How to Officiate a Wedding in Saint Augustine, Florida

What could be more romantic than getting married in the "Nation’s Oldest City," St. Augustine? Its cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, expansive beaches and balmy summer nights make for the perfect setting for a wedding. There’s a reason why the town was voted in the top 10 for America’s Happiest Seaside Towns 2014 by Coastal Living Magazine!

Yes, if you’re lucky enough to live Northeast Florida, you’ll have no problem planning and executing your dream wedding. But before you get too wrapped up in the details of your special day, let’s get the logistical aspects of your upcoming nuptials out of the way first. 

Step 1: Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries

Let’s start with the ordainment process. In St. Augustine, “any notary, judge, priest, ordained minister or deputy clerk” may perform a wedding.

If you do not fall into any of these categories, no sweat. You can get ordained with AMM to fall within the priest or minister category. The process is free and takes just a few minutes.

The Florida state government does not license, register, or certify ministers or wedding officiants, so once you’re signed up with us, you’re ready to start performing wedding ceremonies!

Step 2: Prepare for the Ceremony in St. Johns County

Now that the easy part is out of the way, we can help you prepare for the wedding ceremony itself. Being asked to officiate a ceremony is an honor, but can feel like a lot of pressure. You will appreciate our wedding training pages, which are a library of information to help you prepare for your first ceremony and ensure that it goes smoothly. 

Here you can find everything from sample wedding ceremony scripts, to brainstorming prompts, tips for preparation, and more.

Step 3: Officiate the Wedding and Complete the Marriage License

When it comes to the marriage license, it’s the couple’s responsibility to obtain it from the county clerk’s office, but just be sure to double-check that they have a valid marriage license before you perform the ceremony. After, be sure to help them complete it and notarize it correctly.

In St. Augustine, the marriage license needs to be returned by the officiant (that’s you!) within 10 days of the ceremony. So, mark your calendar so that you don’t forget!

Now let’s turn our attention to the couple’s responsibilities.

To obtain your marriage license, both members of the couple will have to visit the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office at 4010 Lewis Speedway. 

When you go, just remember to bring:

• Picture ID (driver’s licenses or passports are preferred)
• Social security numbers (social security cards are not required)
• $86 for the marriage license fee ($61 for completed premarital course)

That’s it! Once the office issues you your marriage license, you must wait three days before you actually tie the knot. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from its issue date, so don’t apply for it more than two months before your ceremony date.
 

The Basics

If you’re lucky enough to live in or near the St. Augustine area, then finding the perfect wedding venue will be no problem. We’ll lay out some of our tops favorites in town.

If you want a view of the ocean without having to get sandy, then you will love The White Room. Built in 1888, this historic venue offers indoor and outdoor spaces, breathtaking views, wrap around windows, and food prepared in-house. It’s highly rated on WeddingWire and the Knot, so there’s no guesswork with this option.

But if you’re looking for something more unique, opt for the charming bed and breakfast Casa de Solana. It offers couples everything from elopement packages to sizes of up to 50 guests. You can say your “I do’s” on the beautiful grounds of the property or alternatively, take a short walk to the beach and have your ceremony there at sunset.

Cedar House Inn is our third recommendation in the St. Augustine area. This inn was rated TripAdvisor’s number one U.S. Bed & Breakfast for 2017, and for good reason. Guests appreciate its charming Victorian vibe, central location and warm hospitality. Have your ceremony in their gazebo, garden or in front of the fireplace.

Transportation

If you’re looking to get around St. Augustine on the cheap, you may want to check out St. Johns’ public transportation system, the Sunshine Bus Company. You can find a list of its routes here, which will connect you with all the major hot spots in town. However, if you want to get around town in a hurry and you don’t have access to a car, Lyft and Uber are your best options.

Weather

Northeast Florida is known for its amazing weather -- the sun shines throughout the year. Between late June and early September, temperatures rise into the nineties almost every day. However, the rainy season begins in August and lasts for about eight weeks. The coldest time of year in the area occurs in January, with average daily temps in the low 60s. Wedding season in Florida occurs outside of the hottest months (from October through May.) Couples that choose to get married during the summer typically opt for indoor venues to stay out of the heat.