This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar who also officiated their marriage ceremony
Kelsi and Stephen had a sunset micro wedding at Lavender on the Lake in St. Cloud—with their kids, a dock ceremony, and Super 8 film rolling the whole time.
Kelsi and Stephen wanted something more personal than a courthouse and real photos over posed ones. What they got was a golden hour micro wedding on a dock over Lake Tohopekaliga, their kids right there with them, surrounded by lavender fields and a gorgeous Florida sky at sunset.
I officiated and photographed, and I also had a Super 8 camera running alongside my digital gear.
About Lavender on the Lake: A Lakeside Wedding Venue in St. Cloud, Florida
Lavender on the Lake is a family-owned working flower farm and hops yard on Lake Tohopekaliga in Saint Cloud, Florida, about 30 minutes south of Orlando. The name of the lake comes from the Seminole people who lived nearby in the 1800s—Tohopekaliga means “we will gather together here,” which is honestly a perfect name for a wedding venue. The property has a 10,000 square foot building with 35-foot ceilings, three glass garage doors that open directly toward the lake, two getting-ready rooms with private bathrooms, and a full catering kitchen. Outside, there’s a dock stretching out over the water, a grassy lakeside lawn, a greenhouse, and in season, actual lavender fields in bloom.
This venue belongs to the couple’s friend, which is how we got access for this session—but if you’re interested in booking it yourself, the venue does take bookings for traditional weddings as well as more intimate micro events of 40 guests or fewer. You can find more information on their website here.
The Ceremony on the Dock
Kelsi and Stephen got married on the dock as the sun started to drop toward the water. The whole family was there—the kids included, dressed in soft blue and white to match the couple—and the lake stretched out behind them with that wide open Central Florida sky overhead. I officiated, which meant there was no separate vendor to coordinate with, no unfamiliar face at the front of the ceremony—just the people they love. The ceremony was intimate and calm, and the dock framed the whole thing naturally.
The Portraits Around the Property
After the ceremony we moved through the property and used all of it. We also worked the grassy lawn with the building in the background, and the lakeside at golden hour as the sky went pink and orange and reflected across the water. The family shots on the lawn came out beautifully. For an intimate family wedding, this property gave us everything: a ceremony spot, portrait variety, and a sunset that did a lot of the heavy lifting.
Shot on Super 8
I also ran a Super 8 camera alongside my digital gear throughout this wedding, and the footage is some of my favorite I’ve captured with it. Super 8 is an analog film format—you load a cartridge, you shoot, and then you send it off to a developer and wait. What comes back has a warmth and grain and a slightly unpredictable quality that digital can’t replicate. It plays like a memory. For this lakeside sunset wedding with lavender fields and kids running around, it felt like exactly the right format to use.
Super 8 is something I’m actively building out as an add-on option for my micro weddings and portrait sessions. If you want a sense of what analog work looks like in my hands, you can browse the shot on film collection on the blog. For couples who want something physical and cinematic alongside their digital gallery—something that feels different from the rest—this is worth asking about when you reach out.
FAQ: The Photographer + Officiant Experience at a Venue Like Lavender on the Lake
Lavender on the Lake is a working flower farm and event venue on Lake Tohopekaliga in Saint Cloud, FL. The property includes a 10,000 square foot barn-style building with lakeside garage doors, two getting-ready rooms, a full catering kitchen, a dock, a grassy lawn, a greenhouse, and lavender fields. It’s one of the most visually distinctive lakeside wedding venues in Central Florida.
The venue is located in Saint Cloud, Florida, about 30 minutes south of Orlando near Kissimmee and Lake Tohopekaliga. It’s easily accessible from most of the greater Orlando area.
Pricing varies by event type and day of week. Micro events for 40 guests or fewer are available at a lower price point than full weekend weddings. Visit the venue’s website or reach out directly for current pricing.
Yes—the venue hosts both traditional weddings and more intimate micro events of 40 guests or fewer. If you’re looking for a lakeside wedding venue in Central Florida that isn’t a typical hotel ballroom, this one is worth a serious look.
Anyone who is ordained through a church is able to legally officiate Florida marriages during photo sessions. I happen to be a photographer who is also ordained. For couples who want a stripped-down, personal experience without coordinating a separate officiant, this means one less vendor and one less unfamiliar face on your wedding day. You can read more about how that works here.
Yes. You’ll need a Florida marriage license before the ceremony—you can get one up to 60 days in advance. There are counties that process Florida marriage licenses fully online, which makes it easy for couples who don’t want to visit a courthouse. After the ceremony, I fill out the officiant’s portion and you return it to the issuing county, either in person or drop it in the mail. See more details about that here.
Super 8 refers to 8mm film, an analog video format that produces warm, grainy, cinematic footage with a quality that’s distinct from digital. As a wedding add-on, it gives you something that feels different from the rest of your gallery.
Yes—I offer this as an add-on option for couples who want analog alongside their digital session. If you’re interested, mention it when you fill out the inquiry form and we can talk through what that looks like for your day.
Looking for a Micro Wedding Photographer in Central Florida?
Kelsi and Stephen chose me because they wanted a wedding experience that was personal, genuine, and intimate. That’s exactly the kind of session I love to help my couples plan. If you’re looking for a unique location for your micro wedding or elopement in Central Florida—whether it’s a lakeside property like Lavender on the Lake or somewhere else entirely—fill out my inquiry form and let’s start talking.
