I was looking for a small boutique-type wedding venue for Stacey’s pre-wedding bridal portrait session in the Orlando area. We both were passionate about doing so since she wouldn’t have the opportunity to have bridal portraits at her wedding. You see, Stacey’s wedding was actually an elopement ceremony in Colorado with only immediate family.

Pre-Wedding Bridal Session

There are not too many hidden gems when it comes to Orlando wedding venues, but Celebration Gardens in Winter Park truly is one. It was the perfect venue, small and intimate but filled with plenty of nooks and crannies. The details made gorgeous backdrops for a garden wedding, and for my purposes, a wonderful find for Stacey’s bridal portraits.

Stacey’s mother came with her, and I took pictures of her helping Stacey get ready. Let me tell you, just because it may have been a dress rehearsal of sorts, it was not without emotion. There’s something about seeing your daughter put on her wedding dress for the first time that does it. Stacey even teared up thinking about how she will soon be marrying her best friend. The interactions between the two were so touching and sweet!

Stacey’s gown from Nicole Maree Bridal is simply stunning with jeweled spaghetti straps and waistband, a lace appliqued bodice, and pearl buttons down the back. And since the weather in Colorado will be strikingly cooler than here in Orlando, she found a luscious fur wrap from bridal faux fur designer Sissily Designs on Etsy. To reflect her winter wedding, we wanted a bouquet using cool winter blues and soft creamy pastels and Debra Robertson at Atmospheres Floral did an amazing job with the color scheme I gave her.

It really did seem like the wedding day once we finished with her portraits. It warms my heart knowing that I could capture their time together and that they’ll have these pictures for a lifetime.