Kraft Azalea Garden Elopement in Winter Park, Florida: Trista & Daniel

10 hours ago

3 min read

Close-up of newlyweds nose to nose at their Winter Park elopement, bride wearing an emerald ring

Trista and Daniel, a couple from Virginia, eloped at the Exedra in Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, Florida. Intimate Weddings of Orlando planned the elopement, Sensational Ceremonies officiated, and Rhodes Studios Photography & Video photographed the day. Below are the ceremony, the details, the portrait spots, and answers to common questions about eloping at Kraft Azalea Garden.

Why Kraft Azalea Garden Is a Top Orlando-Area Elopement Spot

Kraft Azalea Garden is a 5.22-acre public garden on the shore of Lake Maitland in Winter Park, just north of Orlando. Giant cypress trees, sabal palms and Spanish moss shade the grounds. Its centerpiece is the Exedra, a curved monument of tall fluted columns built for small ceremonies.

For out-of-state couples like Trista and Daniel, it is an easy choice. It is a short drive from Orlando International Airport, and it delivers an old-Florida look without a big-venue budget. Intimate Weddings of Orlando handled the planning, so the couple could arrive from Virginia and simply focus on each other.

Emotional groom in navy suit with white rose boutonniere waiting for his bride at Kraft Azalea Garden

Bride in ivory boho gown walking a garden path under Spanish moss in Winter Park, FL

Elopement ceremony with officiant under the Exedra at Kraft Azalea Garden, Winter Park

The Bride's Walk and the Groom's Reaction

Trista walked alone down a winding path under moss-draped oaks, bouquet in hand. Her smile was soft and a little nervous.

Daniel waited at the Exedra, visibly holding back tears. As an Orlando wedding photographer, these are the moments we live for. Honest emotion like that cannot be posed.

Bridal portrait with white rose, daisy and billy button bouquet in Winter Park

White rose and yellow billy button bridal bouquet detail from a Winter Park, Florida elopement

Bride smiling up at the groom during their elopement ceremony at Kraft Azalea Garden

The Ceremony at the Kraft Azalea Garden Exedra

Sensational Ceremonies officiated a personal, heartfelt ceremony beneath the Exedra columns. Trista and Daniel held hands and exchanged vows with the cypress trees and Lake Maitland behind them.

Their first kiss as husband and wife was pure joy. Trista held Daniel's face in her hands while her bouquet rested on the Exedra's stone bench.

Bride and groom's first kiss at the Kraft Azalea Garden Exedra

Couple touching foreheads on the boardwalk by a giant cypress tree at Kraft Azalea Garden, Winter Park

Wedding Attire: Boho Ivory Gown and Classic Navy Suit

The couple's style blended relaxed boho with timeless tailoring:

Bride's dress: A flowing ivory gown with ruffled V-neckline, lace inset panels, a tiered ruffle skirt and an open back.
Bride's accessories: A dainty gold necklace with an engraved floral pendant, gold ballet flats and a gold ring with an emerald stone.
Bride's hair: Long, loose natural waves.
Groom's attire: A navy suit, crisp white shirt, black patterned tie, wristwatch and gold wedding band.

Bride holding bouquet beside a gnarled tree with Lake Maitland behind her

Bride and groom laughing as they walk near the Exedra in Winter Park

Wedding Bouquet: White Roses, Billy Buttons and Eucalyptus

Trista's bouquet was a lush, garden-style arrangement in white, green and yellow. It included:

White roses and ranunculus
White stock and small white daisies
Yellow billy button craspedia
Eucalyptus, Italian ruscus and small succulents
An ivory ribbon wrap with exposed stems

Daniel's boutonniere matched it: a single white rose with white snapdragon buds and greenery, wrapped in ivory ribbon.

Bride and groom holding hands between the Exedra columns at Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, Florida

Groom lifting bride on a sunlit lawn among palms and cypress trees at Kraft Azalea Garden

5 Best Elopement Photo Spots at Kraft Azalea Garden

After the ceremony, we explored the garden for portraits. These five spots gave us the most variety in a short session:

The Exedra columns: Standing hand in hand on the Exedra ledge, framed by columns and towering trees.
The open lawn under the palms: Daniel lifted Trista off her feet on a sunlit lawn ringed by palms and cypress.
The wooden boardwalk: Forehead-to-forehead moments in front of a massive old cypress trunk draped in vines and moss.
The lakeside trees: Bridal portraits beside a gnarled, sculptural tree trunk with Lake Maitland behind Trista.
The garden paths: Walking arm in arm and laughing together as newlyweds.

When is the best time of day for photos at Kraft Azalea Garden?

Late afternoon into golden hour. The low sun filters through the cypress trees and warms the Exedra, and the city itself calls the Exedra ideal for sunset ceremonies.

Can out-of-state couples plan an elopement in Winter Park remotely?

Yes. Trista and Daniel planned their elopement from Virginia with Intimate Weddings of Orlando, who coordinated the details before they arrived.

Who photographs elopements in Winter Park and Orlando?

Rhodes Studios Photography & Video photographs and films elopements, intimate weddings and full weddings in Winter Park, Orlando and across Central Florida.

Vendor Team

Photography: Rhodes Studios Photography & Video
Elopement planning: Intimate Weddings of Orlando
Officiant: Sensational Ceremonies
Venue: Kraft Azalea Garden, City of Winter Park

Congratulations, Trista & Daniel

Thank you for traveling from Virginia and trusting us with your Winter Park elopement. We hope these photos bring you right back to that afternoon under the Spanish moss.

Planning an elopement or intimate wedding in Winter Park or Orlando? Contact Rhodes Studios Photography & Video at 407-242-7800 to check your date.