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Micro Wedding Central Florida: A Guide to Going Small

· Cherished Memories Studio

More couples are choosing to say “I do” with a shorter guest list and a bigger focus on the moments that actually matter. As a Central Florida photography and videography team, we have watched the micro wedding trend grow steadily over the past few years, and we understand why.

A smaller day means a smaller budget stretched further, more time with the people you love most, and far less pressure on the details. If you are planning a micro wedding in Central Florida, here is everything we think you should know, from what counts as “micro” to our favorite venues and what to expect from a micro wedding package.

Bride and groom walk through a garden together at their micro wedding in Central Florida

What Counts as a Micro Wedding in Florida

A micro wedding in Florida generally includes 50 guests or fewer, though many couples keep their number closer to 10 to 25. It sits between an elopement, which is typically just the couple and maybe a witness or two, and a traditional wedding with 100-plus guests. What makes a micro wedding different from a small wedding on a budget out of necessity is intention. Couples choose this format because they want a day built entirely around their closest circle, without the logistics of a large guest list dictating the venue, the timeline, or the vendor list.

A small white wedding cake sits on a table next to pink and orange flowers at a micro wedding reception A bride dances with her groom at their wedding reception in florida

Our Favorite Micro Wedding Venues in Central Florida

Garden Micro Wedding Venues Central Florida Couples Love

Garden venues are some of our favorite spaces to shoot for exactly this reason. They photograph beautifully with very little added decor, and several of the best options in our area are also some of the most affordable.

Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park is a longtime favorite for a reason. This lakefront 5.22-acre park is shaded by towering cypress trees, with a Greek-style Exedra monument overlooking Lake Maitland that makes for a stunning ceremony backdrop. The City of Winter Park caps weddings here at 20 guests, and the Exedra can be reserved for a two-hour window for $600 plus a refundable deposit, making it one of the most budget-friendly garden micro wedding venues in Central Florida.

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales offers a dedicated garden elopement package for up to six people starting at $1,000, set among the gardens’ National Historic Landmark grounds and its iconic 205-foot Singing Tower. For couples who want a slightly larger ceremony, full garden rentals are also available, though they run at a higher investment than the elopement package.

Azalea Lodge at Mead Botanical Garden, also in Winter Park, gives couples four distinct outdoor ceremony spots, including the Legacy Garden and Butterfly Garden, plus an indoor lodge as a rain backup. It is a great pick for couples who want that lush, garden micro wedding feel with a built-in Plan B if Florida weather does not cooperate.

For couples drawn to a woodsier, garden-adjacent feel, The Pinery Forest and Garden in Howey-in-the-Hills pairs a pine forest ceremony space with a tropical garden reception area on the same property. We covered this one, along with several other favorites, in our guide to outdoor wedding venues in Central Florida.

Bride and groom laugh while sitting at a table at their wedding reception

More Central Florida Micro Wedding Venues

Beyond gardens, we love Up the Creek Farms, which offers an all-inclusive micro wedding package for up to 25 guests that bundles the ceremony, a dinner reception on the Boathouse terrace, and florals into one price, taking a lot of the planning off your plate.

If you are still deciding on a venue and want to see more of what Central Florida has to offer at every size and budget, our full breakdown of the best Central Florida wedding venues is a good place to start.

A groom adjusts his tie while getting ready for his micro wedding in Central Florida A bride smiles while putting on her earrings as she prepares to get married

What to Expect from Micro Wedding Packages in Florida

One of the biggest perks of a micro wedding is how much easier it makes budgeting for photography and videography. With a shorter day and a smaller guest list, couples often do not need the longer coverage windows built into traditional wedding packages. Our Pearl package, which includes four hours of coverage, 300-plus fully edited photos, and a highlight video, tends to be a natural fit for a micro wedding timeline, though we are always happy to talk through customizing your specific day. Every package also includes a free engagement session, which is a nice way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day.

A pergola is decorated with greenery and colorful flowers in a garden in Central Florida

Tips for Planning Your Central Florida Micro Wedding

Book your venue early, even for a small day. Popular garden spots like Kraft Azalea have hard guest caps and limited time slots, so they can fill up just as fast as larger venues.

Ask about rain plans. Florida weather does not care how small your guest list is. Any outdoor garden venue you are considering should have a covered option or a clear backup plan.

Put your budget toward the details you will actually notice. A shorter guest list often means you can afford upgrades, better catering, a live musician, or additional photography and videography hours that would have been out of reach for a larger wedding.

Think about timing. Golden hour in Central Florida shifts throughout the year, and a well-timed micro wedding ceremony can take full advantage of that soft, warm light without needing a large production to look stunning.

A bride walks down the aisle with her father at her micro wedding in Florida A groom kisses his bride after saying their vows in front of family at their wedding in Central Florida

Let’s Capture Your Micro Wedding

As Central Florida wedding photographers and videographers, we love micro weddings because they let us slow down and focus entirely on you and your favorite people. Whether you have your venue picked out already or you are still narrowing down your options, reach out and tell us about your day. We would love to help capture it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a micro wedding in Central Florida?
A micro wedding generally includes 50 guests or fewer, though many couples keep their number closer to 10 to 25. It differs from an elopement by including a small guest list, and from a small wedding by being an intentional choice rather than a budget compromise.
What are the best garden micro wedding venues in Central Florida?
Some of our favorites include Kraft Azalea Garden and Azalea Lodge at Mead Botanical Garden, both in Winter Park, along with Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, which offers a dedicated garden elopement package for smaller groups.
How much does a micro wedding package cost in Florida?
It varies by vendor and venue, but many garden venues cap guest counts at 20 to 25 and charge significantly less than traditional venue rentals. Photography and videography packages can also be scaled down to match a shorter micro wedding timeline, which helps lower the overall cost.
Do garden micro wedding venues need a rain plan?
Yes. Florida weather is unpredictable no matter the guest count, so any outdoor garden venue should have a covered space or a clear backup plan in case of rain.