Imagine the two of you, with your toes in the sand, palm trees, and ocean waves behind you. The stunning sunset colors the sky as you say ‘I Do’. A Key West elopement is pure paradise. Our Key West elopement packages promise breathtaking sunrises and sunsets as palm trees witness you tie the knot.
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Nestled amidst the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, Key West beckons as a haven for romantic elopements. Picture exchanging vows on endless sandy beaches or amid tropical gardens adorned with lush greenery, creating a backdrop that epitomizes the essence of paradise. Key West’s charm lies not only in its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, witnessed by towering palm trees, but also in its accessibility for all. The island accommodates various mobility needs, ensuring that every couple can access its beauty. Plan your wardrobe with the tropical climate in mind, and revel in the ease of creating lasting memories in this idyllic destination.
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In Key West, celebrate your love with a backdrop that effortlessly merges natural beauty and romantic allure. The island’s charm lies in:
We’re firm believers that there’s magic within each and every wedding that takes place.
You, your SO, and someone to make it official. For couples all about the essentials, the Seed package sets you up for a simply perfect day.
Not the right fit?
Customize your PackageThe Sprout package offers a professional officiant, one hour of photography, your Personal Elopement Planner and access to our best-in-class tech platform. Your stress-free elopement starts here!
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Customize your PackageBloom couples enjoy all of the Sprout services and more—namely, a matching bouquet and boutonniere delivered to your suite or ceremony site.
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Customize your PackageWhy should big weddings have all the fun? If your dream elopement includes an exotic photo sesh, a first-look video, and a dedicated glam team, Oasis is your destination.
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Customize your PackageSimply Eloped offers a variety of Key West elopement packages for those looking to tie the knot in the Florida Keys. From professional and personal officiant, to seasoned photographer to epic videographers, we offer every service you need to have the ceremony of your dreams. At Simply Eloped, we vet every vendor to ensure they match our values, 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, 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 wedding, we’ve got you covered. This guide will outline the best places to elope in Key West, provide 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 sunsets here are great, 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 [insert venue url] 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 10am-4pm or $455 4pm-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 [insert venue url] 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 8am 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 (with Covid-19, that number is currently 16).
Then, there’s the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy [insert venue url] – 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. The total reservation cost is $376.25 and includes a ceremony held after 5pm, 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? Then West Martello Tower [insert venue url] 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 9:30am-5:00pm, and $520 for all other hours. Since the tower is open to the public from 9:30am-5:00pm, the higher fee buys your privacy. The maximum guest count at this location is 18 people (due to Covid-19, that number is currently 16).
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 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.
1. We don't believe a wedding has to be stressful. There is far less to coordinate (and we take on most of that planning anyhow), and your realm of responsibility consists of making a few decisions and getting your marriage license. It's hard to beat a wedding that is actually...wait for it...relaxing!
2. Cost-conscious: Let's be honest, there is so much uncertainty right now! Economic recession? Inflation? Rising cost of living? Save your money for a honeymoon or buying a house and still have a ceremony you'll remember for the rest of your lives.
3. A Ceremony should be About YOU and YOUR LOVE: When did a wedding turn into a party for everyone else? We personalize every aspect of your experience – from the vendors to the vows. We'll even cry real tears with you. We're here to celebrate the core of what makes a wedding ceremony special: you making a lifetime commitment to the one you love. That's a big deal – and we treat it as such.
1. Flowers by Palette We have arrangements based on a color palette, which means the types of flowers may not be exactly as pictured, but the colors and arrangement style will match. You can explore our options for Flowers by Palette here (excluding Hawaii).
2. Hawaiian Arrangements Hawaii is a unique destination, and we have our stunning tropical arrangements for ceremonies taking place in Hawaii. You can view these arrangements here. Please note that these arrangements are only available in Hawaii.
As soon as you book our services, we get to work! We'll immediately introduce you to your Personal Elopement Planner, who is kind of like your best friend between the date you book and the day you elope! Your Pep will be ensuring every step of the process is smooth and delightful. They will introduce you to your team, answer any questions you have, put your schedule and invoice together, and much more!
We'll also begin the process of personalizing. You'll work with your officiant to ensure your ceremony matches what you envision and dream of. Your photographer will ensure they understand the kind of shots or photos you're hoping for. Your hair & makeup artist will inquire about the style you're going for with your hair and makeup. Your dashboard is also customized to meet your needs.
We offer many tools to help you feel at ease about your decision to book Simply Eloped, including your personalized Elopement Checklist, your marriage license guide, your Wedding Page, and more! You can even make installment payments on your invoice at 0% APR. Weeks prior to your ceremony, we'll send your itinerary with all the details you and your guests need. Your team will meet at your ceremony site, and the rest, as they say, is history.
First off, know that every moment of your elopement day, we are available to you for whatever you need! We're very prompt on timing with floral delivery, hair & makeup, etc.
Your team will always meet at your venue prior to your ceremony time to ensure everyone is collected, introduced, and ready for a gorgeous ceremony right on time. Your officiant will kick off your ceremony and ensure that all of your requests are beautifully exhibited in your personalized ceremony. It's important to note that your dedicated Personal Elopement Planner will not be present at the ceremony, but will definitely be accessible by phone or text for your day-of needs.
Ceremonies generally last 15-20 minutes, which will then kick off into your portrait session with your photographer (if you booked one with us). The main task you need to be mindful of on your big day is bringing your marriage license, and we do the rest! 🌼👰🤵
We wish we could control the weather, but alas, there are some things quite simply out of our realm of power.
In our experience, most weather passes quickly, and we can be flexible about timing. However, we do have recommendations or options for indoor venues, and if worst comes to worst, we can move your ceremony to another day. We'll work with you individually in the case of poor weather.
Pro tip: Though weather can be daunting or scary, some of our FAVORITE ceremonies happen in thunder, rain, or snow storms. Being open-minded about ""undesirable"" weather can create an extremely memorable ceremony. Sometimes it's all about perspective.