Florida Weddings

Going for a tropical-without-a-passport kind of wedding? Key West is IT my loves. As someone who has experienced the island first hand, I can tell you it truly does feel as if you’ve arrived to a whole new destination by jet. One look at this wedding captured by Care Studios and planned by Destination Wedding Studio and I think you’ll agree.

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From the Bride… We’re living in New York, and both originally from China. I went to school in Florida and Key West is always my favorite place in FL. Chandler took me on a trip to Key West last May and proposed on the lighthouse right across the Hemingway Home. In addition, Ernest Hemingway is one of my favorite American writers. My undergraduate thesis is about his short story “The Snow of Kilimanjaro”. As a result, Ernest Home & Museum became our first choice of the wedding venue.

We met at a friend’s game party. It was an adventure game in an escape room in New York and we were in the same game group. I like Chandler’s intelligence, rationality. I’m growing up to a better person with him. We feel we understand each other without more words and we bear with each other’s differences.

Chandler: I like Roxanne for her unconditional care of me, her maturity and faithfulness, her artistic tastes, and her advice that help me be more mature. Being with Roxanne ever day makes me willing to take more responsibilities and be unsubdued by difficulties. She constantly gives me courage and hope. She has become the very reason for my being.

I did some general research about wedding planning and the wedding planners at Key West. I was lucky to get Destination Wedding Studio by my side. They provided me the wedding timeline and recommended vendor lists so I knew what I was supposed to do for my wedding and made my selections of wedding vendors easier. I went through the vendors’ websites and social media accounts, and some wedding website reviews for decisions.

Because we chose Hemingway Home & Museum as the venue, I decided to have my wedding invitations mainly in green to match the color. I contacted an online producer in China, reviewed their wedding invitation templates. I chose one simple template, edited the design and had them print it out. I also got the candy boxes which match the invitation style.

For the theme color, I usually like black & white and most soft colors, so the flowers are in soft colors, and table linen is in light grey. I thought blue could go well with the greens in Hemingway Home, so I had my bridesmaids in light blue, groom in navy and groomsmen in dark blue.

The decor is one of the things I care most at my wedding. Thanks to my planner Peggy for suggesting a long table as my reception table, then I started looking pictures on Pinterest & Instagram for decor inspiration. Those pictures really helped shape my final thoughts about decor – a long reception table decor by hanging top with flowers, branches, glass balls, and lanterns. I sent some pictures to my planner and florist, talked about the ideas and they handled the details for me. Peggy also got the chargers/napkins that match the flowers perfectly.

About the unique wedding cake: I found some book shape wedding cake on Pinterest and decided to have one because I and Chandler both love reading. And we’re having the wedding at Hemingway Home, so Hemingway’s books were the covers.

Most importantly, my bridal veil was made by my designer friend. It became much more meaningful!

My favorite memory of the day was the first dance, the groom and friends’ performance, and dancing after dinner. I was glad to see that everybody was having fun.

Photographer: Care Studios | Wedding Planner: Destination Wedding Studio | Floral Design: Duarte Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: Amazing Cakes And Creations | Ceremony Venue: Ernest Hemingway Home | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters | Catering: Catered Affairs | Hair and Make up: Beauty Boutique | Film Lab: Richard Photo Lab | Music: DJ Buggy | Rentals: Eventfully Yours | bride shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Glen and Kailey knew exactly what they wanted for their wedding – a southern-style celebration with lots of time to enjoy family and friends. Simply You Weddings helped them plan a full week of activities for their Key West destination wedding, from a welcome reception to a beach volleyball tournament to a sunset cruise. But the event to remember was, of course, the wedding ceremony and reception, captured by Finch Photography. From the special musical performance by friends to the late night dancing courtesy of Bay Kings Band, we know this celebration is one their guests will never forget.

From the Bride… Glen and I have been to over 30 weddings together in our five years of dating, so we had a pretty good idea of what we liked and didn’t like already. Some of the weddings we enjoyed the most were the ones where we were able to spend more than just a day with the wedding party and really got to know their family and friends.

We wanted to choose a city that would entice guests to stay more than a day and was a place that offered activities that would appeal to a variety of people. Our hope was that our wedding would allow for everyone to get to know each other, make new friends, and ultimately become one cohesive group as we became one in marriage. We wanted a place that provided ample opportunities to be able to get quality time with everyone. After one visit to Key West, we knew this was just the place to make this happen, with its history, beautiful sunsets, ocean activities, and fun vibes on Duval Street.

Once we chose Key West, we started planning all the events for the week. The women in Glen’s family always host a welcome party at the family weddings, and they wanted the same for us. We wanted this to be a casual meet and greet for our families and friends. Our hotel accommodations had a great back yard courtyard and patio, so it was the perfect place for people to “come as they were,” enjoy a few drinks and appetizers, and make some new friends.

Glen loves volleyball, and his mom was a collegiate volleyball player, so he wanted to have a beach day that included a volleyball tournament with customized tank tops, koozies, and tumblers. Higgs Beach was the perfect spot because it had volleyball courts, beach rentals, and a cute restaurant that let us reserve the patio. We decided to have this event on Saturday after the wedding so it was a day we could really relax and everyone could let loose. For Saturday night, we decided a sunset cruise would be a great last hurrah to wind down the wedding activities. The Fury Commotion on the Ocean cruise was a perfect fit for our group with its live music, drinks, food, and beautiful views.

Our hotel accommodations were one of our favorite choices. The Light House Court was the place we stumbled upon and stayed at on our first visit to Key West. It’s in the perfect location, across from the Hemmingway House, a block from Duval Street, and down the road from the beaches (and it ended up being close to our ceremony and reception sites). This is a renovated estate, which makes each room unique. It’s a quaint place with a small pool, great mojito bar (Kailey’s favorite), a courtyard with cornhole, and a daily breakfast served outside accompanied by the local hens and roosters. We envisioned our friends and family having breakfast together and sitting by the pool.

When thinking about the theme, we really didn’t want your typical destination wedding with flashy details. We wanted both the destination and the traditions we were raised with  – a southern wedding, just in a beach city. We chose neutral colors, with taupe bridesmaids’ dresses and black tuxes, white florals with greenery, and accents of gold. The head table was made of four farm tables pushed together with a eucalyptus garland runner and mercury glass votives scattered down the center. The guest and cocktail tables were simple with white linens and hand made arrangements by the groom’s mother and friends featuring greenery halos, mercury glass votives, and ivy tie backs.

My dress was a custom design by Anna Maier. I had found two dresses that I loved, and they were both by Maier, so I was able to combine what I liked about the two and then add some other details. From the color to the lace and the actual fit, I was able to pick everything out. I liked the look of an off the shoulder dress but also wanted an open back; many stores told me I couldn’t have both. However, the girls at White Dresses Boutique helped me see how I could make my vision come to life. Once we got the dress in, White Dresses connected me with Altered Heart Alterations who helped me design the back and create the soft shoulder look that I loved.

Family and tradition are important to us and were incorporated throughout the wedding. Glen’s wedding band had belonged to my great grandfather and was accompanied by the original box. My mom surprised me with a second wedding band, solid gold and created from a variety of family jewelry. I was also presented with a necklace, repurposed from a ring that my father had given my mother.

Glen’s grandfather had fought in WWII and always said that Psalm 23 helped him make it through. Since then, the Bible verse has remained special to Glen’s family. We had a hand painted welcome sign made with a portion of Psalm 23 on it to honor him.

It was important for both of us to be married in a Methodist church, and we were lucky to find a beautiful Methodist church that allowed us to be there. The reception location was not at the beach, but at the Historic Truman Little White House (Glen’s family has ties to President Truman, so that made it even more special). The lawns are beautiful with green grass and overhanging trees, and the neighborhood provided the privacy we wanted (we didn’t want random people watching our wedding from a restaurant or patio or walking through in their swimsuits).

Our first dance was sung and played by two of our best friends, Ken and Cheyenne. They not only sang the first dance song, but they also sang and played the mother/son and father/daughter songs. The father/daughter song was an original that was written by Cheyenne.

We knew it would be pretty steamy for the reception, but we wanted guests to be as comfortable as possible, so we served a mojito during cocktail hour to help cool everyone down as well as provided hand cut wooden fans that guests could use throughout the night. Our friends love to dance, so we had to have a good band. We decided against the typical beach band and instead went with a 6-piece Motown band. In college, we loved Motown bands best, and Bay Kings did not disappoint. It was the perfect mix of Motown favorites along with today’s catchy hits. We may have all been a little sweaty, but that didn’t stop anyone from being on the dance floor all night.

Photography: Finch Photo | Cinematography: Wild Story Wedding Films | Event Planning: Simply You Weddings | Floral Design: Love In Bloom | Invitations: The Happy Envelope | Ceremony Venue: Key West United Methodist | Reception Venue: Truman Little White House | Catering: Great Events Catering | Band: Bay Kings Band | Bridal Boutique: White Dresses Boutique

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Bay Kings Band

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Dan and Vivian call New York City home base but opted for a destination locale on the big day. They escaped to Key West, Florida with all their favorite people and Destination Wedding Studio made sure the celebration went off without a hitch. Peek at the images by Renee Lemaire and see why we adore this blue and gold fête from beginning to end.

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Dan & Vivian planned a gorgeous destination wedding Key West, Florida. While living in New York City, they had the help of Vivian’s father, a Key West local, and Peggy from Destination Wedding Studio to make sure every detail was perfectly executed.

Their candlelit ceremony was in the chapel of Fort Zachary Taylor, surrounded by their closest friends, family, and the beautiful historic architecture. Afterwards, they had a beautiful tented reception in the courtyard of the Fort, complete with lush, pastel florals, gold accents, and soft blue linens lining every table.

Dan and Vivian had many creative personal touches tied into their wedding day. As a talented designer, Vivian created their adorable stationery & paper products for the day. Since their first date was over hamburgers, they served gourmet burger sliders to their guests. One of my favorite hidden details was Dan’s socks, which were dotted with tiny hamburgers! The couple also served some of their favorite Key West treats; cookies from a local bakery and Key Lime pie on a stick (which is definitely worth making a trip to Key West in itself!).

To tie in both of their family traditions, guests took part in the traditional Jewish hora and a Hora Loca for Vivian’s Cuban roots. It was so much fun to see these two families come together!

Photography: Renee Lemaire Photography | Cinematography: Pabelona Studios | Event Planning: Destination Wedding Studio | Floral Design: Karro Events | Wedding Dress: Christos | Wedding Dress: Wedding Atelier | Cake: Amazing Cakes And Creations | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Hayley Paige | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Catering: Catered Affairs | DJ: Sarz Entertainment | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Transportation: Old Town Trolley | Wedding Venue: Fort Zachary Taylor | Accomodations: Casa Marina | Beauty: Studio Marie-Pierre | Rentals: Eventually Yours

Any wedding that includes Yenny Yoo clad Bridesmaids’ is certainly a show-stopper in our wedding book but add in the talented Care Studios behind the lens at the Hemingway House in Key West and you’ve got yourself one memorable celebration. See it all in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Clayton wanted to have a beach ceremony, and I wanted to have a romantic, ethereal wedding. We were able to easily combine the two visions in Key West by having our ceremony right on the beach and our reception at the Ernest Hemingway house. As for all the details, we really paid attention to every little thing and wanted each choice to reflect us as a couple, we really love wine and traveling to various wine regions so we brought in an Oregon pinot noir and a California white blend from two of our favorite wineries and served them during our cocktail hour. Yet some of my favorite details of the evening weren’t as noticeable from the stitching in Clayton’s suit with our wedding date to the handkerchief I carried that day, which was part of a love letter from my grandmother to her husband on their wedding day. And what tied everything together was working with Peggy, as she was able to take the vision we had and turn it into a perfect reality. I felt like I had walked into my perfect dream wedding. We truly had the perfect day!
Do you two have any advice to couples planning their wedding?

Take your time and try to appreciate the process. It will get overwhelming at points, but lean on each other and your support system. Keep the process in perspective as your wedding is your time to show your friends and family your commitment to not only each other but the journey ahed. It’s about love. I was lucky to have a groom who wanted to be involved in the majority of the wedding planning, so we truly tackled everything as a couple. When one of us needed to step back to regroup, the other would step up to the plate to lead for a while and vice versa. Through our teamwork, we both feel our wedding was ours and we were in it together.

When discussing our favorite part of the wedding, both of us could not pick one part. We both felt the entire day was perfect, so our favorite part was every part. But a standout moment was when Clayton took it upon himself to have one more surprise up his sleeve. Unbeknownst to me, he had put together a dance for him and his groomsmen to a Janet Jackson mashup (my favorite artist) and performed it for me at the reception. To say I was blown away is an understatement. It was incredible! Looking back on our wedding day, we just feel truly blessed all around.

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Photography: Care Studios | Cinematography: CineaVerde | Event Planning: Destination Wedding Studio | Floral Design: Duarte Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Key West Cakes | Invitations: Catharine Perry | Ceremony Venue: Key West Smathers Beach | Reception Venue: Ernest Hemingway Home | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Catered Affairs | Hair + Makeup: Beauty Boutique | DJ: DJ Gunz (Matthew Fox) | Groom's Attire: Trunk Club | Rentals: Eventually Yours

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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An intimate vintage inspired affair has SMP written all over. Especially when Alyssa Morgan Photography is behind the lens of a fabulous destination fete filled with old world glamour. From the gold stars adorning the dance floor, to the Hemingway favors, endlessly elegant touches honored their love and make this fete simply unforgettable.

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From the beautiful Bride… Our favorite part of the day wasn’t necessarily the ceremony or the reception, but the people who were there to share the day with us. For both George and I, we truly believe it’s the people that make the party and we were absolutely blown away that our family and friends genuinely had just as much of an amazing time as we did. Being that it was a destination wedding, the guests who chose to celebrate with us weren’t in attendance simply because they were invited, but because they wanted to be there. Looking back we still feel so overwhelmed and blessed by how much love and support we had from our friends and family, and that the people in our lives truly love and support us so unconditionally. We pinch ourselves every day when we think of how lucky we are.

George and I were big fans of the show “Boardwalk Empire” and always knew we wanted a vintage feel to our wedding. We also knew that we wanted to keep the wedding as intimate as possible, and create a scenario where our guests would have just as amazing of an experience as we would, which is why we decided to do a destination wedding in Key West, Florida. I had visited Key West with my mother years prior to our engagement, and the charm, intimacy, and rich history of the location had always stayed with me. So after George proposed, I just knew it was the perfect place to share the personal experience of our wedding in combination with a great experience of place and retreat for our guests.

We rented out bed and breakfasts for our guests to keep the quaint and unique essence of the island and being that it was Key West, it only seemed right to add a little “Hemingway” flair to our wedding. George and I both love the book The Old Man and The Sea, and have fond memories of reading it together while on vacation in Aruba. And although Hemingway isn’t exactly the ideal example of good marriages (haha), we felt this was still a great way to connect our memories from Aruba and our love of Hemingway’s writing with the historical essence of Key West.

Taking this inspiration further, we modeled our wedding off of the lavishness of of the 1930’s, the prohibition era (there’s that Boardwalk Empire influence again), and Ernest Hemingway’s lifetime. We chose gold as our color and went with heavy greenery instead of an abundance of flowers. With all the green it just felt more tropical, and had a little bit of a ‘hidden garden’ feel. We modeled one of our signature drinks after a recipe Ernest Hemingway used himself and loved to drink. Finally, we gifted each of our guests with books by Hemingway.

Looking back at the beauty and overall feel of the day, the whole weekend in fact, it felt like the perfect compromise between what people expect from a wedding and expressing who George and I truly are as a couple. It was magical!

From Destination Wedding Studio... I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in…” When Lillie’s maid of honor shared this Gatsby quote, she captured the essence of this bride perfectly.

Lillie is an artist in her own right and immediately I knew that we were going to have fun planning and designing her wedding. In collaboration with the bride’s mother, who was fabulous, we took Lillie’s vision and detailed it as much as possible to truly capture the essence of the 1930’s while never forgetting what a wedding should be about: family, friends, traditions and love.

From the gold stars above to the Hemingway book for each guest, Lillie and her mother searched endlessly to find just the right touches to not only honor Lillie and George as a couple but to honor from there they came. From the first day I met them until the very last song, Lillie and George were and still are unforgettable.

Photography: Alyssa Morgan Photography | Event Planning: Destination Wedding Studio | Floral Design: Milan Events | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Cake: Amazing Cakes And Creations | Invitations: Minted | Ceremony Venue: St. Paul's Episcopal Church | Reception Venue: Casa Marina | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Groom's Attire: Timmy Tuxedo | Boutique: Everthine Bridal Boutique | Bowties : Bowtie Boutique | Music: Brian Roberts

White-Klump Photography and Soiree Key West upped the ante on pretty today, and it’s all thanks to this gorgeous seaside shoot at Fort Zahary Taylor Beach. It’s inspiration overload in the best possible way with invitations from Invites By Danette, a gorgeous cake from Cakes By Karol and drool-worthy gowns from Jeannie Lee  – this gallery is the definition of pin-worthy. 

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Photography: White-Klump Photography | Event Design: Soiree Key West | Flowers: Soiree Key West | Wedding Gown: Jeannie Lee | Cake: Cakes By Karol | Invitations: Invites By Danette | Jewelry: Jill's Regalia | Hair And Make Up: Baddest Beauty | Hairpieces: Bloom Bazaar | Key West, FL: Fort Zachary Taylor | Rentals: Mi Vintage

Key West and pretty weddings go together like two peas in a pod. With stunning scenery and plenty o’ sunshine, all you really need is a punch of color and happy couple to pull off a dream day. Sweet Tea Photography knocked the photos of this pink and coral love fest straight out of the park and you can get your hands on every capture right over here.

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From Sweet Tea Photography… Colleen Layman and Seric Fallon met during their brief experiment with online dating. The two met at a dive bar in South Beach called The Abbey, where they quickly realized that they both suffered from wanderlust….spending hours upon hours sharing their favorite places and adventures.

After two years of dating, Seric proposed. “It was New Year’s Eve and we went to a restaurant in Coral Gables. It was, of course, packed, and our table was very close to a few other couples. Just after the main course, he couldn’t wait any more, and took out the ring and asked me right there at the table. It was so loud in the restaurant that only a few people noticed, but we felt like we were the only people in the place. I said Yes and he put the ring on my finger… and then dessert arrived! It was a great way to ring in the New Year (pun intended!),” Colleen recalled.

Key West was the first place they talked about getting married and it was the first place they thought of for the reception. During the beginning of the planning process, Colleen and Seric were living in Washington, DC. Fortunately they both found new job opportunities back in Miami, and made the big move back to the city where they first fell in love.

With the help of a talented wedding planner, Kelly Fowler of Save the Date, they were able to make the big move and get settled back into Miami while planning their special day. They couldn’t have gotten it all done without her guidance.

When searching for the perfect venue, Colleen and Seric traveled down to Key West with Colleen’s parents to check out the variety of venues. They instantly fell in love with the Southernmost House for it’s colors, style, and history. They loved that they could fill all of the rooms with their friends and family. Colleen said “It was like having a mansion all to ourselves in the middle of Key West. We felt like we were welcoming people into our home.”

The look and wedding style was inspired by Key West’s breathtaking sunset of soft peaches and teal tones. They liked to describe the look as being romantic, vintage, with an unfussy prettiness. Colleen’s favorite detail was the menu and table assignment display. They found a font that fit their theme and bought some brown craft paper to print it on. It was so simple but elegant.

Photography: Lisa Blume Photography | Floral Design: Love In Bloom | Wedding Dress: J del Olmo Bridal Gallery and Couture | Cake: Blue Heaven | Reception Venue: The Southernmost House | Catering: Great Events Catering | DJ: Visualize Entertainment | Officiant: Steve Torrence | Hair & Make-up: Beauty Boutique | Planning: Just Save The Date | Wedding Dress Designer: La Sposa

With fourth of July festivities just around the corner, this classic Florida affair seemed like just the right wedding to send everyone off to their holiday celebrations. It’s the best mix of Key West – gorgeous beach views, a beautiful pastel palette and a sea of classic details crafted by Just Save The Date along with florals by Milan Events. Now add stunning imagery into the mix by Jessica Lorren Photography plus a handsome Groom in uniform and the result is pure perfection. See it all here.

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From The Bride…Raymond and I were set up in August 2012 by a mutual family friend who had a sneaking suspicion we would hit it off. He was teaching at the University of Michigan and I was teaching high school in Atlanta. Our entire relationship was spent flying around the US meeting up to see each other. With Raymond’s job in the Navy about to send him back to sea within the year an engagement came in April 2013 while he was in the middle of a move. With only one weekend available in his hectic schedule available for him to get married before having to report to work in Hawaii our date was set but we had big decisions to decide on. Both being from different home towns and military friends and family all over the country we decided we wanted a location where everyone could come together, relax, and celebrate with us. What better place for weather in November then Key West. With two moves and a hectic fall in our future a good local planner was a must. Having fallen in love with the work of Jessica Lorren several years back, photography was taken care of as well. My vision of the wedding was to play off the natural colors of Key West and trusted my local planner Kelly to find me the best vendors Key West had to offer. A beautiful romantic, organic, and patriotic wedding was exactly what Kelly brought together for us and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day!

Photography: Jessica Lorren Photography | Event Planning: Just Save The Date | Floral Design: Milan Events | Wedding Dress: anna be bridal boutique | Ceremony Venue: Key West Lighthouse | Reception Venue: Casa Marina | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Officiant: Steve Torrence | Custom Stationery: Mae Mae Paperie | Hair & Make-up: Studio Marie-Pierre | Music: Visualize Entertainment | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Key West Lighthouse | Rentals: Milan Events

Obsessed is quickly becoming an understatement the more time I spend in the gallery of this ridiculously pretty wedding from 1313 Photography. The bride’s custom gown (which she designed herself!), the groom in seersucker, the ridiculous Key West beach… everything from to the hair & makeup by Marie-Pierre to the toes in the sand is calling me on this cold, cold February day!

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From the stunning bride… Cody and I met through a mutual friend in college and dated for 5 years. The last two years of our relationship was long distance but it made our relationship so much stronger and our love grew so much in those last years.

Our wedding was perfect in my opinion and I wouldn’t change anything about it. It was simple, sweet and intimate, exactly what I wanted. We got married on Sunset Key in Key West. My family and I vacationed there when I was younger and when I was seven I told my parents that I was going to get married there one day, I don’t think they really believed me. I am so lucky and fortunate to actually have had my dream wedding in my dream location.

I wanted classic and elegant everything with pastels and of course bows! Our photographers captured the whole day and all the details so perfectly. Photos are so important to have because you truly forget about a lot that happens and having those means everything. Choosing great photographers to capture it all is tough but we were so lucky to have found the perfect match for us in 1313 Photography!

The whole day was just so relaxing. The men went fishing while all the ladies laid by the pool and beach, it was perfect and the most non-stressful way to do a wedding. I highly encourage a destination wedding to everyone, enjoy the special time with the closest friends and family, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Photography: 1313 Photography | Coordinator: Swankey Events | Florist: Milan Events | Wedding Dress: Custom Design By Bride | Invitations: The Paper Source | Ceremony Venue: Westin Sunset Key | Groom\'s Attire: Lilly Pulitzer | Hair/Make-up: Studio Marie-Pierre

Fall in Key West is a magical thing.  It’s vibrant, colorful and chock-full of pretty.  And on a day that we celebrate one of fall’s happiest holidays (it’s Halloween, lovelies!), we thought it only appropriate to also celebrate all of that aforementioned South Florida beauty.  I’m talking lush blooms from Soiree Key West, crazy cool paper goods from Invites by Danette and a yummy + gorgeous cake from Key West Cakes.  See it all captured by Filda Konec right here in the full gallery.

The ladies at Soiree Key West decided to take inspiration from Key West’s vibrant culture and mix it up with the city’s lush landscape for an organic, rustic vibe. The florals infuse fresh kale and citrus which compliment the beautiful gardens of Old Town Manor – perfect venue for intimate garden event. The colors are great for Halloween and the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays.

Photography: Filda Konec Photography | Floral Design: Soiree Key West | Cake: Key West Cakes | Invitations: Invites By Danette | Jewelry: Chloe and Isabelle by Lee | Hair and Make-up: Casa Salon | Headpieces: Can Can Couture | Location: Old Town Manor | Party Rentals: Key West Party Rentals | Planners: Soiree Key West

Here at SMP, we’re always on board for a good beach affair. And when it’s shot by the likes of Lauren Kinsey? Even better. Think coastal beauty meets modern design, with splashes of black, white and blush woven in for good measure. To see this wedding is to LOVE it, so let’s keep this pretty party going in the full gallery over here.

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From Lauren Kinsey.. Claire and Adam’s wedding was held at the beautiful Casa Marina resort in Key West, Florida. I loved all the modern elements of this wedding, in a color palette of black and white, with a few touches of some blushes and mint.

Claire is a very talented interior designer based in the Atlanta area, and Adam is a private airplane pilot for a corporation. Because Claire is very serious about her design aesthetic, Claire hired
Peggy of Destination Wedding Studio and Peter Gran Bek of Milan Events to execute this wedding to perfection. Claire’s Aunt is also a jewelry designer and designed the couple’s rings as well as many of the pieces of jewelry that Claire accessorized her Kenneth Poole gown with.

From the Bride… Adam and I picked Key West because we went to The Casa Marina on our first trip together. He flew me down there himself in his teeny, tiny plane. While I have always loved Key West (it’s kooky like me), I fell in love with The Casa for its beautiful architecture, with it’s old world and new age feeling.

I’m an interior designer, which means I know exactly what I want all the time. So, I was very involved in every decision. Luckily, I had a team with not only the patience to guide me through the technical details, but also with the bevvy of talent necessary to execute my vision above what I could even imagine. From sketching the save the date, to making scaled models of every single paper good, to sourcing the shell pink runner at the ceremony, the buffalo check tablecloths and the Annabelle’s candy in guests’ welcome boxes – I put my hands in every single detail.

I also loved Reverend Eddie and how he matched his scarf (not the right word) to the runner – do you know he was on Million Dollar Listing!

Photography: Lauren Kinsey Fine Art Weddings | Wedding Dress: KENNETH POOL | Shoes: Calvin Klein | Jewelry: Aurum | Casa Marina: Casa Marina | Floral Design + Decor: Milan Events | Guitarist:: Dave Feder | Planning: Destination Wedding Studio

Jessica Lorren’s photography slays me. And that slaying happens each and every time I meet one of her weddings. I think it’s the mixture of dreamy Florida nuptials (Key West in this instance), an eye for just the right moments captured by her lens and of course all of said moments and that tropical backdrop wrapped up in the dreamiest film photography. It’s a slam dunk in our book of favorites and you can see all the pretty festivities seaside right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride…When Ian and I were first engaged we decided the most important part of our wedding was that we get to spend quality time with everyone who is most special in our lives.  The idea of a destination wedding where everyone could “check out” for the weekend was immediately at the top of our list.  Unfortunately, the stress of organizing a vacation for 60 of our closest friends and family quickly became overwhelming and so we procrastinated for a little while.

Fast forward 3 years, and we finally started planning again.  We still wanted a destination wedding but didn’t want the stress of not being able to see anything in person prior to the event so we chose Key West, FL which was only a few hours away from our home in Palm Beach.  Key West has more than enough personality so we decided to keep everything simple and understated. We wanted to have an elegant wedding but still keep the casual Key West feel so we choose the Southernmost Mansion as our home for the weekend. We took our color inspiration from the pretty Victorian house and I made the invites and menu cards to match.  I have a tendency to want to do everything myself and the wedding flowers were at the top of my list.  Fortunately, my incredibly intelligent fiancé told me that I needed to hire a florist so that we could enjoy time with friends and family.  It was one of the smartest decisions we made.  We hired an amazing florist who went above and beyond with our tiny flower budget.

The day ended up being better than I could have ever asked for.  After champagne breakfast with the girls we had our first look, which we originally had not planned on doing.  Thankfully, with the advice of our wonderful photographer Jessica Lorren, it was the second best decision we made.  As much as we wanted to spend time with our loved ones those two hours alone were irreplaceable.  The ceremony was held at the Key West Lighthouse and we were back at the Mansion just in time for a beautiful pink sunset. Jessica captured all the details, even the ones I thought would go unnoticed, and I cannot thank her enough for the memories that she captured for us.

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Photography: Jessica Lorren | Floral Design: Simply Unique by Lenka | Wedding Ceremony Venue: Key West Lighthouse | Wedding Reception Venue: The Southernmost House | Catering: Great Events | Cake: Publix | Hair + Makeup: Fabiola Cristina | Wedding Dress: Enzoani via Bacio Bacio Bridal Salon

When you are completely dedicated to adding a dose of personality to your big day, you’ll do just about anything.  Like drive from Wisconsin to Key West in a great big van chock-full of meaningful details, just like these two sweeties.  And then you’ll sprinkle those meaningful details and travel-inspired memorabilia throughout every last moment captured by the always amazing Erin Jean Photography… and the result?  Pure, seaside magic with too much pretty to believe.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Erin Jean Photography… This is an event that I just adore and really wanted to share it with you.  A destination wedding placed in Key West, Florida.  A location near and dear to Lisa and Adam’s heart.  

They are a detail-orientated couple, so they drove a huge van from Wisconsin to the Keys filled with things that would make their wedding truly “theirs.”  From boxes of vintage Key West memorabilia collected over the years to destination and travel objects galore, these two had it all. 

A Key West wedding is something all in its own.  It may be one of the most laid back places in the world. The breeze floats through the air and you find yourself just standing there and taking in a deep breath. What a better place to be wed?!  The beach is white and the coral shore is something you will never forget.  When 100 people travel from the midwest, it’s something special.

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Wedding Photography: Erin Jean Photography | Ceremony Venue: The Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Key West, Florida | Reception Venue: Casa Marina in Key West, Florida | Floral Design: Mamas Flowers | Catering: Casa Marina | Cake + Ice Creme Cones: Amazing Cakes and Creations | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew | Groom’s Attire: Kenneth Cole | Hair + Makeup: Lorri Bolander from Key West Hair and Makeup

So, I kind of want to steal this wedding.  And when I say “kind of,” I mean I most definitely do.  Because this is the kind of day that you think only exists in your dreams, until you see it in all of its gorgeousness in the full gallery captured by Jen + Ashley.  I’m talking the perfect mix of preppy and island chic with bursts of billy ball bouquets from Milan Events, a stunning Casa Marina backdrop (where the bride and groom were engaged!) and a fun-filled reception boasting late night treats (sliders and grilled cheese).  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Jen + Ashley… Karen and Jeff got engaged in Key West, so it was perfectly fitting for them to say their personal vows overlooking the same pier where he proposed. With the gorgeous Casa Marina Resort and the ombre sea as backdrops, it was everything they had dreamed of when they decided to have a destination wedding. Both living in Washington DC, they knew their guests would jump at the chance to spend a few days in paradise while winter raged on back home.

Surrounded by 110 of their closest friends and family, Karen and Jeff celebrated exactly how they wanted: with an elegant and classy reception with a fun and low-key Key West vibe. Focused on good food, good drinks, and the vibe of the island, Karen and Jeff’s main concern was that their guests feel like they were enjoying a great vacation while a wedding happened to take place. Both the bride and groom are fun-loving, easy-going people, so it was important to them to hand pick vendors that would carry out their vision from hundreds of miles away, without stress or worry.

With a fun color palette that was a contrast to the pastels and colors of the sea, the bridesmaids dresses, billy ball bouquets and succulent boutonnieres added a touch of whimsy and East Coast preppiness to the island affair. With a perfect sunset ceremony, a few minutes together on the same pier where he proposed, late night grilled cheese and hamburgers sliders and a band that kept the energy up and people dancing all night, Karen and Jeff 100% accomplished everything they wanted to with their wedding. We were more than honored to have been a part!

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Wedding Photography: Jen + Ashley | Wedding Venue: Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Key West, Florida | Event Design: Jennifer Levering from We’ve Got The Keys | Floral Design: Milan Events | Catering: Reina Todd from Casa Marina | Chairs, Up Lighting, + Linens: Prestige Party Rentals | Wedding Cake: Key West Cakes | Band: Robert Williamson Band | Wedding Dress: Demetrios Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: Glint | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen Attire: Timmy Tuxedos Key West | Hair+ Makeup: Kimberely from Beauty Boutique

It was love at first sight when I set my eyes on these ethereal photos by 13:13 Photography capturing the loveliest Key West wedding! The pretty-as-can-be bride is the definition of laid-back perfection in her JCrew dress + shoes and her grandmother’s vintage necklace. Milan Event Floral and Decor kept the gorgeous coming with understated arrangements and the sweetest bouquets sprinkled with white tulips. Continue your sunny escape in the full gallery!

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From Sarah of 13:13 Photography… Yessy and I could not have asked for a more fun, lovable, and welcoming couple than Francesca and Jeff! The first night we arrived in Key West, we went on a beautiful sunset sail with them and their families. It’s always so wonderful to get to know the bride and groom before their wedding day and such a treat to get to know their family and friends as well. The next day they had their ceremony and reception at the Audubon House — it was beautiful! We absolutely loved their style and their personal touches. Francesca’s stunning dress and shoes were from J.Crew. She wore her grandmother’s necklace, and they all sat down at a long dinner table that welcomed all of their friends and family. It was perfect.

Wedding Photography: Sarah + Yessy of 13:13 Photography / Wedding Venue: Audubon House in Key West, Florida /  Wedding Coordination: Erica Fuhrman of Simply You Weddings / Floral Design: Milan Event Floral & Decor / Officiant: Sue Hyde / Catering: Great Events / Wedding Cake: Key West Cakes / Ceremony Music: Brian Roberts / Reception Music: Jimmy V of Soundwave / Rentals: Florida Keys Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Bride’s Necklace: Her Grandmother’s / Hair + Makeup: Studio Marie-Pierre

An intimate destination wedding on the sandy beaches of a Key West paradise… yep, we’re prettying up your Tuesday morning with one seriously amazing soiree.  One that is not only stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous, but is literally overflowing with beyond beautiful blooms by Mama Flowers, uber-stylish details and a bundle of heartwarming moments between a could-not-be-cuter Mr. and Mrs.  All captured in gorgeous images by 13:13 Photography, this is the kind of affair that will tug at your heart strings from the get-go.  See so much more right here.

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From the Bride… We had a beautiful destination in Key West on June 2, 2012, at Casa Marina Resort. My husband (fiance at the time) and I knew that we wanted a very intimate and personal wedding when we started planning our big day. Around 45 of our closest family and friends traveled in from Georgia and Florida, and honestly, it was our dream day. My best friend Wayne was my best man, along with my stepdaughter, Jenna. My mom and dad walked me down the aisle where I met the man of my dreams, Javier. His best man is his cousin Oscar, who had just recently returned home from serving in Afghanistan. Javier and I wrote our own vows.

Before our ceremony, we held our cocktail hour, where we served appetizers such as empanadas with frozen daiquiris and pina coladas! We had someone playing the steel pans during that time. Our reception was amazing — we had an great band called The Coal Men. They traveled to Key West from their homes in Nashville, so we were so happy and honored to have them with us. Our first dance was “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison. Before everyone started dancing, we had dinner, which included whole roasted pig, mahi mahi, chimichurri steak along with gazpacho and plantains. Our wedding cake was to die for — coconut cake with buttercream frosting. Along with the cake, we also had mini key limes pies and flan. The night before our wedding, we took everyone on a private sunset cruise.

I found my dress from BHLDN only three weeks after getting engaged — it was the first and only dress that I tried on! I added a little color with my blue shoes and had a blue sash with crystals custom-made. It was important to me to not be so typical wedding matchy-matchy, so you can see that Jenna wore a striped sundress from Anthropologie and my mom is wearing an orange and white striped dress from Nordstrom. My dad made the table centerpieces out of reclaimed saw mill flooring, and they are branded with a heart with wings design that Javier created. I searched all over for the blue, vintage mason jars. Our decor for the ceremony was very minimalistic — some round glass vases from CB2 with simple flower stems. I wore a six pence that my mom also wore at her wedding, and our cake topper was from my parents’ wedding 39 years ago! Our photographers, Ashley and Philip of 1313 Photography, did an amazing job capturing all of our special moments.We are beyond thrilled with our photos. They are amazing partners — super-friendly and great to work with.

Wedding Photography: Ashley & Philip Colhouer of 13:13 Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Marina Resort in Key West, Florida / Wedding Coordination: Reina Todd of Casa Marina Resort / Floral Design: Mama Flowers / Wedding Cake: Key West Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Paper Source / Band: The Coal Men / Wedding Dress: BHLDN / Bride’s Sash + Veil: Nicholas Kniel / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Jenna’s Dress: Anthropologie / Bride’s Gloves: BHLDN / Bride’s Garter: Mamie+James / Groom’s + Best Man’s Shirts: Guyabera

We’re wrapping up another fab week here at SMP Florida with this pretty Key West soiree. These fun loving high school sweethearts knew exactly what they wanted for their big day and they weren’t about to let any conventional wedding ideas hold them back. They opted for a laid back, beach meets barnyard wedding, which is totally fitting since the bride grew up on a farm just a few minutes from the beach. Mec Images captured all the details and you can see all the rest right here in the full gallery!

From the Bride… I was with my husband for nine years before we married. Our friends and family have been there with us every step of the way — from being high school sweethearts and going to college, to graduating and getting grown-up jobs. The one promise we made together while planning this wedding was to keep everything fun … and us. And not get overwhelmed with what a wedding “should be.” The mustaches, mason jars, hand-picked flowers, antique window seating charts, and mustache flasks embodied just that. We decided to let the beach speak for itself and bring a barn yard feel to Key West. Growing up with the beach 15 minutes away but also on a farm really tied our theme together. The bridesmaids and I tied the tags (purchased from Etsy) around the mason jars with a thick hemp. The mustache sticks were a great way for people to start conversations, dance and take amazing pictures with. Overall, the inspiration truly lay behind the fact that we were celebrating our love with the people we cherished. We wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Wedding Photography: Meghan Capozzi Rowe of Mec Images / Wedding Venue: Southernmost on the Beach in Key West, Florida / Event Planning: Megan Jones of Swankey Events / Floral Design: Mama Flowers, Inc. / Wedding Cake: Key West Cakes / Cake Toppers: BHLDN / Table Numbers: zoeveedesign / Paper Heart Guest Book: Celadon Home / Flasks: The Hair of the Dog / Mustaches: The Paper Stache / Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham / Hair + Makeup: Rachael Garzaro of Blushing Bride Hair and Makeup / Bridesmaid’s Dress: BHLDN

Beach weddings.  The perfect fusion of elegant details, stunning ocean views and sunny blue skies – a sweet combo that never fails to leave us breathless.  And this sparkling Islamorada affair is most certainly of the take-your-breath-away kind with its beautiful blooms by Floral Fantasy Weddings, uber-gorgeous couple and beyond lovely blush hues.  Claudia Oliver Photography snapped up all of the pretty and, trust me when I tell you, seaside fêtes don’t get any better than this.  See it all here.

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From the Bride… It was really important to both Braden and I that the vibe of our wedding day be relaxed and fun with a lovely ambiance. Although we met in Chicago, and had spent years together getting to know the big city, there was something in both our spirits that was longing for a beach wedding. When we came across Pierre’s Restaurant in Islamorada while planning our wedding, we immediately fell in love with it. It featured first class cuisine and embodied a picture-perfect, cool — almost Caribbean — vibe, while remaining intimate. We chose light pinks and navy to accent the day, which added a touch of romance. It was also important to us to have many small personal touches on the day, some of which included writing our own vows and custom made jewelry for each bridesmaid. For decorations, we wanted to accentuate the unique charm and beauty of Pierre’s. We kept it simple with many candles and soft pink and white flowers in the dining area to create the ambiance we were looking for. But it was truly all of our close family and friends that were able to attend that made the day so special — the whole event nothing less than the perfect party. Amazing weather helped too! We were also so grateful to our photographer, Claudia Oliver, for her interpretation of the day through her photography. The way she was able to capture the day perfectly will make all the memories that much more special! The way everything came together, it truly was the wedding of our dreams!

Wedding Photography: Claudia Oliver Photography / Wedding Venue: Pierre’s Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida / Floral Design: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Wedding Cake: Bob’s Bunz / DJ: EMS Entertainment / Lodging + Preparations: Cheeca Lodge & Spa / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Jewelry: Kiki Designs / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amy Wong Micucci of Swoon

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I am full on convinced that rain on your wedding day brings out not only the best in couples but also makes for some fabulous photos. And when those photos are from Vitalic Photo, it’s a fab-photo guarantee. A little sprinkle didn’t phase this completely in love duo, if anything I think the grey skies added to this already lovely Key West soiree – and the full gallery is all the proof you need that this wedding was as fun as it was fabulous!

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From the Bride… When my husband and I first talked about our wedding, there was little doubt where we wanted to tie the knot. We both love the ocean and knew that Islamorada – the tiny island in the Florida Keys where I spent my childhood summers – was the perfect place for the fun and laid back beach wedding we envisioned. We rented out The Drop Anchor Resort, a small 1960s-era motel on the beach, as our wedding location and took to calling it our “Love Shack.” I worked with my friend Lisa, a designer, to create a theme inspired by Mexican folk art. She created a logo of our initials inside a papel picado (Mexican paper flag).  We used orange and fuchsia as the primary colors to create a sense of vibrancy and used black as an accent for some added drama. A custom mad lib with our fuchsia logo was at every place setting at dinner and I created black tin can luminaries with our initials hand-punched into them for the tables. Flowers in the Keys were hard to come by without costing a fortune, so I rented potted succulents from a local landscaping company. My husband created the wedding program fans that carried on our theme, and we gave our guests orange maracas made in Mexico as wedding favors.

We planned all of the details down to a “T,” but Mother Nature is one thing that just can’t be planned. The day of our wedding saw torrential downpours (the start of a five-day stretch that would set a Florida record) and our caterer urged us to move our wedding to a nearby restaurant and give up the dream of a beach front wedding. My husband looked at me with calm eyes and assured me it would be okay. I allowed myself five minutes of panic and no more. I was marrying my best friend, so it was going to be one of the happiest days of my life, regardless of the weather. We decided to carry on with our original plan, with the addition of a tent and a lot of umbrellas. Guests sat at communal tables under the tent for our ceremony while the rain poured around us. As soon as the ceremony concluded, the rain let up for the first time all day. Guests mingled on the beach for a cocktail reception, followed by a buffet-style Caribbean dinner. After dinner, with the rain still letting up, we gave guests sparklers and asked them to get into a circle to the tune of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” We then surprised them with a performance from a local fire dancer. My husband and I were even treated to a surprise as fireworks went off over the ocean as the song ended.

The rest of the night saw more rain but by that point we didn’t care — we danced our butts off and ended the evening with an impromptu pool party under the cloudy sky. The day was more amazing than I could have ever imagined. They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, and I truly believe it made our wedding day even better. It made everyone remember why we were together — the food, the drinks and the details are nice, but we were there to be surrounded by and celebrating love. I’m so grateful to our vendors, who helped make the event wonderful, and to our amazing friends and family, who showed us that no storm can dampen their ability to have a really great time.

Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo / Wedding Venue: Drop Anchor Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida / Wedding Coordination: Danielle Pierog of Caribbean Catering / Bouquet: Floral Fantasy Weddings / Table Succulent Rentals: The Banyan Tree / Catering: Caribbean Catering / Baking: Elegant Temptations / Music: Scott Youngberg / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller

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Pulling on experiences and favorite moments as a couple is so smart when planning your Big Day. It should be a complete reflection of you and your love (and all the favorite pastimes that make up that love). If you’re a couple that adores to travel and explore, why not head south to the pretty beaches of Key West? It lends an air of easy, breezy, “we’re on vacation” vibe to this destination bash while Simply You Weddings gave it a layer of elegant stylings. Elegance + The Beach + beautiful images by Justin DeMutiis Photography  = a great mix. See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… On Tuesday, February 3, 2009, we met for the first time at Alta Restaurant in New York’s West Village. We sat and spoke for hours, and even on our first date, we felt as if we were old friends. Since that day, we have been inseparable. From our travels to the beaches of Nevis, the wine lands of Cape Town and the rainforests of Kauai, to our experiences in and around New York City, we have cherished our time spent together and with family and friends. When discussing where to get married, we wanted a location that reflected our fun-loving spirit as well as our excitement for traveling. We also hoped for some great weather! Key West, the southernmost city in the United States, seemed a worthy destination for a celebration with family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Key West, Florida / Wedding Planning: Simply You Weddings / Floral Design: Milan Event Floral & Decor / Officiant: Rabbi Dudai / Cinematography: CineaVerde / Wedding Cake: Cakes by Karol / Ceremony Music: Key West Strings / Cocktail + Reception Music: The Headliner’s Band / Rentals: Florid Keys Party Rentals / Linens: BBJ Linen / Ceremony Sound + Reception Lighting: PSAV / Train: Conch Tour Train / Photo Booth: Eventfully Yours / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Marie Pierre / Spa: Cloud 9 / Rehearsal Dinner: Roof Top Café