I’m going to be honest, I don’t even know where to start with this post. There is just so much to unpack and I certainly don’t want to offend anyone or any of the wedding venues that we saw. They were all stunning and I know beautiful weddings have been had and will be had at all of them. I’m no wedding venue expert, especially as I only saw 4 of them. As such, I won’t be going too in depth on each venue, rather just share a few things that Michael and I did or didn’t like about each place.
Elegant Wedding Venues in Orlando
First of all, none of these are really located in Orlando. However, the two that I’m about to share would be considered more Orlando than the other two. Both are located within 30 minutes of downtown Orlando. On top of that, it’s a great central location for both the airports in the area. That way, guest from out of town can choose from both to fly into.
The Luxmore Grande Estate
The Luxmore is located in Winter Springs, FL right on Lake Jesup. (Fun fact: Lake Jesup is said to have the most alligator density in the state. This is a fact I like to tell my friends every time we cross it. Since we’re friends, I’ll tell you too). Anyways, the Luxmore Grande Estate is over 20,000 sqft and was built in 2001. It has beautiful crystal chandeliers and a grand staircase that is just stunning.
Pros –
- Beautiful architecture that is timeless
- All day rental beginning at 10am
- Affordable price & catering
- Indoor & Outdoor Spaces available
Cons –
- The grooms suite is small in relation to the bridal suite
- No view of Lake Jesup from the lawn
Lake Mary Events Center
The Lake Mary Events Center is located in…you guessed it, Lake Mary! Funny enough, the events center is not located on Lake Mary, but rather one of Lake Mary’s many other bodies of water, Crystal Lake. With floor to ceiling windows in the rotunda it had a gorgeous view of the water.
Pros –
- Great bang for your buck
- On the Water
- Indoor & Outdoor Spaces available
Cons –
- The reception space is becoming a little outdated
- The entrance is lackluster
Greater Central Florida Wedding Venues
The next two venues I would still consider Central Florida but are farther away from downtown Orlando. Depending on traffic it could take anywhere from 40min to an hour to get to them. Therefore, I’m considering them to be in “greater Central Florida”.
The Howey Mansion
The Howey Mansion definitely has a fun history to it. Besides being a beautiful wedding venue, it also does historical tours. I won’t get too deep into the history but, it was owned by Mr. Howey who moved to Florida in the 20’s with his wife to take advantage of the booming citrus industry. The Howey Mansion features a Mediterranean style estate with 20 rooms. I really adore the Mediterranean style and the Howey Mansion is one of the more affordable options in the area with this style.
Pros –
- Beautiful Mediterranean architecture
- A Prohibition experience for guest (something very unique!)
Cons –
- Not located as close to Orlando
- No indoor space for event. (Cocktail hour & dance floor the only thing inside)
Tavares Pavilion on the Lake
Located just North of the Howey Mansion is the Tavares Pavilion on the Lake. The Tavares Pavilion is located on top of Lake Dora. Windows line the outside of the Tavares Pavilion for a one of a kind view of the lake. Located next to the Tavares Pavilion is the Mt. Dora airport. AKA known as the lake! They’ve even had couples exit their wedding on a boat plane!
Pros –
- All indoors
- Breathtaking views
Cons –
- Street parking only (An overflow lot for street parking is located on the other side of the street)
- Smaller reception space
Which Venue Did We Pick?
Drumroll please…Apparently you don’t save the best for last because the first venue we saw was the one that stole our hearts. The Luxmore Grande Estate offered the elegant and timeless atmosphere we were looking for. On top of that, we really appreciated how responsive they were to emails and our thousands of questions. (I mean, it’s not like we’ve done this whole wedding planning thing before so we didn’t know!) Overall I wasn’t looking for an outdoor event, so not having a lake view is something I can certainly live without. And as for the smaller grooms suite, well, I’m the one with the dress anyway.
Other Wedding Venues we Liked
We did some research online before seeing any wedding venues in person. I found Wedding Spot to be a very helpful tool to narrow it down by area and price. (They also have an estimate tool that was extremely helpful). If money were no object there are two venues that would have been on my list. The first is, The Balcony Orlando. The Balcony is located in the heart of downtown Orlando. Since we met due to an Orlando Magic basketball game, this location would have been very fitting and special. The other venue that I personally would have picked in a heartbeat is the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, FL. Not only does it have a timeless atmosphere, but it’s close by to where I was born and grew up in Boynton Beach. Though I do have to say, The Luxmore is certainly not looking too shabby for the same feel as the Flagler Museum!
