Wedding

THE SECRET GARDEN ACCORDING TO GROK

**The Secret Garden** in Longwood, Florida, is an intimate garden wedding venue ideal for small, private ceremonies. Here’s what you need to know about this location:

– **Location**: It’s situated in Longwood, just a 20-minute drive from downtown Orlando, making it convenient for couples looking for a venue close to the city’s amenities. It’s near hotels, restaurants, and attractions, and is one mile from historic downtown Longwood shops and the SunRail station.

– **Setting**: The venue is on a property with a private 14-acre lake, surrounded by natural beauty and landscapes. The house on the property, built in 1963 and renovated in 2000, adds antique charm to the setting. 

– **Capacity**: The Secret Garden is perfect for small weddings, with a maximum capacity of 30 people, including the bride, groom, wedding party, and children. This makes it ideal for elopements or very intimate ceremonies.

– **Services and Packages**: 

  – **Wedding Packages**: They offer packages like the “Marry Me Now” for just the bride and groom, up to packages accommodating up to 30 guests with options for light receptions. 

  – **Photography**: Photography services are included in many packages, with high-resolution digital files and copyrights provided. Marti from Abba Photography is often associated with the venue, offering professional photography.

  – **Officiant Services**: Gary Davids serves as the officiant for ceremonies, providing a personalized touch to each wedding.

  – **Decorations**: While the garden is naturally beautiful, guests can bring fresh flowers for decoration. The venue prefers real flowers to ensure they blend back into nature, minimizing cleanup.

– **Facilities**: 

  – There’s a large covered porch which can serve as a backup for outdoor ceremonies if the weather changes, still providing an outdoor feel.

  – Dressing rooms for the bride and groom are available.

– **Customer Feedback**: Reviews highlight the venue’s beautiful setting, the ease of the process, and the quality of service from Gary and Marti. Couples often mention the amazing photographs, the intimate atmosphere, and the value for money, especially for those seeking an affordable yet picturesque wedding.

– **Pricing**: The Secret Garden offers competitive pricing for its all-inclusive packages to fit different needs.

– **Special Features**: The venue emphasizes a stress-free wedding experience, with many couples appreciating the simplicity and charm of having their ceremony in such a picturesque setting without the need for extensive decorations or setups.

If you’re looking for a venue that provides a serene, natural setting for an intimate wedding ceremony in the Orlando area, The Secret Garden in Longwood would be a top choice.

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How to plan a stress-free wedding or elopement involves focusing on simplicity, personal priorities, and effective organization.

1. Define Your Priorities

   – **Identify What Matters Most:** Sit down with your partner and decide on the key elements that you both value for your wedding day. This could be the photography, the location, or just the intimacy of the moment. By focusing on these, you can let go of less important details that often cause stress.

2. Venue Selection

   – **Choose Wisely:** For a stress-free experience, consider having both your ceremony and reception at the same venue. This reduces logistical stress for you and your guests. If eloping, select a location that resonates with both of you, be it a beach, mountain, or city spot.

3. Guest List Management

   – **Keep it Intimate:** Smaller gatherings are inherently less stressful. If you want to elope, you might choose to have no guests or just a handful, but if you’re having a wedding, consider a micro-wedding where you only invite your closest friends and family.

4. Budget

   – **Set Realistic Budgets:** Early budget setting helps manage financial stress. Decide how much you want to spend on each aspect and stick to it. Remember, elopements tend to be more cost-effective.

5. Legalities and Logistics

   – **Research Legal Requirements:** Especially for elopements, know what’s needed to get legally married in your chosen location. This includes understanding marriage license requirements, any necessary permits, and officiant options.

6. For Elopements

   – **Flexibility:** Choose a date with some flexibility if possible, especially if outdoors, to account for weather.

   – **Personal Touches:** Since elopements are intimate, make the day special with personal touches like writing your vows or choosing a meaningful spot.

By keeping these points in mind, you can plan a wedding or elopement that feels more like a celebration and less like an ordeal. Remember, the goal is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

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What is the best day of the week for a wedding?

The good news is at The Secret Garden we do weddings and elopements 7 days a week, all year long based on availability of course and we charge the same amazing price no matter what day of the week you choose.

Choosing the best day of the week for a wedding (at most other venues) largely depends on several factors including the couple’s preferences, guest convenience, venue availability, and cost considerations. 

Here’s a breakdown by day:

– **Friday**: 

  – **Pros**: Guests can enjoy a long weekend if the wedding is local. It can be easier to book venues and vendors since fewer weddings happen on Fridays. It might also be cheaper than a Saturday.

  – **Cons**: Some guests might need to take time off work, which could be inconvenient. 

– **Saturday**:

  – **Pros**: This is traditionally the most popular day for weddings due to convenience; guests don’t have to worry about work the next day. Most venues offer full services on Saturdays.

  – **Cons**: Higher demand often means higher costs and less availability. Booking can be challenging far in advance.

– **Sunday**:

  – **Pros**: Similar to Friday, it might offer better pricing and availability. Guests can still enjoy part of the weekend before returning to work.

  – **Cons**: Guests might need to leave early to prepare for work or travel back home if the wedding isn’t local. Some services might not be available or might charge more for a Sunday event.

– **Weekdays (Monday to Thursday)**:

  – **Pros**: Costs can be significantly lower, and you might have more flexibility with venue choices and vendor bookings. Ideal for intimate or destination weddings where travel is already planned.

  – **Cons**: Attendance might be lower due to work commitments. Not all vendors or services might be available, and some might charge extra for less popular days.

**Considerations:**

– **Guest Travel**: If many guests are traveling, consider a day that allows for a longer stay without work conflicts.

– **Budget**: If budget is a concern, weekdays or Sunday can be more economical.

– **Personal Preference**: If you have a favorite day or a specific vibe you’re going for, this can override logistical concerns.

– **Venue and Vendor Availability**: Sometimes, the availability of your dream venue or a must-have vendor might dictate the day.

Ultimately, the “best” day is subjective and should align with the couple’s vision for their celebration, taking into account what matters most to them and their guests. If you’re leaning towards a particular day but unsure, you might also consider doing a poll among your expected guests.

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You might be asking about wedding trends for 2025. Here’s what current information suggests about current wedding trends. 

– **On the Rise:**

  – **Intimate Weddings:** Couples are increasingly opting for smaller, more personal ceremonies, focusing on creating a memorable experience for a select number of guests.

  – **Sustainability:** There’s a significant trend towards eco-friendly weddings, with choices like digital invitations, locally sourced food, and sustainable decor becoming more popular.

  – **Bold Colors:** Moving away from neutral palettes, 2024 sees an increase in vibrant and dynamic color schemes, with couples choosing colors that reflect their personalities.

  – **Tech Integration:** From livestreaming ceremonies for remote guests to using technology for content creators capturing events for social media.

  – **Bespoke Fashion:** Custom bridal and groom attire is on the rise, with couples seeking outfits that tell their unique love story through fashion.

– **On the Decline:**

  – **Large Traditional Weddings:** There’s a noticeable shift away from grand, large-scale weddings in favor of more intimate gatherings.

  – **Formal Traditions:** Trends like formal cake cuttings and sweetheart tables are less in vogue, with a preference for more casual, fun, and less structured celebrations.

  – **Oversized Buffets:** Traditional large buffets are giving way to more creative, interactive food stations and unique dining experiences.

  – **Strict Themes:** Instead of rigid themes, couples are choosing a more relaxed, personalized approach to wedding aesthetics, blending elements from different styles.

For a wedding in 2025 these trends suggest a focus on personalization, sustainability, and creating an engaging, memorable experience for everyone involved. If you’re planning your wedding, consider these trends to make your day uniquely yours while also being mindful of current preferences in wedding planning.

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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BAMBOO GARDEN ELOPEMENT AND WEDDING EVENT SPACE IN ORLANDO is The Secret Garden. We have been hosting these intimate events for 20 years. Every event feels just as special as our very first one and we look forward to many more. Assisting you with information and individual tours is as easy as a phone call or email. You can click on the date availability button on our home page for detailed information regarding the package that interests you. Completing this short form expedites the reservation process should you decide to secure a date.

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Florida Elopements Popular Year Round at The Secret Garden. We have been specializing in weddings and elopements for over 20 years just 20 minutes from downtown Orlando. Our customers enjoy the vast number of great hotels and restaurants just minutes from our private garden venue. We are also easy to get to with access from any direction with the central Florida highways.

If you would like to schedule your private appointment to see our lakeside garden wedding venue, simply call 407-617-5622 or email us at [email protected] and we will gladly get you on the calendar. We look forward to meeting you and providing you with excellent package options and alternatives to the courthouse that lacks beauty and hotel venues that are too large and costly.

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Scotland celebrates at The Secret Garden in Longwood with Christine, Tony and Jess.

Once again, we had the pleasure of having our customers come from across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way to sunny Florida. We got to enjoy the tradition of a Scottish kilt and a hand fasting ceremony performed with the family Tartans, representing both sides of the bride and grooms families.

it is a pleasure for us to share in the memories of such a joyful celebration bringing a couple together united in marriage.

Gatherings at The Secret Garden can be as small as just a Bride and Groom, or in this case shared with their beautiful daughter while on vacation in Florida, or up to 30 people for an intimate, smaller size full wedding complete with food and beverages for your guests. 

When considering a place to elope or get married, please consider our intimate wedding venue known as The Secret Garden just 20 minutes outside of downtown Orlando. We are close to five star hotels, fabulous restaurants and popular theme parks. In addition to the local attractions, there is the Gulf of Mexico on the west side of Florida and the Atlantic ocean on the eastern side for your beachside getaways.

There is no shortage of things to do while on vacation here. Obtaining a marriage license couldn’t be easier in Florida either as there are many court houses in all 67 counties and unlike some other states, you can get the license in any county and use it in any other Florida county.

The license is good for 60 days and if you are coming from out of state there is no waiting period for the bride and groom to be able to use the marriage license. You also have the option of bringing the license back to the courthouse yourself or we can mail it for you and it will be forwarded to your home address within just a couple of weeks.

Please contact us with any questions.

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HAPPY TO REPORT “ALL IS WELL HERE” AFTER MILTON PASSED THROUGH TOWN. SEE YOU ALL SOON. Today we will only be raking the garden of loose twigs.

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