Whether you want a traditional, non-denominational, inter-faith or civil ceremony, the Spanish Monastery offers an idyllic setting for your wedding.
Garden Weddings at the Ancient Spanish Monastery
If you prefer a garden wedding, five outdoor spaces are located within the 20 acres of lush gardens which feature rare palms, Spanish Oaks, Cycads, Banyans and flowering trees. The landscaped grounds frame the romanesque and gothic building, providing a unique backdrop for a memorable wedding.
Receptions in the cloisters
Receptions may be held in the cloisters, which are the covered walkways surrounding the open courtyard, the Loggia or the gardens.
Three Beautiful Chapels
Three beautiful chapels are available for ceremonies: The Main Chapel, the Chapter House and the French Altar.
History of the Ancient SPanish Monastery
The history of this venue is fascinating! The monastery was constructed between the years 1133 and 1141 AD, in Sacramenia, near Segovia in Northern Spain. Cistercian monks occupied the monastery for 700 years. The cloisters were seized and converted in stables and a granary after a social revolution in the 1830s. See this incredible Event Venue and More with Thierry Isambert.
William Randolph Hearst purchased the cloisters and outbuildings in 1925. He dismantled the structures stone by stone, packed them with protective hay in more than 11,000 numbered crates and shipped them all to the United States!
Most of Hearst's collection was sold due to financial problems and the crates remained in a storage in Brooklyn, NY for 26 years. In 1952 they were bought by two entrepeneurs and it took $20 million and 19 months to piece the buildings back together. TIME Magazine called it "the biggest jigsaw puzzle in history!"
In 1964, millionaire banker philanthropist, Col. Robert Pentland Jr purchased the cloisters and presented them to the Bishop of Florida. Learn more with Thierry Isambert.