Weddings in the breezy, balmy Florida Keys can be romantically barefoot or more dressy and elegant affairs. And while a sun-drenched beach wedding might be the first thing that comes to mind, the Keys offer far more unusual sites for couples who want their ceremony’s venue to be as memorable as their love.
Listed here are eight possibilities designed to intrigue those getting ready to do “I Do.”
ONE: In Key Largo, couples whose love story is worthy of a blockbuster film can stage an intimate ceremony aboard the African Queen — yes, the original vessel from John Huston’s 1951 classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Parties of six can cruise, and it’s also possible to marry at the dock.
TWO: Ready to dive into matrimony? Certified divers can exchange underwater vows (really!) at the Christ of the Deep statue, located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and adjacent to Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Alternately, marriages can take place at fascinating Pennekamp, the United States’ first undersea park.
Film buffs can marry on the African Queen, the original vessel from director John Huston’s classic 1951 film by the same name. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)
THREE: In Islamorada, Morada Bay’s Pierre’s Restaurant & Lounge and The Beach Cafe are island-style settings known for their delicious cuisine and scenic sunsets. Pierre’s is a gorgeous two-story colonial plantation-style venue, and The Beach Café fronts a palm-lined white beach overlooking Florida Bay. Both are ideal if casual tropical chic is the goal.
FOUR: At Theater of the Sea (also in Islamorada), wedding parties can enjoy a private dolphin and sea lion show before an evening ceremony. The location is great for large parties, since it accommodates up to 200 guests
Continue with the second four here: Keys Voices | Eight Great Sites to Do ‘I Do’ in the Keys – Keys Voices