COVID present or not, the Key West is an absolutely beautiful, domestic place to elope. If you and your partner have been debating (or have decided!) to spend your special day here, we want to help you as much as you can with the elopement planning process.
Make a guest list for your Key West elopement
Elopements don’t have to be the traditional running away on a whim and getting married! Nothing about your big day has to be traditional, it should be all about what you and your partner want, and that includes the guest list. You have a few different options when it comes to this, so be sure to have an open and candid conversation as a couple to figure out what would be best for you two personally.
Some couples do prefer it to just be the two of them, to make their elopement as intimate as possible. If this sounds like you, don’t be afraid to communicate this with your friends and family. If you don’t want it to be just you two, you can always invite a few close family members and/or friends. Everything is up to you!
Choose a date for your elopement
Have you always wanted a beautiful, tropical, sunny destination wedding? If so, planning to elope in Key West would probably be a dream come true. If having friends or family at your elopement is of the utmost importance important to you and your partner, be sure to choose a date that works for them as well. Because elopements are typically much smaller in size than traditional weddings, it’s much easier to coordinate a date with your guests!
Choose your venue
Key West has some amazing destinations for elopements, depending on what you’re looking for! Some of my personal favorite places for my couples are Fort Zachary Taylor, Cheeca Lodge, Morada Bay, and Isla Bella. Be sure to do tons of research before you book! You can even look up photos on Pinterest to get a better idea of how your big day could look.
Book your vendors
Once you choose your venue, try to book your vendors as soon as you can. Vendors can be booked 1-2 years in advance. If you have your heart set on a specific one, reach out to them asap! If you’re not from the area, you should definitely look into recommendations from someone local. Even better, someone who has experience with vendors in the wedding industry. Here at Alyssa Morgan Photography, we provide our couples with a vendor guide that includes a list of all of our favorites!
Get your marriage license
This one can sometimes be overlooked, considering all the planning and stress that goes into your elopement. But you definitely do not want to be scrambling for your marriage license at the last minute! If you’re not a Florida resident, there’s no waiting period for your marriage license to go into effect. You can submit an Electronic Marriage License Application and then make your application appointment that will be held over Zoom. Be sure to have your preferred forms of identification handy for the appointment. Your marriage license will be mailed to you so that you can provide it to your officiant!
If you’re planning your elopement in Key West, I would love for my team and I to capture your special day. Feel free to reach out to us here with any questions you may have, I hope to hear from you soon!
[…] The Alyssa Morgan Photography Team is here for you! I’d love to chat with you about what your day is going look like. You can fill out my contact form here and I’ll personally get back to you ASAP. In the meantime, you can check out my blog all about how to elope in Key West! […]