HOW TO ELOPE IN FLORIDA FROM THE U.K.

SAY “I DO” ON HOLIDAY:

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO ELOPING IN FLORIDA FROM THE U.K.

You don’t need a big wedding to make big memories. If you’re planning to elope from the U.K. to Florida, this guide will walk you through what to expect—and how to treasure the feeling of this day forever.

ORLANDO FL ELOPEMENT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHER

AS SEEN IN

A couple in wedding attire sharing a kiss on the beach with a lighthouse in the background under an overcast sky.

PLAN YOUR PERFECT FLORIDA ELOPEMENT

WHY ELOPE IN FLORIDA?

Florida offers warm weather, dramatic coastlines, lush landscapes, and a relaxed energy—ideal for couples looking to skip the stress and celebrate what really matters. With direct flights from the U.K. and marriage laws that are straightforward to navigate, it's a destination that's as practical as it is beautiful.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN FLORIDA?

The best months are typically October through April, when the weather is mild and skies are clear. Summer is still possible, but be prepared for extreme heat and daily afternoon showers.

WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO ELOPE IN FLORIDA?

The short answer is: anywhere! However, the top cities across Central Florida are best known for:

  • Orlando: Botanical gardens, upscale resorts, and nature preserves

  • Tampa & St. Pete: Sunset beaches and charming, walkable city spots

  • Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne: Wild coastal dunes and Atlantic views

If you're unsure where to start, we’ll help you narrow it down with location ideas that match your vibe.

A newlywed couple sits together in a forest setting, smiling at each other, with the woman holding a bouquet of flowers.

WILL OUR FLORIDA MARRIAGE BE RECOGNIZED IN THE U.K.?

Yes. Marriages performed in Florida are legally recognized in the U.K. You'll need to apply for a marriage license once you arrive in Florida, which is a straightforward in-person process. We can direct you to the nearest courthouse to obtain your license when you arrive in the States.

DO WE NEED A PERMIT TO GET MARRIED AT THE BEACH OR IN A PARK?

Most public spaces like beaches, state parks, and gardens require a permit for wedding ceremonies—even intimate elopements—as well as professional photography. Permit rules vary by location, so it's important to check early. We're happy to suggest locations that are elopement-friendly and help you know what to expect.

CAN WE BRING GUESTS TO OUR FLORIDA ELOPEMENT?

Yes! Many couples choose to elope just the two of them, but you're welcome to include a few close friends or family. If you're planning more of a micro-wedding (think 10–25 people), we can recommend affordable venues and locations in the Central Florida area that work well for intimate gatherings.

A black and white photo of a man and woman dancing outside near a white house with multiple windows and a porch, with trees and potted plants in the background.

FOCUS ON YOUR DAY—WE’LL HANDLE THE PHOTOS.

Elopements are about connection, emotion, and love stories told in quiet, beautiful moments—not stiff poses or rushed timelines. That’s why we focus on capturing your day with care, so you can relive exactly how it felt, not just how it looked.

Our elopement photography packages are thoughtfully designed to document intimate weddings in Florida with warmth, artistry, and ease.

A newlywed couple celebrating on a rooftop with tall city buildings in the background. The groom, dressed in a black tuxedo and cowboy hat, is spraying champagne. The bride, wearing a white wedding gown and sunglasses, is smiling and laughing.
A couple in wedding attire holding hands and exchanging vows during a wedding ceremony outdoors, with an officiant standing behind them, in front of a decorative stone wall with intricate carvings and floral arrangements at the base.

HI, WE’RE AUTHOR MADE.

A man with black hair, glasses, and a mustache, smiling outdoors in a semi-casual outfit, wearing a beige shirt and a black quilted vest.
A woman with long, wavy brown hair and a bright smile standing outdoors, wearing a green button-up shirt.
A smiling man with a beard and short dark hair, wearing a black button-up shirt, standing outdoors near a body of water at sunset.
A young man with curly hair wearing a light denim shirt and a beige wide-brimmed hat standing on a dirt path in a rural setting with trees in the background.

We’re a team of Central Florida wedding professionals with over 2 decades of combined experience specializing in documentary-style wedding photography and videography. Every love story needs an author, and we’re here to help you feel relaxed in front of the camera and capture all the feels of your day.

BOOK YOUR FLORIDA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY WITH EASE

01

We start with a laid-back call to talk about what you’re dreaming up. Whether you’re thinking oceanside vows or a tropical garden ceremony, we’ll talk through ideas and get to know what matters most to you.

SHARE YOUR VISION

02

Once you're ready to book, we’ll send over a proposal and start collaborating on the timeline, photo priorities, and location ideas (if you don’t have one yet). If you need suggestions for local vendors, we’ve got you.

BOOK + PLAN WITH CLARITY

03

On the day, we’ll photograph your story with intention and ease—letting you stay present in every moment. Afterwards, you’ll receive a timeless, thoughtfully edited gallery that reflects your special day.

SAY “I DO”

A couple dressed in formal wedding attire, sitting close together on a curb at night, sharing an intimate moment; the man is wearing a tuxedo and a wide-brimmed hat, and the woman is wearing a strapless wedding gown holding a bouquet of flowers.
A woman with long dark hair wearing sunglasses, smiling, and pointing upward. She is dressed in a strapless top and has tattoos on her arm and hand. The background features a white building with multiple windows.

CLIENT WORDS

“My husband and I look like models.”

Michael’s friendly disposition put my husband and I at ease on our big day. We got our marriage license and ceremony done on the same day and Michael was able to capture our giddiness and romance perfectly. He was friendly and made us feel comfortable with all the posing and kissing! Not only was he more affordable than other companies, he even offered a Military Discount! Michael brought my Pinterest Board to life and my husband and I look like models. I would recommend him to any couple!”

–GERI + KALEB

A bride and groom kissing in the middle of a cobblestone street lined with palm trees and buildings.
A bride and groom kissing outdoors on a wooden deck near a body of water during sunset.

CLIENT WORDS

“10/10 DEFINITELY recommend!”

Finding a photographer was probably the hardest part of wedding planning. When I came across Author Made’s page, I was obsessed! They were very good at communicating with us and they truly cared about the outcome we wanted. I didn’t even go through any inspiration photos as I just didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but they made sure that every photo was perfect. I’m truly so happy with how everything came out, happy with their professionalism, just happy all around. Thank you guys so much for giving us the best memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.”

–ESTHER + CALEB

A bride and groom sharing a kiss during their wedding, with the bride holding a bouquet of pink, white, and burgundy flowers, standing in front of an intricately carved stone backdrop.
A woman and man are dancing, smiling at each other in a wedding setting.

CLIENT WORDS

“Every moment was captured in the most beautiful way.”

We wanted most of our photos to be more on the candid side, but for posed photos and video shots, Michael and Rob made us feel so comfortable and gave us plenty of direction when needed. We received our photos and video a couple of days ago, and everything represented the feelings of that day so perfectly. Every moment that was so special to us was captured in the most beautiful way. From the beginning of the process to the end, we knew we were in more than capable hands.

–TAYLOR + MITCHELL

A bride and groom kiss in front of a church door, surrounded by blurred wedding guests walking by.
A bride and groom kiss in an outdoor parking lot with city buildings in the background, the bride holding a large flower bouquet.

CLIENT WORDS

“The finished pictures blew me and my husband away.”

Michael is very organized and detail-oriented. He thought of everything, and worked with me to create a schedule for the photos and worked seamlessly with my day-of-coordinator. He worked so hard to provide us with everything we wanted; truly went above and beyond. On top of all that, he was super fun to work with! He kept me and my bridal party laughing and having a great time. It felt like hanging out with a good friend and taking pictures; never awkward or stiff. Do yourself a favor and hire Author Made!

–LUCY + ALEX

A newlywed couple is walking out of a church, smiling and celebrating, with guests clapping in the background. The bride is wearing a white wedding gown with lace details, and the groom is dressed in a blue suit with a white bow tie. The bride is holding a bouquet of flowers raised in the air.
A newlywed couple sharing a dance under an arched brick and stone passageway, with greenery in the background, during sunset.

CLIENT WORDS

“We could not have asked for a better photographer.”

Photography and videography were so important to us on our big day and choosing Author Made was one of the best decisions we’ve made! We are thrilled with his work and would recommend him to anyone. He is so professional and kind…truly a pleasure to work with! Thank you, Author Made, for the beautiful photos and video and for capturing these memories that we’ll cherish forever!

–LAUREN + JACOB

A bride and groom dancing together outdoors in a forest, smiling at each other.
A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers standing outdoors under a large tree with green leaves, in a natural setting with sunlight.

CLIENT WORDS

“We really enjoyed working with Michael for our wedding!

The pictures were beautifully edited and he took extra time with us to take us to all the great locations around Lake Louisa. Our wedding video was well done and we're glad to have memories [in] both photo and video."

–LILY + CASEY

A bride and groom share a kiss outdoors on a green lawn with a large tree, and a white house in the background.
A bride and groom dancing outdoors on a brick surface with trees in the background. The groom is wearing a dark suit, and the bride is in a white wedding dress with a veil. They are holding hands, smiling at each other.

CLIENT WORDS

“Our experience with Author Made was fantastic.

I started as a lost and stressed bride, and after speaking with Michael everything fell into place. The event photographs came out stunning, we could not have asked for a better photographer for our special day!”

– NIKHOL + ALEX

A bride and groom holding hands while walking through an art gallery. The bride is wearing a white off-shoulder wedding gown and holding a bouquet, while the groom is dressed in a dark blue suit with a light green tie and boutonniere.
A bride and groom stand on a staircase at their wedding, kissing, with candles and greenery at the bottom of the stairs, and framed landscape paintings on the wall behind them.

CLIENT WORDS

“Author Made captured our personalities so perfectly.”

I wasn't even sure what I wanted and he worked through all of the details and help guide me to get the full idea of what I wanted to capture. He captured my husband and my personalities so perfectly and we loved how our pictures turned out. Michael was flexible to take extra family pictures and work around weather issues. We are so grateful that we were able to work with him.”

–LINDSAY + BRAD

A groom holding a bride in his arms outdoors, with trees and greenery in the background, during a wedding celebration.
A woman in a wedding dress sitting on a beige vintage sofa in front of white curtains and a glass door.

CLIENT WORDS

“Michael went above and beyond as our wedding photographer.

He got so many great pictures of us as a couple and of the guests in order to capture the day. He’s very easy to talk to and tries to make your day special the day of and leading up to the event. Every one was impressed with how efficient he was taking pictures and they all turned out wonderful.”

–SOFIE + DONNIE

A bride and groom dancing together at a wedding reception, with guests seated at tables watching and taking photos.
A couple kissing, with the groom wearing a suit and floral bow tie, and the bride wearing a pearl necklace, on their wedding day.

CLIENT WORDS

“Everyone looks natural and amazing.”

Author Made did a great job communicating with me every step of the way, was timely and prepared, and very amicable and friendly with everyone at our wedding. We were also very impressed with the skills Michael has in seamlessly coordinating large group photos and directing wedding party photos so that everyone looks natural and amazing. His pictures are spectacular and breathtaking! And he got them to us in less than a month! We are so happy that we entrusted our wedding day pictures to him and can’t wait to print out some of the pictures to hang in our new home.”

–LILY + RYAN

ORLANDO ELOPEMENT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY PRICING

ELOPEMENT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY PRICING & PACKAGES

2 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,000
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$600

  • 2 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 80+ images

  • With videography option: at least 1-minute length highlight film

  • 4-6 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

4 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $1,400
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$600

  • 4 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 160+ images

  • With videography option: at least 1-minute length highlight film

  • 6-8 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

6 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $2400
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$1000

  • 6 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 240+ images

  • With videography option: at least 4-minute length highlight film plus ceremony film

  • 6-8 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

8 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $3000
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$1000

  • 8 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 320+ images

  • With videography option: at least 5-minute length highlight film plus ceremony film

  • 6-8 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

10 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $3600
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$1000

  • 10 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 400+ images

  • With videography option: at least 8-minute length plus ceremony film

  • 6-8 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

12 HOUR COVERAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: $4200
ADD ON VIDEOGRAPHY: +$1000

  • 12 hours of either photography only or photography + videography (additional cost for videography listed above)

  • Online gallery of 480+ images

  • With videography option: at least 8-minute length plus ceremony film

  • 6-8 week turnaround on final photos

  • With videography option: 6-8 week turnaround on final video

  • Guidance on day-of schedule to ensure all the details of your day are fully captured

Pricing shown above is only applicable to weddings within a 100-mi radius of 34787 zip code. We serve weddings outside this zone, please inquire for pricing.

READY TO SAY “I DO” IN FLORIDA?

A couple sharing a romantic moment on a small bridge in a lush, green tropical garden by a narrow stream.