First kiss under the ceremony arch with rolling hills behind at The Hill House, Clermont FL

Dylan & Karla’s Winter Wedding at The Hill House

by

Kendyl Hodges

·

published

. Dylan and Karla got married at The Hill House in Clermont, Florida, on a clear December afternoon, the kind of day that trades the usual Florida-like backdrop for hillside views that felt more like the Carolinas than Central Florida. Their winter wedding leaned into the property’s rustic charm, from the string lights over the reception to the beautiful oak tree swing.

The venue: The Hill House

The Hill House is a rustic private estate in Clermont, Florida, known for hillside views that don’t look like typical Florida and for the countless photo spots scattered across the property. Swings, backdrops and clean corners that give a wedding day the perfect little something extra. It’s now one of my favorite venues to shoot because it doesn’t look like anywhere else in Central Florida while being right in the middle of it. Read my full Hill House guide →

Getting ready

The morning started quiet. We spent a lot of time with the gorgeous details: the rings, invitations and Karla’s veil catching the window light before the day picked up. The bridesmaids in dark red outside the black barn and all of the burgundy and rustic details matched perfectly for a winter wedding.

Burgundy invitation suite, wedding rings, and perfume styled on wood at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride in a striped robe checking her makeup in a hand mirror while getting ready at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride under her veil in window light while getting ready at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Groom in a burgundy bow tie leaning on a timber pergola post at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Reception place setting with sage runner and burgundy florals at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride and bridesmaids in dark red dresses outside the black barn at The Hill House, Clermont FL

The ceremony

Dylan and Karla exchanged vows outside with rolling hills and tree lines in the background we couldn’t get over. That view is a big part of what makes a Hill House ceremony feel different from anywhere else in the area.

Hillside outdoor ceremony with wooden bench seating and rolling tree-lined views at The Hill House, Clermont FL
The ceremony under the floral arch at The Hill House, Clermont, FL.
Groom reaching for the bride's cheek as she reads her vows at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride and groom beside the arch florals during the ceremony at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Groom holding a green vow book, white rose boutonniere pinned to his tux, at The Hill House, Clermont FL
First kiss under the ceremony arch with rolling hills behind at The Hill House, Clermont FL
First kiss under the ceremony arch.

Portraits

The Hill House gives me more built-in photo spots than almost any venue I shoot, but the oak tree swing and the huge grass field are the ones Dylan and Karla loved most. For this wedding, the best light of the whole day came at sunset to finish off our newlywed portraits.

Karla with her bouquet in front of the black barn at The Hill House, Clermont, FL.
Karla with her bouquet in front of the black barn.
Newlyweds on the oak tree swing at The Hill House, Clermont FL
The oak tree swing.
Bride and groom nose to nose on the flower-wrapped oak tree swing at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Dylan dipping Karla for a kiss on the lawn at The Hill House, Clermont, FL, her veil trailing across the grass.
Black-and-white portrait of the newlyweds kissing at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Newlyweds seated on the wooden ceremony benches at The Hill House, Clermont FL

The reception

Guests moved into the barn as the string lights came up, and the night started with toasts, an emotional first dance, and the famous pink vintage sofa outside where Dylan and Karla got to share one last quiet moment.

First dance under the timber-beam ceiling and blue uplighting at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride and groom sharing a toast inside the timber-beam reception barn at The Hill House, Clermont FL
A toast inside The Hill House reception barn.
Guests raising glasses for a toast at The Hill House reception, Clermont FL
Groom kissing the bride's hand on the pink vintage sofa under string lights at The Hill House, Clermont FL
Bride and groom kiss under string lights at The Hill House, Clermont FL

Getting married at The Hill House? Read my full venue guide → or get in touch → and we’ll talk through your date!