Longan’s Place was the perfect spot for Alex and Alexa’s intimate, outdoor wedding. Conveniently tucked away in Homestead FL, the venue is named after the lush longan trees (yep, longan berries are a thing, kind of like a lychee) that cover the property. It feels like a hidden oasis—you’d never guess that the bustling streets of Miami are only a short ride away.
Longan’s Place has a palm tree-lined driveway that makes a fancy first-impression for guests, and winds up to the sprawling private event space. The flexible layout gave the wedding an easy, breezy flow—and gave me plenty of great spots for photo opps along the way. There was the ceremony area, with a round wooden deck over a koi pond (with a picturesque waterfall as the backdrop), the “barn,” with wood paneled, vaulted ceilings (where the all the partying happens), and two massive tiki huts, one for cocktail hour and another for dinner.
As guests moved through the venue for each part of the evening, we took advantage of the non-occupied spaces to shoot photos. While the guests assembled in the ceremony area, I shot Alex and Alexa’s first look around the longan trees and behind the vine-covered barn. The first look gave the camera-shy couple a chance to share a private moment before making it *official*, they could get silly without an audience, and it saved them time they would’ve spent taking photos during the actual party—so they could go wild with their guests. Seriously, if you’re thinking about doing a first look, just do it.
The wedding had a whimsical, wildflower-inspired aesthetic—which meant any spot at Longan’s Place was fair game. Teeming with plant-life, the venue gave the photos a fresh, earthy vibe that Alex and Alexa were going for. The flowers by Le Chat Roses had a playful look—with long, curvy stems, mixed blooms, and wild grasses—and brought a fun pop of color to the photos. When the night was interrupted by rain (typical of Miami), Longan’s flexible layout (and a pair of matching umbrellas) saved the day. We shot family photos in the barn and had a quirky, Wes Anderson moment in the rain with the newlyweds—which led to fun, personality-filled photos!