Castle Otttis Guide - Small Wedding Venue in St. Augustine FL

Location

St. Augustine has a lot to offer to an engaged couple looking for a non-traditional wedding venue. One of the most unique small wedding venues is Castle Otttis hidden in plain sight on St. Augustine’s Vilano Beach.

I do wedding photography and help plan ceremonies here on a regular basis so I am happy to share my experience and the logistics to make your romantic castle elopement dreams come true!

Logistics

Let’s talk about all the must know and frequently asked client questions so your booking and planning with this venue can be a breeze.

But first - this destination is for you if you are a romantic, old soul, love intimate spaces, a sucker for history and architecture and historic beauty.

This venue is not for you if you prefer bright and airy photography, lots of greenery and open spaces. Check out some of my other go-to St. Augustine elopement venues.

Wedding Cost:

I cannot speak for the owner of the property and Castle Otttis wedding price is always subject to change, but you can plan to budget between $1000-1500 for a small ceremony and photos. This location is not suitable for a reception of any kind. You will need to plan a separate space for your reception. I share some ideas in this blog post.

To inquire with the owner, check out the castle’s website and email.

Capacity:

The capacity requirement is under 25 people, last I checked, but confirm with the owner to be sure.

Decor:

The building itself is very unique, so it is my recommendation not to take away from the atmosphere too much with unnecessary distractions. I highly recommend either no decor to very little decor (such as a couple of standing greenery structures or a modest floral arrangement). I do recommend using an accent bouquet and boutonniere. My go to florist is Soirees for Days.

Ceremony:

There is an indoor ceremony space with long benches and an altar adorned with a cross. If an indoor ceremony is not your style, you can also use the outdoor space in front of the castle doors and bring your own chairs and a small arch or standing floral accent. My go to decor company is Gathered Rentals & Events.

Reception:

This is not the right venue for hosting a full on wedding reception. You can look into having one inside one of my go to reception venues, if you’d like to add this to your celebration.

Timing:

I recommend 2 hours for a short ceremony, pictures of family and friends, followed by intimate bridal portraits. I recommend starting 3 hours prior to sunset and finishing up 1 hour prior to sunset (the venue closes at this time as well).

Some couples love sharing a first look at the rooftop deck on top of the castle prior to their ceremony or private vows after (if you want to see each other at the altar for the first time).

Photography:

I recommend 2-3 hours of photography time. Two hours at the castle and an additional hour if you want to take sunset photos on Vilano beach (like the example gallery below) or in downtown. Castillo de San Marcos gets gorgeous sunsets!

To book your photography with me, make sure you inquire here.

BONUS: I can shoot a raw footage of your ceremony (only) with my spare camera on a tripod at no charge. I also like to take short phone videos throughout that you can use to put together Instagram reels, etc.

Attire:

You can really wear anything you’d like. I have seen so many variations: sparkling gowns, long trains, veils, simple elegant silk, and full on princess dresses. You can really have some fun here. A nice black tux with a bow tie is a nice compliment to pretty much any dress.

To see galleries of my previous couples, check out my portfolio for inspiration.

After:

I can’t help but mention that Castle Otttis is on the same street as Caps On the Water in St Augustine FL, a restaurant that is elegant, fine dining right on the intercoastal. Incredible oysters and quite a view of the sunset! Highly recommending making dinner plans with your partner here after to celebrate.

Below, check out Madison and Griffin’s gallery, all details stylized and put together by me with the help of my vendors: Soirees for Days (florist) and Ashley Taylor (HMUA).