Wedding Ideas for Two People to Elope in the Florida Keys
While weddings are often large celebrations shared with family and friends, some couples want to have private experiences that are low-key, romantic and intimate. Many of these couples choose to head south to the Florida Keys for their weddings. The Keys offer a warm winter escape with plenty of recreation and numerous romantic venues, perfect for a small wedding. As is the case with many destination weddings, the Keys offer plenty of "anything goes" options for couples. Couples can marry barefoot on the sandy beach, floating on the sea or in a variety of other crazy destinations. The celebration can be elegant or casual, and there are wedding options that suit every budget. Many couples choose all-inclusive wedding options that provide a ceremony, a celebration and honeymoon accommodations for the days following the wedding.
Other People Are Reading
-
Before the Wedding
-
Those planning to marry in the Florida Keys have a few legal matters to take care of before the ceremony. Couples must obtain a marriage licenses issued by Monroe County. There are four offices located throughout the Keys, and a couple must show photo identification to obtain a license. Couples need not be residents of Florida to marry in the state, but if they are, there is a three day waiting period for their license. If local couples enroll in a premarital education course, the waiting period is waived. Once the license is obtained, it is effective for only 60 days, so choose your wedding date before getting your license. Marriages in Florida must be performed by ordained clergy, judges, notaries or court clerks. The cost of a Florida marriage license is $93.50, as of 2011. A discount is offered for local residents who have attended the premarital classes.
The Ceremony
-
A variety of locations in the Keys are available for ceremonies. Ceremony venues can be traditional, such as a church or chapel, a beach at sunset or a public park. Couples also have plenty of nontraditional options, such as marrying during an underwater ceremony in Key Largo. Many chartered diving companies are able to arrange ceremonies that occur in the crystal blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Couples should be experienced scuba divers before marrying underwater. Fans of the literary work of Ernest Hemingway can marry in Key West at the Hemingway Home and Museum. Ceremony packages at the home include a musician, champagne, cake, time in Hemingway's garden and a Hemingway impersonator to perform the ceremony.
-
Post-Ceremony Celebration
-
While most weddings are followed by huge parties attended by family and relatives, couples eloping will probably enjoy an intimate dinner and a romantic evening following their vows. The Keys are filled with dining options in a variety of price ranges and styles. Many of the restaurants in the Keys feature menus with a Cuban or Caribbean influence, and fresh seafood. Couples can dine on local favorites such as fresh conch stew, Key Lime pie and lime-based cocktails. The majority of restaurants in the Keys are casual, but diners dressed in wedding attire might get special attention and plenty of congratulatory greetings. In addition to dining, newlyweds can have a quiet cocktail and beach chair celebration on the private beach at The Morada Beach Café or take a ride on the Nautilimo, a combination limousine and boat that takes passengers sailing on the waters of the Keys.
Honeymoon
-
Chances are, if you travel to the Keys to elope, you will stick around for a few days following the wedding for your honeymoon. Newlyweds enjoy a range of activities, from underwater adventures to shared spa experiences. In Marathon Key, which is midway between Key Largo and Key West, visitors can tour the Museum of Natural History and the Crane Museum. Both feature a look into the natural surroundings of the Keys and the Crane is on the former site of an Indian village that was revealed during an archeological dig. Honeymooners who have always dreamed of swimming with dolphins can do so at the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon. Those in search of a relaxing and secluded spot for their honeymoon can take a ferry to Little Torch Key and stay at the Little Palm Island Resort and Spa. Couples can enjoy massages, luxurious accommodations and gourmet dining. If an eclectic mix of fun is more your style, Mallory Square in Key West is filled with shops, restaurants and a nightly gathering at dusk to watch the sun dip beneath the horizon. Once the sun goes down, visitors to Key West can enjoy a ghost tour of the town, complete with a spooky story-telling guide.
-
