Initial Wedding Consultation

The initial consultation consists of a meeting between a bridal consultant of The Wedding Authority, preferably the wedding couple and anyone else who may be assisting them in making wedding decisions. At this meeting we will discuss the types of Wedding packages and services available though your bridal consultant, offer budgeting guidance, and answer questions to get your planning started off in the right direction. Even if you don’t plan to hire a wedding consultant, this is a good opportunity to share ideas with a planning professional and receive valuable input regarding your wedding needs.

Ceremony Venues

Let us search though countless wedding ceremony locations in our area to match you with the perfect sites that best reflect your vision, style, personality, specifications, and budget. We will compile a list of the locations that are available for your date and time. You will also receive a complete price breakdown of costs for site fees and rental fees that might apply.

Wedding Reception Venues

This is where you can waste a lot of time and your groom begins to say “whatever”. Let us narrow your search by sending you to the wedding reception venue that will meet your specifications and budget.

We will compile a list of the locations that are available for your date and time. You will also receive a complete price breakdown of cost for site fees and rental fees that might apply along with three catering menus for your culinary selection.

Ask about our new St. Augustine Banquet and special events room,
the Sala Menendez Room pictured above.

Officiates - Minister

The Wedding Authority takes great pleasure in being able to refer Reverend William H. Young to officiate your wedding. Bill is an Interdenominational Christian Minister. He pastors The Chapel of Prayer Ministries, here in St. Augustine which serves our community with prayer and support. Bill says as much as he enjoys being there at the beginning of the formation of a new family when the Bride and Groom exchange their vows, the greatest blessing is when a couple that he marries bring their children back to be christened.

Bill has been blessed to have officiated thousands of weddings from the private Bride and Groom only to 100’s of guest with a live web feed. He’s performed ceremonies standing in the ocean with his pant legs rolled up to the extremely elaborate wedding in some of St. Augustine beautiful and historic Churches.

Bill's ceremony is a spiritual poetic ceremony with the emphasis on the Bride and Groom and their commitment to each other in the eyes of God, friends and family. Being Christian Interdenominational allows for a ceremony to ask for Gods blessing without being affiliated with a particular denomination. When he is asked if he is a certain religion he says, yes Christian. Bill understands this is your special day, not his.

He encourages the Bride and Groom to add their own special touches with readings, special music, and to prepare something in their own words that they would like to exchange. Bill always approaches every ceremony with a fresh look. He says that no two ceremonies are ever the same.

In our office we have many wonderful ‘Thank You’ notes that the Bride and Grooms, Grandmothers, Mothers and even friends that just attended a wedding have sent to him. We believe it is important that the few minutes that you have worked so hard to make perfect when all eyes are on you, that the person that is joining you in marriage for the rest of your life do more than just read something. We believe God gave Bill a gift - a gift that allows him to bond emotionally with the Bride and Groom so that it’s not just another wedding.

The words of the ceremony are akin to the words of a song. The song is only great when accompanied by a great melody. How the ceremony is performed is as important as what is said, if not more important.

Civil Ceremonies

Planning weddings for as many years as we have brings an understanding that many couples want a civil ceremony only. Or there are times that this is more appropriate. In this case we have notaries that are allowed to perform a legal ceremony and do a beautiful job.

In either case the State requires you obtain a marriage license and it is signed by the officiate to be returned to the State of Florida within 10 days of your ceremony. The officiate will take care of this for you.

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