Introduction

Planning a Sample McDougald House wedding gives you something that can be surprisingly hard to find in South Florida: a venue with actual history, character, and enough flexibility to make the day your own. Located in Pompano Beach, the Sample-McDougald House is a restored historic home surrounded by five acres of property, giving you the old Florida feel without having to travel far from Fort Lauderdale or the coast.

Whether you’re thinking about a small elopement on the property or a full wedding with everyone you know, there are quite a few ways to use the space. And from a photography and videography perspective, there is SO much to work with the historic architecture, wraparound porch, greenery, open lawn, and all of the little details inside and outside the house.

In this guide, I’m breaking down what you should know about getting married at the Sample-McDougald House, including the venue itself, ceremony and reception options, photo locations, and what makes it such a fun option for couples looking for a South Florida wedding venue that doesn’t feel like every other venue in the area.

About Sample Mcdougald House

Before getting into all of the details and wedding inspiration, there are a few basics worth knowing about the Sample-McDougald House and what planning a wedding here actually looks like.

The Sample-McDougald House is a historic wedding venue located in Pompano Beach, Florida, just north of Fort Lauderdale. The home dates back to 1916 and has been restored while keeping so much of its original Old Florida character. Today, the property sits on five acres and is used for weddings, private events, tours, and community events.

Its location also makes it a really convenient option if you have guests coming from different parts of South Florida. You’re within easy reach of Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and the surrounding Broward County area, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport nearby for anyone flying in.

One of the biggest things to know when you start looking at the Sample-McDougald House for your wedding is just how flexible the property is. You aren’t limited to one specific type of celebration or guest count. The venue can work for everything from a small, intimate wedding or elopement to a much larger celebration, which gives you a lot of room to make the property work for the wedding you’re actually planning.

Where is Sample Mcdougald House?

The Sample-McDougald House Preservation Society is located at 450 NE 10th Street in Pompano Beach, Florida, inside Centennial Park.

For couples planning a South Florida wedding, the location puts you right in Broward County and close to Fort Lauderdale while still giving you the greenery and historic Old Florida setting that makes the property feel completely different from the busier areas surrounding it.

It’s also a great location if you want to make more of a weekend out of your wedding. Your guests can stay around Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale and have easy access to beaches, restaurants, hotels, and everything else South Florida has to offer without your actual wedding having to take place at a traditional beach or hotel venue.

Closest Major Cities/Towns:

The Sample-McDougald House is in Pompano Beach, putting it in a pretty central spot for couples with guests traveling from throughout South Florida.

• Driving Time From Fort Lauderdale: Approximately 20–25 minutes
• Driving Time From Boca Raton: Approximately 20–25 minutes
• Driving Time From Miami: Approximately 45–60 minutes

Drive times can vary depending on traffic, especially if you’re traveling during rush hour or on a busy weekend, so I always recommend leaving a little extra time when building your wedding day timeline.

How to Get to Sample Mcdougald House

Closest Major Airports:

If you or your guests are flying in for your wedding, you have a few different airport options. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will generally be the easiest and closest option, but Palm Beach and Miami are both close enough to consider depending on where your guests are flying from and which flights make the most sense.

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): Approximately 20–25 minutes
• Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): Approximately 40–50 minutes
• Miami International Airport (MIA): Approximately 45–60 minutes

How to Drive to Sample Mcdougald House

The Sample-McDougald House is located inside Centennial Park at 450 NE 10th Street, Pompano Beach, FL. For most guests, putting the venue directly into Google Maps or Apple Maps will be the easiest way to get there.

One thing worth knowing is that there are multiple access points around the property, and GPS may occasionally direct you toward a closed gate. If that happens, don’t panic, you may simply need to continue around the property to the open entrance.

For your wedding day, I would also make sure the exact entrance and parking instructions provided by the venue are included on your wedding website so guests aren’t trying to figure it out as your ceremony is starting.

Why Have Your Wedding at Sample Mcdougald House?

There are a lot of wedding venues in South Florida, but the Sample-McDougald House is one of those places that actually feels different. If you want something with history and personality without giving up the convenience of being right in Pompano Beach, there’s a lot to love here.

• Conveniently located in Pompano Beach. You get a setting that feels tucked away without asking your guests to travel hours outside of South Florida.
• Situated on a five-acre park. The historic home sits within Centennial Park, giving you plenty of greenery and outdoor space while still being in the middle of Pompano Beach.
• It actually has history. Built in 1916 and listed on the National and Local Registers of Historic Places, the house brings original South Florida character that you just can’t recreate inside a newer venue.
• It’s relatively affordable for a South Florida wedding venue. Current venue rental rates vary based on your guest count and day of the week, with weekday wedding rentals starting at $2,500 and weekend rentals starting at $5,000 for up to 100 guests. Ceremony-only options are available for even less.
• It works for intimate weddings AND big ones. You don’t need a 150-person guest list to make the property make sense. The venue offers ceremony-only options and intimate spaces while also accommodating celebrations of up to 400 guests.
• You have multiple outdoor ceremony options. Between the front porch, courtyards, gardens, lawn, and covered pavilion, you aren’t locked into one exact setup for the entire day.
• The getting-ready spaces are actually part of the experience. There’s a bridal suite and groom’s dressing room inside the historic home, and the interior is available for photos. Instead of getting ready in a completely separate hotel room, those first few hours of your wedding can already feel connected to the venue.
• You have a covered outdoor option. The open-air pavilion gives you another option for your celebration which is especially nice to have when you’re planning an outdoor wedding in South Florida.

For couples who want something historic, outdoorsy, flexible, and a little different from the traditional South Florida ballroom wedding, Sample-McDougald House gives you a really good starting point.

FAQ’s About Sample Mcdougald House Weddings

How much does a Sample McDougald House wedding cost?

Wedding venue rentals currently range from $2,500–$8,000, depending on your guest count and whether you get married on a weekday or weekend. Weekend rentals start at $5,000 for up to 100 guests, while weekday rentals start at $2,500. Ceremony-only rentals are also available and currently start at $1,250 on weekdays and $2,500 on weekends.

How many guests can you have at a Sample McDougald House wedding?

Sample-McDougald House offers wedding pricing for celebrations with up to 400 guests, making it an option for everything from a small intimate wedding to a pretty massive celebration.

Can you have both your ceremony and reception at Sample McDougald House?

Yes! You can host both your ceremony and reception on the property. There are several outdoor spaces to work with, including the front porch, courtyards, grounds, and covered open-air pavilion. Ceremony-only rentals are available too if you want to celebrate somewhere else afterward.

Are Sample McDougald House weddings indoors or outdoors?

Weddings take place in the venue’s outdoor garden setting. The interior of the historic house is available for getting ready and wedding photos, but it isn’t the main indoor ceremony or reception space. There is also a covered open-air pavilion on the property, which is definitely worth considering when you’re planning a South Florida wedding.

Can you get ready at Sample McDougald House?

Yes. There is a bridal suite and groom’s dressing room located inside the historic home. And from a photographer’s perspective, this is one of my favorite parts of the venue. Instead of starting your gallery in a random hotel room, you can incorporate the architecture and historical details of the house into your getting-ready photos from the very beginning.

How long do you get the venue for your wedding?

Their current wedding rental includes a 10-hour timeframe, but that doesn’t mean you have a 10-hour reception. That timeframe accounts for the rehearsal, setup, ceremony/reception, and cleanup. The actual ceremony and reception must be completed within a five-hour period. Additional venue hours can currently be arranged in advance for $250 per hour.

Does Sample McDougald House include wedding vendors?

No. The published wedding rental fees are for the venue itself, so you’ll still need to plan for things like catering, rentals, florals, entertainment, photography, and videography separately. The venue does have a preferred vendor list available if you need recommendations.

Can you tour Sample McDougald House before booking?

Yes. Personal venue tours are available by appointment with their Rental Sales Manager. You can also self-tour the grounds during their designated public hours if you’re still in the early stages of deciding whether the venue is right for you.

Is Sample McDougald House a good venue for an intimate wedding or elopement?

Absolutely. I actually think this is one of the biggest perks of the property. You don’t need to plan a huge traditional wedding to take advantage of the setting. Their ceremony-only options, courtyards, porch, gardens, and historic house give smaller celebrations plenty to work with without making an intimate guest count feel swallowed by a giant ballroom.

Planning Your Sample Mcdougald House Wedding

Once you’ve decided you love the location and historic feel of the property, it’s time to get into what actually comes with planning a wedding here. Sample-McDougald House gives you quite a bit of flexibility, but it’s also a venue where you’ll be bringing in your own vendors and making a lot of the day your own.

Top Sample McDougald House Features

Some of the biggest features to know about when planning your Sample-McDougald House wedding include:

• Five acres of property surrounding the historic home
• Historic 1916 home with original Old Florida character
• Bridal suite located inside the house
• Separate groom’s dressing room
• Access to the interior of the house for wedding photos
• Wraparound porch that can be incorporated into portraits and your wedding day
• Multiple outdoor ceremony locations
• Courtyards and gardens for ceremonies, cocktail hour, portraits, or guest areas
• Large outdoor lawn with room to create a wedding setup that works for your guest count
• Covered open-air pavilion for additional event space
• Space for up to 400 wedding guests
• Options for smaller weddings and ceremony-only celebrations
• Tables and chairs included with full wedding rentals
• One-hour ceremony rehearsal during the week of your wedding
• Freedom to bring in your own wedding vendors rather than being locked into an all-inclusive wedding package
• Preferred vendor recommendations available if you need help putting together your vendor team

From a photography and videography standpoint, one of the biggest advantages is simply how much variety you have without needing to leave. You can go from getting ready inside the historic house to portraits on the porch, greenery around the property, editorial photos against the architecture, and then straight into the ceremony and reception without building travel time into the middle of your wedding day.

Sample Mcdougald House Ceremony Site Options

One of the best parts about planning a Sample-McDougald House wedding is that you aren’t limited to one designated ceremony spot. The property has several outdoor areas that can be used depending on your guest count, layout, and the backdrop you want.

The Front Porch

If the historic house is one of the reasons you fell in love with the venue, using the front porch as your ceremony backdrop puts it front and center. The white columns, steps, and architecture already give you a lot visually, so you don’t necessarily need to bring in a ton of additional decor to make the ceremony space feel finished.

This would be one of my top choices if you want the history of Sample-McDougald House to be immediately recognizable in your wedding photos and video.

The Courtyards

The property also has courtyard spaces that can be used for a more intimate ceremony setup. These are a great option if you want something that feels a little more tucked away than having your ceremony out on the larger lawn.

I especially like this option for smaller weddings where you want the space to feel intentional rather than choosing a ceremony location designed to hold hundreds of people.

The Gardens & Grounds

With five acres surrounding the house, you also have the option of creating an outdoor ceremony on the grounds. This gives you more freedom with your layout and works especially well for larger guest counts.

It also gives you the ability to let the landscape do a lot of the work. If you’re already choosing Sample-McDougald because you love the greenery and Old Florida setting, you can keep your ceremony design fairly simple or completely transform the space with florals and rentals.

The Covered Pavilion

The open-air pavilion gives you a covered option on the property while still keeping the outdoor feel of the venue. Having some type of covered space available is definitely something I would think about when planning a South Florida wedding, especially during months when afternoon rain is common.

How Much Do the Ceremony Spaces Cost?

The individual ceremony locations aren’t currently priced as separate spaces. Instead, they’re included as part of the venue’s wedding rental options.

Sample-McDougald House also offers ceremony-only rentals if you don’t need the property for a full reception. Current ceremony-only pricing starts at $1,250 Monday through Thursday and $2,500 Friday through Sunday for up to 100 guests, with higher rates for larger celebrations.

If you’re planning your ceremony here, I would tour the property before deciding exactly where you want to say your vows. Seeing how each space feels in person and thinking about your guest count, time of day, lighting, and reception layout will make choosing between them a lot easier.

The Best Time of Year to Get Married at Sample Mcdougald House

If I were choosing a date for a Sample-McDougald House wedding, I would personally look at November through April first. Since weddings here take place primarily outdoors, these months give you some of the best chances for comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and less rain.

November–April: My Top Pick

This is South Florida wedding season for a reason. Average daytime highs in Pompano Beach range from the mid-70s to low-80s through most of these months, and rainfall is significantly lower than it is during the summer.

For an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, that can make a huge difference. Your guests aren’t sitting outside in 90-degree heat, you’re less likely to be watching the radar all afternoon, and you can actually enjoy being outside.

December through March would probably be my personal sweet spot if weather is one of your biggest priorities.

May–October: Warmer, Wetter & Worth Having a Rain Plan

You can absolutely get married here during the summer and early fall, but I would go into it expecting heat, humidity, and the possibility of afternoon rain.

June through September are especially hot, with average highs around 89–91°F, and they’re also some of Pompano Beach’s wettest months. South Florida rain can also be incredibly random it might pour for 20 minutes and then give you a completely beautiful evening.

The bigger thing is having a plan instead of spending your entire wedding week obsessively refreshing the weather app. Sample-McDougald House does have a covered open-air pavilion, so I would talk with the venue about exactly what your rain plan would look like based on your guest count and setup.

And if you’re considering an August, September, or October wedding, remember that you’re also planning during the most active part of Atlantic hurricane season. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t choose those months, but wedding insurance and flexible vendor plans are definitely worth thinking about.

Is There a Cheaper Season to Get Married at Sample-McDougald House?

Sample-McDougald House doesn’t currently advertise separate seasonal wedding rates. Their published pricing is based on guest count and whether you’re getting married on a weekday or weekend, rather than the month you choose.

So if you’re trying to save money on the venue itself, choosing a Monday–Thursday wedding can make a much bigger difference than choosing a summer date. For example, current full wedding rentals for up to 100 guests start at $2,500 on weekdays compared with $5,000 Friday through Sunday.

Ultimately, there really isn’t a bad month to have a South Florida wedding as long as you plan around the season you’re choosing. But if your dream is to spend as much of your Sample-McDougald House wedding outside as possible, November through April would be my first choice.

Sample Mcdougald House Wedding Package(s) / Wedding Cost

How Much Does it Cost to Get Married at Sample Mcdougald House?

A Sample-McDougald House wedding currently costs between $2,500 and $8,000 for a full wedding rental, depending on your guest count and whether you choose a weekday or weekend.

For Friday–Sunday weddings:

• Up to 100 guests: $5,000
• Up to 200 guests: $6,000
• Up to 300 guests: $7,000
• Up to 400 guests: $8,000

For Monday–Thursday weddings:

• Up to 100 guests: $2,500
• Up to 200 guests: $3,000
• Up to 300 guests: $3,500
• Up to 400 guests: $4,000

If you’re open to a weekday, that’s a pretty significant difference. A wedding with up to 100 guests, for example, is currently $2,500 on a weekday compared with $5,000 on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

They also offer ceremony-only rentals starting at $1,250 on weekdays and $2,500 on weekends for up to 100 guests.

Similar Venues You Might Enjoy

If you love Sample-McDougald House but you’re still comparing venues, there are a few other historic South Florida properties I’d look at.

The Historic Stranahan House Museum | Fort Lauderdale

Stranahan House is another option if the history is what initially drew you to Sample-McDougald. It’s located directly on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, so the setting feels completely different you get historic Florida architecture with the water and city surrounding you.

I’d consider this one if you want something historic but would rather be closer to downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens | Fort Lauderdale

Bonnet House gives you historic architecture, gardens, tropical landscaping, and a property that feels incredibly different from the city surrounding it.

If the greenery and historic character are your favorite parts of Sample-McDougald House, Bonnet House would absolutely be worth touring too. The overall feel is more tropical and garden-focused, while Sample-McDougald has more of that traditional Old Florida historic-home look.

Deering Estate | Miami

If you’re willing to go farther south, Deering Estate is another historic property with a completely different scale and setting. You get historic architecture, huge trees, Biscayne Bay, and significantly more of that grand estate feeling.

I’d look at Deering Estate if you love the idea of a historic South Florida wedding but want something closer to Miami with waterfront views.

Which South Florida Wedding Venue Is Right for You?

All four give you history and outdoor space, but they don’t feel interchangeable.

If you want something historic, flexible, centrally located in Broward County, and relatively affordable, I’d start with Sample-McDougald House.

If you want historic + downtown Fort Lauderdale, look at Stranahan House.

If you want lush gardens + tropical Old Florida, look at Bonnet House.

And if you want a larger historic estate + Biscayne Bay, take a look at Deering Estate.

There are so many beautiful wedding venues in South Florida. The goal isn’t to find the one you’re supposed to choose it’s finding the one where you can actually picture spending your wedding day.

Hiring Your Sample Mcdougald House Wedding Photographer

If you’re looking for a Sample McDougald House wedding photographer, I’ve actually photographed a wedding here and it’s a venue I would genuinely love to come back to.

I’m Kaylee, the photographer and videographer behind Through Her Lens Photography. I photograph weddings throughout South Florida with a mix of documentary storytelling and editorial portraits. Basically, I want you to have the beautiful photos you want framed in your house without spending your entire wedding day posing for them.

Sample-McDougald House works SO well for the way I photograph weddings. There’s enough variety around the property to create more intentional, editorial portraits, but there are also so many spaces for the day to just happen. You can get ready inside the historic house, have your ceremony outside, disappear for portraits around the property for a little while, and then get right back to your people without spending half your wedding day driving between locations.

I also offer photography and videography together, along with 35mm film and Super 8. If you love the historical character of this venue, film fits ridiculously well here. You can mix the clean look of digital photography and video with the imperfect, nostalgic feel of actual film without having to hire completely separate teams for each one.

My wedding coverage isn’t built around squeezing everything into the smallest number of hours possible. I offer full-day coverage because I want there to be room for the parts you planned AND everything that happens in between the getting-ready chaos, your people hanging around before the ceremony, portraits without rushing through them, and whatever happens once everyone hits the dance floor.

If you’re planning a Sample-McDougald House wedding and want your photos and video to feel like your wedding actually felt, my contact form is right below. Tell me what you’re planning, what parts of the day matter most to you, and all the details you’ve figured out so far.