Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married in Central Florida

Central Florida weddings pull couples in from all over the country, and it is not hard to see why. Between the year-round warm weather, the mix of luxury estates and budget-friendly garden venues, and a wedding industry that has been perfecting the “destination wedding without the destination price tag” formula for years, this region has become one of the most popular places to get married in the state.

As a photography and videography team based right here, we wanted to put together one place with everything couples ask before they even book a venue, from the marriage license process to what things actually cost.

Why Couples Choose Central Florida for Their Wedding

Central Florida offers something most other regions cannot match: variety within a short drive. You can tour a Tuscan-style estate in Montverde in the morning and a lakeside garden in Winter Park by lunch. The area’s central location also makes it easy on out-of-town guests, with Orlando International Airport serving as one of the busiest hubs in the country, plenty of hotel inventory at every price point, and enough non-wedding activities nearby to turn a wedding weekend into a mini vacation for your guests.

Getting Your Florida Marriage License

Before anything else, every couple getting married in Florida needs a marriage license, and the process is more straightforward than in many other states. In Orange County, both partners apply together in person at a Clerk of Courts location, bringing valid photo ID and their Social Security numbers. The license fee is $86, dropping to $61 if both partners complete a state-approved premarital preparation course.

Florida residents face a three-day waiting period unless they complete that course, while out-of-state couples can get married the same day they apply. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in Florida, not just the county where you got it, so it works no matter which Central Florida venue you choose.

Places to Get Married in Central Florida: Venue Types to Know

One of the best places to start when narrowing down wedding locations in Central Florida is by venue type, since each one photographs and functions very differently.

Garden venues are some of our favorite spaces to shoot, offering lush, natural backdrops that need very little added decor. We put together a full breakdown of our top picks, including a few hidden-gem public parks, in our guide to micro wedding venues in Central Florida.

Rustic barn and ranch venues have become one of the fastest-growing categories in the region, with properties offering everything from working cattle ranches to renovated pole barns surrounded by oak trees. We cover several favorites, including some that lean woodsy and tree-covered, in our post on outdoor wedding venues in Central Florida.

Luxury estates like Bella Collina in Montverde deliver a European, resort-style feel without leaving Florida, typically with a higher price tag to match. We shared more about what makes this one special in our Bella Collina venue spotlight.

Waterfront venues, from lakeside estates to riverside chapels, take full advantage of Florida’s abundance of lakes and springs, giving couples that golden hour, water-reflected light we love shooting. For a complete side-by-side comparison across luxury and affordable picks in every category, our guide to the best Central Florida wedding venues is the most thorough resource we have put together.

What Does a Central Florida Wedding Cost?

Budgets vary widely depending on guest count and venue type, but most local wedding cost trackers put the average full wedding in the Orlando area somewhere between $25,000 and $35,000 for a traditional guest list. Venue rental alone typically runs anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000 depending on the property and season, with peak season (roughly October through May) commanding higher rates than the hot, humid summer months. Couples looking to spend less without sacrificing style often lean toward public garden parks, weekday dates, or a micro wedding format, which can bring the total cost down significantly while still delivering a beautiful day.

Best Time of Year to Get Married in Central Florida

Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the most popular seasons for Central Florida weddings, and for good reason. Temperatures are milder, humidity drops, and the risk of afternoon thunderstorms is lower than during peak summer. That popularity comes with a tradeoff though: the most in-demand venues in these windows can book out 12 to 18 months in advance. Couples who are flexible on their date, or who love the idea of a warm-weather summer or winter wedding, often find more availability and better pricing outside of peak season.

Choosing Your Central Florida Wedding Photography and Videography Team

Once you have a venue and a date, locking in your photography and videography team early matters more in Central Florida than in a lot of other markets, simply because the best vendors book up alongside the venues themselves. We recommend looking for a team that already knows their way around the type of venue you have chosen, since familiarity with the lighting, layout, and logistics of property types makes a real difference in your final gallery and film. Our pricing page breaks down exactly what is included in each of our packages, and every one comes with a complimentary engagement session.

Let’s Talk About Your Central Florida Wedding

Whether you already have your venue locked in or you are still exploring wedding locations across Central Florida, we would love to be part of your planning process. Reach out and tell us about your day, and let’s start building your timeline together.

Frequently Asked Questions