A barefoot ceremony on the sand, a steel drum trio at cocktail hour, a sky that turns pink right on cue. Key West weddings photograph beautifully, but the magic depends on planning that accounts for island realities: heat, wind, travel logistics and a marriage license office that closes at 4:30 pm.
After planning more than 400 weddings at Azure Bay, our team has a clear sense of what makes a destination wedding feel effortless. Here is our guide.
Choose your season wisely
March through May is peak wedding season in Key West, with dry weather, highs in the low 80s and gentle breezes. It also books out 12 months or more ahead. December through February is similar, with slightly cooler evenings that guests love.
Summer weddings (June to August) are hotter and more humid, with brief afternoon storms. They can be magical if you plan an evening ceremony and choose lighter menus and fabrics. Hurricane season runs June through November, with September and October the most active months.
The Florida marriage license
You need a Florida marriage license, which you can get at the Monroe County Clerk's office on Whitehead Street. Both partners must attend with valid photo ID. There is no waiting period for out-of-state couples, and the license is valid for 60 days.
Most couples visit the clerk a day or two before the wedding. Our planner books you a time slot and sends a checklist so nothing is missing.
A timeline that works
- 12 to 14 months out: choose a date, reserve the venue and create a hotel room block.
- 9 to 10 months out: send save-the-dates with travel information and room block codes.
- 6 months out: finalize photographer, florist, music and officiant.
- 3 months out: menu tasting, send invitations, plan welcome party and farewell brunch.
- 1 month out: final guest count, seating plan, rain plan walkthrough.
- Wedding week: license appointment, rehearsal, and one quiet afternoon for yourselves.
Plan the ceremony for 30 minutes before sunset. The light is soft, the heat has broken and your photographer will thank you.
Beat the heat and the wind
Schedule beach ceremonies about 30 minutes before sunset. Provide parasols, cold towels and water for guests, and keep the ceremony under 25 minutes. Our team sets up a hydration station with cucumber water and coconut water at every beach ceremony.
The Atlantic breeze is lovely but mischievous. Weighted aisle runners, secured arches and hair styles that can handle a gust will save a lot of worry. Veils look stunning in photos, just bring pins.
Always have a rain plan
Afternoon showers in Key West usually pass in 20 minutes, but you still need a backup. At Azure Bay, every outdoor ceremony has a reserved indoor or covered alternative, either the Coral Ballroom or the tented Lagoon Lawn. We make the call four hours before the ceremony, so you are never scrambling.
Make it a weekend
Guests travel a long way to Key West, so give them more than one evening. A casual welcome party at Salt and Lime, a sunset catamaran sail for the wedding party and a farewell brunch at Sunrise Terrace turn a wedding into a vacation everyone remembers.
Ready to start planning? Send an enquiry through our weddings page and Danielle's team will reply with dates, packages and a sample proposal within one business day.
