The Florida Keys are the most-requested destination wedding market in the continental United States, and for good reason. You get a Caribbean wedding without a passport, an island archipelago that drives top-down from Miami in three hours, and venues that range from low-key tiki bars to Forbes-rated resorts.
We've been producing Keys weddings for over a decade and operate Florida Keys Signature Wedding Weekends, a dedicated destination wedding platform built specifically for multi-day Keys celebrations. Here's everything we wish every couple knew before they signed a contract for a Keys wedding.
The geography matters more than you think
The Keys span 113 miles from Key Largo (mile marker 110) to Key West (mile marker 0). That's a full two-hour drive end to end, and every venue's location dramatically affects guest logistics, vendor pricing, and what your weekend can include.
- Key Largo (MM 90-110): Closest to Miami. Easiest guest commute. Baker's Cay, Ocean Reef Club, Hilton Key Largo.
- Islamorada (MM 70-90): The upscale middle. Cheeca Lodge, Postcard Inn, Amara Cay. Considered the wedding-capital of the Upper Keys.
- Marathon & Duck Key (MM 45-70): Hawks Cay Resort and Isla Bella anchor this stretch. Quieter, fewer venue options, but stunning.
- Lower Keys (MM 0-45): Casa Marina, The Reach, Sunset Key. Key West is its own destination, historic Old Town, Mallory Square sunsets, and the southernmost-point cachet.
Best months to get married in the Keys
Peak Keys wedding season is November through April, temperatures in the 70s, low humidity, almost zero rain, and reliable sunsets between 5:45 PM (December) and 8:00 PM (April). May and October are excellent shoulder months. June through September is technically possible but you're contending with afternoon thunderstorms and Atlantic hurricane season (June 1, November 30).
Marriage license logistics
Florida marriage licenses are issued same-day at any county clerk's office. Monroe County (which covers all the Keys) has clerk offices in Plantation Key, Marathon, and Key West. There's a mandatory three-day waiting period for Florida residents but no waiting period for out-of-state couples, this is one of the reasons Florida is such a popular destination wedding state. Bring valid photo ID, $86 cash, and your divorce decree if applicable.
What nobody tells you about Keys wedding production
This is where outside vendors get burned. After a decade producing weddings here, here's the real list:
- Generator power: Several beachfront ceremony sites have no nearby outlets. We bring silent inverter generators standard.
- Salt-air degradation: Sound and lighting gear corrodes fast. Local vendors maintain Keys-specific rigs; mainland vendors often won't risk their gear on a Keys gig.
- Mosquito mitigation: April through October you need a plan. Most resorts spray, but outdoor ceremonies still benefit from citronella torches and a 4 PM ceremony start (mosquitoes peak at dusk).
- Sunset timing shifts 90 minutes across the year: A 6 PM ceremony in December starts in twilight; in June it's full daylight. Your photographer and DJ both need this dialed in.
- Vendor travel surcharges: Expect 15-25% on top of mainland pricing for any vendor based north of Homestead. Locally-based vendors avoid this entirely.
Multi-day Keys wedding format
The Keys are uniquely well-suited to a Signature Wedding Weekend format because guests have already invested in the trip. Most of our Keys couples produce a 3-day weekend: welcome party Friday, ceremony + reception Saturday, farewell brunch or beach hang Sunday. Some extend to a Thursday arrival party or a Sunday after-party at a different venue.
Ready to plan?
If you're considering a Keys wedding, the single highest-leverage move is locking your venue 12-14 months out for peak season. Once that's set, contact us and we'll put together a multi-day production plan that hits your budget without cutting the moments that matter.