Our Favorite Outdoor Wedding Venues in Central Florida (Plus the Best Woodsy Picks)

We spend many weekends photographing and filming weddings across Central Florida, and one thing we hear from couples again and again is that they want their ceremony outside, surrounded by real trees and real Florida landscape, not a hotel ballroom with a few potted plants for decoration. As a team of photographers and videographers, we know that some of our favorite outdoor wedding venues in Central Florida have a lot to offer, with a particular focus on the woodsy, tree-covered properties that tend to photograph best.

Why Couples Are Choosing Woodsy Venues

More couples are moving away from traditional ballrooms and beach weddings in favor of something that feels grounded in nature. A woodsy venue offers natural shade, light filtering through the branches, and a backdrop that requires very little additional decor to feel complete. From a photography and videography standpoint, these venues also tend to give us the most varied, textured footage of the day, since the light and scenery change so much from morning to golden hour.

Here are some central Florida outdoor wedding venues we love, in no particular order.

Bear Tree Barn, Bushnell

Bear Tree Barn sits on a 450-acre working ranch near Bushnell, with wide open land, mature trees, and an air-conditioned barn for the reception. Couples often choose to marry outdoors under the trees on the property, which gives us a naturally beautiful ceremony backdrop with little need for additional florals or structure. It is one of our go-to picks for couples who want a rustic, ranch-style setting.

The Pinery Forest and Garden, Howey-in-the-Hills

For couples who want their ceremony to feel genuinely inside a forest rather than just near a few decorative trees, The Pinery Forest and Garden delivers. The ceremony space sits within a stand of tall Florida pines, with a natural canopy overhead and soft, filtered afternoon light that we love shooting in. A tropical garden reception space sits right next door, so couples can host the entire day in one location about forty-five minutes outside Orlando.

Camp Ithiel, Orlando

If you are picturing a rustic wedding in the woods without leaving the Orlando area entirely, Camp Ithiel is worth a visit. The property leans into its natural, wooded setting and gives couples a genuinely outdoorsy feel while still being conveniently close to the city for out-of-town guests.

The Whitewood Ranch, De Leon Springs

The Whitewood Ranch blends a modern glasshouse reception space with a heavily wooded, oak-canopied setting, giving couples the best of both worlds. An open-air chapel and wood-decked ceremony space sit beneath a canopy of oak trees, so you get that woodsy, natural feel for the ceremony itself, with a more polished indoor space available for the reception.

Black Prong Resort, Bronson

Set inside the Goethe State Forest, Black Prong Resort is one of the most immersive woodsy outdoor wedding venues in Central Florida for couples willing to make a bit of a drive. Towering pines and southern live oaks surround the property, and on-site lodging means the celebration can easily stretch into a full weekend for you and your closest guests.

What to Consider Before Booking a Woodsy Venue

A few practical things are worth thinking through before you book any of these outdoor wedding venues in Central Florida. Florida weather is unpredictable, so ask every venue about their rain plan and whether a tent or covered structure is available if needed. Bugs and heat can also be more noticeable at a heavily wooded property than at a beach or ballroom venue, so an evening ceremony or a season outside of peak summer humidity tends to be more comfortable for guests.

It is also worth asking about vendor policies early. Some woodsy venues have an open vendor policy that lets you bring in your own catering, florals, and rentals, while others work from a preferred vendor list. Knowing this ahead of time will help you build an accurate budget.

Why We Love Shooting Outdoor, Woodsy Weddings

As a team, we find these to be some of our favorite weddings to shoot. Dappled light through tree canopies gives portraits a soft, natural glow that is hard to recreate indoors, and the textures of bark, moss, and pine needles add depth to wide shots that a plain ballroom simply cannot offer. Golden hour in particular tends to look spectacular at a wooded venue, with light filtering through branches in a way that feels genuinely cinematic on video.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Wedding

Whether you are drawn to open ranch land, a pine forest clearing, or oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, Central Florida has no shortage of outdoor wedding venues. If you are still deciding between a few properties, we are always happy to talk through how each one tends to photograph and film so you can pick the setting that fits your vision.

If you have already booked one of these venues, or are considering a different outdoor wedding venue in Central Florida, reach out and let us know your date. We would love to help capture your day.