If your perfect wedding includes sandy toes and an ocean breeze, then Key West is calling your name. Even better, extend your trip to include a honeymoon.
Key West is a popular destination wedding spot for many reasons and a romantic gateway where couples can create memories that will last a lifetime, immersing themselves in the island’s vibrant culture, stunning sunsets, and captivating charm.. The island’s natural beauty with palm trees swaying in the salt breeze, unbelievable sunsets and endless aquamarine waters are, of course, an obvious draw. It’s also a great way to give your guests a taste of the Caribbean without the hassle of traveling outside the country. Plus, Key West has so much charm that you’ll have no problem organizing an exciting wedding weekend with memories to last a lifetime.
Hire a Wedding Planner
Do yourself a favor and hire a wedding planner. This simple step will take all the heartache and guess work out of planning a wedding away from home. Key West is filled with seasoned professionals who can make the destination wedding of your dreams a reality. From selecting a venue to catering, photographers, hair and makeup stylists, florists and more, their list of preferred vendors takes all the legwork out of planning. The best way to narrow down your wedding planner search is to peruse their business websites and scroll through their blogs that highlight destination weddings they’ve planned before. You’ll get a sense of the work they’ve done and their style.
Aside from “saying yes to the dress,” the wedding venue is perhaps the next most important step in wedding planning. The island is filled with picturesque venues from the beach at sunset to lush gardens and historic venues like the Truman Little White House President Harry S. Truman was one of the first dignitaries to be charmed by the island and he made it his winter retreat starting in 1946. The beautiful museum and event space was originally the Naval Station’s command headquarters as far back as the Spanish-American War, making it a treasure trove for history buffs. Today, the venue plays host to the island’s most exciting annual events like the Key West Wine & Food Festival. It’s also one of the most picturesque wedding venues on the island with three unique lawns and lush gardensto host full wedding ceremonies and receptions.
VENDORS
This is where your wedding planner will be particularly handy. And the good news is that Key West has an incredible roster of seasoned wedding professionals and vendors to choose from. Work with your wedding planner to narrow down the search for a caterer, wedding cake bakery, florist, stylist and, of course, a photographer to capture all the magic moments.
With a destination wedding, you have a lot more to plan than just a wedding ceremony and reception. You have travel and activities to coordinate as well. Most guests will treat your wedding like a long weekend holiday and it’s nice to plan some activities. Start by planning a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding and a brunch the day after. In Key West, you can get creative and add water sports like sunset sailing or snorkeling the reef with Fury Water Adventures or perhaps tour the town aboard the Conch Tour Train. You’ll also want to coordinate with at least one hotel for a wedding block to make booking accommodations a cinch for guests, usually with a discount included.
The nice thing about a destination wedding is that the honeymoon starts early! You’re already in a tropical locale that lends itself to romance. You have two options once the last of your guests has flown home. Stay in Key West and extend your stay with a honeymoon or jet off to another exotic locale. Both options are pretty spectacular and you’ll find that if you decide to stay in Key West, there’s plenty to see and do. You’ll also find lovely hotels with honeymoon packages. Just think: You’ll always have an amazing place to celebrate your anniversary for years to come.
