Key West As A Romantic Wedding And Hot Honeymoon Destination






by Peter Estenoz


Calling Key West a romantic wedding and honeymoon destination isn't just some kind of slogan or marketing pitch. A bare-foot sunset ceremony here with the white sand beach and turquoise water out front is achingly beautiful, and that's why so many wedding planners recommend it. However, there's a lot more to it that just this.

Key West is in the Florida Keys, and is an island city with a tropical climate thanks to the Gulf Stream current. Remnants of the island's Spanish history dating back to 1521 can still be found here and that's one of the reasons the place has a timeless quality to it. It helps that there's no shortage of American history either, and visitors can still feel the presence of legendary personalities like Tennessee Williams, Hemingway and President Truman.

Bare-foot nuptials on the beach are so popular here because of the unique combination of the beautiful beach, the timeless quality of the city and the popularity of its sunsets. In fact, they have an official 'Sunset Celebration' every evening at Mallory Square, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Duval Street. It's kind of like a carnival or street party that starts to come alive a few hours before sunset.

Besides the beach, other choices to say "I Do" include a ceremony on a luxury yacht or a historic schooner. Others may prefer a Victorian Mansion, or a historic landmark like Truman's Little White House or the Hemingway Home. There are also quite a few luxury resorts and tropical gardens in the outdoors where couples can tie the knot.

Given the large number of weddings that take place here every year, the facilities and arrangements are all very well developed. One phone call will set it in motion, and everything from the venue to a wedding planner, caterer, florist, photog and videographer can be instantly finalized. Shopping can, of course, be done on Duval St., but it might be better to hop over the short distance to Miami for this.

Then there's also the marriage applications and license to be taken care of, which the planner (if one is hired) will usually handle. As for the hotel stays, ballroom, reception and honeymoon arrangements, this can also be arranged by the planner. But the couple should oversee and sign off on the choices here.

While all these modern facilities and arrangements make life easy for the couple and their guests, the city still hasn't lost its old world charm. This charm, combined with the tropical climes, the sublime beauty of the beach and the historic settings, turn an ordinary wedding into something that looks more like a dream. This is why most other cities pale in comparison to this romantic wedding and hot honeymoon destination named Key West.




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