Our favorite unique picturesque locations to get married at in Central Florida
I’ve shot a decent amount of wedding since starting Author Made a little over a year ago. From large destination weddings to small intimate micro weddings, I’ve done it all. I wanted to share with you three of my favorite locations that I’ve shot at in central Florida:
The Vineyards at Black Willow - Mims, Florida
Nestled away from all the hustle and bustle of the theme parks and major attractions, The Vineyards at Black Willow is a rustic styled venue located in Mims, FL - about an hour away from both Orlando and Cocoa Beach, FL. The venue has two parts: a barn/reception venue and an outdoor ceremony space.
The reception space is a huge indoor, air conditioned bar that can seat upwards of 100 people. As of this post, the reception space includes tables and chairs as part of their main venue package in addition to additional use of decor and more. The way that I would describe this venue is that it has everything that you need to be able to host a large wedding - all you need to bring is you, your partner, guests, and catering!
The barn reception space at The Vineyards at Black Willow has both rustic charm and modern conveniences!
The ceremony site is an outdoor venue that sits under large oak trees with rows of benches. Perfect for a cozy wedding for you and your closest friends and family members. The site also includes a massive wood arch and barrel which you can decorate to your heart’s content.
What I love most about the venue is actually when you enter it. The venue is surrounded by an actual vineyard which you can walk around and take pictures in. A perfect backdrop to some romantic scenes that you can set up for either a micro-wedding or for a quiet interlude from the hustle and bustle of your wedding day!
Haus 820 - Lakeland, Florida
If you go westward from Orlando, FL - you’ll hit a small town called Lakeland, FL. There, you’ll find one of Central Florida’s up and coming wedding venues - Haus 820.
Formerly a warehouse, this historic building has been renovated into a contemporary wedding venue that is not only multi-purpose, but extremely gorgeous.
The main space is a huge indoor room with exposed bricks on virtually all sides. It also has natural lighting that also fills the north and east side of the main hall. The space is completely blank and can be used in a variety of ways. Haus 820’s website states that the max standing capacity is nearly 1000 people, with enough seating for almost 500 people. That’s a lot of space! Their space page will also show you how you are able to do either just a reception or a ceremony/reception layout within the main area. Talk about easy set up!
But enough about that, the site also has a built in bar, for those who want to party it up by bringing their own bartender. Haus 820 also has a professional catering finishing kitchen, so it makes it a real breeze for your caterer to work in. In addition to that, the venue has 17 ft. exposed rafter ceilings, which give it a real old school/antique charm about the place.
If you’re looking to do an outdoor ceremony, Haus 820 also has a courtyard in which you’re able to host a ceremony outside as well.
The last feature about Haus 820 is that it has a beautiful outdoor mural painted in a variety of cute colors - perfect for you to be able to have a cute and modern backdrop for not only you, but for friends and family.
If you’re looking for a modern facility that can host a large party, then be sure to add this to the list of venues to check out!
Bok Tower Gardens - Lake Wales, Florida
Located about an hour away from Orlando, Bok Tower Gardens is a national historic landmark nestled in the Lake Wales Ridge - one of the highest points in all of Florida.
The Gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr - the son of the famous Central Park landscape architect Frederick Olmsted - has thousands of flowers, palms, and natural hardy plants that just show off the natural beauty of Florida. At the center of it all, the Singing Tower overlooks the entirety of the Garden. This Gothic revival tower generates awe and wonder, perfect for a wedding or engagement session!
The Singing Towers is obviously one of the landmark attractions where you could go and have a wedding, but Bok Tower Gardens has various venues within the Gardens that can house weddings of upwards of 50 people at the time of this post. From the famous Sundial Overlook, to the beautiful Pinewood Estate, Bok Tower Gardens has a venue that could fit whatever style of wedding you’re looking for.
The best part about it all is that Bok Tower Gardens has beautiful trails that surround the gardens, making it a dream for you and your loved one to take beautiful Golden Hour pictures out in nature!
If you’re looking for intimate venues surrounded by Florida’s best natural beauty, look no further than Bok Tower Gardens!
In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you’re interested in learning more and wanting to work with me on your wedding day, please feel free to reach out by contacting us. We hope to be able to write your love story!
