With so much history right at your fingertips, you can do a lot better than a cookie-cutter wedding in a hotel ballroom.
We all want a wedding that will keep guests oohing and ahhing for years to come, but with new trends popping up every day on social media, it can be hard to find unique ideas that no one has seen before. Luckily for you, there are a plethora of unique wedding venues in St. Augustine. And in our opinion, none of them can hold a candle to the Lightner Museum.
Whether you’re interested in an intimate wedding or a dazzling celebration, here’s why the Lightner Museum is one of the most unique St. Augustine wedding venues!
THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MUSEUM
The Lightner Museum originally opened in 1887 as the Hotel Alcazar as the vision of famous railway tycoon Henry Flagler. It was built to draw wealthy travelers on Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway on their journeys south for the winter.
The Hotel Alcazar was a palace of entertainment, containing a massage parlor, sulfur baths, a gymnasium, a bowling alley, and the world’s largest indoor swimming pool! The building is considered so historically significant that it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What better place to celebrate your forever than a location with so much history?
Former Hotel Alcazar
The Alcazar Hotel once held its own bowling alley!
Pool inside the Hotel Alcazar, William Henry Jackson, photographer, 1843-1942
UNIQUE CELEBRATION LOCATIONS
Depending on your guest count, the Lightner Museum has several different venue spaces—indoors and outdoors—for each part of your event. One of our most popular and unique wedding reception venues is the Historic Pool.
The event space features a wrap-around Mezzanine that will make any wedding day feel like a special event. Your reception setup options are limitless with the multiple levels in the Historic Pool.
Historic Pool photo by Bow Tie Photography
There are also several different options for the location of your cocktail hour, including the Grand Lobby, Outdoor Terrace, and Mezzanine.
If you are looking for an outdoor ceremony alternative, the St. Augustine City Hall Courtyard, located in front of the Grand Lobby, can be booked through the City of St. Augustine for intimate wedding ceremonies of under 100 guests. Because here in St. Augustine, a city hall wedding is a glamorous thing!
Cocktail Hour on the Mezzanine | Photo by Sarahdipity Photography
Lightner Museum Outdoor Terrace | Photo by Sunglow Photography
Reception setup in the Historic Pool | Photo by Brooke Images
Photo of reception setup on the Mezzanine by Brooke Images
Reception in the Historic Pool \ Photos by Sarahdipity Photography
LOCATION IN HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE
Conveniently located in historic downtown St. Augustine, your wedding at the Lightner Museum is surrounded by all of the beauty and conveniences that St. Augustine has to offer.
Several historic hotels and bed and breakfasts are within walking distance on the tree-lined cobblestone streets and guests have plenty of museums, restaurants, and attractions to spend a full wedding weekend. Year-round attractions—such as beautiful beaches, tours, and historic landmarks—will keep your guests entertained on the days before and after your wedding celebration.
Another bonus: amazing special events take place throughout the year, including the incredible Nights of Lights during the holiday season.
Castillo de San Marcos photo by Stout Photography
Photo by Jenn Hopkins Photography
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
As one of the most unique St. Augustine wedding venues, the Lightner Museum offers plenty of spots for extraordinary wedding photos. Capture your first dance in the pool from the raised mezzanine, take bridal party portraits on the bridge above the Koi pond in the Central Courtyard, or use the historic architecture as a backdrop to your first moments as a married couple.
We recommend talking to your venue coordinator and photographer in advance to discuss their ideas for using some of these spots on your wedding day.
Photo by Dana Goodson Photography
Photo by Jason Mize Photography
Photo by Sunglow Photography
CONCLUSION
There are so many reasons to have your wedding in St. Augustine and many more reasons to choose the Lightner Museum!
Our historic event space is one of the most unique St. Augustine wedding venues, blending the past and the present into one gorgeous package. We invite you to schedule a private tour with one of our wedding experts to learn more about what makes our venue so spectacular!
