This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar
Natalie & Jason are a UK couple who got married at the Orlando Courthouse and had a celebration at the Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk
Natalie and Jason travelled from the UK with their four kids to get married in Orlando, and they built the kind of day I always hope couples will consider: a quick, easy legal ceremony at the Orange County Courthouse first thing in the morning, then straight over to Disney’s Boardwalk for a celebratory meal at The Cake Bake Shop. They found me on TikTok and told me they picked me for “vintage vibes and personality,” which might be my favorite brief yet. They booked the full works — photography, cinematic video, and Super 8 vintage video.
An 8am courthouse ceremony (and why that’s a smart move in Orlando)
Natalie and Jason started their day at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando at 8am. If you’re getting married at the courthouse, the clerk performs your ceremony—no one else can legally marry you there, not even an officiant you bring. It’s simple, quick, and legally valid as a marriage when they get back to England.
Starting at 8am was a smart call, especially in May. Here’s the light situation at the downtown courthouse: in the morning the sun sits behind the building, which gives you soft, even light on the front steps and plaza. Depending on the month, it swings around to the front of the building by roughly 10-11am. So an early ceremony means flattering light for your portraits before the sun gets high and harsh. That said, I also love shooting in the full bright sunshine so it just depends on whether you want soft even light like in these photos or something more edgy.
It also means beating the heat. Orlando in May averages highs around 89°F (32°C), and with humidity the “feels like” temperature can climb toward the mid-90s°F (around 36°C). Mornings are the coolest, most comfortable part of the day. That said, don’t panic if an early start isn’t possible for you. Couples get married here in full wedding attire all summer long and do just fine. The heat is manageable; a morning slot is simply the most comfortable option if you can swing it.
Why UK couples should elope at the START of their holiday
If you’re flying in from the UK or Ireland to get married during your Disney holiday, I always recommend doing it in the first day or two. Four honest reasons:
- Jet lag is on your side. You’ll be wide awake at 5am anyway, so making it to the courthouse by 8am is genuinely easy those first few days.
- No sunburn or tan lines yet. A few days at the parks and pools and you might turn up to your own wedding with some serious tan/burn lines.
- Your wedding clothes still fit. I’ll be honest — holiday eating adds up fast, and it happens quickly. Get married before the churros catch up with you.
- The rest of your trip becomes your honeymoon. Marry early and every day after is a celebration.
For all the legal details — marriage licenses, whether your Florida marriage is valid back home (it is), and how the paperwork works — I’ve put together a full FAQ guide for UK couples eloping in Orlando.
From the courthouse to the Disney Boardwalk
After the ceremony we went straight to Disney’s Boardwalk, where Natalie and Jason had a reservation at The Cake Bake Shop around 10am. The BoardWalk is a joy to photograph. That nostalgic waterfront-carnival feel (it’s styled to be like turn-of-the-century Atlantic City), the vintage signage, the pastel facades. It suited their vintage aesthetic perfectly, and we grabbed portraits and video footage along the way in before heading in for the celebration.
The Cake Bake Shop: a great all-in-one micro wedding on Disney property
If you want a small, beautiful Disney celebration without a full Disney wedding budget, The Cake Bake Shop is worth a serious look. Natalie and Jason booked the table in the center of the restaurant — a prime spot, which carries a minimum spend of around $1,200 — and celebrated over a gorgeous meal, champagne, and a rosette cake.
Here’s the detail worth knowing if you’re planning: the Cake Bake Shop also has a private dining room (PDR) with beautiful natural light, and they’ll let you actually get married in that room before your meal. You can either locate an officiant to marry you there or, since I’m a photographer who is also ordained to perform marriage ceremonies, I can do it for you if you want the most low-key option possible! So you could hold a small ceremony with your guests right there and flow straight into your celebration. It’s a lovely, contained option for a micro wedding — one beautiful location, ceremony and reception together, right on Disney property.
The full package: photography, cinematic video & Super 8
Natalie and Jason went all-in on documentation — photography, cinematic video, and Super 8 film — and I’m so glad they did. There’s something about combining crisp modern photos, a cinematic film, and that grainy, nostalgic Super 8 look that captures a day from every angle. For a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this, with the whole family flown in from across the Atlantic, it’s a beautiful way to hold onto it.
Supporting Cast
A huge thank you to the team who made them look and feel incredible: hair and makeup by Shannon Buzzerio, and florals by Joyce at Affordable Wedding Flowers. These are vendors my couples and I work with over and over again and we’re a great team!
Planning your own Disney Holiday and Orlando Elopement Wedding?
As of the time I’m writing this, I’ve photographed over 600 weddings with 400 of those being in the courthouses of Central Florida. I’d say 30% of my couples are on holiday here from the UK.
If you’re coming from the UK (or anywhere) and dreaming of an easy Orlando courthouse wedding with a Disney BoardWalk celebration to follow — with photography, video, and Super 8 to remember it — that’s exactly what I do. Browse more of my courthouse and Disney weddings here and reach out through my inquiry form to start planning.
Congratulations, Natalie and Jason. Thank you for having us!
