My husband and I got married at San Sebastian Catholic Church and then had our reception at the River House. I was born and raised in Saint Augustine, Florida and have seen a lot of wedding venues in town. I knew once I saw the River House that I would someday have my wedding reception there. There is something different about it than all the other popular venues in downtown St. Augustine!

This venue was the most impressionable to us for many reasons. The classic and timeless architecture and decor, the beautiful views of the water, and the secluded, yet near downtown location made this venue a must for us. We knew right when we walked to the door that we would get married there. What makes it even better is that this venue gives back to the community through Council on aging for the elderly.

Constance and the River House staff were such an amazing help to me and my family through every step of the wedding planning process. Everything was well run, organized, and amazing! They truly know what they are doing! We had a lot of guests from out of town and they were blown away by the venue, the views and the staff. We had a large wedding, so the river house was the perfect place to accommodate all of our guests comfortably. The cocktail hour was one of my favorite things because the view of the water and the weather absolutely perfect. Our wedding day was absolutely perfect and we have the River House to thank for that!

A few things that made our experience even that much better…

1. The tables and linens get set up the night before

2. You are able to drop off things the day before your wedding

3. Are florist was able to get into the building on our wedding day around noon

4. Even though our reception did not start until 5 PM, the wedding party was able to get there immediately after the ceremony around 3 PM (2pm at the earliest) to enjoy Chick-fil-A platters and take pictures

5. River House allows you to bring in your own food and alcohol, so that made things much more affordable and we were able to select things that best match to what we wanted! ABC liquor also was able to take back a large amount of our alcohol which amounted and huge savings! We did a Buffet (Purple Olive), which I was sort of nervous about for serving purposes, with such a large guest count (200), but the room that they set the Buffet up in was absolutely perfect! The flow of guests in and out worked perfectly and I am so happy we did Buffet. River house works closely with a lot of the vendors, and give you a list of approved vendors. Everything was seamless and you could tell they all enjoy working together! Dessert table was set up in the ballroom near the piano so that guests could have access to that at any time.

I truly do not have one negative thing to say about our overall experience at the River House. I only wish it could’ve lasted forever! I highly recommend this venue and this staff for your wedding to help you make your dreams come true… Because they will, and they will go above and beyond what you ever, ever expected!

Pre Booking/Tour:
My husband and I knew that we wanted to get married at a place on the water, but had a large ballroom to accommodate our large families (150+ wedding guests). We toured a few places that met either one or the other condition, but not both, until we toured River House! The property is absolutely beautiful and the view of the Matanzas River and the lighthouse do NOT disappoint! I knew that this was THE venue for us after we left- I just could not stop thinking about it! Pre-booking, touring, and wedding prep: My experience with River House staff was seamless and easy, even with a change/replacement in staffing at some point throughout the past year.

River House provided a lot of the essentials (tables, chiavari chairs, silverware, glassware, easels, bird cage for cards, high chairs, booster seats, etc.), which took away a level of stress and need for coordination on my part. There is also ample parking on site, with an overhang to drop off guests. Given some of my grandparents are on the older side and limited in their mobility, I found River House to be the perfect venue for them -- wheelchair accessible ramps, large restrooms, etc. In addition, I appreciated that the proceeds from the event go back into the community programs for senior citizens!

The day of the wedding, the venue was perfect! It was tidy, clean, and ready for a party! All my guests were in awe of how gorgeous the venue was, especially the view outside. Even for a fairly large guest count, I felt that the ballroom wasn't cramped and everyone fit on the dancefloor.

My only piece of feedback is that I so wish we could have access to the bridal and groomsmen suites the entire day of the event! It is doable to coordinate getting ready in two different locations, but having that all day access would remove a layer of complexity, coordination, and stress from a planning perspective.

Overall, I loved my experience at River House. My wedding day was absolutely perfect and I am giddy reliving the memories from that day. The RHE staff were so helpful, responsive, and kind. If I could re-do my wedding, I would definitely do it at River House again.

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue for our wedding! From the breathtaking scenery to the impeccable service, everything exceeded our expectations. The staff went above and beyond to ensure every detail was taken care of, allowing us to truly enjoy our day stress-free. The space itself was stunning, providing the perfect backdrop for our reception. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about how beautiful and well-organized everything was. If you’re looking for a venue that combines elegance, charm, and top-notch service, this is the place. Highly recommend!!!!