%20(29)%20(1).png)
.png)
Hello! We are Bill and Julia Whidden, we've been married for 30 years and have been residents of Lake Wales, Florida, for almost 7 years, after raising our three children in the Orlando area. We've been a significant contributor in the event industry for over 25 years, designing and developing event decor used around the world, at major sporting events, award ceremonies, the White House and Disney World.
We purchased the Flying Osceola Ranch in 2005 and have since enjoyed cultivating the land whilst indulging our love of horses, fishing, flying and growing sugarcane for future rum distilling! In 2022 we decided to utilise all our experience and passion for the events industry by designing and building a premier wedding venue on the property. We wanted to create an elegant and unique building whilst staying true to beautiful old Floridian architecture. We hope that you will love Sugar Grove Estate as much as we do and we can’t wait to meet you!
Venue Manager
A LITTLE ABOUT ME…
I graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Sport and Event Management in August of 2023. After graduation, I worked as an Account Executive for the MLB Detroit Tigers at their Spring Training location in Lakeland FL.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB…
What I love most about my work is that every day brings something new. I have the joy of helping couples bring their dream wedding to life. Whether it’s designing floor-plans, curating menus, or managing the smallest details. Being part of that journey and seeing it all come together on the big day is incredibly rewarding and always so much fun.
Executive Chef
A LITTLE ABOUT ME…
Originally born in the Dominican Republic, I played Major League Baseball which brought me to the states! I graduated from the Art Institute of NYC in 2004 and I moved to Florida in 2011. I have worked as a Chef at various restaurants and venues such as Lakeland Yacht Club, Streamsong, and 1961.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB…
When I see people enjoy my food, and they bow their head or glance at someone else to compliment it, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and satisfaction. It's as if my heart swells with joy, knowing that the time and love I put into cooking has touched their hearts and taste buds. Seeing their reactions – the closed eyes, the nods, the smiles – validates all the effort and care I put into every dish. It's a feeling of connection, knowing that the food I've prepared has brought people together and created a moment of happiness. In those moments, I feel grateful for the opportunity to share my passion and make a difference in others' lives through something as simple yet profound as a meal.
Sales Manager
A LITTLE ABOUT ME…
I’m a born and raised Florida native, I graduated in 2020 from Polk State College with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice, and I played softball for 14 years. After dabbling in the corporate Accounts Payable world for a bit, my burning passion to be in the event & wedding industry grew stronger to where I’m now pursuing my dream.
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB…
It is so fulfilling to work with newly engaged couples on booking their dream wedding venue. To be able to relieve the stress from them and see their weddings come to fruition is magical. I love “love” and it truly brings me joy to be a part of our couples’ journeys and special days.
Sugar Grove Estate is located in Lake Wales in Central Florida, halfway between Orlando and Tampa airports. We are right next to the heart of the Kissimmee River, surrounded by citrus groves, charming small towns and plenty of beautiful lakes! If you are looking for a Wedding destination where your guests can come and enjoy the whole weekend - you have found it!
Below are some distances of popular attractions and locations from Sugar Grove Estate;
Camp Mack: 5 miles
Bok Tower Gardens: 10 miles
LEGOLAND: 21 miles
Westgate River Ranch: 23 miles
Disney World: 46 miles
Universal Studios: 55 miles
Orlando Airport: 61 miles
Tampa Airport: 80 miles
Vero Beach: 74 miles
Clearwater Beach: 98 miles
If You Don’t Book With Sugar Grove Estate, You’re Missing Out!!!
We got married at Sugar Grove Estate on 01/24/26 and I truly can’t put into words how perfect our day was. Our entire wedding felt like a fairytale the venue is breathtaking, the food was incredible, and the hospitality was beyond top tier. This was the wedding I’ve dreamed about my whole life, and somehow it was even better than I ever imagined.
Bill is fabulous, Gracie is amazing, and Kelsey is awesome, and honestly the entire staff is absolutely incredible. Every detail was handled with care, everything ran smoothly, and we felt so supported and celebrated the entire time.
A personal thank you to Bill for all of your hospitality from day one. The very first time we toured the venue, Bill treated us like family. Not to mention, Bill’s attention to detail is absolutely incredible every unique detail that was incorporated into our wedding started with an idea from Bill, and it truly made our day feel so special and one of a kind. You can truly see that Bill cares for his clients.
If you’re considering venues, take this as your sign choose Sugar Grove Estate. You will not find a better experience, a better team, or a more beautiful place to get married and if you don’t book with them, you’re seriously missing out.
We got married at the Sugar Barn on 11.08.25. I’d like to start with this was the first and only wedding venue we looked at. Truly that was how easy of a decision it was once we met Bill and his team and saw the venue. If you’re looking for a venue that can do high-end rustic this is the place for you. The ceremony space is absolutely gorgeous with the Live Oaks and spanish moss and then the actual barn itself is an awesome space that was thoughtfully created with every aspect of a wedding in mind.
One of the biggest sells for me as a bride who only moved to FL two years ago was that they have a list of preferred vendors that are all fantatic. It made decision making on the million details SUPER easy. The food that is done in house is AMAZING, we had multiple guests going back for 2nds and 3rds with many people being sure to tell us they couldn’t believe how good everything was especially for a wedding.
Enough good things can not be said about all of the staff involved including Gracie and Kelsey who I’m pretty sure could rule the world if given enough time and resources.
When it came to the day of, it was stress free, everything was taken care of by Bill and the Sugar Barn staff so all my husband and I had to do was sit back and enjoy.
I’ve added some pictures from our beautiful day. I can’t reccomend the Sugar Barn enough!
I had my wedding at Sugar Grove Estate on November 8th, and it was everything my fiance & i could have dreamed of! The guest raved about the amazing food! Everything went so smoothly and Bill was amazing with accommodating anything we needed and made sure everything ran smoothly! Truly the best night ever !!
Sugar Grove Estate gave me the wedding of my dreams. Bill and his incredible staff were the best and make me feel like a guest at my own wedding. Forever thankful for the sugar barn
We had our wedding here 03/06/25 and everything was PERFECT! Staff is extremely friendly and easy to work with. We did the elopement package and so happy we chose this venue. Photographer that was included in the package exceeded our expectations. The owners Bill and Julia did such a beautiful job with the venue and are truly very sweet people. Would HIGHLY recommend this venue to everyone! A plus was the dinner they prepared was absolutely DELICIOUS. And the guests couldn't stop talking about how beautiful the venue was set up.
We couldn't have asked for a better experience or to feel so well taken care, down to the last detail. The organization, attention to detail, and professionalism was outstanding! The food was amazing and plentiful, the venue was regal, and the staff was so helpful and kind from day one through the wedding! I highly recommend Bill and his team. The Bennetts / Hawkins March 2025.
I held my wedding here in December 2024 and it was the best decision ever! Our guests described our wedding day as a fairytale and we couldn't agree more. The outdoor ceremony was a dream. We were lucky to have perfect and chilly weather that day and having it outside we were surrounded by the beautiful sounds of nature and the sun coming through the trees all made it a perfect ceremony. The Barn was decorated so beautifully and elegantly. The staff made my vision come to life and even better than I had imagined. The food at this venue is incomparable to any other venue I've been to. All our guests were pleasantly surprised and loved the variety of food we had. I was worried at how the food would come out on such a large scale, but I can confidently say that it tasted the same as it had on the day we came for our tasting. It was so delicious!! Bill, Julia, and the Sugar Grove Estate staff are just divine they made the day even more perfect. Everything was done on schedule and in a timely matter. Their attention to detail and professionalism is unmatched. I wish I could relive this day over and over!!
.png)
%20(1).png)
.png)
.png)
.webp)
