Key West Weddings

Since we are in the destination wedding business, the couples we marry are strangers to us. So, when our friends Beth and Greg decided to marry, we were honored when they asked us to help. Of course, they wanted to keep it a secret from our other friends - a tough request! Beth and I has several conversations concerning wedding locations. They considered a midnight wedding on the beach or, since Greg is a pilot with his own plane, a wedding flight at sunset. Finally, they decided to get married at sea on their sailboat. We had a great time and even helped sail the boat. During one of our conversations, Beth said “I really don’t care where…I’d marry that man standing in the driveway”. In my opinion, that comment really describes the business theory of A Simple Wedding! I do believe your wedding should be a celebration of your love and commitment.

I think it’s special when a couple adds a personal touch to their wedding. Celeste and Mandel, along with a small group of family members, arrived in Key West aboard the Royal Caribbean “Enchantment of the Seas”. Celeste’s Aunt Victoria performed a lovely ceremony on the beach. She added an African American flair by including a “Broom Jumping Ceremony”. This ceremony was performed in slave communities during the time in the U.S. when slave marriages were not recognized as legal. The groom first uses the broom to sweep away any evil. The couple then jumps the broom just before they are pronounced “husband and wife”.

All of our weddings take place outdoors, either at the beach, a boat or garden. Not a bad job! Really, we love what we do. Of course, our hours certainly aren’t 9 to 5. Most of our weddings are scheduled at sunset, which can be late in the summer months. And, we often work on weekends. So, if we have a free morning, we like to start our day with some exercise and fresh air. Maybe a long walk, light jog, bike ride or swim. One of our favorite things to do is fill a thermos with hot coffee (or grab a cafe con leche from Five Brothers), ride our bikes to the State Park, take a dip in the ocean and maybe do some bird watching. All in all, not a bad morning rush hour!
Just a note: I finally broke down and joined Facebook.

Without a doubt, tourism is the main industry in the keys. However, commercial fishing is also a big contributor to the local economy. A drive through neighboring Stock Island will reveal many working marinas crowded with boats designed specifically to catch shrimp, lobster, snapper and more. The shrimp boats, with their large outriggers, are definitely the most interesting. On a recent hot Sunday afternoon, we visited the docks of Bama Seafood. Adjoining their fish market is a new restaurant, called the Shrimp Shack. Arrive when the fleet is in dock and you can watch tons of pink gulf shrimp being offloaded from one of their boats. Step up to the window, order a pound of steamed peel-n-eats, find a picnic table in the shade and enjoy some fresh local seafood. Don’t forget the cold beer!

Most of our couples choose to get married on the beach in Key West. However, from time to time, we receive requests for something different. Kim and Jerome were lighthouse fans and wanted their wedding to take place at the Key West Lighthouse, located across from the Hemingway House. At one time the lighthouse stood at the edge of island, however, the “fill” from dredging the harbor channel was used to expand Key West. It now sits about 1/2 mile from the sea.
The wedding ceremony took place at noon. Typically a warm time of day, even in the spring. Luckily the huge ficus trees provided cool shade. The lighthouse was open for business. However, the other visitors were very respectful of the ceremony. With the exception of the resident rooster, who released a loud COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO just as I pronounced them husband and wife! Perhaps it was congratulatory?

On January 8th, Gary and I celebrated 15 years together. This year we decided to take a short getaway to New Orleans. Also, we wanted a quick escape before our busy spring wedding season. We both visited New Orleans many years ago before we met. This was our first trip together. We love to walk, so staying in the French Quarter was a must. Each morning we relaxed on our balcony overlooking Chartres Street, drank coffee and watched the world go by. Then, after a leisurely morning, we would head out and spend our day EATING! We indulged in a fine dining experience at Bayona, took the streetcar to Commander’s Palace for lunch and .25 martinis, had tender no-knife-required filet mignon at Orleans Grapevine, stuffed ourselves with deep-fried cajun chicken, rice and beans at Coop’s Place, tried the famous stuffed chicken wings (yes, it’s possible) at Emeril’s Nola, “got our grub on” at Camelia’s Grill and, of course, ate beignets and drank cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. It was shameful and delicious!

We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to share a very special time with lots of happy couples. After months (or sometimes only days!) of planning, we have a lovely ceremony, takes some photos and send them off to, we hope, live happily ever after. Except for some brief correspondence after the wedding, we rarely hear from them again. However, last month, Annie and Todd, who were married and photographed by us on Smather’s beach 2 years ago, came back to celebrate their anniversary and have some photos taken with their new baby, Jeremiah. Gary captured some great candid and posed photos.

Each year Gary and I leave Key West for the month of September. Typically it is a slow time in Key West and it’s the peak of hurricane season. Even though Key West is usually spared the bad storms, there is always the concern. We don’t like the hassles…so we head north. In addition to spending time with friends and family in New Jersey and Maryland, we also take our vacation. This year we flew south of the equator to Peru. What a wonderful country! Warm and friendly people, lovely scenery, good food and wine…really much better than we expected. Unfortunately, our trip ended badly. Our flight, which was scheduled to connect in Houston, was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike. Not only were we delayed a day in Peru, we also had to purchase VERY expensive tickets on another airline (thanks Continental!!). So, our efforts to avoid hurricanes failed but we still have very pleasant memories of wonderful Peru.

Standing in the sand beside the ocean, sipping a rum & coke, listening to “Third World” play their pulsing reggae…what could be more fun on a Saturday night? From time to time, throughout the many years we’ve lived in Key West, Gary and I have contemplated leaving the island and moving someplace more affordable. We love it here but owning a home (okay…owning a home in the HISTORIC district - the only place we would EVER live) is financially challenging. However, we’ve visited many cities and towns but haven’t found anything to compare with Key West. Strolling the lovely streets of the historic district, chatting with friends along the way, stopping in some of our favorite bars, a late breakfast at Pepe’s, concerts on the beach…just a few of the things that make Key West “home”.

One of my favorite things about Key West is the wide variety of foliage. Throughout the year, you can see many blooming plants such as colorful bougenvilla, hibiscus, oleander and lantana. Riding your bike around the island at night smelling the fragrant blooming jasmine, frangapani (my favorite tree) and mimosa trees is a very special treat. There are also many types of fruit trees such as banana, key lime, sapodilla and mango. In fact, we have one of the largest and, thanks to Hurricane Wilma, one of the last remaining mango trees on the island. By mid-May we have hundreds of huge, bright orange mangos on our tree. Our back yard becomes a hard hat zone and Gary becomes “Mango Man”. He makes frequent deliveries to neighbors and friends. Also, he places a basket on the fence, which he fills throughout the day for the pleasure of passersby. Of course, when the basket is empty, it’s not unusual for us to hear a knock at the door. By the June, we are really TIRED of mangos!