This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar
Ashley and Justin Had a Whimsical Renaissance Faire Wedding at Lady of the Lakes in Tavares, Florida
Some weddings are just a wedding. And then there are weddings like Ashley and Justin’s—where the venue is Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire, the groom arrives flanked by his merry men, the bride arrives on horseback led by an armored knight, and the entire faire stops to bow as the procession travels through.
This was one of the most joyful weddings I’ve ever photographed. Joyful in a the-whole-crowd-is-cheering-for-you, live-singers-at-your-reception-feast kind of way. Ashley and Justin committed to every single bit of it, and it showed.
A Renaissance Festival Wedding at Lady of the Lakes: Ashley & Justin’s Story
Ashley and Justin describe themselves as two nerds. Disney annual passholders, owners of arguably too many pets, watchers of stupid TV. Ashley has an ever-growing book collection. Justin works in IT. They are exactly the kind of couple I love—people who know who they are and who build a wedding that reflects their personalities boldly.
They found me as their micro wedding photographer on Google. What sealed the deal, according to Ashley: “Your images seemed like the most fun and relaxed we saw, and we liked that you work with smaller weddings as we don’t need 7+ hours of photography.” That tracks. This wedding had a lot happening in a short window, and it needed someone who could keep up.
Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire: Not Your Average Wedding Venue
The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire is located in Tavares, Florida—about an hour northwest of Orlando. It runs seasonally each November, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a fully immersive, fully costumed, fully operational renaissance festival with jousting, live entertainment, artisan vendors, pub crawls, food, and a cast of characters who take the whole thing very seriously.
What makes it one of the most unique renaissance faire wedding venues in Florida is that the faire doesn’t shut down for your wedding. It keeps going. Which means your ceremony, your processional, your entire celebration is woven into a living world. The guests at the faire become part of your day whether they planned to or not—and for a couple like Ashley and Justin, it was exactly the vibe they were looking for.
Renaissance Wedding Dress and Beauty and the Beast Theme
Ashley wore a white structured bodice with light blue and cream flowing skirts and a crown—and if you’re a Disney person, the Beauty and the Beast influence is immediately obvious. The blue and gold, the princess silhouette, the fairy tale feeling of the whole look. Justin was in deep blue and gold to match. Together they looked like they had stepped directly out of a storybook, which, given the setting, was exactly right.
The renaissance wedding dress silhouette works beautifully at a faire because it belongs there. There’s no visual disconnect between the couple and the world around them—everything reads as part of the same world. Ashley’s crown, the flowing skirts, the rich color palette against the lush green outdoor setting—it all came together into something that felt genuinely magical. And their guests dressed the part in renaissance outfits as well!
She Arrived on Horseback—and the Whole Faire Stopped
Ashley’s processional started on horseback, led by an armored knight in full plate armor, and that alone would have made this wedding memorable. The scale of it—the horse, the knight, the bride—was something to behold from behind a camera. Then the processional continued on foot, with the wenches sweeping through ahead of the couple to clear the path. And here’s the thing about walking through a fully operational renaissance faire as the couple just married: everyone stops. The crowds part. People bow. They cheer. Strangers who came to watch jousting and eat turkey legs are suddenly, and genuinely, rooting for you.
I have to say: this is not a wedding for someone who hates attention. Every person at that faire knew about Ashley and Justin’s presence, and they made it known. Ashley and Justin were completely in their element—and the energy was electric in a way I haven’t experienced at many weddings.
The Joy-Filled Ceremony
The ceremony took place in one of the faire’s outdoor spaces, surrounded by the lush greenery and rustic wooden structures that give Lady of the Lakes its character. There’s something about saying vows in a place with this much texture and history—even a recreated one—that gives the moment real weight. The crowd nearby, the festival sounds in the distance, the living world around them—none of it felt like a distraction. It felt like a backdrop that actually matched the scale of what was happening.
Renaissance Wedding Portraits in Just Ten Minutes
Wedding days at a renaissance faire run on the faire’s schedule, which means portrait time for just the couple is precious and finite. Ashley and Justin had about ten minutes, which is genuinely not a lot of time. But it’s enough when the couple is present and the photographer is experienced enough to move it along quickly to get a large variety of shots in a super short amount of time. We moved, we worked, and we got a lot out of those ten minutes. Sometimes constraints make for better photos—there’s no time to overthink anything, so you just shoot.
The Reception: A Medieval Feast with Live Entertainment
The reception was set up under a canopied outdoor area—draped fabric, long tables, a full medieval feast aesthetic that felt like a natural extension of everything that had come before it. The wedding package at Lady of the Lakes includes a small reception component, and Ashley and Justin used it well.
The live singers who performed during the meal were incredible performers. Not background noise—actual entertainment that made this small reception feel like an event. Between the music, the food, and the still-buzzing energy from the wedding, the reception was warm and personal.
Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire Weddings: What to Know
The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire is located in Tavares, FL—about an hour northwest of Orlando and accessible from most of Central Florida.
The faire runs seasonally in November, which means your wedding date options are tied to the faire’s annual schedule. Check the faire’s website for current season dates before you plan.
Yes—the faire offers weddings as part of its special events program. Packages include a ceremony and small reception component. Contact the faire directly for current package details and pricing.
It is—and that’s a big part of what makes it special. The renaissance festival runs as normal around your celebration, which means the general public becomes an unexpected part of your day. The crowds bow, cheer, and stop to watch as you process through. If you love that idea, this venue will deliver. If you’d prefer a more private setting, it’s worth knowing upfront.
Costume is encouraged but never required. Many guests show up in full renaissance festival outfits, which adds to the atmosphere—but everyday clothes are completely fine too. Ashley and Justin’s guests spanned the full spectrum and it worked.
The grounds are outdoor and largely unpaved, so keep footwear in mind—both for yourself and for guests with mobility considerations. Florida November weather is generally mild, but it’s still an outdoor event, so a weather backup plan is a smart conversation to have with the faire team.
Looking for a Renaissance Faire Wedding Photographer in Florida?
Many of my favorite couples are self-described nerds—gamers, D&D players, Disney adults, bookworms, people with a very specific vision and the confidence to actually do it. If your wedding has a theme, a personality, a whole world built around who you are—I’m the Central Florida wedding photographer for you. If a Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire wedding is on your radar, or if you’re planning any kind of themed or non-traditional celebration in Florida, fill out my inquiry form and let’s talk about it.
