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Provided below are ideas for a budget wedding in St. Augustine, FL. We decided to have a destination wedding in magnificent St. Augustine because it has that wonderful old world charm. It is the oldest city in the United States. Because of all of this, it is also a popular location for weddings. There are plenty of choices for ceremonies, but we knew we had to keep expenses down. Therefore, here is the route we chose for a lovely, low cost ceremony.
1. The Budget Wedding Setting
We are Penny and Weldon Walker. This marriage was not the first for both of us. With this in mind, we opted for a special budget wedding. Yet, I wanted to make the union and the whole experience exceptional. I researched several venues in Florida (we live in Sarasota, FL) and nothing could beat the cost of a union at Casa de Solana Bed and Breakfast (http://www.casadesolanabedandbreakfast.com) in St. Augustine, FL. A “Back to Basics Ceremony Only” even at this time (February 2020) is still just $299.00. This package is for the wedding couple only, but Casa de Solana offers several different wedding ceremony options. They provided us with a licensed officiate, a bottle of champagne, and they decorated the courtyard garden for us for our ceremony. This was all included in the cost. We didn’t have to lift a finger! The setting was…and still is, BEAUTIFUL!
2. Budget Wedding Flowers
Along with keeping the venue cost down, I wanted the floral arrangements to be within budget. In our case, we didn’t require a lot of flowers because the courtyard area was decorated so beautifully. As you can see from the photo above, I chose a very simple, yet elegant wedding bouquet. Apart from all of this, I just wasn’t familiar with floral providers in St. Augustine. Without having to strain my brain, I chose PUBLIX! That beautiful white rose bouquet was less than $20.00! Furthermore, I had a few white roses left over and the staff at Casa de Solana sprinkled the petals on the ground around the ceremony area. ..extraordinary last minute touch. This only added to the breathtaking setting.
3. Photography on a Budget
During our dating stage, my husband and I became very adept at taking “selfies.” Between our phones and a simple “point and shoot” camera, we produced quite a number of really awesome photos 0f our experience. HINT: if you simply ask people, they are usually very happy to lend a hand in taking your photos. We only had an hour within which to use the Casa de Solana courtyard. We managed to get in a few photos there. In addition to this, we got up the next morning, donned our wedding attire again, and traveled around spectacular St. Augustine to get even more photos. We went deeper into the historical area and even went out on the beach! At one point, my husband took a photograph of me in my dress, ankle deep in the ocean! It was a blast!
4. Wedding Meal
This decision didn’t take much thought. We didn’t have a traditional wedding party meal. It was just the two of us…so personal…so romantic. The wedding meal is where we splurged. I chose the restaurant Costa Brava at http://www.costabrava.com. Its located in The Casa Monica Resort and Spa (http://www.casamonica) in St. Augustine, FL . They seated us at the “Wedding Table.” Who cannot resist white linen table cloths, spectacular service and award winning food?
5. Budget Wedding Hotel
This also was not a difficult decision. We had stayed at The Cozy Inn in St. Augustine before. It is a family owned business. Therefore, they take immense pride in their property. It is spotless. It is an “Old Florida” experience. There are many options available for “the traveler.” We always choose one of the Deluxe Townhouses. It is an Upstairs/Downstairs experience. The living room and full kitchen are downstairs and king bedroom and bathroom with shower are upstairs. This layout is ideal, because you can cook meals (budget friendly) if you wish, watch TV both upstairs or downstairs and enjoy the luxury of a King bed with ample closet space upstairs. Additionally, The Cozy Inn (http://www.cozyinn.com) is one of the most affordable hotel accommodations in St. Augustine, FL. I will reiterate that this property is SPOTLESS!
Final Note
On a final note, are you searching for a budget wedding? Check out Casa de Solana in beautiful St. Augustine, FL . The setting is elegant, romantic, private and stress free! There are numerous packages from the “Back to Basics Ceremony” budget wedding we chose, to more elaborate ceremonies.
Whatever you choose for your special moment, remember to have a delightful time, try to keep it stress free, and enjoy the celebration of love.
Please, please…don’t ever hesitate to contact me with any questions or other suggestions for a beautiful budget wedding in St. Augustine, FL. We are very knowledgeable in that area. Joyful Journeys!!
