Whitewood Ranch Wedding Venue is located in De Leon Springs, Florida. This venue is such a hidden gem in the most perfect location in between Jacksonville, Orlando, and Gainesville! It is a glasshouse style wedding venue, but even more than that! It is perfectly paired with the beautiful Florida nature, covered with oak trees with palm trees and Spanish Moss mixed in.
This blog post is for the bride getting ready to book her wedding venue! As a wedding photographer, I have a unique perspective on wedding venues. I can see it how you will remember it!
As a light and airy photographer the first time that I drove up Whitewood Ranch, I knew this was a venue that everyone needed to know about! It is tucked back into the beautiful Florida oak trees, but the way that the light can be captured through the beautiful windows in the reception area and the open air chapel is absolutely exquisite!
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION FOR WHITEWOOD RANCH WEDDING VENUE
Whitewood Ranch wedding venue has this perfect nature-filled ambiance that can make your guests feel like you have taken them to a destination wedding locale. It is perfectly central to 3 major Florida hubs, Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Orlando. Just between an hour to an hour and a half from each city center.
I have photographed weddings all over the country and, I know, to get this same nature feel, you really have to go off the beaten path. That is NOT the case at Whitewood Ranch. It is located right off of a major highway, FL-40! That makes it so easy for your guests to get to and to leave at the end of the night, easy and safe for them to drive to their next destination and for ride share to get to!
YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT WHITEWOOD RANCH
From the moment I arrived at Whitewood Ranch Wedding Venue, I knew it was a dream location for couples who love bright, timeless, and emotion-filled images. The property is surrounded by soft natural light, wide open fields, reflective white and neutral surfaces, and beautiful stretches of sky that act like giant natural diffusers. For a light and airy photographer, this venue is a playground. There’s nothing harsh or distracting. Instead, the entire space feels clean, peaceful, and easy to shoot in. Which means your photos stay focused on you, your emotions, and the natural beauty around you.
CEREMONY LOCATIONS AT WHITEWOOD RANCH
Esme Lane Chapel
There are so many beautiful ceremony options at Whitewood Ranch. The newest addition, the Esme Lane Chapel, is truly something special. This open-air chapel feels like the perfect blend of Florida nature and elegant, modern design. It’s bright, airy, and completely covered, giving you the best of both worlds. It gives protection from the elements while still feeling connected to the breeze. The light, and the peaceful surroundings that make this venue so magical.
The entryway of the Esme Lane Chapel sets the tone from the moment your guests arrive. With timeless checkered floors, warm wood accents, delicate glass tables, and gold chandeliers, it creates a stunning first impression. It’s the kind of space that photographs beautifully from every angle. This venue offers a stylish, welcoming area for guests, and even doubles as a lovely cocktail hour location. It’s thoughtful details like these that make Whitewood Ranch such a standout venue for couples who love a refined yet natural wedding day experience.
The Terrace
The Terrace is another beautiful ceremony option at Whitewood Ranch, and it has such a warm, intimate feel. This wooden deck is nestled among the trees, giving your ceremony a peaceful, naturally shaded backdrop. Just behind the space sits the stunning Grand Verre window. The same window that anchors the reception space, adding an elegant architectural touch that photographs beautifully and ties your whole wedding day together visually.
From a photographer’s perspective, the Terrace is incredibly thoughtful in its design. No matter which direction you choose to face for your ceremony, you’ll have a clean, gorgeous backdrop behind you and a picture-perfect view for your processional. There are no distracting elements, no cluttered backgrounds, just soft light, natural textures, and the timeless setting every couple dreams of. It’s one of the reasons I love this venue so much: every angle is intentional, making your photos effortlessly beautiful.
WHITEWOOD RANCH RECEPTION LOCATION
The Grand Verre is truly the heart of Whitewood Ranch’s reception experience. It is everything a light-and-airy photographer dreams of. With its clean white walls, soaring ceilings, and minimalist design, this space is bright, open, and completely customizable. It’s the definition of a blank canvas, ready to be transformed into whatever aesthetic reflects your wedding vision, whether that’s classic, modern, romantic, or something entirely your own.
And when they say grand, they mean it! The Grand Verre can host up to 200 guests comfortably, with plenty of room for dining tables, décor, and a lively dance floor. The layout flows beautifully, giving your guests room to celebrate while still keeping everything feeling warm and connected. It’s the perfect foundation for the reception of your dreams.
I even wrote a blog post about transforming a barn-style venue from rustic to chic. The Grand Verre isn’t rustic at all, the same design principles absolutely apply. Because the space is so open and versatile, the ideas from that post work perfectly here. With intentional details, soft color palettes, and thoughtful design touches, you can create a reception that feels elevated, personal, and completely unforgettable inside the Grand Verre.
WHAT MAKES WHITEWOOD RANCH PERFECT FOR YOUR WEDDING?
Easy Guest Flow
Whitewood Ranch makes your wedding day incredibly easy for your guests. From the moment they arrive to the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Everything is located on one property and thoughtfully connected with walkways, so your guests will always know exactly where to go. No shuttles, no confusion, no wandering.
Having a venue that was designed from the very beginning specifically for weddings is a huge benefit. The natural flow of the property keeps everything seamless for your wedding party and your guests, which means a more relaxed, enjoyable day for everyone.
Beautiful Natural Light
If natural light isn’t already at the top of your priority list, don’t worry — it’s at the top of mine! No matter your wedding colors or chosen photography style, beautiful natural light makes an enormous difference in your photos (and especially for that soft, light-and-airy look).
From the bridal suite to the ceremony spaces to the reception hall’s stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, Whitewood Ranch is full of the warm, glowing Florida light we’re so lucky to have. It enhances every moment and adds that dreamy, luminous quality to your wedding gallery.
Privacy and a Peaceful Setting
Whitewood Ranch is truly a hidden gem — peaceful, serene, and tucked away in what feels like its own little world. You’d never know it’s conveniently close to a main highway for easy guest access. The tall trees, open spaces, and quiet surroundings create an intimate atmosphere that’s perfect for a meaningful, unhurried celebration.
Your guests will feel like they’ve stepped into a private retreat, far removed from the busyness of everyday life.
Spacious Getting Ready Spaces
Because Whitewood Ranch was purpose-built as a wedding venue, the getting ready suites are spacious, thoughtfully designed, and incredibly functional. The bridal suite in the main building has plenty of room for your entire wedding party to get ready comfortably. It’s completely separate from the groom’s area so everyone has their own space.
One of my favorite features? The bride’s suite has a charming view of the chapel — you can watch your guests arrive as the excitement builds. It’s such a special touch that adds to the anticipation of the day.
WHY I LOVE THE WHITEWOOD RANCH FOR YOUR WEDDING – A PHOTOGRAPHER’S PERSPECTIVE
After almost 20 years of photographing weddings, there are three things that stand out to me the most about Whitewood Ranch:
- It was built specifically as a wedding venue.
- The natural light and natural beauty are unmatched.
- It is family-owned
Below is why each of these matters so much for your wedding day.
The Whitewood Ranch is a WEDDING Venue
This is one of the biggest strengths of Whitewood Ranch. Because the entire property was designed with weddings in mind, your timeline becomes so much smoother. Everything happens in one location. Getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, require no transportation stress, no delays, and no lost guests. Everyone knows exactly where to be, and everything flows effortlessly.
Every part of the venue was intentionally created to support a beautiful, seamless wedding day. The getting ready suites, ceremony spaces, guest parking, vendor access, reception hall, and even weather considerations were thoughtfully planned from the very beginning. You can feel that intentionality the moment you step onto the property. Nothing is an afterthought, and that is such a gift for couples.
The Natural Light and Beauty of a Whitewood Ranch Wedding
From a photographer’s perspective, this venue is a dream. The natural light at Whitewood Ranch makes it incredibly easy to create glowing, romantic images that feel timeless and full of emotion.
Light and airy photographers thrive in soft, bright environments, and this venue is filled with them. The white surfaces reflect the light beautifully. The open-air chapel lets light stream in from every direction, and the tall oak trees provide a natural, filtered glow. Inside the Grand Verre, the floor-to-ceiling windows flood the reception space with soft, dreamy light.
As a result, it all comes together to create a setting that elevates your photography before I even lift my camera.
A Family-Owned Wedding Venue
Having photographed weddings all over the country and lived in four states, photographing weddings at countless venues, I can confidently say there is a noticeable difference between corporate-owned venues and family-owned ones. Family-owned venues, like Whitewood Ranch, bring a level of personal care, pride, and heart that you simply cannot replicate.
The owners genuinely love weddings. They care deeply about your experience, your joy, and how your day unfolds. Therefore, that personal touch, that attention to detail, and that genuine investment in your wedding day is more than a benefit, it’s a blessing. It shows in the way the property is maintained, how the staff interacts with couples, and how supported you feel from start to finish.
YOUR WHITEWOOD RANCH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I would love to be your wedding photographer! So, if you are considering a wedding at The Whitewood Ranch, or anywhere in Northeast or Central Florida, I would love to talk to you. Go visit my website with the link below and send me a message! I can’t wait to chat!!!
