Chelsea Santiago
When choosing a venue for your dream wedding it’s all about location, location, location. Where you are sets the mood and pulls the whole theme you have envisioned together.
Orlando was recently named the No. 2 best U.S. city to get married by WalletHub, due in part to the number of venues available for brides and grooms to be. The personal-finance website compared 150 of the largest cities in the country and ranked The City Beautiful first for its number of bridal shops, flower shops, and venues and event spaces per capita, among other factors.
With that in mind, we compiled a list of some of the top wedding venues in and around Orlando. In no particular order, here they are.
1. The Historic Dubsdread Ballroom
Originally built in 1924, the Dubsdread Ballroom has lost none of its old Florida charm through the years. Whether you’re looking for the glam and refinement of the 1920s, the rustic feel of an open wood-beam ceiling and a stone fireplace, or a fairytale dream of a cobbled courtyard, this venue has it all.
2. Bok Tower Gardens
Beauty and serenity are often the goals for a dream wedding and Bok Tower Gardens delivers with its secluded gardens of lush plants and delicate blooms. The marble and coquina Singing Tower is an architectural treasure with tile mosaics, sculptures, carvings and custom ironwork that provide an exquisite backdrop for a wedding.
3. Walt Disney World Resort
Disney has always known the secret to making dreams come true. Disney’s Fairytale Weddings provides dozens of wedding packages so couples can create their dream wedding straight out of a fairytale. Options include riding to the ceremony in a glass carriage, seeing the world with Epcot’s themed areas from China to Canada, and saying “I do” beneath the stars in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
4. Orlando Museum of Art
Elegant and tasteful, the Orlando Museum of Art is an ideal venue for both the ceremony and the reception. It requires few decorations to allow couples to focus on the wonders of their special day, letting the art stand for itself as the décor.
5. Waldorf Astoria
This luxury hotel venue offers ceremony locations such as a private island with golf course views, a grand ballroom, an outdoor terrace, or in the gardens. The Waldorf Astoria even doubles as a staycation honeymoon location where couples can relax in the lap of luxury as the staff caters to their every need.
6. Citrus Club
Occupying the 18th floor of the Citrus Center in downtown Orlando presents an exquisite panoramic view of the surrounding city that’s perfect at sunset. Enjoy elegance and charm in the high-rise lifestyle during a Citrus Club wedding.
7. Hastings Ranch and Farm
For a rustic wedding, Hastings Ranch and Farm, which is located near Lake Nona, has sprawling oaks amid open fields and a gorgeous lake for a scenic ceremony in addition to a charming barn for the reception. This is an ideal location for a southern-inspired, outdoor wedding complete with mason jars and bales of hay.
8. Orchid Garden
Located in downtown Orlando along the iconic Church Street Station, Orchid Garden is a Victorian-style, crystal palace that features overhanging balconies, magnificent staircases, wrought-iron rafters and an outdoor courtyard with stained glass windows. This venue offers a touch of elegance and sophistication to any wedding.
9. Maitland Art Center
Astounding architecture, gorgeous gardens and amazing artwork make the A&H’s Maitland Art Center a stunning backdrop for any wedding. The Art Center is one of the few surviving examples of Mayan Revival, and couples can say their vows within the Mayan Chapel & Courtyard among Mayan-inspired sculptures and Christian iconography.
10. Bella Collina
Bask under the Tuscan sun in Montverde, just outside of Orlando, with Bella Collina’s breathtaking views that are as picturesque as the Italian countryside. Enjoy a wondrous wedding with all the elegance of Tuscany without the travel.
11. Harry P. Leu Gardens
Say “I do” amid azaleas and magnolias, and pronounce your love among trumpet trees and gardenias. Leu Gardens offers a beautiful backdrop for romantic weddings no matter the season.
12. The Balcony Orlando
Floating 11 stories above the streets in the heart of downtown Orlando, with Lake Eola to the East and the cityscape as the backdrop, every angle offers a beautiful view. The Balcony Orlando offers 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, and 3,000 square feet of open indoor space, making this a unique rooftop venue with a stylish, urban feel.
13. The MEZZ
Located on the second floor of the Sanctuary high-rise by Lake Eola, The MEZZ mixes the elegance and romanticism of a wedding with the excitement that comes from a city like Orlando. Impeccably furnished modern art décor and wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a sweeping view of the brick-lined streets below, are sure to impress.
14. Paradise Cove
Couples might think that a beach wedding requires them and their guests to drive hours away, but it turns out that the perfect, sandy-white shores are right here in town. Located on the shores of Lake Bryan, Paradise Cove has created a hidden paradise in Orlando, complete with a tiki bar, twinkle lights and tiki torches.
15. Quantum Leap Winery
Skip the flight to Napa Valley and enjoy the atmosphere local winery right here in Orlando. A unique, urban winery located just off Mills Avenue, provides both a rustic and contemporary feel for a truly special event.
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