Talk about full circle. I met Christine and Jared for the first time way before their 2009 Miami wedding – we were all living in Tallahassee, Florida, and I’d been commissioned to photograph their engagement session. I still remember walking around downtown Tallahassee (remember Gallie Alley, you two?) as vividly as I remember traveling to Miami for their wedding. Since 2009, I’ve photographed many other things for this remarkable couple as they have since added three hilarious, wonderful children to their family.
Christine and Jared are, simply put, tremendous people. Individually, they are hilarious, warm, welcoming, razor-sharp, smart, charming, gorgeous, and kind. Together? They’re a supernova of sunshine. It was a ferociously huge honor to travel back to Vizcaya for their vow renewal on their tenth anniversary to create some more images, this time with their children.
See you back in Miami in 2029? I’m there if you’re there.
Here are a few of my favorite images from their destination wedding at the Vizcaya vow renewal portrait session in 2019:
And a few favorites from their wedding in 2009 : time flies, am I right?
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Wedding Photographer
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens at 3251 South Miami Avenue in Coconut Grove is a National Historic Landmark completed in 1916 as the winter estate of businessman James Deering. Italian Renaissance architecture with 34 rooms in the Main House, ten acres of formal gardens, a stone barge in Biscayne Bay, and views of the water from virtually every corner of the property. I photographed a wedding here in 2009 and returned in 2019 for a vow renewal. It is one of the most extraordinary venues I have ever photographed anywhere.
About the Venue
3251 South Miami Avenue in Coconut Grove, Miami, approximately 20 minutes from Miami International Airport. A National Historic Landmark owned and managed by Miami-Dade County. Available for events every day of the year except certain major holidays. All vendors must be from Vizcaya’s Approved Vendor List. Evening setup begins at 3 pm on the East Terrace, 4 pm in the gardens, and 5:15 pm in the Courtyard. Events end by 11 pm, venue closes at 1 am. Evening rental starting around $23,000 for up to 100 guests.
The Event Spaces
The East Terrace overlooks Biscayne Bay directly and is the primary large-event space, accommodating up to 300 seated guests. Tenting is required for more than 90 guests on the East Terrace. A clear tent of 33 by 113 feet runs approximately $8,500.
The Main House has 34 rooms and accommodates up to 100 seated guests for indoor receptions. The Courtyard of the Main House is available for ceremonies and receptions.
The gardens offer 10 acres of Italian Renaissance-inspired formal landscaping, featuring sculpted hedges, reflecting pools, classical statues, and stone archways. Popular ceremony and portrait locations include the Garden Mound, the Teahouse, the South Terrace, and the stone barge in the bay.
Daytime garden ceremonies are available for up to 25 guests for $2,000, with an additional $25 per guest up to 25 more. No chairs, canopies, or runners permitted for daytime ceremonies. No food or beverages during daytime garden ceremonies. Ceremonies available between 9:30 am and 3 pm any day except Tuesday.
What to Know Before You Book
All caterers, planners, and vendors must be from Vizcaya’s Approved Vendor List. Outside vendors are not permitted. Plan for this early in your search. Miami-Dade police officers are recommended for events of 200 or more guests to manage traffic flow. Avoid the summer months. The heat and humidity in July and August are genuinely difficult for outdoor events and outdoor photography. Fall, winter, and early spring are the right seasons for a Vizcaya wedding.
Photography at Vizcaya
The East Terrace with Biscayne Bay behind the ceremony. The stone barge in the bay at golden hour. The stone archways and curved walls throughout the gardens. The reflecting pools. The Garden Mound for elevated portraits with the gardens and bay in the distance. The Teahouse. The classical statues among the tropical greenery. And the Main House interior with its 34 rooms of antique furnishings and Renaissance-era details.
The light at Vizcaya in late afternoon in winter is extraordinary. The bay reflects it, the stone catches it, and the tropical plants go golden. Build a first look into your timeline if your ceremony is in the evening, because portrait time will be limited before the sun goes down.
Frequently Asked Questions: Vizcaya Weddings
Where is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens located?
3251 South Miami Avenue in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. Approximately 20 minutes from Miami International Airport.
What is Vizcaya Museum and Gardens?
A National Historic Landmark completed in 1916, originally the winter estate of James Deering. Italian Renaissance architecture on Biscayne Bay with 34 rooms in the Main House and ten acres of formal gardens. East Terrace accommodates up to 300 seated. Main House up to 100 seated. All vendors from the approved list. Evening rental starting around $23,000. Daytime garden ceremonies from $2,000 for up to 25 guests.
What makes Vizcaya distinctive?
There is no other venue like Vizcaya in the United States. A 1916 Italian Renaissance estate on Biscayne Bay with a stone barge anchored in the water, ten acres of formal gardens with classical statues and reflecting pools, and the tropical light of Miami filtering through it all. It photographs like a European destination. It is in Miami. I have photographed here twice over ten years, and it never stops being extraordinary.
What time of year is best for a Vizcaya wedding?
Fall, winter, and early spring. The heat and humidity in summer are genuinely difficult for outdoor events and for guests in formal attire. November through April is the right window.
Do I need to use Vizcaya’s approved vendors?
Yes. All caterers, planners, and rental equipment companies must be from Vizcaya’s Approved Vendor List. Permits will not be issued for unapproved vendors. Research this list early.
Do you photograph destination weddings at Vizcaya?
Yes. I have photographed here twice and would return without hesitation. If your wedding is here, I would love to hear about it.
