I had the opportunity to take photos at the breathtaking Howey Mansion in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.
As you wander the 15 acre property and enter the massive 20 room mansion, you are overwhelmed with the history of this special site. The Howey Mansion was built in 1925 by William J. Howey and served as an event site throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s. Eventually the property was abandoned and left in disrepair. Fortunately, brothers Brad and Clay Cowherd took interest in the Howey Mansion and worked together to restore it to its beautiful former state. The story of Howey Mansion comes full circle as it now serves as an event space once again capable of handling almost any kind of event. As I wandered the property and found beauty in every direction, I had the feeling that this space was meant to be seen and enjoyed by couples and their wedding guests.
We began our shoot in the stunning courtyard located in the back of the mansion. With a fountain in the center and string lights romantically draped across the entirety of the courtyard, this was a beautiful spot for portrait photos and also serves as a popular place for wedding receptions at the mansion. I loved the dynamic backdrop this offered and the cobblestone path adorned with elegant potted plants gave these photos a fairytale-like theme.
A stunning backdrop for Howey Mansion wedding couples to utilize during their portraits.
Next, we moved onto this unique outdoor walkway that overlooks the courtyard. As we were passing I was enamored by the shadows cast by the pillars and arches. I instantly knew I wanted to place Ali directly in the natural spotlight the sun was shining on her. In the photos of both Ali and Noah together, I love how the shadows around them and the intricate columns created depth and detail while I was able to keep the focus of the portrait on the two of them. The opportunity for artistic creativity at this location made it the perfect spot for some darker romantic portraits.
The Howey Mansion is one of my favorite wedding venues for photos!
The architectural details surrounding the arched windows were remarkable. It was interesting how the stairs leading up to the windows started wider at the bottom and narrowed to meet the couple at the top. I enjoyed how colorful the stones on the stairs were. The entire color scheme of the exterior of the mansion brought an unexpected vibrant warmth to these photos while adding a historical feeling (reminds me of the Tower of Terror at Disney!). The greenery on each side of Ali and Noah was elegant and lovely. In the photos, more clearly in the close up shot, you could see the sunset on the other side of the window shining through the windows bringing even more warmth and color to these gorgeous images. Many couples choose to have their wedding ceremonies on these steps and you don’t have to look long to understand why. Every aspect of this part of the mansion comes together to form a remarkable backdrop for photographs.
As we approached the front of the mansion, the first thing that I noticed was the large, arching iron gate. I immediately fell in love with the intricate details of the mansion that formed an elegant spot for romantic couples and solo portraits. I loved the vines and greenery scaling the exterior walls of the mansion that added splashes of color while not distracting from the overall warmth that the historic mansion brings to the photos. I particularly enjoyed utilizing some of the older historic aspects of the mansion to bring a romantic elegance to these photos
The Howey Mansion offered a variety of backdrops for phenomenal portraits of couples.
This shoot wouldn’t have been possible without Enchanted Bride who contributed the two wedding dresses you see in these photos. Enchanted Bride is the only bridal store in Lake Mary and just opened in January of 2021. It is a beautiful all inclusive bridal store that offers its clients a VIP one-on-one experience to ensure that every bride finds the perfect dress for their big day. The first dress you see in the photos is Lillian West and the second dress is Justin Alexander Signature, both brands that can be found at Enchanted Bride.
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