College Sweethearts Wed in Tropical Key West Soirée

Lauren Megerdichian
August 2, 2022
Categories: Real Weddings, The Blog

When your sister is a majorly talented event designer – one, you’re the luckiest bride ever… and two, you know your wedding is going to be everything you dreamed of and more. Today’s gorgeous couple tied the knot in a vibrant, colorful celebration set in sunny Key West planned by Kate Murtaugh Events & Design. Beach Plum Floral Design created epic arrangements that will transport you straight to a tropical oasis. The night ended in classic Floridian style, complete with a pastel watercolor sky – don’t miss out on the full gallery of beach wedding inspo all captured by Stephanie Vegliante Photography!

From Kate Murtaugh Events & Design… With a passion for travel and a love of hosting and spending time with loved ones, it didn’t take long for college sweethearts Hannah and Connor to choose Key West as the beautiful backdrop to their destination wedding. Hannah is a full-time COVID-19 ICU nurse so planning a wedding was tough during the pandemic. Still, it came incredibly appreciated and well-deserved for all the time and dedication she put into her patients and their care.

“Navigating the pandemic as a first responder really helped put wedding planning into perspective for me. At the end of the day, your love together is all that matters,” says Hannah. We were fortunate to travel to a special spot and hug and dance with our family and friends! It’s not lost on us that so many people couldn’t do that.”

Hannah and Connor’s wedding week was filled to the brim with excursions for their out-of-town guests, including a catamaran cruise around the Gulf of Mexico and a welcome party in the heart of Key West on the historic Duval Street. It was important for the couple to entertain their guests from start to finish and to leave feeling like Key West had a piece of their guests’ hearts.

On the wedding day, Connor and Hannah’s sun-filled ceremony was at the island’s historic The Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea, surrounded by their closest friends, family, and the beautiful Spanish-influenced architecture. Afterward, the couple and their guests were whisked away to a lovely seaside tented soiree at the Casa Marina inspired by the tropics and Key West’s incredible natural environment.

The bride’s sister and Matron of Honor, Kate of Kate Murtaugh Events & Design, carefully curated the celebration with vibrant and colorful hues and personal touches, including custom stationery from Karli Strohschein, fine details like Thai silk tassels, and modern patterned linens from La Tavola. Beach Plum Floral Design designed organic floral arrangements evoking a tropical oasis, including native growing flowers, plants, and exotic fruits. Guests enjoyed cocktails on the sand against a famous Key West watercolor sunset before entering a glittering clear top tent to dine under the stars, dance to live music from Bay Kings Band, and snack on the bride’s favorite: Key Lime Pie for dessert.

“After deciding the wedding would be in Key West, we had a specific vision of what we imagined for our wedding day. We came to my sister and her team and decided we wanted to do something different for our big day. Our most significant request was for the design to reflect our personalities and the type of wedding we wanted; fun, bright, and colorful. As our excitement grew through the months of planning and working through vision boards and color palettes, the moment we stepped into the tent on our wedding day to see what we, KMED, and our amazing vendors had created was unparalleled.”

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