Key West Destination Wedding Tips

Read tips to plan your dream destination wedding in Key West, Florida.

The hardest part of destination wedding planning is choosing the location. Once you choose your destination, site back and let the Key West wedding planner can turn your marriage ceremony into the wedding of your dreams.

Of course, you will want to choose the actual venue, whether it’s a beach or a sunset cruise or the garden of one of Key West’s historic homes.

Your coordinator will provide the vendors, arrange airport transportation and accommodations, and locate any last-minute needs, from dry cleaners and baby sitters  to tours of local attractions – how about a fishing trip for the fathers of the bride and groom?

Tips to Make Your Key West Wedding Dreams Come True

• Do plan to visit your destination in advance. You’ll want check out the local venues for the wedding itself and the rehearsal dinner;  sample the planned menu, and meet with the photographer, and perhaps the florist. A visit to the hair salon is also in order.
• If you can’t visit in advance, then get references and ask for lots of photos. Follow up on those references and ensure that their event was similar to yours. It’s hard to get people to tell you what’s wrong, but if you ask what they might have changed if they had it to do all over again, you will often get an eye opening response. When you check references ask them about other vendors they used and whether they were pleased.
• Remember to keep the climate and location in mind when choosing your gown. A train on a catamaran could trip you up, and depending on the time of year, it can be very warm in Key West. Check out these destination wedding dresses for any budget.   A great alternative to the usual formal wear for men is a fine linen, hand embroidered guyabera shirt.
• Leave a goodie bag in the rooms for your guests – sunscreen, some tropical fruit or key lime cookies, and perhaps a souvenir of  Key West to remind them of their visit. Include a warm welcome note thanking them for coming, and perhaps a map and guide to Key West. Make sure they have directions to the venue if you aren’t providing transportation for all your guests.
• Remember that guests need time to plan time off from work; Give them as much advance notice as possible.
• Be sure to make the details clear to guests on what part of the tab you are picking up and what you are not. It might be customary for guests to pay their own airfare and hotel bills, but if they don’t know that, it can create misunderstandings.
• Do check with airlines on group travel rates. Some airlines have special programs for weddings — American Airlines has a “wedding event travel” discount program! Call 1-800-221-2255.
• Most important: Try to let go of as many details as possible so you can enjoy your time with your family. And don’t sweat the small stuff; just relax and have fun.