This is one of our favorite places to eat when we are in town. Our personal favorites are the Carne Royale ("trust me" - Adam) and the Bangin' Shrimp tacos!
This is one of Emma's favorites; a cute café with delicious pastries, sandwiches, and salads.
This is our favorite dessert spot in town (and arguably our most trafficked location in Jacksonville) that offers delicious frozen custard concoctions! There is also a location in Atlantic Beach right across from the beach and a block away from the previously mentioned "Le Petit Paris Café."
This is a great public-access beach and the only access with extensive public parking in Ponte Vedra. Public beach access can also be found throughout Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach.
This is a huge nature reserve that includes beautiful beach access (with parking) and various hiking trails to the inter-coastal waterway. If you use one of the beach accesses, make sure you leave before sundown, otherwise you might be stuck in the parking lot for two hours with your wonderful wedding photographer while waiting for the police to come and open the gate.... just speaking hypothetically, of course
This is an amazing spot if you want to rent out courts for your personal use!
These Pickleball courts are free to play on!
Being by the ocean, Jacksonville has a lively fishing culture! Based on reviews and word of mouth, we would recommend the following charters if you are interested: Southern Salt Fishing Charters Rock n Reel Charters Southern Salt Fishing Charters
If you are bringing any little ones to the wedding and want to check out the St. Augustine area (which we highly recommend), the Alligator Farm is a fun place to make some FL memories. Though the numerous species of gators are the main attraction, there is a wide collection of birds, reptiles, and other animals to look at and learn about as well.
If you have access to a car, we highly recommend a morning/afternoon excursion to St. Augustine! It is a ~45 minute drive from Jacksonville Beach (though well-worth it, in our opinion). As the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the United States (established in 1565), it is great for history buffs. The entire downtown area is right on the water and highly walkable with plenty of good restaurants, museums, or shops.
If you end up visiting St. Augustine, make sure you check out this waterside national monument and the oldest fort in the United States. It is free to walk around the perimeter of the fort, and you can get a tour inside for a fee.