Wedding FAQs

The maximum capacity for weddings and events is 225 guests. We recommend a minimum guest count of 40 guests based on the size of the spaces and wedding package options.

The Lightner only hosts one event per day, so dates do book up very quickly. Please contact our team and we will be happy to discuss availability for your event.

Yes! Please contact us in advance to ensure a tour with a member of the Lightner Museum weddings and events team. New inquiries can visit our contact page or call 904-217-0077 to schedule your tour. Booked clients can email events@lightnerweddings.com or call (904) 793-1788.

The Treasury Venue Collection has a full liquor license, so all beverage services will be provided by the venue. Please see our Bar Packages page or see our Bar FAQ section below for more information. We look forward to customizing your selections during your bar tasting!

Yes, visit the Vendor Page for a full list of our preferred vendors.

Our All-Inclusive Intimate Wedding Package includes catering from one of our Key Vendors in the package pricing. The Á La Carte Custom Wedding Package allows the flexibility to select your own caterer from the Key Vendor List based on your needs and budget. Visit the Vendor Page for a full list of these caterers!

Many of the caterers on our key vendor list are able to handle special diets like Kosher, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, along with food allergies. Most of them are also happy to create custom menus, including options to represent different cultural cuisines. If you need assistance narrowing down a caterer to meet your needs, please reach out to our team.

The Lightner Museum only requires “day-of” coordination. However, many couples choose to upgrade their planning package, depending on their needs.

Any caterer or coordinator that is not on the preferred vendor list would have to go through the approval process to provide their services at the Lightner Museum. There is also a fee associated with an off-list caterer or coordinator. Please reach out to our team for more details on the approval process.

We’ve created a shareable PDF with recommended accommodations! Click here to view the list: St. Augustine Hotel Accommodations

We do allow pets to be present during your ceremony! Dogs or cats must be on a leash and have a handler assigned the entire time that they are on-site. They are only allowed for the ceremony celebration and 15 minutes after for photos. Pets are only permitted on the first floor of the Historic Pool and on the Outdoor Terrace.

If you choose the All-Inclusive Intimate Wedding Package, your security officer is included, and will be facilitated by your event manager.

If you select the Custom Package for your wedding, the events team will send you an invoice for the security officer approximately a month prior to your wedding. You can bring cash or check to your rehearsal, or mail a check before your big day.

Yes! We do include a one-hour rehearsal for your ceremony the morning before your wedding day at 9:30 am. Check with your Lightner Event Manager for availability.

We have two on-site private suites for you and your wedding party to do final touches and relax on the day of your wedding. Our couples do the majority of their hair and makeup off-site and then transfer to the venue to get dressed and do final preparations.

There are a few restrictions to keep in mind, including no open flames, no floating candles placed on the floor, no helium balloons, and no confetti. No fog or pyrotechnics are allowed inside to maintain the integrity of the museum artifacts.

The latest your grand exit can be is 12:00 am.

Access time is based on the contract time of your event! The earliest access to your suites is 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM for vendors to set up.

Clients are required to obtain event liability insurance showing limits of one million dollars for bodily injury and property damage, naming the Lightner Museum as additional insured.

Event cancellation insurance is not required, and can be obtained through your own insurance provider.

All vendors are required to have a certificate of insurance for up to a million dollars in coverage, with the Lightner Museum listed as an additional insured.

Yes, depending on your event timeline, extra reception time can be added for an additional fee, with the latest grand exit time of midnight. Speak to your event manager for more information.

All service fees and labor are included in the price per person. The price excludes sales tax, which you will pay with your final deposit.

Yes! Your package includes a Day of Event Liability Insurance Policy for up to $1 Million of coverage for the client(s).

Since the package is an inclusive package, the package minimum cost stays the same even if you do not have 40 guests attending your wedding.

There will be additional fees for going over 100 guests and the absolute maximum is 110 guests.

Yes! If you add this on prior to your wedding day, it will be an additional $1,500/hour prior to midnight. If you add this on the day of your event it will be $2,000/hour. Additional fees will also apply for bar service if you have not already met the 5 hour maximum.

An officiant, photographer, and videographer are not included in the Intimate Wedding Package so you can choose a vendor that best fits your needs. While décor is included in the package, some couples also choose to hire a florist for personal flowers and additional decor.

Your bar package covers the entire length of your reception, including cocktail hour, with a maximum of 5 hours of alcohol service.

We are often able to customize the bar package options to include your favorite brands! Speak to your event manager regarding your needs and we can look into available options. *Bar package selections are based on availability.

Yes! Specialty cocktails are included as a part of our full bar packages, as long as all of the ingredients for your specialty drink are included as a part of your package choices. (We have a ton of options that are already included!) When specialty ingredients are needed, you can customize your drink options for an additional fee.

A specialty bar is a great experience you can provide for your guests for one hour, whether it’s your cocktail hour or your reception. This is a great way to incorporate a few different versions of your favorite liquor or cocktail on your wedding day. A few examples of popular specialty bars are a Mimosa/Bubbly Bar, Mojito Bar, Margarita Bar, and Sweetini Bar.

A specialty cocktail is a fun beverage you can add to your bar for the entire time it is open. You can do a few different signature cocktails, such as a “His” and “Hers” version of your favorite drinks, or even get creative and get inspired by the season, a place you once visited, or even a beloved pet.

Yes! These options can be added to your bar service for an additional fee. Guests love toasting to the newlyweds during cocktail hour or speeches. Tableside wine service is another great option, especially with a plated dinner. This allows guests to enjoy wine with dinner, without having to get up while they are eating.

For non-alcoholic wedding receptions, we offer customizable mocktail packages.

No, we are not able to offer a cash bar.

The Treasury Venue Collection is fully licensed and insured for alcohol service. All alcohol must be provided and served by the venue.

Most bar tastings occur approximately 3-4 months before your event with your assigned event manager. Our events team highly recommends not scheduling your bar tasting until you have been introduced to your dedicated event manager, as we see it is beneficial to have this meeting with the person who will be a part of the remainder of the planning process! Please reach out to our events team at events@lightnerweddings.com for more information.

It is highly recommended that you limit the number of people you bring to your bar tasting, so your choices will truly reflect your preferences. Bar tastings are limited to a maximum number of 4 people.

Your tasting will take place at the Lightner Museum’s sister property, The Treasury on the Plaza, in or around the bar located inside the original 1927 bank vault. The address for The Treasury is 24 Cathedral Place, St. Augustine, FL 32084, and the venue is located on the first floor.

If you are unable to travel to St. Augustine specifically for your bar tasting, we can do your bar tasting on the same day as your final walkthrough. Final walkthroughs are usually done approximately 30 days out from your wedding date. If a couple cannot travel at all for any meetings prior to the wedding day, we can do everything via email or over the phone.

Absolutely! Take a moment to review our Bar Packages and see which may be the best option for you! Reach out to our events team and they’ll assist with the rest! (events@lightnerweddings.com) Our full bar packages with 2-3 upgraded drinks range from $50 to $70 per person, plus service charge and tax. The pricing really varies on the brand of wines and liquors. If you have any specifics that you would like quoted, please let us know!

The 20% service charge on all bar packages is different from a gratuity or tip. The service fee covers everything on your bar, from glassware to staffing and the actual servicing of your bar. Local ordinances require that we charge taxes on service fees. Tipping at the end of the night to show appreciation to your bar staff is at your discretion.

Yes, our Custom Package requires a bar minimum of $4,000. Most couples easily exceed this minimum! (The bar minimum excludes taxable service fees and applicable taxes, which can be found on your contract.)

No, shots cannot be served as a part of your bar service.

The number of bars and bartenders varies, depending on your final guest count and bar selections.