Donieke & Valiant’s courthouse micro wedding at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, FL
Intimate courthouse micro wedding at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, FL | Orlando Wedding Photographer & Videographer
Author Made team photographer Kelly captured this joyful micro wedding at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, FL.
We don’t know the last time we’ve seen this many smiles and joyful goofy faces at a wedding, but for Donieke & Valiant, this is just par for the course of their relationship. The two of them, their closest family & friends, and a whole lot of personality made for a picture-perfect courthouse wedding in downtown Orlando.
Donieke & Valiant met online through mutual friends, and it didn’t take long for things to become serious. There were giant teddy bears involved early on, including one Valiant gave Donieke for Valentine’s Day, and eventually that same teddy bear became part of their proposal. By the time their wedding day arrived, it was pretty clear these two were completely in love and very comfortable being silly together.
Getting married at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando
As the iconic spot for courthouse elopement weddings in Orlando, the Orange County Courthouse presents the easiest, stress-free and most affordable way to tie the knot. The downtown courthouse offers civil marriage ceremonies through the Orange County Clerk of Courts, with ceremonies currently held Monday through Friday during regular service hours.
For couples who who want the ease and affordability of a micro wedding or elopement, the courthouse is a great option to a traditional venue: and still offers plenty of photo-worthy spots. The courthouse steps, the surrounding downtown architecture, and even some of the more utilitarian details around the building can create surprisingly fun bridal portraits. As wedding photographers, we especially like the steps near the bus stop station, where the lines and architecture give portraits a little more visual interest.
One practical note from our experience: the private ceremony room is small, so we found it better to keep the lighting simple rather than introduce a flash that would feel harsh in such a tight space. The real portrait opportunities are outside, where your photographer will have much more room to work.
A micro wedding with big personality
Valiant arrived first and had a little time for portraits with his guys while we waited for Donieke. Then came the first look, which was easily one of the best moments of the day.
Bride Donieke was running about 20 minutes late, which pushed their appointment back a bit, but the second Valiant saw her, it was pretty obvious that the wait had been worth it. He was completely speechless! Then, instead of saying anything at all, he picked her up and spun her around several times. It was one of those moments that doesn’t need much direction from a photographer because the moment is unfolding naturally in pure joy.
Once inside, they worked through the necessary paperwork and got their marriage license before heading into their private ceremony room. With only about ten people there, it felt much more like a tiny family celebration than a formal courthouse appointment. Afterward, everyone headed outside for group photos and family portraits before we took Donieke & Valiant around the courthouse for a proper bridal session. Valiant has modeling experience, and you could tell that both he and Donieke felt natural and relaxed just being themselves in front of the camera.
The Florida heat was no joke at just under 90ºF but thankfully we didn’t need to spend a ton of time standing around in the sun. We made our outdoor portraits efficient, getting the shots we wanted before moving the family into the shade. The steps near the bus stop gave us some great leading lines, while the courthouse itself provided a classic downtown Orlando backdrop.
For a couple like Donieke & Valiant, though, the photos didn’t need to be overly complicated. They were energetic, playful, and clearly having the time of their lives. They teased each other, cared for each other, and seemed perfectly happy to just be married.
And that’s really what made their courthouse wedding so fun. It wasn’t trying to be something it wasn’t. It was a small celebration with the people closest to them, a little bit of chaos, plenty of laughter, and two people who were very obviously thrilled to finally be husband and wife.
Congratulations, Donieke & Valiant! We hope married life is every bit as fun and filled with laughter as the two of you are together.
Author Made Team Photographer: Kelly Jazwa
Venue: Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, FL
Hair & Makeup:Looks Do Kill
Dress:David’s Bridal
Groom’s Outfit:Men’s Wearhouse
Florals:Sola Wood Flowers
Engagement Ring: Brilliance
Wedding Rings: Zales
Nails: Nails by Nela
Hi, we’re Author Made, a wedding photography & videography studio based in Orlando, FL & Columbus, OH. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer or wedding videographer who believes weddings of all sizes and budgets deserve stunning images to cherish forever, we’d love to have the honor of capturing your wedding day.
If you’re interested in capturing your wedding photography or videography with us, please contact us - we would love to help your special day be all it can be!
