A 50-guest wedding is the smartest budget decision most couples never seriously consider. 9 Aviles is built around that number — roughly 2,500 square feet on Aviles Street in downtown St. Augustine, one main room under a vaulted ceiling and iron chandeliers, a gated patio out the side, and a hard cap of 50 people. Fewer guests means less catering, less bar, less rental, and a DJ setup that doesn't need to fill a hangar.
That last part is where AE Entertainment comes in. We've worked this room dozens of times, and 9 Aviles has a full DJ system with dance lighting permanently installed — so there's no rig to haul in, no stands cluttering a 50-guest floor, and nothing about the setup that's new to us on your wedding day. Packages here start at $800. The venue also lets you buy your own alcohol from an outside retailer instead of paying for a bar package, so the savings stack up in more than one place.
The DJ booth sits up on the balcony overlooking the reception, which in a room this size matters more than it sounds: nobody loses a sightline, and you get the whole floor back. It's a lively room too — small and reflective, great for music, hard on a microphone that hasn't been set for it. Ours have been, repeatedly, in this exact room, which is why vows and toasts come through clean at the back table.
Getting Married Down the Street
Plenty of couples at 9 Aviles don't get married at 9 Aviles. They do the ceremony a short walk away — the Oldest House, or the gazebo in the plaza — then everyone strolls over for the reception. We cover that with a separate satellite setup at the ceremony site: music plus a microphone for the officiant, so your vows aren't fighting traffic on a phone speaker. It's an add-on, priced up front, and it's a much cheaper way to get a downtown ceremony than most couples assume.
And If You Marry In the Room
There's usually no dramatic flip. Most of the time guests are already seated at their tables, and the ceremony happens right in the center of the room. Afterward the bar opens off to the side and the staff lays any tables that weren't preset while everyone has a drink. Short, calm, and one less thing to budget a rain plan or a second space for.
What You Get
Professional DJ + MC
A DJ who has worked this room dozens of times and knows its house system cold. Announcements, introductions, and a dance floor that actually fills.
Mics Tuned for a Live Room
Small rooms are reflective, which is unforgiving on a microphone that hasn't been set for the space. Ours have been. Vows and toasts land clearly at the back table.
Wireless Mics
For vows, toasts, and announcements. We bring backups, and we bring our own sound so a house-system issue is never the end of your night.
Straightforward Pricing
$800 to start, everything itemized in writing up front. No setup fee, no travel fee for downtown St. Augustine, no surprises on the final invoice.
Optional Add-Ons
Simple, transparent extras. The common ones at 9 Aviles:
- Ceremony sound and officiant mic (in the room or at an offsite ceremony)
- Cocktail hour music on the gated patio
- Uplighting around the room
- Extended reception hours
- Rehearsal dinner coverage
About 9 Aviles
Venue Details
Location: 9 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 — corner of Aviles Street and Artillery Lane
Capacity: Up to 50 guests
Size: Roughly 2,500 square feet, one main event space
Style: Boutique historic venue — vaulted ceiling, iron chandeliers, balcony over the main floor, bridal lounge, lit bar area, catering kitchen, private gated patio
History: Built in 1911, formerly City Electric and St. Johns Motor Company; renovated 2018, opened as a wedding venue in 2023
DJ Setup: Booth on the balcony over the reception floor; sound and dance lighting permanently installed in the room
Owners: Dave and Christy, husband-and-wife, family-run
Catering & Bar: Outside caterers permitted; bring your own alcohol from an outside retailer instead of a venue bar package
Parking: Street and paid downtown parking
Website: 9avilesstreet.com
Aviles Street is the oldest street in the nation and sits in St. Augustine's Arts District, a few minutes' walk from the Plaza and the Castillo de San Marcos. For a downtown wedding that means no shuttle budget: guests walk from their hotel, walk to dinner, and walk to whatever bar the night ends at. Between that, the 50-guest cap, and being able to supply your own alcohol, 9 Aviles is one of the more genuinely affordable ways to get married in historic St. Augustine — and a DJ shouldn't be the line item that breaks it.
Common Questions
How much does a wedding DJ cost at 9 Aviles?
AE Entertainment provides professional wedding DJ services at 9 Aviles starting at $800. Most couples here land between $800 and $1,200 depending on hours and whether they add ceremony sound or uplighting. A 50-guest room needs less equipment than a big ballroom, and the price reflects that. No hidden fees and no surprise charges.
Looking for a wedding DJ near me in St. Augustine?
AE Entertainment is based in St. Augustine and covers all of St. Johns County, including downtown, Vilano Beach, Anastasia Island, and St. Augustine Beach. Travel to a downtown venue like 9 Aviles is included in your quote — no separate travel fee.
Do you have experience at 9 Aviles?
Yes — dozens of weddings in that room. We know the venue's permanently installed DJ and dance-lighting system, we set up on the balcony overlooking the reception so the floor stays yours, and our microphones are already dialed in for how lively the room is. We bring backup cables and a backup iPad every time, because a single equipment issue should never stop the music.
Can we get married somewhere else and just have the reception at 9 Aviles?
Plenty of couples do — usually the Oldest House or the gazebo in the plaza, both a short walk away. We cover it with a separate satellite setup at the ceremony site: ceremony music and a microphone for the officiant, then the reception room is already loaded in and ready when guests arrive. It's a straightforward add-on, quoted up front.
How many guests does 9 Aviles hold?
9 Aviles holds up to 50 guests in roughly 2,500 square feet of a single event space. It was designed for intimate weddings rather than scaled down from a larger ballroom, which is a big part of why the total cost of a wedding here tends to be lower than at a large venue.
Other Nearby Venues
Exploring other affordable wedding DJ options around St. Augustine?