I don’t even know where to start with this wedding, so I’ll start back in 2007. I was living in Tallahassee, Florida, and photographed the headshots for a bunch of juniors and senior theatre majors at FSU. Years after that, I’m living in New York, and so are many of my past clients. Those clients led me to Amanda, a FSU alumni herself. I first encountered Amanda in Hello Dolly on Broadway, where she went on for a role she understudied (and she was amazing). I first encountered Ben without realizing it, seeing him in Book of Mormon before I knew he was Amanda’s Ben.
Being hired to photograph this wedding was an actual dream come true. Everything about Amanda and Ben is just…yeah, it’s all excellent. They’re crazily, insanely talented individuals. They’re hard workers, passionate about their dreams and their craft, and true triple threats. They’re adorably wonderfully gorgeous, just beautiful human beings inside and out. They’re funny, ferociously love their family and friends, and love each other with a truth and depth that is just really, really freaking gorgeous to see.
And their wedding? THEIR WEDDING. We started the day at the Alfond Inn, with Amanda in her suite. The rain was pouring down, streaking the windows and pattering on the pool outside. Amanda got ready, Ben got ready. They exchanged letters they had written each other. (We all cried). They prepared to see each other for the first time on a covered patio outside the Alfond – and the sun came out. The rain stopped, the clouds parted, they saw each other (we all cried), and we took pictures outside. The second we went back in, the clouds covered up and the rest of the day was moody and dreamy outside.
From their prep time at the Alfond before the ceremony, their sweet first look, the charm of their wedding vows, through to the gorgeous reception, the whole day was everything. Choosing a favorite part is nearly impossible. Was it Amanda and her childhood best friend tearing up when she put her mother’s necklace on as a bracelet? Was it Ben, struggling to keep a straight face when reading Amanda’s letter to him, or the way his eyes actually lit up when he saw her come down the aisle? Perhaps it was Amanda’s dad, who found a lost recording of Amanda’s late mother singing Wind Beneath My Wings (note : Amanda was in Hello Dolly with, yes, Bette Midler) and played it for the father/daughter dance?
Side note : I’ve never had to go to the bathroom and wash my face after a father/daughter dance before. WE. ALL. CRIED.
Amanda and Ben, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for being so kind and open in front of my lens. Thank you for treating me and my team like family. Thank you for sharing your day, your love, and your hearts with me. I am eternally grateful. Now go lay on a beach – you deserve it!
Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding:
Alfond Inn Wedding Photographer
The Alfond Inn at 300 East New England Avenue in Winter Park, Florida is a boutique hotel owned by Rollins College, where all net operating income funds student scholarships. Opened 2013. 183 guest rooms. The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art — over 220 works — displayed throughout the hotel. One wedding at a time. The glass-domed Conservatory is the heart of the Inn. The garden Courtyard with fire pits. Hamilton’s Kitchen on site. One of the most distinctive destination wedding venues in Florida, and a meaningful one. I have photographed here and I would return without hesitation.
About the Venue
300 East New England Avenue, Winter Park, Florida. 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport, 30 minutes from Walt Disney World. Owned by Rollins College, one of the top-ranked liberal arts colleges in the South. AAA Four Diamond Rating. Preferred Hotels and Resorts L.V.X. collection. 183 guest rooms. No competing events on your wedding day. Ceremony fee $3,500. Up to 240 guests.
The Spaces
The Conservatory is the signature ceremony space and the heart of the Inn. A soaring glass-domed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and views of the garden Courtyard below. Bright and light-filled. The Conservatory is used for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and intimate receptions.
The Park Avenue Ballroom is the primary reception space at 5,000 square feet, divisible into five sections. Elegant chandeliers, neutral decor, flexible layout. Up to 300 seated.
The Garden Courtyard extends 10,000 square feet beyond the Conservatory with lush landscaping, built-in fire pits, and outdoor event space for ceremonies and al fresco receptions.
Hamilton’s Kitchen is the on-site restaurant available for rehearsal dinners and farewell brunches. The Private Dining Room accommodates up to 18 guests for intimate gatherings.
The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art
The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art — over 220 works of paintings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces — is displayed throughout the hotel. This is not generic hotel art. It is a serious, curated collection acquired by the Alfond family for Rollins College. The art is part of what makes photographing here different from any other Florida venue. Every corridor, every common space, every wall has something worth looking at. This enriches both the guest experience and the photography.
Photography at the Alfond Inn
The Conservatory under the glass dome for ceremony coverage. The courtyard with fire pits for cocktail hour. The Park Avenue Ballroom under the chandeliers. The art collection throughout the hotel for portrait coverage — the works provide extraordinary backdrops in every room and hallway. The pool deck. The cobblestone streets of Winter Park just outside for outdoor portraits among the oak trees and Spanish moss.
Frequently Asked Questions: Alfond Inn Weddings
Where is the Alfond Inn located?
300 East New England Avenue in Winter Park, Florida. 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport, 30 minutes from Walt Disney World.
What is the Alfond Inn?
A boutique hotel owned by Rollins College, opened 2013, with all net operating income funding college scholarships. 183 guest rooms. The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art throughout. One wedding at a time. Glass-domed Conservatory ceremony space. Park Avenue Ballroom up to 300 seated. Garden Courtyard with fire pits. Hamilton’s Kitchen restaurant on site. Up to 240 guests. AAA Four Diamond Rating.
What makes the Alfond Inn distinctive?
Three things separate it from other Florida boutique hotel venues. One: the art collection, which transforms every hallway and common space into something photographically extraordinary. Two: the ownership by Rollins College, which means booking here funds student scholarships — a meaningful distinction for couples who care where their money goes. Three: the one-wedding-per-day policy, which means the entire staff is focused exclusively on your celebration.
Is the Alfond Inn good for destination weddings?
Yes. The 183 on-site guest rooms mean the entire wedding party and most guests can stay in the building. Winter Park itself is one of the best small towns in the United States, with walkable cobblestone streets, Park Avenue dining, and multiple museums within walking distance. The combination of the venue and the town makes for a genuine destination wedding weekend rather than a single-day event.
Do you photograph destination weddings at the Alfond Inn?
Yes. If your wedding is here, I would love to hear about it.
