Elope in Key West

Simply Eloped offers a variety of Key West elopement packages for those looking to tie the knot in the Florida Keys. From the perfect personal and professional wedding officiant to seasoned photographers to epic videographers, we offer every service you need to have the ceremony of your dreams. At Simply Eloped, we vet all of our wedding vendors to ensure they match our values, and quality and are just flat–out wonderful humans. You can ensure every person on the Simply Eloped team is the best of the best!

For a custom quote on your wedding package, visit our quote builder.

Just imagine: You’re barefoot, with your toes in the sand and a tropical breeze blowing past palm trees and through your hair. The sun is starting to set over the ocean, and next to you is your honey. That’s what a Key West elopement is all about. After all, everything’s better when you’re in paradise! A Key West elopement can be a wedding and a honeymoon all in one. Key West is famous for beautiful beaches, water sports, and wildlife, but also for its incredible nightlife, history, and Instagram-worthy pastel-colored architecture. In one trip you can take a day excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park, lounge on a white sand beach, swim in crystal clear water, visit Ernest Hemingway’s old Spanish colonial house, and even bike along Duval Street to the southernmost point in the continental U.S. 

Whether you’re interested in eloping in the Florida Keys or having a small destination wedding, we’ve got you covered with all the wedding planning details. This guide will outline the best places to elope in Key West, provide the best options and pricing for all-inclusive elopement packages, and answer all your questions about everything from getting your marriage license to what time of year is best for an intimate Key West elopement.

Smathers Beach is a Key West favorite, with a half-mile–long stretch of beach that’s available and is totally free for your elopement – no permit required! That being said, it is first-come, first-serve, so if you’re looking to avoid crowds, we recommend a sunrise ceremony. If you don’t mind having a few on-lookers in the background, the Key West sunset makes for a picture-perfect photo, too! There’s plenty of parking on-site to accommodate up to 18 guests, all of whom will share in the excitement as they watch you exchange vows with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is the only frost-free, natural conservation habitat, botanical garden in the continental United States, and is one of our favorite locations for a Key West elopement. Not only are there several spots to choose from—including a lakeside terrace, butterfly garden, nature pavilion, and courtyard—but the garden highlights flora and fauna native to the Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean. The maximum guest count here is 20 and a reservation and rental fee are required ($325 for 10 am-4 pm or $455 for 4 pm-midnight, with a refundable $300 security deposit). Rentals include an hour before and after for setup and breakdown, as well as an onsite staff person to answer questions the day of. Although Key West can get hot, there’s plenty of shade and privacy to be found at this location.

Just under an hour’s drive from Key West, Bahia Honda State Park boasts palm-lined beaches and crystal clear waters without the crowds. Although there will likely be other visitors, this location can feel incredibly intimate, perfect for your beach elopement! Setup anywhere along the beach you want, just note that the only restrooms on-site are portable. Ceremonies here must be held between the hours of 8 am and sunset (guests are asked to leave promptly after sunset) and there is a rental fee of $53.75 for up to 25 guests, good for three hours.

Then, there’s the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy  – hands down, this is one of Key West’s coolest indoor wedding venues. The walls are made of glass at this conservancy, which is filled with cascading waterfalls, colorful birds, tropical plants, and hundreds of butterflies! The maximum guest count at this venue is 13 people, but you’re guaranteed to have the whole place to yourself for an intimate wedding ceremony. The total reservation cost is $376.25 and includes a ceremony held after 5 pm, a bottle of champagne, two keepsake butterfly-embossed glasses, and a butterfly release. You are responsible for reserving your ceremony time and date.

Are you a lover of history? The West Martello Tower might be the Key West elopement venue for you. This tower was first constructed by the U.S. Armed Forces in 1822 and later was used as a symbol of defiance when Key West was the only southern city allied with the Federal government during the Civil War. The grounds offer a gazebo with shade and ocean views as well as several cozy enclaves, all ideal for an intimate ceremony. West Martello Tower’s rental fee is $455 for two hours from 9:30 am-5:00 pm, and $520 for all other hours. Since the tower is open to the public from 9:30 am-5:00 pm, the higher fee buys your privacy. The maximum guest count at this location is 18 people.

March through May is a beautiful time to visit Key West, thanks to an average temperature of 75 degrees and low humidity. May is a great shoulder season to visit. If you’re hoping to save money on flights and lodging, as well as avoid crowds, go in the offseason from June to November (prices are lowest in September and November). However, the summer months also tend to be the rainiest and most humid, so keep that in mind when considering an outdoor ceremony. Hurricane season is from June through October, and winter tends to be busy in Key West, with higher prices for hotel rooms and flights.

In addition to the peak tourist season, when flights and accommodations are highest, prices in Key West tend to surge during special events, such as Key West Pride in early June and Fantasy Fest, a street party held annually during the last week of October. Save money by being diligent with your planning, shopping around for accommodation, and eating at more casual restaurants, of which there are plenty. In Key West, “resort fees” are common, so if you’re on a budget, ask about them before booking. A Key West elopement package can save you time and stress by helping coordinate permits, as well as contracting an officiant and photographer for your big day.

For custom pricing on your perfect package, visit our quote builder.

To get married in Key West, you’ll need a driver’s license, state ID card, or valid passport, as well as your social security number if you’re a U.S. citizen (you don’t need the actual card). If you were previously married, you’ll also need to know the exact date your previous marriage was terminated (if it was due to death within the last six months, you’ll also need a copy of the death certificate). Couples are required to show up in person at the County Clerk’s office with their documents in order to obtain a license (Key West is in Monroe County). A Florida marriage license is good for any county in Florida, although once the marriage is solemnized, the license does have to be returned to the county that issued it. The cost of a Florida marriage license is $93.50 (for Florida residents, completing a marriage preparation course will earn you a $32.50 discount). Your license is good for 60 days and must be solemnized by an ordained or licensed clergy, notary public, or justice of the peace.

Nope! No witnesses are required in the state of Florida.

There are alligators and sharks in the Florida Keys, but they’re not something you should stress about. Monroe County, where Key West is located, has only had 17 unprovoked shark bites since 1882.

Many people choose to drive to Key West from Miami along U.S. Route 1—don’t worry about directions, you just follow the road until it ends! The total journey takes about three to four hours and requires you to cross 42 bridges (it’s pretty surreal and can feel like you’re driving on water). Buses also run that same route. Alternatively, you can fly directly to Key West International Airport. No matter how you get there, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

While islands are formed by volcanic action or part of a rising continental plate, keys form on top of coral reefs and are sandy, low-elevation islands. There are more than 800 keys in the Florida Keys! Although all of them are beautiful, our favorite places to elope are in and around the city of Key West, the beating heart of the Florida Keys.