Where the cathedrals have been overdone to the point of boredom and the backyard wedding is the greatest imposition on your generous loved ones, a Key West wedding is a treat for the happy couple and each of their guests. Key West beach weddings unite the ideal location, a loving atmosphere, year-round sun and those adoring couples looking to spend the rest of their lives together. Hitting every note for the perfect day, choosing a Key West wedding is a no-brainer that all of your guests will thank you for. The island’s celebratory spirit will fan the flames of your love, ensuring they burn strong enough to last lifetimes. Start planning your Key West beach wedding today!

Location, Location, Location

When planning a wedding, securing the perfect venue is the corner piece of your jigsaw puzzle — it is just unwise to start without it. A Key West beach wedding begs the question, “Which rendition of island paradise do you prefer as the location for the ceremony: the one overlooking the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico or the one with the white sands and the soothing tides of the Atlantic on your back? Perhaps a combination of the two?” Your Key West wedding planning story will not be one of compromise, as there are a myriad of locations to choose from, a number of them fitting the rare, highly coveted descriptor — perfect.

Island Atmosphere

A wedding, in all of its theater and glory, is ultimately meant to be the grandest celebration of a couple’s time together until their 50th anniversary. Key West beach weddings feed off of the celebratory atmosphere of the island, each and every conch working hard over the years toward that carefully cultivated reputation to ensure it will be there for years to come. In addition to your beloved guests doling out congratulations and toasts, there is no doubt the locals will be chomping at the bit to buy you a round of drinks, suggest exciting excursions and must-see attractions or snap a photo of the happy couple with their wedding party. Every day is a party in Key West that your Key West wedding will undoubtedly reap the benefits of.

The Forecast Calls for Sun, Sun and More Sun

When you’re deciding on the attire for your Key West beach wedding, be sure to note that the temperature hardly, if ever, dips below a brisk 70 degrees on the island. A city of sunshine, the joy experienced at a Key West wedding is mirrored by the beaming sun present year-round. Sure, some people are drawn to the cool allure of northern autumn air, but those people are known in Key West as wrong. If it’s an autumn wedding you desire, bear in mind there is no better time for the weather in Key West than those darling autumn months. While people in those winter-having places are putting chains on their tires and salting their sidewalks, those in Key West are picking out their seasonal swim trunks. Do yourselves and all your guests a favor and choose warm. Choose a Key West beach wedding.

Choosing Your Beach

When deciding where to host your Key West beach wedding, know you have excellent options. With white sand beaches on either coast of the island overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean as well as the intersection of the two great bodies of water, you are on the precipice of having the most fun you’ve ever had while making such a weighted decision. Here are some of our recommendations for your consideration.

smathers beach in key west


Smathers Beach

With Key West beginning at Mile Marker 0, Smathers Beach is a fitting metaphor for the first day of the rest of your married life. On the south side of the island and running half a mile along the Atlantic Ocean, Smathers Beach is the largest public beach in Key West. The picturesque beach with its towering palm trees and natural rock jetties provides the best possible backdrop for your invaluable Key West wedding photos. 

White Street Pier at Rest Beach

White Street Pier at Rest Beach takes you out over the ocean and offers a fantastic vantage point for the immaculate Key West sunset. Rest Beach itself is an eclectic location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and offering picnic areas, walking trails and the sight of wild chickens roaming the grounds. A unique beach that can add a dash of character to your Key West beach wedding, White Street Pier at Rest Beach is always high on the list. 

Higgs Beach

The turquoise waters and white sands of Higgs Beach make it a prime candidate for your Key West beach wedding. It offers the unique backdrop of the Civil War-era fort, Fort West Martello. Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park is a vast ground spanning over 16 acres of land and containing a 400-foot pier, the Key West Garden Club and pavilions perfect for housing your Key West wedding.

South Beach

Far more quaint and intimate than the beach in Miami bearing the same name, South Beach in Key West is one of the smallest on the island. This feature can make your Key West wedding the pinnacle of intimacy. Unburdened by tourists flocking to the Southernmost Point Buoy, South Beach will put you and the one you love most in a paradise of your very own.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

This historic location in Key West overlooks the waters where the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean come together, representative of the union of two souls at your Key West wedding. With a historic fort behind you and the western rock jetties offering one of the best views of the Key West sunset, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park can turn your Key West wedding into a scene from a Monet painting. 

A Marriage for You, a Vacation for Your Guests

Aside from a picturesque town to host a most romantic wedding, Key West is teeming with sites and activities perfect for all kinds of visitors. A historic town with abounding museums, a hub for adventure surrounding water sports and wildlife, there is no one box to place Key West in. Here are some of the best spots for you and your wedding guests to check out.

Fury Island Adventure Eco Tour

The expert-guided tours of Key West’s sandbars highlight the bustling ecosystems just beneath our feet. A Fury Island Adventure Eco Tour takes you to the feeding grounds of many different types of fish and turtles, as well as the homes of numerous types of vegetation. By snorkel, kayak and paddleboard, Fury Island Adventure Eco Tour puts it all on display.

Commotion on the ocean


Fury Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail

Hands down the best way to see the mesmerizing Key West sunset, Fury Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail is a celebration fit for a wedding weekend. With live music, dancing and refreshing beverages all on a classically beautiful sailing catamaran, your evening is in great hands with Fury Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail

Truman Little White House

The second home of former president Harry S. Truman, the Truman Little White House is a museum dedicated to the late president’s memory and legacy. Learn all about the presidential duties conducted from this Key West historic home with a tour of presidential proportions. Part of what makes Key West a history buff’s dream, the Truman Little White House is a unique museum you won’t want to miss.

Fury Bike Rentals

With biking being such a popular mode of transportation in Key West, trust Fury with your Key West bike rentals. Take in the vast array of sites in Key West at your own pace, pedaling around to take in the oceanfront breeze. An excellent form of exercise that just feels like fun, Fury Bike Rentals are a great decision for more reasons than one. 

Ernest Hemingway House and Museum


Hemingway House

Overlooking the untamed waters that inspired his masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, the Hemingway House is a major piece of literary history. Tour the grounds and see where Ernest Hemingway worked on changing the course of 20th century American literature. See the cats all around, many of which are direct descendants of Hemingway’s beloved house pet. An iconic piece of Key West history, the Hemingway House is well worth the hype. 

Duval Street

Lined with pubs, restaurants, museums and more, if Mallory Square is the heart of Key West, Duval Street is the aorta. Spanning the length of the island, Duval Street bears the nickname “the longest street in the world,” despite its 1.25-mile length. Lined with locals and tourists alike at all times, Duval Street leaves nothing to be desired in the excitement department.

key west southernmost point


Take Your Picture With the Southernmost Point Buoy

The Southernmost Point Buoy has been one of the most photographed tourist destinations in the world for decades. Snapping a wedding photo at this iconic heap of solid concrete goes a long way in giving your wedding album a real sense of place. While the Southernmost Point Buoy is roughly 90 miles from Cuba, it is not certified for official navigational use, so don’t get any crazy ideas!

FAQs


What is required to get married in Key West?

A valid marriage license issued by the state of Florida, and the one you love.

Can you get married on the beach in Key West?

Yes! Key West has a number of beaches that are popular wedding destinations.

Is a Key West wedding affordable?

Yes! While weddings can accrue some substantial costs, Key West weddings are relatively affordable thanks to the island’s many venues and tourist capacity.

Does Key West have good beaches?

Only some of the best in all of Florida!

When is the best time of year to have a beach wedding in Key West?

The best times would be just before hurricane season (April or May) or just after hurricane season (December or January). 

Last Updated 03/18/2024