Lucia & Anthony’s Romantic Elopement at West Martello Tower in Florida

High school sweethearts, Lucia & Anthony, fell in love with each other more than a decade ago and have stayed that way ever since! They both knew they were not the large wedding couple, and looked for a non-traditional way to marry that required very little planning on their part. They found that by eloping at West Martello Tower in Key West, Florida. Inside the historical fort, the tropical gardens were the perfect setting for Lucia & Anthony to promise their lives together in front of family and friends. Read more to see how the proposal involved pyjamas and why they chose Simply Eloped as their wedding planner!

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?
Lucia: I first fell in love with Anthony the summer before my junior year. I knew it was love when I realized how comfortable I was with him. We could literally be doing anything and I would be happy. 
Anthony: I first fell in love with Lucia in the summer of 2010. I realized it when being away from her became the worst thing.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?
Lucia: I knew something was up when Anthony offered to wash the dishes after dinner. I was in my pyjamas when Anthony asked me to come to the side of the bed. He started to say some super sweet things and,  the next thing I knew, he was on one knee. We don’t keep secrets well between each other but he totally got me.
Anthony: I proposed in our bedroom. I waited for Lucia to get home from work and after she was settled into her pyjamas. I got on one knee, told her how much I loved her, and asked her to marry me.

What do you love about your partner?
Lucia: I love that Anthony is a kind-hearted person who has always supported me. He is just an overall very caring person.
Anthony: I love Lucia’s self-determination and her intelligence.
What is the greatest strength of your relationship?
Lucia: The greatest strength of our relationship is that we can handle anything as long as we are together.

Why did you decide to elope?
Lucia: We decided to elope because we didn’t want a traditional wedding, and don’t have the skills to plan one LOL – props to those people because it just wasn’t in the books for us.
How did you find Simply Eloped? 
Lucia: We found Simply Eloped by searching elopement packages offered in Florida.

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you? Lucia: We knew that Simply Eloped was right for us because the process seemed painless. We are all about ease when it comes to planning. It was nice to find an informative yet organized company when it came to the communication/planning piece.
What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?
Lucia: We both agreed on West Martello Tower. Key West is only around five hours from where we live, so we definitely wanted to plan something close to home. The tower looked beautiful, and we really enjoyed the thought of our ceremony surrounded by gorgeous flowers. We also liked the idea of it being outdoors with the ocean nearby. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?
Lucia: We didn’t want to see each other a few days before the wedding, so I stayed with some family about an hour away from the Keys. I didn’t travel to Key West until it was time for hair and makeup. I made my way to the ceremony after, and I was very excited, to say the least! 
Anthony: I was more excited than nervous to see Lucia. I was staying with my Dad in Key West, and we explored the area for a few days before the wedding. 
Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your wedding day.
Lucia: Our experience with Simply Eloped will be something we remember for the rest of our lives. We look back on the day, and both agree that it was simply perfect. Every detail went according to plan, and it was all so easy. We will never forget getting to our dinner afterward and just having the biggest smiles. It was simply a perfect day.

How did you celebrate after your elopement?
Lucia: We celebrated by hanging out with family. We also stayed in Key West for a few days afterward and did some exploring together.
What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?
Lucia: If you are looking for something simple, beautiful, and memorable, look no further and book your date. You won’t regret it!

Officiation by: Aaron Wechter
Photography by: Olesya Marshall
Hair & Makeup by: Lorri Bolander
Flowers by: Petals & Vines
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: West Martello Tower, 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.