This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar
Adam and Lewis got married at the courthouse without a photographer, then met me later for sunset portraits at their Orlando area resort.
I love it when couples do this. Adam and Lewis are a couple from the UK who were visiting Orlando and didn’t want their courthouse ceremony covered. What they wanted was to get the legal part done quietly, then meet up later for something casual, relaxed, and entirely on their terms. I think that’s a really smart option that more couples should know about.
What they told me going in was that they wanted their elopement photos to feel authentic and to happen somewhere that wasn’t a courthouse. As a person-centered photographer, that’s plenty to work with. I like to pick up whatever crumbs of a vision my clients have and build outward from there, so I planned a session that felt quirky, funny, and sweet.
Lewis & Adam’s Love Story
Adam and Lewis have been together since they were teenagers. This November will be 15 years together. They got engaged in 2020 during lockdown on their 10-year anniversary, and as they put it, they’ve never been overly fussed about marriage or weddings. When they first got together it wasn’t even legal for them, so it was never something they pictured. Their lives are already fully intertwined. A home, two cats, two dogs, and plans to adopt in the future. Getting married felt like the right next step to unify things as a family.
These two describe themselves as complete opposites in some ways but very much on the same wavelength. Both introverted. Both a little shy in front of a camera. In Adam’s words: “We’re not overly romantic or outwardly affectionate, but we have a deep connection and a very playful, dry sense of humour. We spend most of our time laughing and winding each other up.”
That last part came through in every frame.
Why They Chose to Elope in Orlando
They told me up front that they chose to elope because they wanted something that felt like it was for them. The idea of a big UK wedding back home didn’t sit right, and it started to feel like they were doing it for other people instead of themselves.
Orlando is a place they’ve always loved visiting and they already had the trip booked, so it made sense. They wanted the day to feel light, happy, and relaxed. Nothing too soft or too serious. Just something true to who they are.
Sunset Elopement Portraits at an Orlando Area Resort
We met at an Orlando resort with a beachy setting for their session. Sand underfoot, palms, water, and late afternoon Florida light. Sunset portraits are one of the easiest wins in this state. The light does most of the work and the pressure drops away completely once the ceremony is already behind you.
Adam and Lewis told me upfront that PDA isn’t usually on their to-do list and they’d need some gentle encouragement. That’s fine by me. Shy couples are often my favorite to photograph because the moments you get are real ones. We kept things loose, they made each other laugh the entire time, and the gallery ended up quirky and funny and sweet in exactly the way they’d hoped.
Splitting Your Courthouse Ceremony and Your Photo Session
If the courthouse part feels like paperwork to you and you’d rather not have it documented, you don’t have to. Get legally married on your own, then book a photographer separately for a session that actually feels like you. It works well for introverts, for couples who don’t want a fuss, and for anyone whose ceremony location isn’t especially photogenic. You get to choose the setting, the time of day, and the pace.
FAQ: Getting Married in Orlando as a UK Couple
A large number of my Orlando elopements are with UK couples who are traveling to Orlando on holiday. I get a lot of questions on how this works, and I answer them all on this info page for UK couples who want to get married in Florida. See a few of the most asked questions below.
You need a Florida marriage license, which requires a valid passport for each of you. There’s no residency requirement and no waiting period for non-Florida residents, so you can get your license and marry the same day if you want to.
Yes. The UK recognizes marriages validly performed overseas. Your Florida marriage certificate is your proof of marriage back home with no re-registration required. You’ll just want to notify HMRC and any other relevant bodies, particularly if either of you is changing your name.
Some Florida counties process marriage licenses entirely online, which means you can have it sorted before you leave. I have a full guide on how to do that here.
You don’t need to! Adam and Lewis are a good example of skipping ceremony coverage entirely and booking a separate portrait session instead. Plenty of couples get married quietly and then meet me somewhere they actually want to be photographed.
Resorts, gardens, parks, beaches, and theme parks are all on the table. I’ve done sessions everywhere from Epic Universe at Universal Studios to hotel restaurants to Orlando resort photo adventures. If there’s somewhere in Orlando that means something to you, we can often make it work.
Find the Right Orlando Elopement Photographer for Your Vision
The best elopement sessions come from couples who know what they don’t want as clearly as what they do, and I’m happy to build the day around whatever that looks like for you. If you’re planning an Orlando elopement and want photos that feel like yours rather than a template, get in touch and let’s talk about it.
Congratulations, Adam and Lewis. Fifteen years in November and you two still crack each other up constantly. Thank you for having me.
