If you’re considering a South Florida wedding, Miami is going to give you some of the best bang for your buck in terms of venues to choose from. This is especially true if you have a more extensive guest list. In the Florida Keys (link to your Florida Keys Blog), room blocks are hard to come by, traveling can be an issue, and the few wedding venues that can accommodate 150+ guests book quickly.
There are many locations for great weddings in the Miami area; you can find many lists online talking about them. However, the ones I want to focus on in this article I’ve chosen specifically because they have something that I love as a wedding photographer, not having to leave the property to get diverse and interesting photos.
A wedding day goes by so quickly, so getting those crucial photos done for my clients is my top priority. Being able to create unique photos within the same space is great for the client because they get the best of both worlds, great images and they don’t miss out on their party.
Located just south of downtown, Villa Woodbine is a mix of Old Florida and an upscale garden setting. It feels like a private home but can accommodate up to 300 people. The inside touches like inlaid Spanish tile on the stairways and arched doorways and verandas contrast nicely with the lawn and gigantic trees. Villa also offers tenting outside if you desire, which is a nice plus. If you’re looking for a great all in one venue that’s romantic and has a historical Miami feel, put this one on your list to check out.
This spacious Coral Gables wedding venue has a stylish space that takes on any décor you like with ease. The main ballroom has soaring ceilings and wood beams, giving this venue an old school supper club vibe that is awesome! It’s also one of the few places that have invested in modern lighting built into the courtyard and ballroom, making for fantastic photo ops for couples. The garden is loaded with palms, plants and lounge furniture. Check this place out if you are looking for a fresh, funky vibe that still feels distinctly Miami.
Oceanfront Miami beach weddings don’t get much better than this. Get married on the beach but then move the party to one of the area’s most upscale ballrooms with floor to ceiling views of the bay and the ocean. Eden Roc can accommodate up to 650 guests. Between the beachfront area and the upscale décor they provide in the ballroom, this venue is a dream to photograph in. If you have guests coming in from all over the country, this hotel is perfect; they can enjoy all the amenities the hotel has without leaving the grounds.
Overlooking Biscayne Bay with Versailles-inspired gardens is Vizcaya, a marvel of a building. It looks French; it looks Spanish; it looks Venetian. Everywhere you look is more stunning architecture, manicured lawns and pools, and water features. Inside, each room is more opulent than the next with stained glass, inlaid marble, and ornate walls. If you’re looking for a wedding that feels like it’s set on a private estate, this historic venue should be top of your list. Vizcaya can accommodate 300+ guests and can host a tented wedding overlooking the bay.
When you walk into this venue in Coconut Grove, you feel like you’ve been transported to New Orleans. This French-inspired venue has every single amenity you can think of, from one of the most beautiful private bridal chambers to three-story atriums and cobblestoned courtyards. Just outside the building are coral rock walls, blazingly pretty bougainvillea and views of Biscayne Bay. The Cruz building can accommodate 250 guests and is a good choice if you are looking for a romantic, elegant venue.
There are not many venues that can boast being able to do an intimate wedding for 20 and weddings for up to 1000 guests! The Miami Beach Botanical gardens have just about every species of native tree, palm, and water feature that you can find in the state of Florida. Get married beneath the stately banyan trees draped with Spanish moss, and have your reception staged nearby with the smell of frangipani in the air. It’s a fantastic 3-acre jewel set right in the middle of Miami, but it feels worlds away.
