The Club Continental — Wedding Manuscript

1. Estate Introduction & History

Set above a high bank of the St. Johns beneath sheltering oaks, The Club Continental receives its guests with the unhurried courtesy of a river house that has known gatherings for more than a century. Built in 1923 as Mira Rio, the winter home of Caleb Johnson—son of B. J. Johnson of Palmolive—the estate turned, in time, from private residence to private club so that its rooms and lawns could continue in their intended use: a place for people to meet, dine, and celebrate without hurry. Photographs from the early years show masquerade balls and winter parties, equestrian meets and afternoons on the water; the present inherits the same spirit, exchanging only the costumes and the automobiles while keeping the proportions and the view.

Today the property remains a small resort and club with twenty‑two guest rooms, three pools, seven tennis courts, and gardens tended with the same attentiveness that first gave the house its poise. The rooms of the mansion are arranged with an instinct for conversation; the terraces extend the evening; and the river, always visible, provides a steady horizon that seems to order the day.

Visitors often remark on the sense of proportion that governs the house and its grounds. The river runs broad and deliberate at this bend, and the mansion, set a little back from the edge, seems to acknowledge that pace. Rooms are neither vast nor cramped; ceilings receive chandeliers without making a ceremony of them; windows are tall enough to admit the afternoon yet framed so that the light is tempered. A family once lived here as if the house were a kind instrument, and when a wedding restores that scale—children crossing a hall hand in hand, grandparents seated where conversation can find them—the building functions as it was designed to do.

Because the estate grew from a private residence rather than a commercial hall, there is an ease in the way one moves through it. Guests arrive without fanfare, pass beneath the oaks, and find themselves on a terrace where a river breeze rises and the first glasses are poured. Later, doors open to rooms that feel not unlike those of a gracious home—a library by another name, a drawing room with better dancing floors—and the evening proceeds as a sequence of familiar comforts rather than a program of effects.

Those who plan a full weekend discover that the house accommodates arrivals and departures. A welcome supper on the terrace allows travelers to fall into step with the river’s tempo; a quiet brunch the morning after gives everyone a last view and an orderly farewell. The staff, practiced in these cadences, set the tables as if for a private household and keep a benevolent watch so that what needs doing is done without being announced.

2. Overview Estate & Architectural Grandeur

The architecture is Mediterranean Revival, the Florida expression of a style that flourished in the 1920s resort era. Stucco walls and terra‑cotta tiles, arched arcades and ironwork, marble floors that keep their cool in summer and welcome the play of candlelight after dusk—these are joined by sheltered loggias and broad terraces so that one passes easily from room to garden and back again. The house reads as formal without stiffness, and the sequence of spaces allows a wedding day to unfold in clear chapters: vows under the open sky, a reception that begins with river air, and dinner that settles into the rooms with music.

Florida’s interpretation of the Mediterranean Revival was never a literal borrowing, and that is part of its charm. The style gathered ideas from Spain and Italy and then adapted them to heat, sunlight, and a landscape that opens toward water. You see it here in the weight of stucco that keeps rooms cool; in the curve of an arcade that softens glare; in iron that is decorative when you notice it and invisible when you do not. The intention is not to mimic a villa abroad but to make one suited to this river, these trees, and this light.

The interiors are arranged with a particular understanding of hospitality. Floors are smooth enough for movement but substantial enough to quiet a footfall; thresholds frame a view without breaking it; and furnishings, when set with care, hold conversation at a comfortable distance. Even a large party feels situated rather than adrift. Musicians have corners where sound can bloom without overtaking the table, and photographers will find vantage points that are generous yet unobtrusive. In this way the architecture serves the social life it shelters.

Materials matter in a climate like this, and the building’s choices have proved sound. The plaster holds its line in humidity; doors swing true; and the tile, warmed by afternoon sun, gives back a little comfort beneath the feet at night. Where the hand falls—on a rail, a latch, a chair—there is the small satisfaction of something well made. It is a quiet luxury that accumulates by degrees.

3. Ceremony & Reception Spaces

The river lawn beneath the great live oak is the natural theater for ceremonies, set to a long line of water and sky. Smaller parties may prefer the formality of the garden and fountain court, which frames a central aisle and lends a tranquil scale to vows and readings. Receptions gather in the mansion and on the terraces, where polished floors, arched openings, and generous doors allow the evening to retain its ease while service moves with quiet order.

Couples who marry beneath the great live oak notice that the river provides a constant backdrop. Its surface holds the color of the hour—pale in morning, bright at the ceremony, then silvering at dusk—and because the lawn is slightly elevated, the view carries. The tree gathers a congregation into shade, and breezes move through it gently. The aisle is long enough to be ceremonial and short enough to keep the company near; vows spoken here travel cleanly without amplification when the day is still.

Receptions in the mansion reward an unhurried sequence. A first hour on the terrace allows guests to arrive in stages; doors to the dining spaces can be opened at once or in progression; and a band set with intention will turn dinner into dancing with only a change of tempo. Stewards know the house and the timing of it—when to refill a candle, when to carry a tray past the steps, when to pause a course so a toast can find its attentive moment. The evening develops as if it had been rehearsed for civility rather than spectacle.

A sensible rain plan can be arranged without changing the character of the day. The arcades receive seated guests more gracefully than a tent when the rain is passing; interior rooms catch candlelight and preserve the formality of a processional; and musicians can shift by a few yards and keep their balance. Because the paths between these places are short and covered, the transition reads as intentional rather than improvised.

Recommended Rentals, Décor & Lighting

• PRI Productions — Event design, staging & lighting

• All About Events — Tents, tables, chairs & tabletop

• Beachview Event Rentals & Design — Sailcloth/structure tents & lounges

• St. Johns Illuminations — String lights & uplighting

4. Amenities & Services

As a club as well as an inn, the property provides comforts that lend themselves to a full weekend: three outdoor pools with a seasonal cabana for midday refreshments; seven tennis courts under the trees for a morning match; lawns and paths for photographs; and interior rooms set aside for preparations and a quiet word with family. Breakfast for overnight guests begins the day with simplicity; the culinary team plans menus to suit the season; and service is paced so that toasts and music keep their proper place.

On the morning of a wedding the property keeps a kindly order. Breakfast begins the day without hurry; a walk under the trees settles nerves; and the inn rooms provide space enough for hair, flowers, and quiet conversation. Pools and courts are there for those who would like to shake off a little energy, yet the grounds remain composed, more garden than resort. When the hour draws near, the staff folds these diversions away so that the house resumes its formal aspect and guests encounter it as a place made ready.

Service follows the season and the ingredients at hand. Spring favors herbs and young vegetables; summer asks for cool plates and a light hand with spice; autumn invites richer sauces; and winter rewards a well‑timed soup and the comfort of warm bread. The bar observes the same respect for balance—citrus where it belongs, a sprig of mint when it is fresh enough to earn its keep, sparkling water from bottles that are kept cold rather than merely cool.

The property’s scale also suits accessibility. Paths are navigable, restrooms are near the principal rooms, and seating can be arranged so that those who need a quiet exit may find it easily. Dietary considerations—gluten‑free, vegetarian, child‑friendly plates—are met without fanfare. The impression is of a place that has welcomed many parties and learned, from experience, how to accommodate them without turning the evening into a demonstration of its own efficiency.

Property Amenities (At‑a‑Glance)

• Event Contact — Carla Sparks — Special Events: (904) 264‑6070 x113 • carla@clubcontinental.com

• Elopement Package — Simple, elegant riverfront ceremonies

• Meeting & Banquet Rooms — Historic rooms with Great Gatsby ambiance

• Historic Mansion & Riverfront Lawns — Ceremony under a 300‑year‑old live oak; receptions indoors

• Complimentary Breakfast (Inn Guests) — Daily breakfast included with your stay

• Club Continental Restaurant — Fine dining; Sunday brunch for members

• Seven Tennis Courts — On‑site courts amidst oak canopies

• Three Outdoor Pools — Main, riverside & cabana‑adjacent pool areas

• Club Continental Amenities — Overview of pools, tennis, dining & member programming

 

5. Why Couples Choose the Estate & Reviews

Couples are drawn to The Club Continental for the beauty of the setting and the way the rooms and gardens seem to complement the celebration rather than compete with it. Guests remark upon the view that reveals itself from almost every vantage, the soundness of the floors for dancing, and the terraces that receive the evening air without a draft. The staff’s familiarity with the house allows them to manage timing and transitions without spectacle, leaving the couple free to enjoy their company.

Couples who have married here often speak, afterward, of the way the day held together. They remember the look of the river through the windows when they first entered the room as husband and wife; the agreeable quiet that settled during the toasts; the manner in which the dance floor appeared to rise to meet the first song. These are not accidents. The staff have learned how to give time its shape without calling attention to the work, and the house, by its nature, prefers clarity to fuss. It suits a wedding because it suits good company.

Families notice small mercies. Grandparents find chairs that are near enough to see and far enough to hear; children discover places where they may be delighted without being in the way; friends who have not met before find themselves talking as if they had. The setting encourages these things. It is gracious without pride, and it allows a private happiness to become, for a few measured hours, a public joy.

Reviews from guests tend to single out two things that are otherwise hard to manufacture: the civility of the service and the beauty of the setting. The first keeps the day from developing sharp edges; the second lets it gather memory. People remember the crack of ice at the bar just before cocktails, the exact color of the river at the moment a couple entered the room, the weight of a napkin folded once across the lap. These are small instances of care that add up to a wedding that feels like itself.

Selected Praise (Guests & Media)

• “We didn’t have to decorate much due to the beauty of the venue.” — WeddingWire reviewer (Oct 2024) [source]

• “The property was perfect and beautiful… the staff was attentive, professional and kind.” — WeddingWire reviewer (Mar 2023) [source]

• “Several guests said the food was the best they had at any wedding.” — WeddingWire reviewer [source]

• “We had a blast dancing with all of our guests… it couldn’t have been a more perfect day.” — The Knot Real Wedding couple [source]

• “Rooms are beautiful and the view—wow. Staff all around was amazing.” — Yelp reviewer [source]

• “Timeless, elegant, and romantic, with a private, secluded feel.” — Zola reviewer [source]

• “It’s elegant like the 1920s; the grounds are absolutely stunning.” — r/Jacksonville commenter [source]

6. Exclusivity, Heritage & Notable Moments

Arrangements here are handled with sophisticated attention: a first look set in a quiet corner of the garden; a ceremony timed to meet the river at a kindly hour; an entrance that takes the room just as candlelight begins. The estate’s lineage ties directly to the Johnson family of Palmolive, and period accounts recall a lively social calendar along this stretch of river, including friendly rivalry with the duPonts at Epping Forest across the water. Through the decades that followed, charitable evenings, community gatherings, and military events have kept the rooms in steady use, giving the staff a sure hand with occasions of consequence.

It is pleasant to know that the gaiety of the 1920s did not vanish when fashions changed, but matured into the kind of sociability a club sustains. Photographs from the first decades show flotillas on the river, carriages at the edge of the lawn, and evenings when the windows glowed against a winter sky. Later, bridge luncheons, charitable assemblies, and military dinners kept the house in use. The names of certain guests have slipped into local history, but what remains is the steady habit of welcoming people well and sending them home content.

Those planning a wedding with a foot in tradition and another in the present will find the place sympathetic. It is formal enough for white tie if that is your inclination and relaxed enough to make sense of linen suits and floral dresses. The grounds produce photographs that feel like themselves rather than a set, and the rooms put people at ease. If that balance reads as old‑fashioned, it does so in the best sense of the term.

That continuity of attention from one generation to the next is what gives the club its present ease. A place accustomed to hospitality reflects practiced hospitality: doors are opened at the right moment; the flicker of a candle is corrected before anyone notices; and the line of a procession is allowed to gather itself without fidget. The history lends dignity, but the daily practice is what makes the house trustworthy.

Heritage & Resources

• Club Continental — History

• An Extended History of Mira Rio / Club Continental

• News4JAX feature: A Venue with a Legacy

• Explore Clay County — Historical overview

7. Photography Aesthetic & Photo‑Videographers

The property photographs generously throughout the day. The river lawn offers open shade and a clean horizon; the colonnades filter light so faces remain even and fabric reads clearly; and the terraces hold the colors of dusk without glare. Interiors gather candlelight and preserve detail for portraits, speeches, and a late‑evening dance.

Photographers rely upon dependable light and intelligible backgrounds, both of which are in good supply. The river gives depth without distraction; the oaks provide a canopy that softens lines; and the stucco and stone receive sunlight without turning harsh. Indoors, the color of the walls and the placement of windows mean that candlelight is not merely decorative but useful. Faces remain legible, fabrics keep their texture, and the tone of the room holds together from the first toast to the last dance.

Couples who prefer a mixture of posed portraits and the unguarded moment will find it easy to arrange both. There are quiet corners suitable for formal pictures and open spaces where movement reads naturally. A first look staged on the garden path preserves privacy; a processional framed by the arcade achieves a gentle drama; and the terraces offer a reliable blue hour that flatters everyone.

Those who favor film will find exposures generous at the hour before dusk, while digital work profits from the even values under the trees. The staff’s familiarity with photographers’ needs—brief access to a balcony, a moment to clear a doorway—saves minutes that are better spent with family. A short list of portrait locations shared in advance keeps the party moving and the schedule untroubled.

Recommended Photo & Video

• Agnes Lopez Photography — Fashion‑forward portraits + documentary

• Tonya Beaver Photography — True‑to‑color storytelling

• Brooke Images — Wedding & lifestyle photography

• Sarahdipity Photos — Natural‑light wedding photography

• Fox & Film Photo — Editorial wedding imagery

• Elan Nicol Film & Photo / Orbit East Productions — Photo & film teams

• Take One Productions — Videography

• K2 Media — Photo/Video

• Richard Fleming Photography

• J. Mosley Photography

• Jenn Guthrie Photography

• Appleseed Photography

 

8. Local Attractions & Cultural Enrichment

Orange Park sits within easy reach of Jacksonville and St. Augustine, which allows wedding guests to disperse for a morning gallery visit, an afternoon at the beach, or an evening performance, and return in time for cocktails. Couples often share a short list of suggestions on their website so travelers can plan an hour or a day around the festivities.

Guests who stay the weekend will discover that the surrounding region provides a pleasant variety of occupations. A morning at the Cummer’s riverfront gardens offers calm to those who like paintings and shade; the Florida Theatre keeps a program of concerts and films in a hall whose ornament remains a joy; and a short drive south leads to the old defenses of St. Augustine, where the stone keeps its cool and the breeze comes off the bay. Those devoted to the beach can choose among several strands, each with its character—broad and social at Jacksonville Beach, quiet and shell‑spangled at Mickler’s Landing, spare and handsome among the bleached trees of Boneyard.

In the spaces between, there are parks, springs, and trails that make a useful counterpoint to ceremony. An hour outdoors has a way of clearing the head before a rehearsal dinner, and a museum visit can give early arrivals just enough occupation before they join the party. The club’s staff can advise on timing and directions; it is a kindness to include a few suggestions with your invitation or on a wedding website.

Guests curious about neighborhoods will enjoy a short excursion to San Marco for bookshops and cafés, or to Avondale and Riverside for a walk among shaded streets and independent stores. If a party includes children, the science museum’s hands‑on exhibits and the open lawns beside the river make an agreeable afternoon. Those with an appetite for the open coast will find that even in busy seasons there is always a stretch of sand where the wind speaks more softly than the crowd.

Museums & Gardens (Jacksonville)

• Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens — Riverfront art museum with formal gardens

• MOCA Jacksonville — Downtown contemporary art museum

• MOSH — Museum of Science & History — Science & local history museum with planetarium

Music & Theatre

• Thrasher‑Horne Center (Orange Park) — Performing arts venue in Orange Park

• Florida Theatre (Downtown Jax) — Historic 1927 theatre for concerts and films

• Ponte Vedra Concert Hall — Intimate coastal music venue

• St. Augustine Amphitheatre (The AMP) — Open‑air amphitheatre in Anastasia State Park

History & Landmarks

• Clarke House Park (Historic Homestead) — Historic homestead with shaded grounds and playground

• Spring Park & City Pool (Green Cove Springs) — Riverfront park with spring‑fed public pool

• Camp Blanding Museum & Memorial Park — Military history museum and memorial park

• Castillo de San Marcos (NPS) — 17th‑century Spanish coquina fort in St. Augustine

• Fort Matanzas (NPS) — 18th‑century Spanish watchtower fort; ferry access

Beaches & Nature

• Jacksonville Beach — Wide public beach with dining and pier nearby

• Mickler’s Landing — Ponte Vedra — Coquina‑tinted sand, shelling, and sunrise views

• GTM Research Reserve — Trails, estuary overlooks, and an education center

• Big Talbot Island / Boneyard Beach — Wild shoreline with driftwood “boneyard”

• Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park — Wooded park with lake, trails, campground, and surf

Signature Seasonal Moments

• St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights — Holiday light display mid‑November through January

• bestbet Orange Park (poker & simulcast) — Cardroom and simulcast entertainment

9. Accommodations

The inn offers twenty‑two guest rooms, several within the mansion itself and others in riverfront buildings nearby, with breakfast included. For larger parties or overflow, nearby hotels in Orange Park and South Jacksonville provide additional rooms under familiar brands.

The inn’s rooms suit a wedding party because they keep everyone close without making a crowd of it. Doors open to porches where a cousin may look in without intruding; stairways deliver a bride to a landing where a photographer can do good work; and windows give onto the river so that even a short rest feels like part of the day. Those who prefer a familiar hotel brand will find several within a short drive, and it is sensible to reserve a block early in the season you favor.

Room assignments benefit from a little thought. Older relatives appreciate ground‑floor convenience; friends who expect a late night may be happier together in the building nearest the terrace; families with children like a room near the pools for the following morning. A short note with check‑in details and a simple map accomplish more than a complicated itinerary.

On‑Site Lodging (22 Rooms)

• The Club Continental Inn — Rooms & Suites

Nearby Hotels (Orange Park & South Jacksonville)

• Courtyard Jacksonville Orange Park

• Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville Orange Park

• Hampton Inn & Suites Jacksonville/Orange Park

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Jacksonville Orange Park

• Holiday Inn & Suites Orange Park – Wells Rd.

10. Culinary Excellence, Wedding Cakes & Bakeries

Menus are planned with the rhythm of the evening in mind. Hors d’oeuvres travel easily during the first hour; a plated or station dinner can be timed around toasts and the first dances; and a late‑night bite carries the celebration without fatigue. For cakes and sweets, the following bakeries are capable and well regarded.

A wedding supper wants coherence more than novelty. A menu that moves from a crisp beginning to a comfortable center and then to a graceful finish will be remembered with pleasure long after the particulars have faded. Seasonal ingredients carry the effort without strain: tomatoes and herbs at summer’s height, local fish when it is at its best, greens that have known a cold night, and desserts that taste of fruit rather than only of sugar. Coffee served hot and without delay is a courtesy; a tray of something savory near midnight is a kindness.

The cake is often the last formal gesture before the evening gives itself entirely to dancing. Whether you choose a tall construction ornamented with flowers or a smaller confection surrounded by a table of sweets, select bakers who understand transport and timing. A cake that arrives as composed as it left the kitchen is a quiet triumph.

The beverage program repays a little forethought. A classic cocktail offered in a modest glass before dinner sets a civilized note; wines chosen for balance rather than rarity please a broad company; and a non‑alcoholic option with as much care as the rest invites every guest to feel included. Cake cutting can be placed either just after the main course—so dessert follows naturally—or later, as a gentle prelude to the liveliest part of the dancing.

Recommended Wedding Cakes & Desserts

• Cinotti’s Bakery — Classic tiers & dessert tables

• Crème de la Cocoa — Boutique cakes & sweets

• Publix Wedding Cakes — Reliable, customizable designs

• Alleycakes — Cakes, desserts, dessert bars

• Publix Wedding Cakes

• Kakes by Katie

 

11. Wedding Planners & Coordination

A professional planner or a month‑of coordinator keeps the day moving in a calm sequence so the couple can remain with their guests. The teams below are familiar with North Florida venues and have a practiced hand with timelines and floor plans.

The craft of planning is mostly the art of removing obstacles before anyone meets them. A good planner keeps the day in scale, protects the couple from decisions that do not require their attention, and conducts the room with a light hand. Timeline, floor plan, and service cues are settled in advance; questions from vendors find their answers without detouring through the head table; and a brief delay looks, to the guests, like an intended pause rather than a difficulty.

Month‑of coordination is wise even for those who enjoy the arrangements themselves. It is a small investment that returns the day to those who are meant to own it. The professionals listed here are capable of steering either the whole venture or the last leg of it; their experience shows in the way they seat a speech, stage a first dance, and see that a parent has the right view of the most important moments.

A practical timeline looks like this: invitations to vendors six to twelve months ahead; a design meeting when the season’s flowers and ingredients are known; a floor plan confirmed a fortnight out; and a final call in the week of the wedding to address weather, transportation, and any last accommodations for family. Written confirmations spare the memory and let everyone carry only what is needed in the moment.

Wedding Planners & Coordination (Recommended)

• Dairing Events — Full‑service planning and design

• Southern Charm Events — Planning & coordination

• Coastal Coordinating — Destination‑savvy team

• Bustled Wedding Planning — Marketplace & coordination

• Flaire Events — Club‑preferred planner

12. Wedding Bands & Entertainment

The mansion and the adjoining terraces support either a full band or a polished DJ without compromising conversation. Power and load paths are straightforward, and lighting positions allow the mood to shift naturally from dinner to dancing.

Music profits from rooms that respect it, and these do. A string trio can make itself heard before dinner without crowding the conversation; later, a band with a proper horn section will set a rhythm that draws people naturally to the floor. If you favor a DJ, select one who reads a room and tends to levels rather than merely playlists. Lighting should begin as an accent, grow warmer through the meal, and concede the stage to the dance without turning the space unrecognizable.

Consider a brief interlude between courses for a toast, and leave a little air before the first dance so that those who wish to watch may do so. A well‑timed second set keeps the evening’s middle from sagging; a final number that invites the room to sing is an old trick that works as well as ever.

Set lists benefit from a considered arc—something bright to draw the room, a center of songs that invite even the diffident to the floor, and a closing number that feels like a farewell rather than a dismissal. Sound checks done while the room is being laid help keep levels civil; a word with the bandleader or DJ about the couple’s older relatives establishes a volume that keeps merriment from becoming fatigue.

Wedding Bands & Entertainment (Recommended)

• The Band Be Easy — High‑energy, multi‑genre band

• Bold City Classics — Retro‑modern horn band

• Bay Kings Band — Live band (custom lineups)

• DJ Jacob Towe — DJ + lighting production

• DJ E.L. – Party Solution Entertainment — Wedding DJ/MC

• Footloose Entertainment — Club‑preferred DJ

• Island Sound — Club‑preferred DJ

• Jacksonville Strings — Ceremony strings & ensembles

• Music By Deron Baker — Organist/Pianist; ceremony music

 

13. Florists & Botanical Design

Floral compositions that acknowledge the river and the scale of the rooms feel most at home here. Arches and ceremony frames that sit lightly against water and sky, bouquets with a little reach, and reception pieces that preserve sightlines will read as timeless in this setting.

Flowers do their best work when they appear to have been chosen rather than contrived. The river suggests looseness without disorder: garden roses with herb and vine, arrangements that admit a little negative space, and colors that reflect the hour. A ceremony frame should belong to the place rather than conquer it; on the tables, pieces scaled to preserve sightlines leave room for conversation and for the small business of passing bread and wine.

Summer asks for restraint so fragrance does not overwhelm a warm night; winter, with its earlier dusk, welcomes candlelight handled steadily—hurricanes outdoors, protected tapers within. Florists who know the venue will advise on winds along the lawn and the temperament of the terraces, saving trouble before it begins.

Care for flowers on the day is as important as their selection. Bouquets are kept cool and delivered at the last sensible minute; ceremony pieces are secured against a river breeze; and candles are placed with a patient regard for safety and sightlines. At departure, a few arrangements may be repurposed for a brunch or sent home with family. The aim is to extend the life of the work rather than to display extravagance for its own sake.

Florists & Botanical Design (Recommended)

• Ruby Reds Floral & Garden — Romantic, texture‑rich florals

• Shea Hopely Flowers — Architectural installations

• Liz Stewart Floral Design — Color‑forward compositions

• Cole Dewey Designs — Event florals & installations

• Tula Rose — Bouquets, centerpieces, arches

• Park Avenue Florist — Club‑preferred florist

• A Happily Ever After Floral — Club‑preferred florist

• Parkers Events — Florals & event décor (club‑preferred)

14. Seasonal Considerations

Spring and autumn are temperate; summer benefits from later ceremonies and the shelter of the trees; winter enjoys early candlelight. A secondary plan should be prepared in advance and presented simply, so that any change in weather arrives as a considered alternative rather than a compromise. Notes to guests about suitable shoes for lawns and brick, a wrap for the river breeze, and a word about daylight and photographs are useful and appreciated.

The river’s climate rewards prudence. In spring the air is forgiving and the gardens are at their best; in high summer the hours just before sunset are kindest; autumn holds long, golden afternoons; and winter encourages the elegant simplicity of an earlier start and a candlelit supper. A secondary plan earns its keep by being both practical and handsome: a re‑set beneath the arcades, an aisle re‑drawn through the hall, musicians shifted by a few yards to better sound. Guests will accept a change in weather if the alternative feels intended.

Your notes to visitors need not be elaborate. A sentence about shoes on lawns and brick, a mention of the evening breeze by the water, and the time the sun will set on the chosen date are enough to prepare them. Clarity is its own courtesy.

15. Contact Information & Booking

The Club Continental — 2143 Astor Street, Orange Park, FL 32073 • Main (904) 264‑6070. For proposals, menus, site tours, and date availability, contact the Special Events office; if you are working with a planner, invite them into the conversation early so that menu, schedule, and layout proceed together.

Correspondence with the venue is most effective when it begins with a clear outline of the day you imagine: ceremony time, approximate guest count, preferred service style, and any musical considerations. Share those details early, and invite your planner into the first exchange so decisions about layout, menu, and schedule develop together. A short call in the week prior confirms the practicalities and frees the day from avoidable questions.

Official Links & Contacts

• Main Website

• Weddings & Receptions

• Event Facility Overview

• Meeting & Banquet Rooms

• Amenities

• Lodging — Rooms & Suites

• Elopement Package

• Email — Weddings (Carla Sparks)

• Phone — The Club Continental

16. Transportation & Accessibility

From Jacksonville International Airport, guests typically allow 35–45 minutes by car depending on traffic. Couples often provide a simple shuttle loop for peak times and share a rideshare drop‑pin with guests in advance; drivers appreciate the clear address and signage at the entrance. The services below are familiar with local venues and offer options ranging from executive sedans to motorcoaches.

Transportation deserves a few lines in your invitation suite or on your website. Rideshare information, a preferred car service, and a succinct plan for any shuttles are the points that matter. Drivers appreciate exact addresses and a note about the entrance; guests appreciate being told how long the trip may take in ordinary traffic. A small diagram helps more than a long paragraph.

Transportation Partners (Linked)

• East Coast Transportation

• Dana’s Limousine & Transportation

• Black Car Jax

• LimoJax

 

Vendor Directory & Links (Master)

Beauty Services

• Astor Place Salon — Hair & beauty (club‑preferred)

Rentals, Décor & Lighting

• PRI Productions — Event design, staging & lighting

• All About Events — Tents, tables, chairs & tabletop

• Beachview Event Rentals & Design — Sailcloth/structure tents & lounges

• St. Johns Illuminations — String lights & uplighting

Photography & Video

• Agnes Lopez Photography — Fashion‑forward portraits + documentary

• Tonya Beaver Photography — True‑to‑color storytelling

• Brooke Images — Wedding & lifestyle photography

• Sarahdipity Photos — Natural‑light wedding photography

• Fox & Film Photo — Editorial wedding imagery

• Elan Nicol Film & Photo / Orbit East Productions — Photo & film teams

Cakes & Desserts

• Cinotti’s Bakery — Classic tiers & dessert tables

• Crème de la Cocoa — Boutique cakes & sweets

• Publix Wedding Cakes — Reliable, customizable designs

• Alleycakes — Cakes, desserts, dessert bars

Planners & Coordination

• Dairing Events — Full‑service planning and design

• Southern Charm Events — Planning & coordination

• Coastal Coordinating — Destination‑savvy team

• Bustled Wedding Planning — Marketplace & coordination

• Flaire Events — Club‑preferred planner

Bands, DJs & Ceremony Musicians

• The Band Be Easy — High‑energy, multi‑genre band

• Bold City Classics — Retro‑modern horn band

• Bay Kings Band — Live band (custom lineups)

• DJ Jacob Towe — DJ + lighting production

• DJ E.L. – Party Solution Entertainment — Wedding DJ/MC

• Footloose Entertainment — Club‑preferred DJ

• Island Sound — Club‑preferred DJ

• Jacksonville Strings — Ceremony strings & ensembles

Florists & Event Décor

• Ruby Reds Floral & Garden — Romantic, texture‑rich florals

• Shea Hopely Flowers — Architectural installations

• Liz Stewart Floral Design — Color‑forward compositions

• Cole Dewey Designs — Event florals & installations

• Tula Rose — Bouquets, centerpieces, arches

• Park Avenue Florist — Club‑preferred florist

• A Happily Ever After Floral — Club‑preferred florist

• Parkers Events — Florals & event décor (club‑preferred)

Transportation

• East Coast Transportation

• Dana’s Limousine & Transportation

• Black Car Jax

• LimoJax

Contacts & Venue Links

• Main Website

• Weddings & Receptions

• Event Facility Overview

• Meeting & Banquet Rooms

• Amenities

• Lodging — Rooms & Suites

• Elopement Package

• Email — Weddings (Carla Sparks)

• Phone — The Club Continental