A Tropical Elopement for Emily & Erik at Smathers Beach in Key West

Emily & Erik take destiny to a whole new level. They met when Erik, a fireman, saved Emily’s life from a car crash. How do you top that? They later randomly met each other at a coffee shop and, wait…is this a Love Actually script? The two of them decided to elope somewhere tropical and chose Smathers Beach in Key West, Florida. We love their laid-back style vibe and Emily’s gorgeous tropical flower bouquet in sunshine colors. They exchanged vows on the beach, broke out the champagne to celebrate, and watched the sunset! Read more to see how Simply Eloped helped serendipity along in this love story.

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

Emily: We initially met in 2012 when I was in a terrible car accident. Erik was one of the firemen who responded to the crash and extricated me from my vehicle. We never kept in touch after that. However, six years later, in 2018, we ran into each other at a local Starbucks and immediately recognized each other. We started talking, and to be cliche, the rest is history! 

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Emily: In true Emily & Erik fashion, it was very casual. One day, during happy hour, Erik told Emily that he thought she should pick herself a ring. So, a ring she picked, and four months later, we eloped!

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Emily: We chose to elope in Key West, Florida. It looked absolutely beautiful and tropical and was somewhere we had always wanted to go together. We also picked this location because it seemed like the perfect place to get married and spend our honeymoon. 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Emily: We were attracted by Key West’s beachy, tropical vibes. It feels like a true Caribbean getaway without having to leave the US. Our favorite part of the location was the laid-back vibe, the beautiful weather, and all of the fun activities Key West has to offer!

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there? 

Emily: Key West is tropical, beachy, beautiful, and laid back. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Emily: Erik & I spent the morning before our elopement eating brunch together and exploring the Ernest Hemingway House. My hair and makeup were done by a local artist booked through Simply Eloped. Erik sat by the pool and drank a few beers while Emily was getting ready. We were both excited in anticipation of our ceremony. We also felt so relaxed because everything was taken care of by Simply Eloped. All we had to worry about was making sure we got to the beach on time! 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Emily: It was great! It was so easy and appropriately described as ‘simple.’ We simply picked the location and services we wanted online, and the rest was taken care of for us! The communication with Simply Eloped was great through e-mail, and everyone was very helpful and responsive! We absolutely LOVED the officiant and photographer Simply Eloped booked for us. Our elopement honestly could not have been more perfect.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Emily: After our late afternoon elopement, we had a beautiful sunset dinner at Latitudes on Sunset Key. The food was delicious, and the sunset was spectacular. It was the perfect way to celebrate our elopement with just the two of us, complete with complimentary champagne and dessert from the restaurant. We then spent an additional five days in Key West after our as our honeymoon. We absolutely loved Key West and have already planned our next trip back! 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Emily: DO IT! It was absolutely stress-free, and I simply cannot describe how special our day was with just the two of us. It was truly magical.

Officiation by: Aaron Wechter
Photography by: Filip Konecny
Hair & Makeup by: Lorri Bolander
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Smathers Beach, Key West, Florida

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.