Karyn & Ismael’s romantic outdoor wedding at Villa Festa in DeLand, FL
Classic Romantic Historic Home Outdoor Wedding at Villa Festa in Orlando, FL | Orlando Wedding Photographer & Videographer
Author Made team photographer Kelly and team videographer Rob, along with creative lead & founder Michael, captured this historic home outdoor wedding just outside Orlando in DeLand, FL.
Karyn & Ismael’s wedding day at Villa Festa in DeLand felt intentional from the very beginning. It wasn’t about production or excess but rather about family, faith, and creating a space where the people who matter most could truly be present. Their celebration was intimate, joyful, and deeply rooted in connection, with every part of the day reflecting who they are and what they value together.
Karyn is bubbly, expressive, and completely at ease in front of a camera, while Ismael is more reserved, steady, loyal, and deeply family-oriented. Together, they’re grounded in their Latin culture and strong in their faith, and that foundation shaped the entire flow of their wedding day.
Time shared with family
One of the things we appreciated most about this wedding was the pacing. We arrived early, with plenty of time built in for getting ready moments to unfold naturally. Karyn spent the morning surrounded by her mom, sister, and aunt, sharing emotional gifts, including a pinky ring for her sister and a personalized keepsake for her mom and recording sentimental videos together on the bed.
In another part of the house, Ismael and his groomsmen were getting ready in their own way: relaxed, playful, and fully themselves, playing Rocket League while waiting for the day to begin. That balance between quiet reflection and lighthearted fun set the tone for a wedding that felt both joyful and grounded.
Before the ceremony, Karyn shared a tearful first look with her dad, while Ismael held a meaningful first look with his own parents, then the couple shared a “first touch”, where they stood back-to-back and held hands without seeing each other. It was a calm, intentional moment that led beautifully into the ceremony.
Villa Festa: a historic home wedding venue filled with character, charm and hospitality
Villa Festa is an intimate historic home wedding venue in DeLand that works especially well for a relaxed, all-in-one experience. The property features an outdoor ceremony space beneath mature trees, a covered outdoor reception area just steps away, and on-site accommodations where couples and their families can stay overnight.
From a wedding photography and videography perspective, Villa Festa offers a really strong mix of greenery and architecture. The iconic fountain, staircase, and front of the house create visual variety, while the surrounding trees soften the light throughout the day and add a romantic feel to images. The openness of the property encourages guests to mingle easily, which made this wedding feel more like a family gathering than a formal event.
Another standout feature was the venue owner, who was genuinely kind and helpful - something that makes a noticeable difference in how smoothly a wedding day flows. Perfect for micro weddings or fuller-sized ceremonies alike, if you’re looking for a historic home wedding venue that feels intimate without feeling cramped, Villa Festa is a beautiful option.
Faith & family mingle outdoors
Karyn and Ismael’s ceremony took place outdoors beneath a large tree, with simple seating arranged on the lawn and no added décor. Letting the setting speak for itself felt very intentional, keeping the focus on the words being spoken, the faith they share, and the commitment they were making in front of their families.
With around 60 guests, the ceremony felt deeply personal. There was a quiet emotional weight to it, balanced by warmth and joy, and it flowed seamlessly into golden hour portraits as the sun began to dip.
Magical, romantic golden hour portraits
Portraits were taken primarily in front of the house and near the fountain, where the mix of greenery and architecture created clean lines and a timeless look. The surrounding trees helped diffuse the light beautifully, though additional lighting was needed once formal reception moments began under the covered outdoor space.
One small logistical challenge was keeping Karyn and Ismael from accidentally seeing each other before planned moments. Villa Festa is very open, so Ismael was tucked away near the reception side of the house until it was time. If you’re planning to get married here and want to avoid a first look before the aisle, be sure to plan your logistics carefully!
Photographer Pro Tip: The upstairs bedrooms at Villa Festa have excellent natural light, and there’s a particular upstairs room with tall chairs, mirrors, and styled décor that our team found especially great for getting-ready portraits and detail shots.
An outdoor reception with spontaneous moments
Once the reception began, the energy shifted fully into celebration mode. After their grand entrance, first dance, heartfelt toasts, and a blessing, dinner and cake cutting gave way to a packed dance floor filled with Latin music and nonstop movement.
One of the most memorable moments of the night was completely unplanned: Karyn, her sister, and her best friend spontaneously launched into an emotional, passionate performance of Defying Gravity. It was unexpected, joyful, and perfectly captured the spirit of the day. Later, family members formed a tunnel on the dance floor, cheering as guests danced their way through.
The night wrapped up with a bubble exit, a lighthearted, joyful ending to a celebration that never lost its sense of intimacy.
Karyn and Ismael approached their wedding day with intention. They took the meaning of the day seriously, honored their faith, and created space for real connection while still throwing a party that their families fully showed up for.
For couples planning an outdoor or historic home wedding in DeLand or searching for an intimate wedding venue that allows both quiet, meaningful moments and high-energy celebration, Villa Festa offers a beautiful balance. As an Orlando wedding photography and videography team, these are the weddings we love documenting most: the ones that feel personal, grounded, and unmistakably true to the couple at the center of it all.
Author Made Team Photographers: Kelly Jazwa & Michael Kuo
Author Made Team Videographer: Rob Shannon
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.
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