This session was shot by GMP team photographer Gabriela
Emily and Kevin were married at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in downtown Tampa, then explored the city for their photo session
Emily and Kevin got married at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in downtown Tampa on a January afternoon, with their ceremony at 2:30pm. January is a great time of year to for outside photoshoots in Florida — the light is clean and bright, the humidity is gone, and 2:30 gives you strong, clear afternoon sun that suits a fresh, airy look.
Speaking of which, this gallery was edited in my Bright & Fresh style — one of three editing styles couples can choose from. If you’re deciding how you want your images to feel, you learn about see all three editing options here.
Family photos at the courthouse
Emily and Kevin had family with them, so photographer Gabriela started them off strong with group photos out front of the courthouse, with that clean Art Deco marble façade and the downtown Tampa skyline behind everyone. Courthouse weddings are small by nature, but there’s always room to gather the people who came to celebrate — and those quick family portraits are some of the ones couples treasure most. Especially when your fur baby can join!
A downtown Tampa photo adventure
Here’s my favorite thing about a courthouse wedding in a city like Tampa: you can turn it into a photo adventure. When the weather’s nice and the shoes allow for walking, we love taking couples beyond the courthouse steps and into the walkable areas nearby. Sometimes that’s a charming small town, like around the Osceola County Courthouse — and sometimes it’s a full downtown to play in, like Tampa or Orlando.
Emily and Kevin were up for it, so they wandered. Gabriela used the domed pavilion right across from the courthouse, the glowing marquee of the historic Tampa Theatre, and — my favorite frame of the day — the marble arched doorway of Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Florida Avenue. That 1905 Romanesque church has one of the most beautiful entrances in the city, and Gabriela’s shot of the two of them tucked into that archway is simple, chic, and perfectly executed. It’s honestly one of my favorite images any of my photographers has ever taken with one of my couples.
If you’re planning a courthouse wedding and the forecast looks good, take us up on the photo adventure. It’s the best way to get a gallery with real range — architecture, city character, and quiet moments — without booking a single formal venue.
Getting married at the Hillsborough County Courthouse?
If you’re planning a Tampa courthouse wedding, browse more of our work there and reach out.
Congratulations, Emily and Kevin, thank you for having us!
