 Key West is without a doubt one of the most beautiful destinations for weddings. Only 90 miles north of Cuba, famed for it's pastel-hued, conch-style houses and known for its coral reefs. Elana and Joe's wedding was planned at beautiful Fort Zachary Taylor beach but all wedding plans and decoration that day had to be shifted into the fortress at the last minute while Hurricane Eta rolled into Key West with powerful winds that unleashed heavy rains and flooding. No force of nature could stop Elana and Joe's love, not a pandemic or a hurricane. Despite the obstacles, their wedding was even more beautiful, memorable and enjoyable than planned. Big congratulations to both of you!! It was a pleasure to be a part of your day! 1. How did you guys meet? I met Elana on May 25th, 2013, it was the Saturday night of Memorial Day Weekend. At that time in our lives, Memorial Day Weekend at the Jersey Shore was probably the biggest “event” of the year and everyone would party accordingly. Most nights the timeline was the same... everyone would congregate at the local’s bar Jack N Bills, and eventually make our way down the boardwalk to other bars. This night was no different. After I had my fill of Jack N Bills I rallied the troops to head out, leading the way, and marched down the boardwalk. Half way to our next destination, I turned around to address my friends and in the middle of the group I see this drop-dead gorgeous girl that I had never seen. I yelled, “Who the HELL are you!??!” I introduced myself, and that night we would wind up talking. We had an instant chemistry, I found her magnetic and beautiful, inviting. I learned about her studies in college and how intelligent she was, quickly realizing that she was much different than a lot of the others, much deeper. Ever since we met, we were very connected and, although we maintained a platonic relationship for some time after meeting, we always felt close to each other even though we were just getting to know one another. We started dating in January of 2015. We spent the next 6 years growing together, traveling the world, cooking, entertaining, developing our careers, and building their home at the beach. I asked Elana to marry me on March 29, 2019 at Island Beach State Park, one of our favorite bay-side hiking spots just down the street from our home. 2. Why did you choose Fot Zachary as you wedding location? We always knew that we would get married at Fort Zach Taylor in Key West. We didn’t wedding venue shop at all; we got engaged on a Friday and I booked our wedding date at Fort Zach that following Monday. My mom has a house in Key West, so Joe and I have been coming here regularly throughout our relationship. Fort Zachary is very special to us. We have made countless memories laying in hammocks below the canopies of palm and pine trees, grilling on the beautiful beaches, swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear turquoise water, and exploring the 19th century historic brick fortress. It is truly our "happy place" and we felt very blessed to be able to share it with our closest friends and family. 3. What was your inspiration for the wedding? The wedding was entirely custom and illustrative of us. Every little detail leading up to the wedding was so intentional and planned with so much thought and love. I just wanted it to be a beautiful celebration with our most treasured family and friends, delicious food, amazing live music, and reflective of our love and everything we embody as a couple. 4. How would you describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. It’s hard to explain how profoundly poignant the ceremony was. It took place in our plan B location under the arches of the fortress rather than on the beach due to hurricane ETA. The 200-year-old brick arches of the fortress were illuminated with perfectly placed lighting and garnished with stunning floral arrangements of pampas grasses, sprays of dried palms, monstera leaves and white roses and orchids. Visually it was unlike anything I’ve seen. You could see and hear the rain coming down on the outside of the fortress like our own private waterfall. The background noise of the rain hitting the ground just outside of where we were standing, committing to one another forever, was enchanting. This setting, energy and mood combined to create the most intensely raw and beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. Joe and I are both decent writers, so our vows were that much more powerful because of the magic surrounding us. The band and the food were amazing. I wish I ate more but we ALL got our fill of dancing. Believe me when I say the dancefloor was rocking. I don’t think anyone sat after speeches and dinner; the entire wedding party danced together all night long. We had so much fun. It was awesome. 5. What would be an advice to other brides from you? Be present. This day is about the two of you and your love. Revel in this, come back to it when you are stressed, and never lose sight of it. Accept the things you can't control. If you grip tightly to things out of your control, you will suffer. People will disappoint you- take the high road. Have endless gratitude for the incredible people in your life who are there for you, celebrating with you, and love you. It's not bad idea to save money and elope. 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? We are still in the middle of a global pandemic so this entire process has looked a lot different than what we originally planned. We hoped to honeymoon internationally but since we couldn’t travel we spent a week after the wedding at the brand-new Isla Bella Resort in Marathon. It ended up being amazing: exactly we needed and definitely satiated our craving for a big honeymoon. We will do some traveling when things open up. In the meantime, we will continue enjoying every day together and will eventually start a family.   
    
          
      
     
      
                
  
  Wedding Venue: Fort Zachary Taylor
Wedding Photography : Weddings By Romi Wedding videographer : JAG Hair/Make Up: Talie Ayers Food : Great Events Flowers: Love in Bloom Decor, Invitations, Wedding Stationary : Bonfire and Co. Rentals : Eventfully Yours Transportation: Key West Historic Conch Tour Band: Ross Brown and Cayo Ritmo Key West wedding planner : Keys Planning Dress: Grace loves lace Rings: Michael F & Co Suit: Suit Supply (Custom linen)
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 Let me introduce you to the fresh newlyweds Victoria and Ryan!! Warm tropical breezes, rolling ocean vistas and a kiss to seal it all under a hazy pink sunset that was Victoria and Ryan's wedding day reception at Southernmost Beach Resort. We changed locations 3 times from Sunrise Suites to Saint's Mary church for the ceremony to Southernmost Beach Resort for the rest of the celebration. Victoria also booked a second photographer to capture the boys getting ready and the ceremony so we ended up with almost 900 wedding photos, too many to share in this blog, but let me share just a few. As I always do, I asked Victoria a couple of questions: 1. How did you meet, who proposed and how? We met during a blizzard, in our home town when there is a big snow storm everyone goes to one particular bar so we both ended up there. Ryan proposed after dinner as we were walking back on the beach to my parents shore house. 2. Why wedding at Southernmost Beach Resort? Did Covid bring some challenges for you? Key West was the first place Ryan and I vacationed together and we completely fell in love with it. We knew we wanted to have a reception on the beach and we we looked out the Southernmost Beach resort and it was a no brainer! We definitely had some challenges with Covid as our original date, April 4 2020, was cancelled but we knew it was something we couldn’t control and we just had to keep moving and do what we felt was the next right thing. 3. What was your inspiration for your wedding? We are both beach people and just wanted to feel relaxed and have fun! 4. What were your favorite moments at the wedding? Walking down the aisle at Saint's Mary Church and seeing Ryan surrounded by our friends and family, also dancing all night with such an amazing scenery. 5. What advice could you give to other brides? Just have fun with it. You can’t control everything and trying to will end up taking the fun out of it. 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? Hopefully we will be able to travel to Europe in the near future but if not we are more than happy to head down to the shore for the summer! 7. Who were your vendors on your wedding day? Romi was our amazing Key West wedding photographer. The Dan Harvey Band played at our wedding they were awesome! Aisle Style did our hair and makeup, they were great!
    
     
         
   
    
                Key West wedding photographer : Weddings By Romi
Key West wedding venue: Southernmost Beach Resort Key West wedding ceremony location: St. Mary's Church Wedding Dress: Kleinfield Bridal Dj/Live Band: Dan Harvey Band Hair/Make up: Aisle Style Tent rentals: Prestige Underway Merryl and Charles said their "I do's" but never had their wedding photos taken. When Merryl booked me for an April photography session in beautiful Isla Bella Resort we had to reschedule due to worldwide Coronavirus outbreak. Finally we made things happen right when this beautiful Florida Keys beach resort (perfect for weddings) opened up in beginning of June again. Modern luxury oceanfront resort was quiet, pristine clean and oh so beautiful. Congratulations Merryl and Charles, be well!! 
 
 
 
     
 Karen and Carter had a beautiful beach wedding at Key West Yacht Club on Stock Island, and besides having the property completely just for themselves, the sunset that day was absolutely stunning. We couldn't be happier as the stunning background created the perfect backdrop for our pictures! Congratulations Karen and Carter, we loved being part of your special day! How did you meet, who proposed and how? Carter and I met 16 years ago, in 2004, through a mutual friend. We were friends until 2014 when our friendship blossomed into romance. We didn't have a grand proposal but mutually decided that marriage was the right choice for us. Why wedding at Key West Yacht Club, what did you liked the most about the venue? We loved Key West Yacht Club right away. The harbor is gorgeous and gives the right amount of beach feel while still keeping it elegant for a wedding. It is actually the only wedding venue that we looked at in person. The top feature for me was the privacy. What was your inspiration for your wedding? Bohemian Chic Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding? It's difficult to pick one moment because I loved all of it. Walking down the aisle with my parents and seeing Carter smiling at me is probably my favorite visual memory. What would be an advice to other brides from you? Be present in the moment and enjoy all of it! From the first moment of planning to the very last farewell. What made you choose Wedding By Romi as your photographer? Her stellar portfolio and attention to detail. She tries to bring out what's beautiful and unique to each couple. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? If you had a honeymoon, tell me what you loved the most? We haven't decided where or when to take our honeymoon yet, but hopefully we will be able to take one in the next couple years. 
           
                                   
  
                 Wedding Venue: Key West Harbour
Wedding Planner : Say Yes Key West Wedding Cake: Cakes by Karol Wedding Photography : Weddings By Romi ( 2 photographers) DJ: Aaron Moore Wedding Videography: Marky Pierson Transportation: Old Town Trolley Tours Rentals: Prestige Party Rentals Flowers: Karo Events and Floral  Loryn and Danny got married at beautiful Casa Marina Resort with closest family and friends, fun fact...and it was also Loryn's B-day so they had more reasons to celebrate until late night hours. We were happy to be a part of such fun day and meeting both of your families. How did you meet, who proposed and how? We first met in college sophomore year and started dating shortly after so I guess you could call us college sweethearts! We had been together for almost 10 years before Danny proposed! He proposed on his birthday and I should have known something was up because he made his own birthday dinner reservation because it was so much unlike Danny. After dinner, it was such a nice night out that I wanted to walk home from the restaurant not knowing that apparently, he had the engagement ring in his shoe! He kept trying to order an uber to the point where I was actually frustrated, he didn’t want to walk with me! I finally agreed to an uber and when we got home our door was open which was odd and as I open the door – the entire apartment is decorated with roses and pictures of us and there is a sign asking if I will marry him. When I turned around he was down on one knee proposing. It was such a great surprise that I couldn’t believe I didn’t see coming!! His mom and sister were hiding in our bedroom and had decorated the apartment while we were gone. After I said yes, our dog came running out the bedroom in a wedding dress costume for dogs. It was perfect! Why wedding at Casa Marina? We had actually never stayed at the Casa Marina, but had been to Key West a few times and I remember walking past the venue thinking how beautiful and grand it looked. I knew after our first trip to Key West that I wanted to get married there and walking past the Casa Marina pretty much sold the deal. What was your inspiration for the wedding? I wanted to keep our wedding more on the simple side and didn’t want anything too extravagant. We are both pretty laid-back people so I went with mostly neutral colors including whites, greens, champagne, etc. Everything turned out so beautiful especially with the ocean and Casa Marina as our backdrop! Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. ALL OF IT. From the moment I got up until the moment I went to sleep – the entire day was so special. There is really no better feeling in the world then having all your loved ones with you to celebrate your special day. From getting ready with my bridesmaids to our first look to the actual ceremony to our first dance to taking the conch train to Duval Street after the reception – it was all great! Also, fun fact – we got married on my birthday so during the reception, my MOH brought a cake out and everyone sang happy birthday! I enjoyed every minute of it and people aren’t lying when they say the day fly’s’ by so enjoy every moment of it. It was the most magical and best day of my life! What would be an advice to other brides from you. Don’t overthink and stress yourself out! Trust the vendors you hired to do their job and trust that everything will work itself out. Of course, not everything is going to go according to plan but that’s okay. Don’t forget what the day is really about which is marrying your best friend and be sure to make an effort to mingle with all of your guests – thanking them for coming! What are your future plans? Honeymoon? Because we were in Key West for a little over a week, we decided to wait on our honeymoon and instead are going to take a trip on our anniversary. We are thinking New Zealand but right now we are just enjoying being married and what’s to come next!  
 
              
 
             
  
   
 
  · Wedding Venue : Casa Marina
· Floral & Decor – Milan Event ·Beauty – Studio Marie Pierre ·Lighting/Power – PSAV ·Wedding Photographer – Weddings By Romi ·Videographer – Mark J Pierson Wedding Films ·Ceremony & Reception Music – Cutting Edge Entertainment – DJ Gunz ·Officiate – Paul Biagini (FOG) ·Wedding Cake & Desserts – Cakes by Karol ·Transportation – HTA/Conch Train  Ivey and Sam got married on very overcast day in Key West, Smathers Beach. Despite the weather their love just shined through and left everyone feeling full of beautiful emotions. Congratulations, and thank you for letting us to be a part of your special celebration. How did you meet, who proposed and how? Sam and I met on October 17th, 2013 through my best friend at the beginning of my freshman year of college at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. He saw a picture of my friend and I together and immediately said that he had to meet me. He told my friend that he would help her with her history paper in exchange for her introducing the two of us. We planned to meet one night after class at my apartment. He showed up with a dozen doughnuts in his hands (smart man). We talked like we had known each other forever and made plans for the next day to go on our first date. Sam proposed to me on March 25th, 2017 at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. He planned the whole trip for us and I was excited for us to both travel together and explore somewhere we had never been before! Before he proposed, we toured the beautiful gardens and soaked up the enchanting views of the mountains. When he proposed, he had a hidden photographer capture the moment and we had a photoshoot all around the Biltmore Estate. I remember us being so overwhelmed with excitement that we couldn’t keep our eyes off each other during the photoshoot! We just kept looking at each other and smiling, laughing, and shedding several happy tears! Why wedding in Key West? Our favorite spot has always been the beach so we knew when we got married that we wanted water to be the backdrop of our ceremony. Neither of us or our families had ever been to Key West before so we thought it would be an awesome adventure for everyone! I also have a friend that got married in Key West and she fell in love with it and even said that she would move there if she could! We decided to go for it and couldn’t be happier that we did it that way! What was your inspiration for the wedding? My inspiration for the wedding was to keep it very simple and let the beautiful scenery of the beach where our ceremony took place to really shine. I used shades of cream, blush, and soft peach incorporated in my bouquet. I went with those colors because they are neutral and elegant. Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding? Our most favorite thing was that we wrote our own vows. We knew from the beginning that we were going to write our own vows to each other but we bought His and Hers vow books just days before the wedding. I highly recommend getting those books because I believe it will be a great keepsake to have and let our children read one day! What would be any advice to other brides from you? My advice to other brides would be to pick a few things that you really want to invest your time, money, and effort on and don’t stress about the other things that don’t have as much merit to you. What I focused on was making sure I had the wedding dress, veil, photography, and ceremony spot that I wanted and spent less time focusing on wedding cake, decorations, flowers, etc. It’s easy to become anxious and worried that something may not go as planned on your wedding day, but remember that the day is meant to celebrate you and your husband and it’s important to be present and in the moment because it goes by so fast and you need to cherish every second that you get celebrating your day with family and friends. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? After Key West, we went home for a few days and spent Christmas with our family. After that, we headed to Jamaica and stayed at Jewel Paradise Cove. It was an All-Inclusive Adult Only Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. It was our first time out of the country together and first time in Jamaica! We cannot recommend that resort more! It was amazing. We kayaked, paddle boarded and did a boat tour which were all included in the package. Our most favorite part was going to the Blue Hole in Ocho Rios. We did several cliff-jumps off waterfalls and did rope swings into the beautiful bright blue water. The highest jump was 25 feet in the air and was definitely an experience to remember!                                           Ceremony site: Smathers Beach
Wedding Photography: Weddings By Romi Wedding Planner : Say Yes in Key West Make Up/Hair: Bella Luxe Reception: Sunset Key/Latitudes Wedding dress: Coastal Knot Bridal Wedding Shoes: David's Bridal Wedding Ring: Lautares, Greenville, NC Groom's suit : Express Groom's wedding Band: Kay Jewelers  Kayla and Robert had beautiful wedding celebration at Casa Marina Resort and got married at the beach with close family and friends. I asked Kayla couple of question about their wedding day. 1. How did you meet, who proposed and how? Bobby and I meant at Coe College in Cedar Rapids but we actually didn't date until years later. We were crazy about each other in College but timing didn't work out until I moved to Des Moines and we finally reconnected. We always kept in touch with each other over the years. We both knew there was something there because we would always find our way back to each other. Bobby proposed to me in Toronto, Canada. He planned a surprise trip for my 30th Birthday. I didn't even know where we were going until we got to the airport which was so fun for me because he knows I love surprises. He planned several things for us to do while we were there and one was going to Niagara Falls. He proposed on the gondola over looking the falls. We both cried of course and finished the day going down and riding the boat under the falls. Thank god he didn't do it there because we got soaked!! 2. Why wedding at Casa Marina? When we got engaged we both knew we wanted to do a destination wedding. When I was doing some research I came across the resort at Casa Marina through Instagram and fell in love with the beauty of it. Bobby and I had never been to Key West so we thought why not! We love to travel and explore new places so it was perfect for us. 3. What was your inspiration for the wedding? Our inspiration for the wedding was very simple yet elegant. I wanted the beauty of the ocean and nature to be most of the decorations. I used my bridesmaids flowers for the center pieces on the tables at the reception as well as the flowers from the beach ceremony. We wanted the day to be just about us and the love we have for each other not the amount of decorations. We decided the simpler the better. 4. Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. We both were so happy we wrote our own vows. That was by far the best part for both of us at the wedding. We were both so nervous to say them in front of everyone but it turned out to be the best part. Our guests felt the love in our vows and we felt it as well. After the wedding our guests all came up and gave us a hug with tears in their eyes, it was very heart felt. The reception was also a favorite of ours because none of us left the dance floor. We all stayed out and danced the night away which is so fun when you have a small wedding party. 5. What would be an advice to other brides from you. I would tell other brides to keep it simple. No one remembers what decorations you have at the wedding/reception so don't over do it. Don't worry about the small things like the cake, flowers, guests who couldn't make it, etc. Keep the important things the center of your focus, like the vows if you do your own (which I highly recommend), the first look and sharing that moment together and spending time with your wedding party because they're the closest family/friends there. Remember the whole day is about the love you have between you and your significant other so as long as you both are there and ready to say your "I do's" nothing else matters! 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? We went on our honeymoon from Key West to Jamaica. We loved Jamaica it was so beautiful, very calm and relaxing. Our favorite part was going on a sunset catamaran on our last day.  
  
   
                   
     
                          
               
          Key West Wedding Photography: Weddings By Romi
Florist: Milan Event Wedding Videography: WonderDog Studios Key West Officant: Aaron Wechter Wedding Coordinator: Simply You Weddings DJ: SoundWave Wedding Dress: Pure Bridal in Des Moines, designer is Essence of Australia. Bride's Wedding Ring: Joseph Jewerly Groom's Wedding Ring: Northern Royal Tux: Men's Warehouse  Wedding season is booming again and we're always happy to photograph at Fort Zachary Taylor again. Not only the venue is beautiful and you get the park to yourself after the sunset, but we love working with all the great Key West wedding vendors. I asked Tara couple of questions and her wedding tips: 1. How did you meet, who proposed and how? When Paul and i met, I was working in a funeral home in Paul’s hometown . His elderly grandfather passed away and used the funeral home where I worked . Paul’s grandfather always said that he needed to find Paul a nice girl, and we think this was his way of doing that! We are beach people and enjoy taking a couple trips every year . During our vacations we always enjoy taking night walks on the beach. In April, 2018 we were in Melbourne beach walking on the beach at night and Paul surprised me by dropping down to one knee and proposing at the waters edge . 2. Why wedding at Fort Zachary Taylor? Prior to becoming engaged we had taken a trip to Key West. We were out snorkeling and when we were on the boat I noticed the point at Fort Zach being set up for a wedding . I knew right then that if we got engaged that’s where I wanted to get married. Once we were engaged and did some more research we absolutely fell in love with the fortress. Between being able to be married on the beach, have the reception in the fortress and be in Key West it was just perfect. 3. What was your inspiration for the wedding? We wanted the wedding to be simple but romantic . We loved the beautiful simplicity of being married at the point, and then being able to have the romantic moodiness of the Fortress. We tried not to overthink any of the decor and just let the venue shine! 4. Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. We definitely enjoyed doing The First Look. It was so nice to see each other beforehand without anyone else around. It really took some of the pressure off ! We also had a blast sneaking off to take sunset photos. Between all the hustle and bustle of the wedding day it was great to have some alone time to really soak it all in ! 5. What would be an advice to other brides from you. When in doubt keep it simple, and try not to stress too much . It will be the best day ever. 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? After a week in Key West we went to Negril, Jamaica for a week. It was absolutely amazing! The resort (Couples, Negril) was the best resort we have ever stayed at and all the people and staff were so nice . The ocean water is always the perfect temperature and we absolutely loved being able to snorkel right off the beach . Congratulations Tara and Paul!! We loved being part of your wedding and meeting your families! 
   
   
     
                   
 
    Coordinator- Kirsten Corpion
Flowers- Duarte Floral Design Photographer- Weddings By Romi - Romi Burianova Caterer- Great Events Hair and makeup- Key West Wedding hair and makeup Officiant- Rev. Steve Torrence Dj- DJ Buggy I would recommend every single one of our vendors . Everyone was absolutely amazing! Kirsten thought of everything and was so on top of it . Duarte made the most beautiful bouquets and centerpieces that totally exceeded expectation. Romi made us feel so at ease and comfortable, even though we typically don’t like our picture being taken. Our food was awesome and we got tons of compliments. Everyone’s hair and makeup was perfect. The officiant was so helpful, kind and personable, and the DJ did an awesome job getting and keeping the party going .  A Tropical, Lively Wedding at Casa Marina Resort | Brady & Garrett Brady and Garrett’s wedding at Casa Marina Key West was nothing short of magical—tropical, energetic, and filled with love. From getting ready to carefully watching the weather, they embraced every moment, leading to a perfect beachfront ceremony during a rare sunny window. Their vibrant reception was unforgettable—glow sticks, sparklers, dancing, and singing with the band kept the celebration going late into the night. Laughter, love, and pure joy filled the air as family and friends came together to celebrate. Congratulations, Brady and Garrett! We’re so grateful to have captured your incredible day. Cheers to an amazing wedding season—we love you all! 1. How did you meet, who proposed and how? We met in New York City. Garrett had just moved from Santa Monica and Brady from Raleigh, NC. We met at a great little bar called V Bar in the East Village. We only lived a few blocks from each other and were inseparable from that night on. We stayed in NYC for 6 years then moved to Raleigh, NC where Brady is from. Garrett proposed to Brady with his great grandmothers ring in the mountains of North Carolina by a beautiful stream. It was perfect, and even after 8.5 years of dating, Brady was still surprised! 2. Why did you choose Casa Marina for your wedding venue? How did the rain affected your wedding? We love Key West and the beach and have always wanted a destination wedding. We think Key West is such a fun and happy place and wanted our guests to enjoy the great food and bars and beautiful, tropical sites. Casa Marina is such a gorgeous hotel and a great setting for a wedding. We wanted to get married on the beach but have our reception inside (in the AC!) so it was the perfect venue for us. We loved that the cocktail hour and ballroom still had a great view of palm trees and the beach and ocean. The rain wasn't ideal but it didn't stop us from getting married on the beach! There was a moment when we thought we would have to move the ceremony inside, but thankfully the rain let up and we made the decision to head to the beach. The rain ended up making the water super calm and cooled off the sand so we could be barefoot, and the sun came out just as Brady was walking down the aisle. It was perfect. 3. What was your inspiration for the wedding? Tropical and beachy but still elegant and classy. The colors were green, ivory, white. We wanted to keep is simple with the tropical greenery and white/ivory accents. 4. Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. The beach ceremony was one of our favorite moments. With the rain making us think we would have to move the ceremony inside, it made it that more special to be out on the beach as the sun started to come out. Brady loved walking down the aisle with her dad and seeing Garrett standing in the sand, right on the edge of the water. While we were standing up there, we turned around to see everyone in the crowd. It was such an amazing feeling to see everyone we love in one place all looking at us. It's a moment we will never forget. The first dances, Brady's dad's speech and the dance party are other favorite memories. At one point we looked around the room and every single person was on the dance floor. Garrett and Brady love a good band and dance party so it was really special, especially when all the fun glow sticks, hats, necklaces and tambourines came out! 5. What advice would you give to other brides from you? Don't let yourself get stressed out. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the planning and all the attention during the wedding but when your wedding weekend kicks off be sure to relax and take it all in. It goes by so fast, so take deep breaths and look around the room so you can remember every moment. Also, make sure to tell your guests how much you appreciate them! 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? If you had honeymoon, tell me what you loved the most. We left for our honeymoon on Sunday after the wedding. We went to Santorini first then Mykonos in Greece. We spent 4 days in each place and it was magical. We went on beautiful hikes and boat rides and also spent time relaxing by the pool and exploring the cities. It was one of the most gorgeous places we've ever been.  
           
       
   
          
                                                              
  
                              Wedding venue: Casa Marina Resort
Wedding photography: Weddings By Romi (two photographers/ ceremony) Wedding Planner : Just Save The Date ( Kelly) Wedding Flowers: Milan Event Reception Chairs: Prestige Rentals Wedding Make up/hair: Bella Luxe Wedding Cake: Milk Bar Band: Private Stock Band Wedding Dress: Traditions Wedding Shoes: Zara Tuxedo: Bonobos Loafers: Wolf & Shepard Wedding Rings: Reliable Loans  Are you ready for a vibrant, whimsical garden wedding? I know I was! Regan first discovered my work through my underwater photography displayed in a Key West restaurant. The moment she got engaged to Dan, she reached out, and we had an absolute blast creating underwater portraits for their wedding invitations. Seeing them in print was such a joyful moment! Their wedding was originally set for the following year, but life had other plans, and they had to postpone. When I received Regan’s email saying they were finally moving forward with their big day, I just knew it was going to be something truly special—and I was right! From the moment we arrived, we felt like part of the family. Key West Garden Club (West Martello) provided a stunning setting with lush greenery and ocean views, creating the perfect backdrop for their celebration. It was nearly impossible to choose just a few images for this blog—every moment was filled with love, laughter, and magic. I asked Regan a couple of questions for the blog. 1. How did you two meet, who proposed and how? It's the 4th of July weekend 2013.... I had just moved full time to Key West that March. Dan was living in Ohio and a friend suggested a trip down to Key West for the 4th and they thought, why not!. Meanwhile, Dan's younger brother Matt had just started dating my younger sister Jourdan. Dan remembered Matt's girlfriend's family lived in Key West so, he figured he might want to invite Matt and his girlfriend (my sister) to come too. I didn't know many people yet so, when my sister called to say, she and her new bf (plus his brother and friends) want to come down for the 4th, I was stoked! It turned into a group trip and everyone came over to our parents house to swim and that's when Dan and I met. The group adventured around Key West all day but we found ourselves sitting next to each other watching the fireworks glisten over the Atlantic by nightfall. That's why we say we saw fireworks when we meet... it was literal and figurative because we fell in love that weekend! Fast forward to March 2017.... Dan and I lived together in Key West and had taken on a major project of renovating our own piece of paradise here on the island. After months of working on the house night and weekend we were ready to move in! We were stressed and exhausted but excited for our first night in our new home together. We were sweaty from moving all day, looked a mess and dead tired when Dan pulled the scooter over at the nature walk that overlooks the Beach. He said, "lets just take a moment and watch the sunset and unwind before we head home and start unpacking. I was in a daze and up for any procrastination! We walked to the end of the deck and he just hugged me from behind while we watched the sun start to set over the Atlantic. I was so tired I almost didn't register that he has started saying how excited he was for us to start this new chapter together. He continued with more sweet sentiments and I felt him move away from me so I turned to look at him and he was teary. I went numb and all sound faded away as he lowered to his knee. I could see his mouth moving and a stunning ring presented in a driftwood box. A few seconds went by and then I said, "That box is awesome!". Now, we were both flustered and I quickly said, "I mean, YES!. Of course, I'll marry you! and the ring is perfect!". We both giggled and hugged and continued to cry tears of happiness as we held each other watching the sun fade beyond the horizon. 2. Why did you choose Key West Garden Club for your wedding venue? We both love plants, nature and the garden club is one of our favorite spots on the island for both the surreal magic of the grounds and incredible views looking out onto the Atlantic! We knew we wanted to get married there and it was better than we ever dreamed! 3. What was your inspiration for the wedding? We are both laid back islanders now so we wanted the night to incorporate a Boho Beach feel. We wanted a relaxed environment that brought everyone together for a whimsical, tropical night by the water. 4. Describe some of your favorite moments at the wedding. Our vows.... we were so nervous to speak such intimate feelings in front of our family and closest friends but once we were up there everyone else faded away and we connected in a moment more meaningful and surreal than we could have ever expected! Dinner....we remember looking down the long head table at our family, friends and the magical scene created with decor, lights, lush gardens, and the exquisite sunset feeling so blessed in this ethereal moment. Toasts.... my dads toast left me speechless. The feelings he shared were incredible 5. What advice would you give to other brides? Write your own vows.... we were both nervous and put ourselves under a lot of pressure to make sure we said what we wanted to share with each other but that moment was so incredible and more special than either of us expected that we will likely go back to it time and again through the hardest and happiest situations throughout our life together. 6. What are your future plans? Honeymoon? If you had a honeymoon, tell me what you loved the most. We left that weekend for Italy. I planned the wedding and Dan planned the honeymoon..... it was perfect! We each poured so much of our selves into planning these events for each other that they both exceeded our expectation! We bounced around the country but Venice and Florence were our favorite cities We were both in awe of the history come to life through the architecture. Yes, the food and wine are an incredible as everyone says! We will definitely go back to other cities and continue the adventure.  
      
 
       
 
   
  
                 
                                      Wedding Photography: Weddings By Romi (two photographers)
Wedding Location: Key West Garden Club (West Martello) Catering: Catered Affairs ( Martina) Wedding Floral : Greg Slowiak Wedding Officiant: Aaron Wechter Music/Band: The Bay Kings Band Wedding Planner : Simply You Weddings ( Desiree De La Oz) |
