a crisp edge—or offer a regional favorite that travels well to the dance floor.

Dessert can be both ceremony and generosity: a classic tier for the slice and photographs, supported by a cordial table of small sweets that reach every palate. If dietary preferences are in play, hand a clear list to your planner; good kitchens steer plates with discretion, and what guests notice is not restriction but ease.

Recommended Wedding Cakes & Desserts (Linked)

• Sweet Weddings Cake Designs — Custom tiers and dessert displays; St. Augustine tastings

• Luli’s Cupcakes — Boutique sweets; wedding tastings by appointment

• Publix Bakery (Regional) — Customizable wedding cakes with local pickup

11. Wedding Planners & Coordination

Choose a planning model that matches temperament. Full service suits couples who want a single creative and logistical mind shaping the whole; partial planning rewards families who enjoy sourcing but prefer professional synthesis; month‑of coordination is ideal when the design is set and the gift you most want is to be present on the day.

A polished celebration feels effortless because many hands are working in the same rhythm. Full‑service planners and month‑of coordinators familiar with the Fountain of Youth align design, logistics, and vendor timing so that the evening reads as a single composition. Early site tours set priorities; mid‑course design reviews settle palette and floor plans; and the final walkthrough fixes deliveries, power, cue sheets, and the rain plan in one calm document.

On the day, information moves through a single point of contact, and choices are framed against decisions already made with care. The result is a room that feels purposeful and relaxed—the very mood you hope to offer your guests—and photographs that reflect it.

Recommended Planners & Coordinators (Linked)

• Coastal Coordinating — Planning + design across the region

• The Eventful Gals — Full‑service planning; St. Augustine & destination

• Uncorked Occasions — Planning + production; St. Augustine

• The Wedding Authority — Historic district coordination; permits & logistics

12. Entertainment & Music

Bands do well when they build the night in chapters: an acoustic subset for cocktails, a small ensemble for dinner that honors conversation, and the full lineup for the last two hours. DJs thrive with a concise set of must‑plays and gentle no‑thank‑yous, then the freedom to read the floor. In either case, close with three songs that gather everyone without shouting—joy travels farther when it is invited rather than urged.

Live music suits these grounds: a string duo that lends formality to the aisle; a trio for cocktails drawing a circle of conversation; and a band or polished DJ that carries the room through the final set. The patios become a natural anteroom for guests who like to step out between songs; the lawn reads as an extension of the dance floor when lanterns begin to glow. For DJ‑forward evenings, a confident MC and well‑tuned reinforcement ensure that toasts are legible and that sound falls gracefully toward the tables so conversation remains possible at the margins.

As you build the arc of the night, begin with familiar standards that bring generations to the same floor, follow with the couple’s favorites, and close with a trio that releases the room gently toward shuttles and the soft noise of the bay. If an encore appears, let it be brief and joyful—the ending should feel like a benediction rather than a contest with the clock.

Bands, Ensembles & DJs (Linked)

• Bay Kings Band — Customizable 3–14 piece band

• The Chris Thomas Band — Jazz/pop/show band; Jacksonville‑based

• Bold City Classics — High‑energy covers with horns

• RiverTown Band — Motown‑to‑modern show band

• McGee Entertainment — DJ teams & production

• Island Sound — Polished DJ/MCs; enhancements

13. Florals, Décor & Lighting

Palette can be lifted straight from the grounds: the pale limestone of coquina, the green of palmetto, the quiet pink of shell, the evening amber of candle through glass. Against these notes, white looks brighter and black tie looks classic without severity. Keep flowers at conversation height and let light do a portion of the work—good rooms are made as much by shadow as by color.

With water and oaks already present, floral and lighting plans should complement rather than compete. Garden‑style arrangements feel at home on the terrace; airy compotes and low candles keep tables inviting; and layered ambient lighting—market strands in the oaks, subtle pin spots for the cake, a warm field for the first dance—preserves depth in photographs. Repurposing ceremony pieces for the reception is both practical and elegant when planned in advance: aisle flowers become entry pieces; the arch finds a second life behind the band; loose stems appear at powder rooms and bars.

Design notes that reward attention: preserve sight lines so toasts feel shared; choose candle forms that read cleanly in images; orient the head table for an unhindered view of speeches and the first dance; and light the cake as if it were a small stage. The room will look considered, and the evening will move with a coherence guests feel even if they cannot name it.

Florists & Event Design (Linked)

• Rachael Kasie Designs — Daytona Beach; romantic coastal designs

• Ancient City Florist — St. Augustine mainstay

• Jade Violet Wedding & Event Floral Boutique — Tailored event florals; regional deliveries

• The Flower Studio (St. Augustine) — Local studio serving historic district

14. Seasons, Weather & Contingencies

For summer dates, shade and hydration become part of design—parasols that photograph like a motif, hand fans lettered with a poem or reading, citrus water that finds its way into hands rather than waiting on a table. In winter, a heater at the patio’s edge keeps the river a companion rather than a distance; a basket of wraps in a calm neutral becomes a kindness that shows in pictures.

St. Augustine enjoys long springs and autumns, with summers marked by warm afternoon showers that often move quickly offshore. Ocean‑facing ceremonies benefit from a late‑afternoon start for gentler breezes and forgiving light; winter dates are mild and photogenic in the early evening. Decide on a secondary plan early—adjacent patios, a reserved tent, or an indoor transition—and describe it in writing so that any change feels like an elegant alternative, not an improvisation.

Guests appreciate simple counsel: a note about footwear for lawns and decking, a suggestion to bring a wrap for evening breezes, and a reminder that sound carries differently by the water. Parasols and fans can become part of the visual motif; heaters placed thoughtfully extend patio comfort in cooler months. Insurance, permits, and hold‑backs are not glamorous, but they are the bones of calm; review them once, file them, and return your attention to the joyful work of hospitality.

15. Communication & Contact Information

Subject lines that begin with date and event (for example, “04.26 Ceremony—final counts & rain plan”) help teams find documents quickly; one spreadsheet for contacts and deliveries minimizes crossed signals. In the last week, the aim is not to manage but to enjoy; good paperwork is an invisible design element that makes all the visible ones shine.

Include essentials on your website and printed suite: the venue name and address, a link to your custom booking page, a weekend timeline with attire notes, transport tips from nearby airports, and a simple map that orients guests to ceremony, dinner, and farewell brunch. If families are hosting portions of the weekend, share only the relevant pages for each event to keep responsibilities clear and goodwill high.

When corresponding with the venue, begin with a brief that sketches your vision—ceremony site and time, approximate count, service style, whether you plan to incorporate a tent—and copy your planner so design, rentals, and timeline evolve together. A single consolidated document will serve better than a gallery of messages; in the final week you will consult it for counts, cue times, and contact numbers rather than hunt for threads.

Venue Contacts (Linked)

• Venue — Weddings & Events — Overview, inquiry, and details

• Event Office — Phone — 904‑342‑8388 (weddings/events)

• Event Office — Email — foyevents@gmail.com

• Main Office — Phone — 904‑829‑3168 (general)

• Address — 11 Magnolia Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084 — Driving and hours

16. Transportation & Weekend Logistics

Wayfinding is a form of welcome. Small signs that match your paper suite, candles set where the path bends, and a staff member stationed at a natural pause point all work together so guests feel expertly guided without noticing the guide. It is the difference between attending an event and being cared for by one.

Jacksonville International (JAX) and Daytona Beach International (DAB) are the most convenient commercial gateways; Orlando International (MCO) offers a broader set of flights at a longer, straightforward drive. For the weekend itself, publish a shuttle schedule and a rideshare drop‑pin on your website; at the venue, align with staff so greeters guide rather than direct. If your evening includes a staged exit, coordinate with valet and your planner so the couple’s car stands clear and the route to the gate is well lit.

For guest movement between hotels and the park, minibuses on a simple loop keep wait times short; for late‑night returns, two scheduled departures—one soon after last dance, one ten minutes later—collect farewells without rushing anyone.

Transportation Partners (Linked)

• East Coast Transportation — Sedans, vans, minibuses, and coaches

• Dana’s Limousine & Transportation — Limousines, shuttles, and coaches

• Elegant Limousines — Coastal wedding transportation

• Price4Limo (Aggregator) — Options for limos and group shuttles

Appendix — Master Vendor Directory (Linked)

Photo & Video

• Sara Purdy Photography — Coastal weddings; Palm Coast/St. Augustine

• Life and Love Studio — Photography + video team; St. Augustine

• Brooke Images — Editorial storytelling; Jacksonville & Beaches

• Day Eight Studios — Photo + cinema; St. Augustine

• Orbit East Productions — Elan Nicol — Photography + videography; Northeast Florida & beyond

Planners & Coordination

• Coastal Coordinating — Planning + design across the region

• The Eventful Gals — Full‑service planning; St. Augustine & destination

• Uncorked Occasions — Planning + production; St. Augustine

• The Wedding Authority — Historic district coordination; permits & logistics

Rentals, Décor & Lighting

• EventWorks — Full‑service rentals; Jacksonville showroom

• Curated Events — Tents, tabletops, lounge collections

• Mugwump Productions — Event design, rentals & lighting

• St. Johns Illuminations — String lights, uplighting, chandeliers

Cakes & Desserts

• Sweet Weddings Cake Designs — Custom tiers and dessert displays; St. Augustine tastings

• Luli’s Cupcakes — Boutique sweets; wedding tastings by appointment

• Publix Bakery (Regional) — Customizable wedding cakes with local pickup

Music — Bands & DJs

• Bay Kings Band — Customizable 3–14 piece band

• The Chris Thomas Band — Jazz/pop/show band; Jacksonville‑based

• Bold City Classics — High‑energy covers with horns

• RiverTown Band — Motown‑to‑modern show band

• McGee Entertainment — DJ teams & production

• Island Sound — Polished DJ/MCs; enhancements

Florals & Event Design

• Rachael Kasie Designs — Daytona Beach; romantic coastal designs

• Ancient City Florist — St. Augustine mainstay

• Jade Violet Wedding & Event Floral Boutique — Tailored event florals; regional deliveries

• The Flower Studio (St. Augustine) — Local studio serving historic district

Transportation

• East Coast Transportation — Sedans, vans, minibuses, and coaches

• Dana’s Limousine & Transportation — Limousines, shuttles, and coaches

• Elegant Limousines — Coastal wedding transportation

• Price4Limo (Aggregator) — Options for limos and group shuttles

On‑Site Highlights

• Founders’ Riverwalk — 600‑ft walkway over Matanzas Bay and the inlet

• The Spring House — Coquina building encasing the historic spring

• Navigators’ Planetarium — Historic navigation show; night sky set to April 2, 1513

• Spanish Lookout (Watchtower) — Interpretive tower recalling early coastal defenses

• Peacocks in the Park — Flock of Indian peafowl noted for dramatic displays