St. Augustine and Jacksonville Weddings in 2026: 12 Questions About $61 Marriage Licenses, Waiting Periods and Beach Ceremonies

Getting married in Jacksonville or St. Augustine costs $86 for a regular Florida marriage license, or $61 if both applicants complete an approved premarital preparation course. Couples can also pay $30 for a ceremony performed by the St. Johns County Clerk of Court, while weddings on county-managed beaches require a separate permit costing $135 or $270, depending on event size.

Florida residents generally face a three-day waiting period before their marriage license becomes effective unless they complete the qualifying course. Couples in which both applicants live outside Florida are exempt from that waiting period.

For anyone planning a courthouse ceremony, a small beach wedding or an outdoor event in historic St. Augustine, the rules involve more than choosing a location.

Florida law controls marriage licenses, waiting periods and who can legally perform ceremonies. County clerks issue the licenses, while local governments control permits and reservations for many public wedding locations.

JAX TIMES reviewed Florida's 2026 marriage statutes, the official Duval and St. Johns County clerk websites, St. Johns County's beach permit rules and the City of St. Augustine's public venue information.

Here are 12 questions couples should answer before setting their wedding date.

1. How much does a Florida marriage license cost in 2026?

A standard Florida marriage license costs $86 through both the Duval County and St. Johns County clerks.

Couples who successfully complete a qualifying premarital preparation course and provide the required certificates can reduce the license price to $61.

That makes the advertised savings $25.

The math is straightforward: $86 minus $25 equals $61.

Florida Statute 741.0305 establishes a $32.50 reduction in the statutory marriage license fee for qualifying course participants. The county clerks' published customer-facing totals reflect the applicable fee components and show a $25 difference between the regular and discounted amounts.

The premarital course itself may cost extra. Course providers establish their own charges, so completing one does not automatically mean the couple's total expenses will fall by $25.

For couples using St. Johns County's $30 clerk ceremony service, the combined government charges are $116 without the course or $91 with the course, excluding any optional services.

2. What is the premarital preparation course, and who qualifies for the discount?

Florida's premarital preparation course must include at least four hours of instruction from a qualified provider.

Under Section 741.0305, eligible instructors include certain licensed counselors and therapists, qualified representatives of religious institutions and other providers designated by a judicial circuit.

The law permits different methods of instruction, including approved electronic formats. Couples must obtain completion certificates containing the information required by the statute.

Both applicants must complete the qualifying instruction to receive the clerk's discounted license fee.

The Duval and St. Johns clerks also require the course to have been completed within one year before the marriage license application. The certificates must be provided when applying.

Both clerks maintain information about registered course providers. Couples should select a provider accepted by the clerk handling their application rather than assuming any online course will qualify.

There is another important benefit for Florida residents: completing the qualifying course removes the usual three-day waiting period.

The St. Johns County Clerk states that both Florida residents and nonresidents can qualify for the $25 discount. Duval's main guidance says the same, although one answer in its FAQ limits the discount to residents. Nonresident couples applying in Duval should confirm eligibility with that office before paying for a course.

3. Is there really a three-day waiting period in Florida?

Yes. Florida generally requires a three-day delay before a marriage license becomes effective when the applicants have not provided qualifying premarital course certificates.

Florida Statute 741.04 governs the effective date. The waiting period is not simply an appointment delay at the clerk's office; it determines when the license can legally be used for a ceremony.

Both Duval and St. Johns County explain that Florida residents may avoid the waiting period by completing the qualifying premarital course and submitting their certificates.

The waiting period does not apply when both applicants are non-Florida residents.

The important distinction is between receiving the license and being permitted to use it. Couples should check the effective date printed on the actual license before arranging a ceremony.

Anyone planning a wedding immediately after arriving in Northeast Florida should resolve the waiting-period requirements before making nonrefundable reservations.

4. How long is a Florida marriage license valid?

A Florida marriage license is valid for 60 days, and the wedding ceremony must occur within the period shown on the license.

The clock is not extended simply because a couple has booked a venue or paid a wedding deposit.

For Florida residents subject to the three-day waiting period, the ceremony must also take place on or after the license's effective date. That leaves a smaller practical window than the full period between issuance and expiration.

The Duval Clerk explains that a license issued in any Florida county can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Florida.

That means a couple obtaining a license in Jacksonville can legally marry in St. Augustine, provided the license is effective and unexpired.

Similarly, a license obtained from the St. Johns County Clerk can be used for a ceremony elsewhere in Florida.

A Florida marriage license cannot be used for a ceremony taking place in Georgia or another state.

5. What identification and documents do couples need?

Both applicants must appear together when applying at the Duval or St. Johns County clerk offices.

Each person must provide acceptable identification. The clerks list driver's licenses, state-issued identification and passports among their accepted documents. Duval also lists military identification and other qualifying federal identification documents.

Applicants who have been issued Social Security numbers must provide those numbers, although Duval says the physical Social Security card is not required.

Florida Statute 741.04 also addresses alternative identification for applicants who are not U.S. citizens.

If either person was previously married, the application requires the date and manner in which the most recent marriage ended, whether through divorce, annulment or death.

The clerks say applicants generally do not need to bring the actual divorce decree or death certificate for that purpose.

Both parties must also read or otherwise access Florida's Family Law Handbook and acknowledge doing so.

Florida law generally requires marriage applicants to be at least 18. A person who is 17 may qualify under specific statutory conditions involving parental or guardian consent and an age difference of no more than two years.

Couples with children born together in Florida may need to complete the state's additional common-children affirmation form.

6. Where can couples apply for a marriage license in Jacksonville?

The Duval County Clerk offers marriage license services at two locations.

The downtown courthouse accepts walk-in marriage license applications. Applicants join the queue using a QR code available in the marriage license department.

The Beaches Branch accepts walk-ins and offers appointments arranged through the clerk's electronic pre-application process.

The clerk asks couples visiting the downtown Marriage License Department to arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. to allow time for processing.

Duval accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks and major credit cards. The clerk lists a 3.5% surcharge for credit-card payments and does not accept personal checks.

Couples can find the official application instructions at:

https://www.duvalclerk.gov/departments/county-services/marriage-license

Both applicants must complete the required in-person step, even when they submit information electronically beforehand.

7. Where can couples apply in St. Augustine and St. Johns County?

The St. Johns County Clerk lists three offices offering marriage license services.

The main Public Service Center accepts license applicants without appointments. The two annexes require appointments.

The clerk's website separately publishes broader ceremony-service hours at some locations, so couples should follow the specific marriage-license schedule when arranging their visit.

All applicants must meet the same Florida legal requirements regardless of which St. Johns County office they choose.

The clerk's marriage department can be reached at 904-819-3600 or [email protected].

Official instructions and appointment links are available at:

https://stjohnsclerk.com/marriage-licenses-ceremonies/

The Julington Creek and Ponte Vedra Beach annexes provide convenient alternatives for couples who do not want to travel to the main St. Augustine office.

8. Can couples apply for a Florida marriage license online?

Both counties provide online tools to begin the marriage license application process, but neither clerk's published instructions treat submitting the online form as a completed marriage license.

Duval County uses an eMarriage Pre-Application system. Couples enter their information electronically and can use the system to arrange an in-person appointment at the Beaches Branch.

Both applicants must still appear together with identification and payment to complete the process.

St. Johns County offers an online marriage application through its Marriage Kiosk. Couples are instructed to complete that application and the required premarital statement before visiting the clerk.

The online systems can reduce paperwork during the office visit, but couples should not confuse completing a pre-application with receiving an issued license.

The three-day waiting period, when applicable, is tied to the actual application and issuance process, not simply to entering information online.

Couples planning a ceremony on a tight schedule should account for office hours, appointment availability and the license's effective date.

9. Can couples get married at the courthouse, and what does it cost?

The St. Johns County Clerk performs marriage ceremonies for $30, in addition to the marriage license fee.

That produces the following basic totals:

The St. Johns Clerk offers an optional $15 wedding photography service at its main St. Augustine location. The service provides one edited photograph, according to the clerk.

Guest limits vary by office. The main Public Service Center allows up to 10 people total, including the couple, clerk and guests. Julington Creek permits one or two additional guests, while the Ponte Vedra Beach Annex cannot accommodate guests.

For Duval County, Florida law authorizes clerks to perform marriage ceremonies, but the Duval marriage license page reviewed for this story does not confirm a current ceremony appointment program or local ceremony fee.

Couples seeking a clerk-performed wedding in Jacksonville should contact the Duval Clerk at 904-255-2000 to confirm whether ceremonies are being scheduled.

The $30 St. Johns County ceremony charge should not automatically be presented as Duval County's current price.

10. Can couples legally marry on St. Augustine or St. Johns County beaches?

Yes, weddings and elopements can be arranged on St. Johns County-managed public beaches with an approved special event permit.

The county explicitly includes weddings and elopements among activities requiring permits.

The published permit charges are:

These charges are separate from the Florida marriage license fee.

For example, a couple planning a small county-managed beach wedding would pay $86 for a regular marriage license and $135 for the wedding permit, totaling $221 before any officiant, equipment or other expenses.

With the qualifying premarital course discount, the same combination would cost $196, excluding the course price.

Applications must go through the county's Online Reservation System. Couples select the location, date and time, submit required information and wait for county approval before making payment.

A submitted application or emailed receipt is not an approved permit.

The county requires at least 15 days for processing private events with fewer than 75 participants. Events involving 75 or more participants require at least 30 days, and especially large events may need additional approvals.

Required supporting documents must reach the county at least 14 days before the event. Permit payment is due after approval and no later than seven days before the ceremony.

The county also recommends scheduling events near low tide to provide more usable beach space.

Important: Not every beach in St. Johns County is under the county's permit jurisdiction. Anastasia State Park, the Guana reserve, Fort Matanzas National Monument and beaches within the City of St. Augustine Beach have separate management authorities and require direct coordination.

Official county instructions:

https://www.sjcfl.us/special-events-beaches/

11. What about weddings in St. Augustine's public parks and historic venues?

St. Augustine has a separate public venue option at the Lightner Courtyard, located at 75 King St. within the historic Alcazar Building.

The City of St. Augustine specifically identifies the courtyard as suitable for weddings, rehearsals and photography.

The published rental price is $250 per hour, with possible additional charges based on the event.

The city requires renters to provide proof of general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $1 million aggregate, naming the city as certificate holder and additional insured.

Food and beverages are prohibited in the courtyard, and amplified music is restricted during normal business hours.

The city identifies The Wedding Authority as the property's designated manager for reservations. Couples can use the city's official Lightner Courtyard page to obtain application instructions.

https://www.citystaug.com/577/Lightner-Courtyard-at-City-Hall

The city also handles event requests for other public spaces, such as the Plaza de la Constitución. Its fee worksheet posted online dates to 2023, so couples interested in the Plaza or another city park should get current dates, insurance rules and charges directly from the city before making plans.

For St. Johns County park facilities, the county's published fee schedule includes rentals and special-event charges for locations such as Vilano Pier, Pier Park and Shands. Because park rentals and wedding permits are separate fee categories, couples should obtain a location-specific quote rather than assume the $135 county beach wedding permit applies to every park.

12. Who can legally perform a Florida wedding, and what happens afterward?

Florida Statute 741.07 identifies the people authorized to solemnize marriages.

They include regularly ordained clergy, qualifying elders and other ordained religious officials, judicial officers including retired judges, Florida clerks of the circuit courts and Florida notaries public.

The statute also recognizes marriages solemnized according to the practices of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers.

Couples do not necessarily need a judge or clerk to officiate. A properly authorized officiant can conduct a ceremony at another lawful location, provided the couple has an effective Florida marriage license and satisfies any applicable venue requirements.

Florida Statute 741.08 requires the officiant to have the properly issued license before performing the marriage.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the required marriage certificate information. The completed license must be returned to the issuing clerk within 10 days for recording.

The St. Johns County Clerk says it returns a certified copy to the couple after recording. Duval County provides online official-record searches and instructions for obtaining certified copies.

Couples needing proof of marriage for official purposes should distinguish the signed marriage paperwork from the recorded, certified marriage certificate.

What is the cheapest straightforward way to get married?

Based on the published clerk charges, a St. Johns County clerk ceremony is one of the clearest fixed-price options.

A couple completing the qualifying premarital course would pay $61 for the license plus $30 for the ceremony, for a total of $91 in government fees. Without the course, the corresponding total is $116.

The course may introduce an additional expense, so couples should compare the provider's charge with the $25 license savings.

A beach wedding costs more because the county wedding permit is separate from the marriage license. Private officiants, rentals, photographers and insurance requirements may add costs.

The most important step is to secure the license and confirm the ceremony location's rules before finalizing the wedding date.

How we did this

JAX TIMES reviewed Florida Statutes Chapter 741, official marriage license information from the Duval and St. Johns County clerks, St. Johns County's beach special-event permit instructions and the City of St. Augustine's public venue information.

We used the clerks' published customer charges for marriage licenses and ceremonies, and the county's published wedding permit fees. Combined totals are simple arithmetic and exclude unverified vendor costs, course charges and other optional expenses.

Where an official page did not confirm a current local service or complete price, we did not assign one.