This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar who also officiated their marriage ceremony
I got to officiate and photograph Ethan and Brianna’s morning nano wedding at The Landing at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando.
I photograph a lot of weddings and engagement sessions at Harry P. Leu Gardens, and it never gets old. I always say the people you see in my photos are not professional models, but Ethan and Brianna are different—they’re actually professional performers who met working at Universal Studios. They are already comfortable in front of a camera, and photographing them for a full morning at one of Orlando’s most beautiful botanical gardens was genuinely a treat.
Brianna is also a content creator (@bgraf100 on TikTok and Instagram) who’s been sharing their wedding journey—including a video about why they decided to go micro. They decided to get married at 9am at Leu Gardens with just six guests. They came in with a clear vision, and the day matched it completely.
About Harry P. Leu Gardens as a Wedding Venue
Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical garden located in Orlando, just minutes from downtown. It’s one of the most popular micro wedding venues in Central Florida because it offers a destination-quality setting with serious botanical diversity without requiring any travel out of the city.
Wedding ceremonies at Leu Gardens include exclusive use of one of seven outdoor ceremony locations for two hours, chairs for all guests, dedicated parking, and use of two dressing rooms. Plus you get a one-hour rehearsal window, a dedicated rain backup location, and complimentary admission for up to four individuals for a pre-event planning visit. The price for micro weddings range between $600 and $750 depending on the day of the week. You can also book full weddings including a ceremony and reception. The Leu Gardens wedding guide has everything you need for initial planning, including all ceremony location details and current pricing.
One important note: Leu Gardens is strict about their reservation policy. Wedding ceremonies, vow exchanges, or any gathering involving an officiant are not permitted without an advance reservation, so plan accordingly. If you don’t wish to arrange a full wedding booking there, it’s possible to get married outside of the gardens (like at the courthouse) and then head to Leu Gardens for your photo session and for that, it only costs $15 per person to get in.
Ceremony Locations at Leu Gardens: Where Can You Get Married?
Leu Gardens offers seven outdoor ceremony locations, each with its own character and capacity. The Landing, where Ethan and Brianna chose to host their nano wedding, is a beautiful brick patio space with a low white columned railing. Because of where The Landing sits on the property, when you get married there in the morning, the sun is behind you during the ceremony—which is exactly what you want for photos. They booked the first available slot at 9am, and the light was perfect.
There are so many other beautiful spaces to get married inside Leu Gardens. The Butterfly Garden is set beneath a 100-year-old live oak, and the East Trellis holds up to 150 guests. The Rose Garden surrounds you with the blooms and the garden’s signature white fountain. The East Gazebo—also called the Idea Garden—is a white courtyard gazebo which makes it one of the more intimate options. The South Trellis and South Gazebo each hold up to 25 guests and work especially well for very small elopements. Want a visual of where to find each location? The Leu Gardens website has a wedding locations map showing exactly where each site sits within the gardens.
Morning Ceremony at The Landing
Brianna arrived in a beautiful fitted lace dress with floral appliqués across the bodice. Ethan wore a sage green suit with a peach boutonnière and a colorful patterned bow tie. Their six guests were seated on the brick terrace, and I married them right there at The Landing as the morning light came in behind them. This celebration was intimate and calm—we were done with the ceremony and into portraits while the gardens were still quiet.
Portraits All Around Leu Gardens
One of my favorite things about Leu Gardens as a wedding venue is how many completely different backdrops you can hit in a single morning without ever getting in a car. Ethan and Brianna and I made our way through most of the property for their portraits, and the variety in this gallery reflects that.
We photographed under the dramatic live oak pathway—that long mossy canopy path that looks like something from a film. We went through the Rose Garden with its pink blooms and white fountain. We found the historic Leu House cottage with its white picket fence and a green vine-covered arch. We shot through tropical palm fronds, and we used the pergola. We found all the prettiest natural colors and got creative.
And because these two are professional performers, there was zero awkwardness in front of the camera at any point. They laughed, they moved, they were genuinely present with each other the whole time—and I just kept shooting.
Thinking About a Nano or Micro Wedding? Brianna & Ethan’s Decision to go micro.
Brianna made a TikTok about their decision to skip the traditional wedding and go micro instead, and it’s worth watching if you’re on the fence about doing the same thing. She also shared a wedding day video snippet I captured with some kind words that captures the day really well. You can watch both of those below and follow along with her on TikTok @bgraf100.
FAQ: Getting Married at Harry P. Leu Gardens
Micro weddings for up to 50 guests are currently priced at $600 on weekdays and $750 on weekends. Standard weddings for up to 180 guests start at $1,500 on weekdays and $2,000 on weekends. Reception packages are available separately. Visit the Leu Gardens wedding page for current pricing on all options.
It depends on your guest count and the time of day. The Landing is a great choice for morning ceremonies because of how the sun sits behind you. The Rose Garden is stunning when the roses are in bloom (April and October are peak). The Butterfly Garden has the most dramatic live oak canopy. The East Gazebo is the most intimate enclosed option for smaller groups. I’ve photographed weddings at most of them and can help you think through which one fits your day—just ask when you reach out.
Leu Gardens is beautiful year-round, but the rose garden blooms in April and October, and the butterfly garden is most active March through May and October through November. Keep in mind that Leu Gardens does not host weddings from November 1 through mid-January due to their annual Dazzling Nights event.
Your rental includes exclusive use of one ceremony location for two hours, chairs for all guests, complimentary dedicated parking, use of two dressing rooms, a one-hour rehearsal window, a rain backup location, and complimentary admission for up to four people for a pre-event planning visit.
Yes—Leu Gardens is strict about their reservation policy and does not allow pop-up ceremonies or any organized gathering involving an officiant without a reservation. Couples who’d prefer to skip the venue booking sometimes get married at a courthouse first and add Leu Gardens as a photo location afterward, or I can officiate off-site and we do the portrait session at Leu Gardens. Either way, as a micro wedding photographer who also officiates weddings, I can walk you through the options.
Every wedding rental at Leu Gardens includes a dedicated indoor rain backup location, so you’re covered. Florida weather is unpredictable, but Leu Gardens has a plan for it.
Yes—there are a couple of counties that process Florida marriage licenses fully online, which means you can have it sorted before you ever arrive in Orlando (read my full guide on how to do this).
More Leu Gardens Weddings and Portrait Sessions
Want to see more wedding and engagement photos I’ve captured at Harry P. Leu Gardens? Click below or browse the full Leu Gardens collection on the blog.
- Young at heart elopement at Leu Gardens
- Winter Holidays Family Focused Elopement at Leu Gardens
- Whimsical Disney Princess Inspired Leu Gardens Engagement Photo Session
Find Your Leu Gardens Micro Wedding Photographer
Brianna chose me because she loved that I also officiate while taking pictures, and watching my social media videos gave her the certainty that I was the right fit for their elopement vision. After the wedding, she shared her favorite images on Instagram with these thoughts:
“The day was very simple, but it encapsulated our desire for our wedding to be about two people coming together and starting a new chapter as one. These pictures showcase our relationship perfectly, and we will forever be in awe at how amazing they turned out.”
If you’re planning a wedding at Leu Gardens and want a photographer who can also marry you, fill out my inquiry form and let’s talk about your day.
