I hear these questions every week from couples planning a Florida elopement or intimate wedding:
Where do we even start? How much time do we actually need? Which vendors do we book first? Do we need a planner, or can we keep this simple?
Here is the truth I wish more couples heard early on: planning a micro wedding is almost always simpler than planning a traditional one. You just need someone walking beside you who already knows the path, so you are never guessing at what comes next.
That is exactly what this guide is for. Whether you’re picturing a quiet courthouse ceremony in downtown Orlando, an intimate garden celebration at a Central Florida estate, or something entirely your own, I want to guide you through this the same way I guide my own couples. As a Florida elopement photographer, my whole goal is to walk with you step by step so your day feels relaxed, intentional, and genuinely yours.
An Elopement vs. an Intimate Wedding
One thing I always like to clarify: an elopement and an intimate (or “micro”) wedding are not exactly the same thing, even though they share so much in common. Elopements are often centered around just the two of you, or a very small group of loved ones. Intimate weddings usually include a slightly larger guest list while still focusing on a meaningful, relaxed experience rather than a large traditional celebration. No matter which direction you are leaning, the planning process is simpler than most couples expect.
If you have not chosen your location yet, start with my complete guide to the best Florida elopement locations, then come back here and we will plan the rest together.
Your Florida Elopement Planning Checklist
Here is the whole elopement planning journey in one place (click to jump ahead):
- Solidify how you want your elopement to feel
- Choose your wedding date with the season in mind
- Begin planning the details
- Hire your Florida elopement photographer (like me!)
- Find your elopement location or venue
- Book your vendor team (officiant, hair, makeup, and florals)
- Apply for your Florida marriage license
- Build a timeline that allows you to be present
- Set your elopement budget
- Enjoy your wedding day!
That is it. It looks simple because it is simple! That’s the joy of a smaller, more intentional wedding day.
Start With the Feeling, Not the Venue
Before you fall in love with a location, take a moment to imagine how you actually want the day to feel. Are you picturing quiet vows at sunrise on a Florida beach? A walk through an elegant garden estate in Winter Park? Dinner afterward with the twenty people who know you best? Watching Disney fireworks light up the sky from somewhere high above the park?
When you start with the vision instead of the venue, every decision that follows becomes easier. The right location tends to reveal itself once you know what you are actually hoping to feel on that day (more on my favorite Florida elopement locations here).
Choose Your Wedding Date With the Season in Mind
Florida is beautiful year-round, but every season brings something different.
Winter and spring tend to be the most popular for Central Florida elopements, thanks to cooler air and lower humidity. Summer brings lush, green landscapes and fewer crowds, though afternoon showers are common, so I always build a little flexibility into the timeline. Fall often gives you the best of both: gorgeous weather paired with more availability at the venues and vendors you love.
When Should You Start Planning?
If you are planning an intimate Florida wedding at a venue or hotel, I typically recommend starting three to six months in advance. That gives you enough time to secure your favorite venue, photographer, and vendors while keeping the planning process relaxed.
If you are planning a courthouse elopement in Orlando or elsewhere in Central Florida, many couples only need one to three months. These celebrations are beautifully simple, so the planning timeline is much shorter.
From my own experience, intimate weddings tend to book around four months out, while elopements are often planned within the last two months. One of the things I love about elopements is how spontaneous they can be. Some couples spend years dreaming about the idea, while others decide they do not want to wait any longer and begin planning just a few weeks before saying I do.
No matter your timeline, my goal is to make the planning feel organized and enjoyable. I will guide you through each step so you are never left wondering what comes next. This calming presence is one of the things I’m known for, and it’s one of my favorite parts of what I do.
Hire Your Florida Elopement Photographer Early
Here is something I wish every couple knew before they start planning: your photographer should not be the last piece of the puzzle. I truly believe we should be one of the first.
For my couples, being their wedding photographer is only part of what I do. I help build the timeline, recommend vendors I already trust, suggest the best spots for portraits throughout Central Florida, and answer planning questions along the way. By the time your wedding morning arrives, I want you to feel like someone has already been looking around the corner for you, quietly solving small problems before they ever have the chance to become stress. All you have to do is be present with each other.
You can learn all about what that experience looks like on my Florida elopement photography page.
The Best Elopement Locations in Florida
Florida has incredible options for an intimate wedding no matter what feeling you are chasing. Historic estates throughout Central Florida. Rooftop celebrations overlooking Walt Disney World. Tropical beaches in the Florida Keys. European-inspired architecture in Palm Beach. Waterfront gardens in Sarasota.
Some of my favorite Central Florida elopement locations include Luxmore Grande Estate, Rollins College and Knowles Memorial Chapel in Winter Park, Casa Feliz, Bella Collina, Sydonie Mansion, Kraft Azalea Garden, and the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando. For Disney elopements, I am a fully licensed and insured third-party photographer for Walt Disney World Resort.
I have put together a full guide to my favorite intimate wedding venues throughout the state. Read my complete guide to the best Florida elopement locations here.
Build Your Vendor Team
Most intimate weddings do not need a long vendor list. Usually it comes down to a handful of people:
- A photographer
- An officiant
- A hair and makeup artist
- A florist
- A planner or day-of coordinator, depending on the size of your day
One of my favorite parts of the elopement planning process is introducing my couples to vendors I already know and trust. Instead of spending hours reading online reviews, you get recommendations from people I have genuinely worked alongside, again and again, at venues across Central Florida and beyond.
Get Your Florida Marriage License
Florida makes it fairly straightforward to get your marriage license, but it is worth handling ahead of time so it is one less thing on your mind during wedding week.
You will apply through any Florida county clerk’s office. Florida residents have a three-day waiting period unless you complete a qualifying premarital course, which waives it. Out-of-state couples have no waiting period at all. Either way, I always recommend getting this done before the week of your wedding.
Some beaches, gardens, parks, and historic properties in Central Florida also require permits for ceremonies or professional photography. If you are unsure what your location requires, I am always happy to help point you in the right direction so there are no surprises on your wedding day.
Build a Timeline That Lets You Be Present
Here is the biggest mistake I see with Florida elopement planning, and it is almost never about choosing the wrong venue. It is trying to fit too much into too little time. A relaxed timeline creates better photographs, simply because you are actually enjoying the day instead of racing through it. As a general guide:
- A courthouse elopement usually needs about two hours
- A private ceremony with portraits typically needs three to four hours
- A fuller intimate wedding with getting ready, a ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, and dinner usually needs four to six hours
The goal is never to spend more time taking photographs. It is to build in enough breathing room so that nothing ever feels rushed.
Think Beyond the Ceremony
Some of my favorite moments from Florida elopements are the ones couples almost overlooked when they were planning. A quiet first look before anyone else arrives. Reading personal vows to each other privately, before the official ceremony. Sharing a glass of champagne right after saying I do. A walk through downtown Winter Park after dinner. Watching the sunset together at a Central Florida estate. Ending the night beneath Disney fireworks.
These are so often the moments couples bring up years later, the ones that end up mattering more than anything on the original checklist.
Spend Intentionally on What Matters Most to You
Every couple has different priorities, and an intimate wedding gives you the freedom to honor that. Some couples put more of their budget toward photography, because those images become family heirlooms. Others invest in an incredible venue, or an unforgettable dinner with their closest guests.
One of the things I love most about intimate weddings is that your budget becomes far more intentional. Instead of paying for a guest list of one hundred or more, you get to pour that investment into an experience that truly reflects the two of you.
FAQ: Tips for Planning a Florida Elopement
How much does a Florida elopement cost?
Every wedding looks different, so this varies quite a bit. Intimate weddings can range anywhere from a simple, modest day to a fully elevated celebration depending on your venue, guest count, and vendor team. My elopement photography packages start at $1,500 for two hours of coverage.
Can we get married in Florida if we do not live here?
Yes! Couples traveling from another state can absolutely have a destination wedding in Florida. If you’re not a Florida resident, you’re not subject to the three-day waiting period that applies to Florida residents when applying for a marriage license.
How many guests can a Florida elopement or micro wedding have?
There is no set number if you’re looking to have an intimate wedding. Some couples choose an elopement with just the two of them. Others invite twenty or thirty of the people closest to them for a micro wedding.
When should we book our Florida elopement photographer and wedding vendors?
I typically recommend booking your Florida elopement photographer two to three months in advance, especially for popular spring and winter dates. My favorite wedding venues and vendors tend to fill their calendars quickly, so a little advance planning goes a long way.
Do we need a wedding planner for a Florida elopement?
Not always. If you are planning a simple courthouse ceremony or a very small celebration, you may not need one. If your day includes multiple vendors, guests, or several locations, having a planner or day-of coordinator can make the experience feel seamless because someone else is managing logistics while you stay present.
Do you actually help with planning, or just the photography?
Genuinely, yes. One of my favorite parts of photographing Florida elopements is helping couples build a day that feels relaxed, intentional, and true to who they are. From vendor recommendations to timeline guidance to location suggestions, I am with you long before your wedding day arrives. You can visit my elopements page to see what that experience looks like.
Ready to Start Planning Your Florida Elopement?
Whether you are dreaming of a quiet courthouse ceremony in Orlando or a full intimate estate celebration somewhere in Central Florida, my goal never changes. I want to create a day where you get to simply be present with each other, while I take care of everything happening around you.
I will help guide you through the planning, connect you with vendors I already trust, build a timeline that actually breathes, and photograph the moments that matter most, so your memories feel just as real years from now as they did on the day you said I do. Ready to start planning? I would love to hear about your vision.
Haven’t chosen your location yet? Start with my full guide to the best Florida elopement locations.
Behind The Lens
I’m Jenn Orlando based wedding photographer that specializes in modern light and airy photography, wife, mother, and world traveler. I came to this work while I was still searching for my purpose. What I didn’t expect was how completely it would find me back.
Every couple I meet and every story I get to witness reminds me exactly why I love what I do. You’re already in the middle of creating memories that will last a lifetime. I just get to come along for the ride.
But what matters most to me isn’t just creating beautiful photographs. It’s helping you feel comfortable, present, and genuinely yourselves throughout the experience. Because the images you treasure most won’t just remind you what your wedding day looked like. They’ll remind you exactly how it felt.
Weddings
Whether you’re planning a wedding at Bella Collina, Casa Feliz, Rollins College, Capen House, or another beautiful Florida venue, my goal is always the same: creating an experience rooted in connection, trust, and intentional storytelling. I capture both the beautifully planned moments and the meaningful in-between ones that make your wedding day uniquely yours, creating photographs that allow you to relive not only how your day looked, but exactly how it felt.
Engagements
Engagement sessions are designed to help you feel comfortable, connected, and confident before your wedding day. Whether you’re planning a wedding in Orlando, Winter Park, Lake Mary, or anywhere across Florida, it’s more than taking beautiful photos it’s an opportunity to slow down, celebrate this season, and build trust before the big day.
Elopements
From intimate courthouse ceremonies to destination celebrations, I photograph elopements and micro weddings throughout Orlando, Central Florida, and beyond. My goal is to create a relaxed experience while documenting your story with intention, connection, and authenticity.
