No wedding planner, no problem?

Actually…anybody who’s planned their own intimate or micro wedding or elopement without a wedding planner will tell you they had plenty of problems. From missed communications to coordinating details with your vendors while you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle or even finding out the day before your wedding that you hadn’t actually booked your venue (yes, this actually happened to one of our brides…)—planning your own wedding is not for the faint of heart.

However, most couples planning a small, intimate micro wedding or elopement often opt to handle planning their own wedding themselves, primarily to save costs on their wedding budget. In fact, not only do most of our clients opt to handle wedding planning themselves, but Michael and I also planned our own wedding, too. Based on our own experience and that of many of our wedding photography clients, we’re sharing things to know if you aren’t hiring a wedding planner.

Can you plan a wedding without a wedding planner? We say yes! Here are 11 simple tips for a stress-free wedding without a wedding planner.

When it comes to planning your small, intimate micro wedding or elopement, choosing a wedding photographer and videographer is no easy feat. Not only is the market often saturated with dozens of talented wedding photographers in your area, but everyone’s price points, editing styles, personalities, and packages are so vastly different (or so similar that it’s hard to differentiate). And once you’ve settled on your wedding photographer, you have to go through the entire process again to find a wedding videographer as well.

No wonder they say planning your own wedding is a full-time job!

In recent years, dual wedding photographers and videographers have become more and more popular, as engaged couples start seeing the benefits of hiring just one individual or team to handle every aspect of capturing the memories of their wedding day. And we’ll be honest: we began Author Made as just a wedding photographer, but we soon realized for ourselves the added value, cost-saving benefits, and reduced stress that our clients experienced when we provided them with both wedding photography and wedding videography. Now, we’re here to share exactly why and how you too should consider hiring a dual wedding photographer and videographer for your intimate wedding or elopement.

So why choose a dual wedding photographer & wedding videographer? Here are 5 compelling reasons.

You don’t have to be a theme park enthusiast to plan an elopement wedding in Central Florida.

While the Sunshine State is best known for its beaches and magical tourist attractions, many couples either local to the area or from out of town still choose to elope in Orlando, Daytona Beach, Lakeland, and throughout the Central Florida area. However, finding an ideal location to stay or hold your elopement is tricky.

Until Airbnb, that is.

Planning an Airbnb elopement is one of the hottest wedding trends. While many larger homes restrict events or large gatherings, choosing to elope at an Airbnb is perfect for couples seeking a romantic, private getaway. You can then choose to exchange your vows at a nearby park or scenic area, using your Airbnb as a honeymoon destination and backdrop for unique, stunning wedding photos to document your intimate elopement experience.

We’ve scouted the internet for the most romantic, must-see Airbnb’s that would be perfect for eloping to the Central Florida area. If you’re planning to elope near Orlando, Daytona Beach, or anywhere else in the Central Florida region, keep reading!

As a wedding photographer and videographer passionate about small, intimate, micro weddings and elopements, we’re not kidding when we say we know what it’s like to plan a small wedding—because we had one, too.

In 2017, Michael and I said “I do” underneath the canopy of a 100-year-old oak tree in historic Oakland, FL (just outside Winter Garden, 30 minutes west of downtown Orlando). If I remember correctly, we had just under 95 guests attending our wedding…about half of which was my extended family.

When I reflect on our own small wedding, it’s hard not to be filled with warm fuzzies at the beautiful moments we shared with one another and our closest family and friends. And remembering our own small wedding gives us tons of empathy for our brides and grooms who are planning their own affordable, micro-weddings or small weddings—and all the challenges that come with planning a small-scale celebration.

In the spirit of sharing our experience, we’re highlighting what we absolutely loved about our own small wedding—and what we wish we would have done differently.

As an Orlando wedding photographer and videographer, we’ve shot weddings of many shapes and sizes, from micro weddings to intimate weddings to elaborate celebrations, each with their own unique personality and style. However, we’re seeing the internet buzz with several hot wedding trends in 2024, and as bookings fill in for the 2024 wedding season, we’re excited to see how many of these predictions come true for our own wedding photography clients.

While there are so many other lists sharing 2024 wedding trends (after all, it isn’t a trend if it’s not being talked about everywhere!), we’re offering our own spin on some of these from the perspective of a wedding photographer and videographer.

Here are our most anticipated wedding style and wedding photography trends for 2024!

There’s something intrinsically magical about getting married outdoors. Whether the wedding is a backyard bash or a scenic ceremony, it makes sense that saying “I do” while surrounded by nature is becoming ever more popular.

As a wedding photographer and videographer in Central Florida, I’ve shot my fair share of outdoor weddings: and have seen plenty of mishaps along the way. Whether it’s makeup running during the noonday heat or nighttime parties with no lighting, while none of these incidents caused any major damage to the wedding day, they did each impact my ability to give my clients the absolute best wedding photography and videography experience.

If you’re considering holding your intimate micro-wedding or elopement outdoors, you’ll want to read this list of 9 things your wedding photographer wants you to know for a stress-free outdoor wedding: rain or shine.

Ever dreamed of getting married in an art gallery? One of Central Florida’s cultural gems, the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL is a unique, stunning wedding venue perfect for indoor ceremonies and receptions in the Central Florida area.

When Amy and I got engaged, our least favorite—yet most commonly asked—question was:

“So when’s the big day?”

No sooner had the ring been on her finger than people left and right started asking how the wedding planning was going. We’ve only been engaged for 2 days!

Wedding planning is basically a full-time job in and of itself. Now that we’ve been married for almost seven years (!), all I remember from our own wedding planning seasons is a blur of meetings, Pinterest boards, and a lot of stress as we juggled wedding planning with a full-time job.

Given how elaborate weddings seem to be these days, it’s no wonder that small, intimate weddings such as micro weddings or elopements are becoming more and more popular. We get it: we had a small wedding too, but even trying to pull that off felt like a drawn-out ordeal.

So when you’re looking to say “I do” to your love while saying “No way” to all the stress and chaos of wedding planning, micro weddings or elopements may seem like a perfect solution. But what’s the difference? Should you have a micro wedding or an elopement? Which one is right for you? 

For couples looking for a romantic, intimate garden wedding in Orlando FL, Leu Gardens is a must-see wedding venue. This affordable outdoor wedding ceremony venue also offers on-site indoor spaces for wedding receptions. Take your wedding photos among nearly 50 acres of historic gardens and dance the night away in the historic Leu house.