How to Elope at Castle Otttis

If you’re dreaming of an intimate, one-of-a-kind elopement location in St. Augustine, Castle Otttis checks all the boxes. As a Florida native and elopement photographer who’s a little obsessed with finding epic locations, I can confidently say: there’s nothing else like Castle Otttis. It’s one of the very few castles in the state of Florida (with rooftop ocean views, I might add) and offers privacy and intimacy for eloping couples.

As a Florida native and elopement photographer whose helped couples plan elopements around St. Augustine, I want to show you how easy it can be to have your intimate elopement ceremony at Castle Otttis. This resource will guide you through everything from why you should elope here, how to book your ceremony here, to things you should know about eloping at Castle Otttis.

Let’s jump in!

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Jump to what you're looking for…

• Why Elope at Castle Otttis?
  • Castle Otttis Elopement Inspiration
• How to Reserve Castle Otttis
  • 1. Contact the Owner to Book Your Date
  • 2. Include Your Wedding Details
  • 3. Personalize Your Ceremony
  • 4. Plan Activities Around Your Day
  • St. Augustine Activity Inspiration
• What You Should Know About Eloping at Castle Otttis
• Castle Otttis Elopement Photographer

Why Elope at Castle Otttis?

When it comes to eloping in St. Augustine, there’s a HUGE draw for including historic architecture into your ceremony. However, the most iconic spots in St. Augustine don’t offer much privacy. Between the Castillo De San Marcos and the Lightner Museum, you’ll have an audience watching your intimate ceremony….not ideal.

Castle Otttis offers ALL the privacy. As a privately owned venue, you’re able to block off time for your ceremony where it’ll be just you, your guests (if you’re inviting any), and the castle.

On top of the privacy offered, the castle is dripping with old world charm. This open-air castle was inspired by ancient Irish abbeys. With towering stone walls, hand-built staircases, an altar, pulpit, choir loft, and 88 window openings that let in soft natural light, it’s honestly something magical.

And because Castle Otttis is only 15 minutes from downtown St. Augustine, its central location means you can pair your ceremony with nearby activities, such as exploring the historic streets of St. Augustine, having a picnic at Anastasia State Park, or celebrating with a distillery tour and fancy cocktails at Ice Plant.

Castle Otttis Elopement Inspiration

How to Reserve Castle Otttis

1. Contact the Owner to Book Your Date

Castle Otttis is privately owned with the owner’s living on-site. Since this isn’t a typical wedding venue, you’ll need to get permission directly from the owner to use the property for your ceremony. To learn more about the space, visit their website. To check availability and reserve your ceremony date, email castleotttis@outlook.com. They require at least 72 hours notice for bookings, but because availability can be limited, I recommend reaching out well in advance (at least 6+ months) to secure your date!

2. Include Your Wedding Details

When you email Castle Otttis, include the following details:

• Requested elopement or intimate wedding date (add any back up date options if you’re flexible)
• Estimated guest count (the castle can comfortably fit 20-25 guests indoors)
• Any special requests or questions you have about the space

3. Personalize Your Ceremony

When you book Castle Otttis, you have the space for up to two hours. This is plenty of time for a longer ceremony with unity ceremonies, special readings, personalized vows, post-ceremony portraits around the grounds, and a first dance. You’ll even have time to explore the castle and take in the unique architecture. But since food and drinks are not permitted inside the castle, you’ll be limited on what you can do on-site.

4. Plan Activities Around Your Day

You may be limited as to what you can do on-site at Castle Otttis, but there’s endless opportunities for adventure in St. Augustine. After your ceremony at Castle Otttis, you can spend the rest of the day exploring this historic city.

Want to explore St. George Street or the Castillo De San Marcos? Grab cocktails at my favorite local spot (Ice Plant is my favorite)? Hit up St. Augustine Distillery for a tour and a chance to bottle your own bourbon? There’s so many things you can do! No matter what type of adventure you love, St. Augustine will have something to help you celebrate your wedding day.

Need some help putting it all together? As an elopement photographer in St. Augustine, I’m here to guide you every step of the way, from booking the castle to activity brainstorming in downtown.

St. Augustine Activity Inspiration

What You Should Know About Eloping at Castle Otttis

Before you fall fully in love (which you probably already are), here are a few important things you should know about Castle Otttis:

• It’s not handicap accessible due to its historic architecture and multiple staircases.
• The interior of Castle Otttis has no air conditioning or heating. But there are dozens of open-air windows for the beach breeze.
• Minimal décor is encouraged to really appreciate the beauty of the building.
• No amplified music, alcohol, or food is permitted on-site. So no champagne toast or cake cutting.
• There is no reception space, but many nearby restaurants and vacation rentals can host your post-ceremony celebration.
• There’s minimal parking so if you’re including guests, they might want to use a ride sharing app.
• There is a public beach across the street if you want to include the beach as part of your elopement day.

Castle Otttis Elopement Photographer

When it comes to planning your Castle Otttis elopement, let’s be real: it’s a lot more than you expected. Between figuring out how to book with the castle, finding and booking other vendors, trying to piece together a timeline, and figuring out what the heck you can do after your ceremony, there’s a million million tiny decisions…

That’s where I come in. As your elopement photographer and local expert, I’m there for you every step of the way including:

• Helping you find the perfect ceremony location (ahem, Castle Otttis)
• Creating a relaxed, no-stress timeline
• Finding fun activities for you to do after your vows
• And helping you build a day that feels like the most epic date night you’ve ever had