Florida Keys Wedding

The Florida Keys area is a beautiful place known for sunshine and good times. What better place to get married? Not everyone can make their way there, though but that does not mean you cannot have a wedding that brings the sunshine to you!

What to Look For in a Venue for a Florida Keys Wedding

The serene, white sand beaches of the Florida Keys are perfect for intimate destination weddings, microweddings and elopements. Pastel-washed sunsets make a beautiful backdrop with the sound of the ocean waves roaring softly in the background. When searching for Florida Keys wedding venues, you’ll want to consider public versus private beaches.

Public beaches likely require permits but are less expensive – but the public will have access to your space. Private beaches, like this one chosen by the couple at Dolphin Point Villas, often feature more amenities and may come with a full suite of wedding services such as catering, rooms for the wedding party, staff assistance and more.

Ceremony Décor for a Florida Keys Wedding

When using beautiful Key Largo as a backdrop, décor for the ceremony can be simple and minimal – who wants to compete with mother nature? This couple chose a simple bamboo arch flanked by softly glowing lanterns. The archway defines the space as a special place for a ceremony, but at the same time doesn’t compete with the sunset, the palm trees or the ocean backdrop.

While this arch is minimally decorated with flowing white fabric and a few sprigs of greenery, incorporating flowers is a beautiful way to add luxury and a pop of colour. Hibiscus, lilies and orchids all bring a lush, tropical feel without being too large or taking away from other elements of the design.

Colour Palettes for a Florida Keys Wedding

When it comes to wedding colours for a Florida Keys wedding, many couples choose to go with light, natural colours so the surrounding natural beauty can shine. Inspiration can be drawn from the environment – serene blues from the sky and ocean, soft neutrals from the sand or rocky shoreline or subdued pinks, purples and oranges from a sunset or tropical flowers.

This bride has chosen incorporate a range of blues, from the barely-there blue in her wedding gown to the deep ocean blue of the seashells and several mid-range tones in the décor. The fairly neutral colour palette is set off with a pop of bright yellow from lemons and a more pastel yellow from the roses in the bride’s bouquet.

Bouquets and Boutonnieres for a Florida Keys Wedding

One of the many benefits of hosting a wedding in a tropical destination like Key Largo is the abundance of lush flowers available for both décor and bridal accessories. Bride and bridesmaid bouquets can provide a fresh pop of colour to an otherwise neutral colour palette, while boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen can dress up less formal attire.

This bride has chosen light yellow roses alongside the deep, bluish greens of eucalyptus and ferns, accented by creamy white roses and yellow-green sprays. Although colourful, the flowers don’t compete with or overpower the soft blues and neutrals of the overall colour scheme. While the groom has chosen to forgo a boutonniere, a light yellow rose with a sprig of eucalyptus is simple and beautiful.

Reception Décor for a Florida Keys Wedding

Like the ceremony itself, décor for a Florida Keys wedding reception can be simple, taking advantage of the natural beauty of the beach, palm trees and quiet shoreline. For intimate affairs with only a few guests, like microweddings or elopements, a simple dining area set up a short distance from the ceremony site is all that’s needed for a celebration with close friends and family. For larger gatherings, consider setting up a white tent or stringing lights across an outdoor patio.

An intimate dining area, like the one this couple chose, is perfect for celebrating and talking in a quiet, comfortable environment. The table is set with accessories in a complementary colour scheme, using the surrounding palm trees as a festive backdrop. The design also incorporates lanterns from the ceremony to tie the spaces together.

Table Settings for a Florida Keys Wedding

Whether you’re celebrating with a few close friends and family or a couple hundred guests, chatting over delicious food at the wedding reception can make the whole event shine. Treat your guests to a beautiful tablescape to match their tropical surroundings.

There are a lot of options for table settings, including exotic centrepieces or glittery finishes. This couple has chosen a more rustic approach, using a table with a washed driftwood finish and setting it with elegant tableware and fresh accents. The plates and linens match the complementary blue colours, while table accents such as lemons, pineapples and small flowers add a fresh pop of yellow.

Wedding Dresses and Accessories for a Florida Keys Wedding

Beachfront weddings like this Key Largo ceremony are a perfect opportunity for brides to choose less formal or non-traditional wedding dresses – after all, layers of crinoline and a cathedral train may not be appropriate for warmer temperatures and yards of sand. Light, flowing fabrics, shorter skirts and sandals are all in keeping with a tropical destination event.

While this bride has chosen a more formal dress, she has also chosen to incorporate colour, adding a hint of freshness and elegance to an otherwise plain dress. The barely-there blue of the skirt, accented with a golden-coloured belt, ties the dress to the beach-themed décor while retaining a more formal appearance.  For her feet, the bride has chosen elegant sandals accented with pearls and rhinestones – practical and beautiful for a beachy theme.

Menswear for a Florida Keys Wedding

While the bride often has many choices in terms of wedding attire, men are often limited to just a couple – a tuxedo or a suit. Beachfront weddings, however, offer a cooler and less formal alternative – the groom and groomsmen are free to wear lighter clothing such as linen shirts, khakis or a light summer suit for more formal events.

For this Key Largo wedding, the groom has chosen to wear a fitted white shirt with khaki pants while forgoing footwear entirely. His attendant chose a light gray suit appropriate for a summer event, but choosing not to wear a tie gives the ensemble a less formal feel. Depending on the overall style of the wedding, men can feel free to wear light, untucked shirts, sandals or sneakers, esepcially for daytime events.

Details for a Florida Keys Wedding

If the Florida Keys is known for anything – besides key lime pie – its the laid back, beach-centric atmosphere. Miles-long stretches of white sand beaches, softly-swaying palm trees, tiki bars and upbeat music are all parts of the culture that can be incorporated into a Florida Keys wedding.

Draw décor inspiration from the natural beauty all around – the colours of the ocean, the sunset, the lush tropical flowers all add to the beauty of a unique place. While the ceremony may be a serene, oceanfront escape, cut loose at the reception with a custom tiki bar, fun cocktails made from local ingredients and the sounds of one of the island’s local bands.

Budget for a Florida Keys Wedding

Like many destinations, a Florida Keys wedding can be as luxurious or as budget-friendly as you desire. Beach weddings offer the opportunity to have a less formal gathering, meaning the couple can save money on everything from attire to wedding venues to wedding cakes. For simple events with a reception held elsewhere or at a later date, the couple may decide to simply get married on a public beach with an officiant and a witness and spring for a larger reception.For couples who plan on making the destination wedding a complete experience, the budget can include funds for top-notch catering, an open bar, wedding reception entertainment and more. Both types of weddings will likely include funds for photo sessions, allowing the couple to look back on their special day for years to come.

A Key Largo Wedding

From Wedding Planery – “Inspired by the soft-white sands of the beach, the blue waves of the ocean and the warm yellow-orange colours of the Floridian sunsets, we decided to organize a Style Shoot at the Keys of Florida on a warm summer weekend!

True magic was created by fine art photographer Tanja Schalling and wedding planner Kate Prokop when they had asked her friend and owner of the spacious beach villas from Dolphin Point Villas if he was interested in collaborating with her. With the acceptance of her proposal, this dream of an intimate elopement on the beautiful beaches of Florida Key came to life.”

“With the venue selected, we focused on another big priority: the decoration and the colour palette. When gathering inspiration, we used the colours, light lemon yellow, washed grey and a blush blue, which were applied throughout the entire planning process. Lemons and yellow roses, the washed blue from the ocean that influenced the invitations and matched the gorgeous blue engagement ring, as well as the palm leaves we collected from the beach gave the perfect touch to this beach elopement.”

“The true beauty of the decor was the personalization of it. The memorable walks along the beach handpicking sea shells and beach wood to incorporate into the details of the wedding. The background flowed into the foreground as most of the pieces were chosen directly from the sand and the dunes.”

“Little by little, inspiration blossomed and each detail became a masterpiece. The composition of the venue was completed with these black shells with golden names as name plates, lemons and coconuts on the dinner table as well as on the wedding cake and a bamboo arch for the engaged couple, under the sky of shiny stars. The planning started to resemble this ultimate beach wedding that every girl has ever dreamed of!”

“Some favourite elements of the wedding were the wooden menu book, because it was so unconventional in its rustic look, and the wooden bar that was complemented with rosé Moscow Mule mugs. The little pineapple rods in every cocktail were the eye-catcher of the night.

It’s hard to stick to one favourite moment, because there were so many, but the magnetic moment the groom met his bride under the bamboo arch, where they later also had their first dance, and the barbecue dinner at the wooden table with closest friends were both definitely one for the books.”

“The soft white lace dress with the blush blue skirt and the golden belt, the hair up do with its golden headpiece and the shimmery natural makeup gave our bride the enchanting look of a beach bride. The bridal bouquet was a hand tied bouquet with some eucalyptus and a mix of yellow, blush blue and light green. The groom was polished in a very classy look with some cream-coloured pants, a white shirt and barefoot.

The next day the After Wedding Shooting took place in the Everglades National Park on a boat, surrounded by crocodiles and exotic parrots. We could have not asked for a more magical day and unforgettable weekend!”

Credits: Photography: Tanja Schalling // Organization: Wedding Box // Wedding Planner: Wedding Planery // Beauty: Daniela Seiner Make Up Artist // Floral Designer: Bernhard Lakonig // Dress: Edelcorner // Jewelry: Heldwein // Rentals: Kap Rentals // Groom’s Attire: Stoffwerk // Stationery: Eliv Rosenkraz // Headpiece: Juvelan // Venue: Florida Everglades & Dolphin Point Villas in Key Largo, Florida.