GENERAL
What is Southernmost Bride?
We are an Officiant/Photographer company for the couple who is interested in having a very laid-back yet meaningful and beautiful wedding ceremony. We are most proud of the high quality photographs we strive to provide our clients by hiring only top quality photographers who have the passion and the skills. We are not wedding planners, but if you need a little more help than just hiring an officiant and photographer, please let us know. We can recommend a wedding planning company.
If you already have an Officiant and just need a photographer and/or videographer, please email or call us. Contact Info: 305-393-0245 or SouthernmostBride@live.com.
What is included in your packages?
Our packages include:
- Officiant to perform the ceremony & file license
- Professional Photographer
- All photos on a high-resolution disc
- Rights to all of your photographs
Click on “packages” for more information.
Just FYI, unless the date is around the corner (a few weeks away), we generally do not book 1 hour sunset weddings on Fridays or Saturdays during wedding season (March – June, Oct-Nov). If you would like several hours of photography though, please contact us to discuss. Fridays and Saturdays in May, the minimum is normally 4-6 hours of photography for an afternoon/evening ceremony.
How do we book you?
Send us an email with your wedding date and the package, including the add-ons, you want.
We will email you a contract and a deposit will be required to secure the date with us. You can send a check or call us and provide your credit card information (name on the card, number, expiration date, billing address.)
How much notice do you need?
We live in Key West so we don’t need too much notice. We recommend booking with us at least a day before. Just call us and we’ll do our best to make it happen!
KEY WEST BEACHES
What are the best beaches to get married at in Key West?
Smathers:
Smathers Beach, Key West’s longest public beach – 1 mile long- on South Roosevelt Blvd, which is near the airport if you have been to Key West before. See photographs of weddings at Smathers under “Online Wedding Albums” on the right hand side of our website. Unless the link specifies another location, the beach is Smathers. The sun sets over the ocean from about November to mid-February. All year around, it is possible to capture beautiful sunset colors after the sun sets – just depends on that particular day. Please note that in the morning there is a tractor that goes along the beach. It is loud and may disturb you so keep that in mind for morning weddings. Most ceremonies aren’t very long so it may go once or twice. Other ceremonies are a little longer, depending on the Officiant and the vows you chose, plus sand ceremony. Also, at Smathers, there are homeless people sleeping on the beach until even past 10:00 a.m. They can be waken up and given a few dollars to go away, just FYI. During sunset time, there are homeless that like to hang out underneath the tiki huts or under a nice palm tree. Any time of day, they might be there. At any given time, even after the tractor cleans the beach in the morning, there still may be seaweed along the shoreline at Smathers (and at Fort Zach). Occasionally, it does give off a rather strong odor. (I can’t remember though the last time there was a strong odor from the seaweed, but I know it does happen occasionally). Smathers is a very popular place for weddings, especially on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings (when a cruise ship is here) and Friday & Saturday 1 hour before sunset. Most of the weddings take place between stairwell #12 and #10 – #11 being the most popular. Every so many feet, there is a stairwell with a number. #7 is nice, but there are hobie cats and lawn chairs stacked up, #8 is kind of close to the volley ball net, #9 is nice, but there’s a tree stump at the end of the stairwell (a palm tree that was chopped off). The other option for having a beach wedding in Key West is securing a spot at Fort Zachary Taylor. Most resorts charge approximately $2000 to get married on their beach.
Fort Zach:
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, which is off of Southard Street, closer to downtown than Smathers, is also another popular location for weddings. It on the west side of the island so year round, the sun sets over the ocean (as long as it’s not a very cloudy day and it sets behind a cloud). No tractors, no homeless. Sometimes there’s seaweed along the shoreline. http://www.fortzacharytaylor.com/.
What are the site fees to get married at Smathers and at Fort Zachary Taylor?
Smathers: no site fees
Fort Zachary Taylor: to reserve a spot, which is recommended if you have a big group – $400 – $500 plus park entrance fees.
Do these two beaches have palm trees?
Smathers does have palm trees. Fort Zach has a few.
Is there a sunset every day in Key West?
Please note a sunset, even in Key West, is never promised. Sometimes the sun will set behind a cloud or there are no sunset colors. See Kelly & Ty’s wedding at Fort Zachary under “Online Wedding Albums.” They still have beautiful photographs even though there was no sunset or afterglow. That’s why you need a very good photographer, like Solaris!!!
FLORIDA KEYS WEDDINGS
Do you travel to locations north of Key West, throughout the Florida Keys?
Yes. We charge a travel fee depending on how far it is from Key West.
We want to get married in the Marathon area, which beach do you recommend?
We recommend meeting us at Bahia Honda State Park or Sombrero Beach. Check out both to see which one you like the best. Lately, we’ve been told there’s seaweed at Bahia Honda and most of our clients prefer Sombrero Beach. http://www.bahiahondapark.com/
BACK-UP PLAN / RAIN
What if it rains? When is the rainy season?
There is no cover at Smathers for a large group to go under if it starts raining. However, Key West is a small island (2 miles by 4 miles) and the clouds usually don’t stay over our tiny land mass for long. Most showers last about 15 minutes. If it rains right when we get to the location, we’ll wait for it to stop in our cars. It’s a little more complicated if you have a big group and everyone is arriving by taxi. Another option is to move the ceremony to earlier that day or the next day. Check the weather beforehand and especially the morning of your wedding and discuss with Southernmost Bride your options. The only problem you may run into is if your hair stylist is not available earlier, which may be the case on a Saturday during wedding season. We do not do refunds if your wedding gets rained out during sunset time. We can reschedule for the next morning. Please schedule your wedding as close to your arrival date as possible. If you are in town for a few hours because you are arriving via cruise ship, please figure out a plan B as Southernmost Bride is not responsible for finding an indoor venue to hold your ceremony. We don’t have a problem with rescheduling if we think it is going to rain so we will work with you as much as possible to make it happen outdoors as planned.
Rainy season: May – October
Dry season: December – April
Hurricane Season: June – November (August, September, and October are the peak months)
CEREMONY
Can I see the vows beforehand or customize my vows? Will I have contact with the Officiant?
Yes, yes, and yes. Just ask to see a sample and feel free to email us vows that you would like read on your special day!
Where do you get your bouquets from?
Through a reputable local florist, we offer 16 bouquets or you can choose your bouquet to be all one color, and the florist will choose the flowers. If you have another design in mind, we prefer that you correspond directly with the florist so there is no confusion.
Copy/past link below to view the 16 bouquets :
http://solaris.zenfolio.com/p492956084/h3ee4b2e1#h3ee4b2e1
Do you provide chairs?
No, we don’t provide chairs. You can contact Four Star Rentals or Florida Keys Party Rentals to rent chairs. Most weddings on the beach do not have chairs because the ceremony isn’t very long. If the ceremony start time or date changes due to weather, for example, it will be your responsibility to contact any vendor you hire directly. Please have all your wedding vendors’ phone numbers programmed into your phone and your fiance’s phone so you can call them asap if there’s a change. Also, if the rental company changes the stairwell number due to a set-up already on the beach, please call us to let us know.
http://www.keywestpartyrentals.com/Key_West_Marathon_Islamorada_Key_Largo.html
http://www.fourstarrentals.com/
What about ceremony décor?
We don’t offer ceremony decor anymore. Please contact the rental company or you can hire a wedding planner to help you with that.
What is a sand ceremony?
A sand ceremony is when the couple pours sand into one container to symbolize their two lives blending together and creating a new life. It is equivalent to the unity candle at a church ceremony. We set-up the sand ceremony table with the three containers and sand. The two pouring containers are just rentals but, of course, you keep the middle container.
Wedding Cake Vendors:
http://www.cakesbykarol.com/
http://www.keywestcakes.com/Keywestcakes/Home.html
http://oldtownbakerykeywest.com/Home.html (Don’t ask for fondant! They are not a fan of it!)
Albertsons
Publix
What are our music options?
Some bring their own cd player or iPod station and have a guest in charge of playing the music. Although if it is a windy day at the beach, it is sometimes a little hard to hear the music. Others hire a steel drummer or guitarist, which is approximately $250 – $300.
CRUISE SHIP WEDDINGS
Do you marry people who are coming in from a cruise?
Yes, we do marry people who come to Key West by cruise. There’s normally an additional charge to the package for weddings with more than 10 guests. Please contact Southernmost Bride for more information. If you are coming in from a cruise ship and are not Florida residents, you can go to the County Court House to obtain your marriage license. It’s about an 8 minute drive from the port to the Court House. See Marriage License, below. Otherwise, you must obtain your marriage license if you are a Florida resident before you get on the Cruise Ship. There are also marriage licenses by mail services.
Is there a place to change into my dress?
No, there’s no place to change close to where the ceremony will be at Smathers Beach. I suggest getting ready at the cruise ship or the hair salon.
CEREMONY FAQ’S ONCE YOU BOOK WITH SOUTHERNMOST BRIDE
How do we find each other at Smathers and where do I tell my guests to meet?
Every so many feet there is a stairwell to get onto the beach which has a number. (Some of the numbers are missing, but for the most part, they are there). So we will pick a stairwell number beforehand and we will all meet there. If we get there or you get there first, and there’s already a wedding set-up there, then we will call each other and move the stairwell number. It’s a good idea to get there about 10 minutes early so we have time to pick the next best stairwell. I recommend bringing some kind of balloon if you have a large group to tie up at the stairwell so you don’t have to contact all of your guests. Make sure you are very specific about the balloon because if there’s a birthday party (Saturdays), the guests may see someone elses’s balloon. For big groups, it is recommended not to use Smathers Beach because of these inconveniences. It’s a public beach so it’s first come, first serve. If you order a bamboo canopy or some kind of set-up, then that helps to secure your spot and if that spot is taken, at least you have several hours or 1 hour to notify your guests and vendors that you hired directly.
REHEARSAL / MEETING THE DAY BEFORE
Do we meet the day before or do you do a rehearsal with us?
If you would like to meet the day before to go over ceremony details or to have a rehearsal, please contact us for pricing as this service is not included in your package. If you want to stop by our office to just say hello, that’s fine. Please call us to arrange.
HELPFUL TIPS
1. Bring: marriage license (and give to your Officiant before the ceremony starts), rings, mini cloths to wipe sweat away, cold water bottle, cell phones with the officiant & photographer’s number programmed & other vendors.
2. Line-Up: Usually the groom stands with the Officiant and his Best Man. Or the groomsmen can walk with a Bridesmaid. The order is: Bridesmaids, Maid of Honor, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl, & Bride.
3. If someone is walking the bride down the aisle, the officiant will say (unless you ask him not to beforehand & normally they ask before the ceremony), who gives this woman to this man? The response is: “I do” or “her mother and I do”. He/she shakes hands with the groom and kisses the bride on the cheek.
4. If there are chairs, what side does the bride’s family sit on? The bride will be on the left, normally, unless it is a windy day, the bride might change sides. Usually the bride’s family sits on the left, however, it’s popular now for the bride’s family to sit on the right so the family can have a better angle of her face, and vice versa.
5. Family Combinations/ Specific Poses: If you have a specific pose or family combination shot in mind, please tell your photographer at the photo shoot. You can write down a list beforehand of family combinations or poses and have a guest in charge of this list. If the ceremony started late, however, the photographer may want to do those last so he can get the main shots done first. Just have a talk with your photographer so he/she can come up with the best plan possible.
6. If you arrive late, the photographer will still have to end the photography at the time stated on the contract. If you want more time with the photographer, ask him how much he would charge for an additional 10, 15 minutes, etc.
7. If you have a daughter or son who is really young (5 yrs old or younger), and they start crying for you during the ceremony, it’s OK to let them come to you, instead of a family member trying to get them to stop crying. Or have a plan in place that a designated person will carry the child away so that the crying doesn’t disturb you in any way. They certainly can hold onto your leg, for example, or they may want to be held. Just be prepared that this may happen. It’s OK to stop for a minute to tend to the child, so don’t feel like you have to ignore your child in any way.
8. If you don’t want your fiance to see you until you walk down the aisle, have him arrive 10 -15 minutes before you. He should walk onto the beach to wait for the photographer or officiant. If he’s on the beach, he won’t be able to see you pull up in the car.
9. Parking: There is parallel metered parking along the beach so you can usually find parking in front of the stairwell. If it’s a sunset Saturday wedding, you may have to park a little further down as #11 gets really crowded. I recommend car-pooling or arriving by mini-van taxis.
FESTIVALS / SPRING BREAK
What events will be going on in Key West during my wedding?
Key West has many little festivals throughout the year. The main festival Key West has every year is called Fantasy Fest. It’s a week-long celebration with various activities and contests throughout the week beginning on a Monday the last week of October. On Saturday, the last Saturday in October, will be the Fantasy Fest parade. It is sort of like Mardi Gras but in Key West and during Halloween time, so lots of costumes and lots of nudity and painted bodies roaming Duval St. It is very difficult to book a hotel during this week in Key West, you must plan in advance to secure a room. The weekend before the parade is the Goombay Festival. That is a Friday and Saturday event in which food vendors sell various conch or Bahamian foods, such as conch fritters and conch salad, along with other street fair foods and desserts.
Fantasy Fest website: http://www.fantasyfest.net/
Another very crowded time to be in Key West is for New Years’. So be sure to book your hotel in advance if you plan to come to Key West around that time.
In September, there’s a motorcycle poker run which is very popular. Key West will be filled with motorcycles, so if you are planning a nice, quiet stay at a bed & breakfast in Old Town, beware! You will be highly disturbed if you don’t like the constant sound of motorcycles whizzing by your street. Unless you don’t plan to spend too much time in your room! Or if you love motorcycles, this may be a perfect time for you to come to Key West and check them out! In 2009, it was held Sept 17 -21 according to the KeyWestTravelGuide.com
Spring Break: 1st 3 weeks in March
Spring Break starts at the end of February and the first and second week of March are probably the most crowded with college kids. By the end of March, it has calmed down a bit. It’s just noticeable in the downtown bar area and of course on Smathers during the day-time – at the busy end of Smathers, not where the weddings are performed, which is the quiet end of Smathers. Most beach goers like to be where the food and drink stands are. They love to ride their scooters during the day and beep their horns at random people, places, and things.
Event Calendars of Key West, check previous years if the next year’s schedule is not up yet:
http://www.keywest.com/calendar/kwpevents.cfm
http://www.keywesttravelguide.com/calendar.html
TRANSPORTATION
For large groups….
Historic Tours of America (trolley transportation)
Trolley (holds 40 people)
Conch Tour Train (holds 64 people)
$13/person, pickup and dropoff back to the port, includes gratuity
If you want to coordinate this, please contact Tammy Osterhoudt (305) 293-8718, tosterhoudt@historictours.com
Taxi Service
305.293.6860
Please let the taxi company know that you are client of Southernmost Bride.
City Parking Lots:
http://www.keywestcity.com/department/division.asp?fDD=14-82
MARRIAGE LICENSE
How do I obtain a marriage license?
Key West – Monroe County Link
http://www.monroe.fl.us.landata.com/Other/MarriageLic.html
You can apply in person at any county court house in Florida. Your license will be valid for 60 days. You’ll need your photo IDs & approximately $94. Florida residents have to wait 3 days or complete a pre-marital course and there is no waiting period for non-Florida residents.
Where is the Court House in Key West?
500 Whitehead Street
(corner of Whitehead & Southard, Lester Bldg., across the street from The Green Parrot)
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3458
When is the Court House open?
It is open during the week, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. It is closed on all national holidays (including Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, etc.) For Christmas and New Year’s, it may be closed a few days prior to the holiday and/or after the holiday.
PHOTOGRAPHY
How many photographs does the photographer take?
Our photographers take an unlimited number of photographs. 1 hour may be approximately 150 – 200 photographs. If you arrive late or the ceremony starts later because there’s a bridal party to line up or the guests are late, etc., there will be less photographs, of course. The photographer is only hired for the hour that is on the contract. They aren’t required to stay 10-15 minutes later because there was a late start. If you think you may need extra help before the ceremony starts, please contact Southernmost Bride about hiring a Ceremony Director.
We will be given a disc of all of the photographs, so how do we print the photographs?
You can print the photographs at any place that has a photo printer: CVS, Walgreens Costco.
Are the photos enhanced or PhotoShopped?
The photos you receive are not edited except for deleting of a duplicate or the blinks. The links on the right of each page of our website of various Southernmost Bride weddings – those photos on those links are not photo enhanced at all. Those are all straight from the camera. We strive for the highest quality image straight from the camera that way there is no “editing” charge in your package. If you want enhancement work done which is tweaking the image so that the brightness, color, and saturation is perfect or if you want more advanced PhotoShop work done (most popular is black and white with colored flowers), email Southernmost Bride for pricing. You can wait until you receive your photo disc after the wedding to decide if you want some PhotoShop work or enhancement work done to your photos. Most clients print their photos as is and do not ask for enhancement work but we will certainly do it. If you are enlarging an image, it’s a good idea to get at least some enhancement work done to the image.
Will Solaris be my photographer?
Sunday – Thursday there’s more of a chance Solaris will be your photographer. If it’s just the two of you, we recommend booking us during the week if you would like Solaris to be your photographer. Or during the weekend, you can book Solaris for a minimum amount of hours. We only hire highly skilled professional wedding photographers, so either way, you will be in very good hands.
What is Solaris’s experience and background in photography?
Solaris has been shooting weddings for 10 years and obtained his fine art photography degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Learning from his father, a well-known local photographer, and from various photographers throughout his career, Solaris is highly-skilled and versatile. He uses three cameras around his neck with different lenses, in order to provide his clients with a wide spectrum of photography. The spontaneous, candid shots are Solaris’s favorites. In addition to shooting weddings, Solaris was also a fashion photographer for Ocean Drive Magazine in South Beach and recently moved back to Key West after working in the Palm Beach area, shooting events at the Mar a Lago Club and the Bova Ristorante.
Solaris was named after the highest point in Key West, Solares Hill, where he was born.
What time is sunset on my wedding date?
http://www.almanac.com/sun/rise/FL/Key%20West/2009-09-24
VIDEOGRAPHY
What is included in the 1 hour edited video package?
Edited wedding video: DVD menu with chapter menu & wedding photo printed on the disc with the couple’s name and the date. Packaging will be a clear slim CD case. DVD running time is approximately 20 minutes.
What genre of music do you use?
If you provide us a disc, we will use the music you want. Or you can choose songs from our music library. We definitely want you to be happy with the music in your video.
Can I order additional copies after I get my video?
Of course! It’s always best to order sooner rather than later.
Can I just get the raw footage and reduce the cost of the professional video?
Yes, we can shoot your 1 hour wedding and give you all of the footage on a DVD, un-edited. Everything the videographer shot will be on there, including any quick movements and zooms, etc. We can also give you the mini-dv tape if you would like someone else to edit your video. Because it can be windy at the beach, I highly recommend getting your wedding videotaped by a professional and not by a friend with a camcorder. It’s going to be shaky, the image isn’t going to be great, and you may not be able to hear the voices.
What kind of microphones do you use to capture the voices during the ceremony? What if it’s a windy day?
Especially during the winter, it can be very windy, and even more so on Smathers Beach. The groom will wear a lapel or clip-on microphone and usually the Officiant, if not wearing a dress, will have a microphone as well. And yes, on your video, you will hear the bride, groom, and Officiant’s voices during the ceremony. The voices won’t be replaced with music, in other words.
KEY WEST / WEDDING LOCATIONS
What other locations do you perform the ceremony in Key West besides the beach?
We can go to any location in Key West: hotel, historic home, beach, etc.
Other popular locations for weddings in Key West are:
West Martello/ Key West Garden Club (minimum fee is $400 plus sales tax)
http://www.keywestgardenclub.com/
Key West Botanical Garden (huge, spacious, and gorgeous!)
http://www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org/index.asp
Hemingway House
http://www.hemingwayhome.com/HTML/main_menu.html
Heritage House
http://www.heritagehousemuseum.org/
The Oldest House
http://www.oirf.org/museums/oldesthouse.htm
Southernmost Beach Café/South Beach
http://www.southernmostresorts.com/weddings.html
Audubon House
http://www.audubonhouse.com/
Marquesas Cottages
http://www.marquesa.com/
KEY WEST WEDDING RECEPTIONS
What places do you recommend for our reception?
Every resort has usually an inside and outside area for wedding receptions. See below for a list of resorts.
Restaurants & Bars for your reception
Conch Republic Seafood Company – large bar & restaurant on the historic seaport, a marina in the downtown area. They provide an outside patio area for receptions in front with free live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 15 min walk to the downtown area.
http://www.conchrepublicseafood.com/
Hog’s Breath (upstairs)
http://www.hogsbreath.com/weddings/
Mangoes Restaurant – provides a great room for a reception with a DJ and dance party. It’s on Duval Street, so it will be easy to bar hop once the reception winds down.
Rum Barrel
http://www.piratesoul.com/rumbarrel/privateparties/
RESTAURANTS
What do you recommend for a romantic dinner for the two of us at one of the best restaurants or a really nice dinner for a small group of us?
915 (tapas)
http://www.915duval.com/
Antonia’s (Italian)
http://www.antoniaskeywest.com/
Hot Tin Roof at the Ocean Key Resort
http://www.oceankey.com/oceankey_dining.aspx
Latitudes Café on Sunset Key (10 min boat ride to get there)
http://www.sunsetkeyisland.com/food.htm
Louie’s Backyard (oceanfront)
http://www.louiesbackyard.com/
Rooftop Café
http://www.rooftopcafekeywest.com/weddings.html
Square One
http://www.squareonerestaurant.com/
HOTELS
Resorts:
Downtown, (Duval & Front St.) within walking distance
Hyatt (on Front St.)
Ocean Key House
Pier House
The Westin
Uptown, 12 min from downtown area by car
Marriott Beachside
DoubleTree Grand Key Resort
Parrot Key
Not uptown, not downtown….
Casa Marina
The Reach
Southernmost on The Beach (a block away from Duval St, the quiet end)
Hotels:
The Inn
Radisson
Sheraton (across from Smathers Beach)
Southernmost Hotel (at the quiet end of Duval St.)
Bed & Breakfasts & Cottages
THE OLD TOWN MANOR is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Southernmost Bride.
GREAT LOCATION, AMPLE PARKING, BEAUTIFUL ROOMS, REASONABLE RATES
http://www.oldtownmanor.com/
Marquesas Cottages
http://www.marquesa.com/
Eden House
http://www.edenhouse.com/
Duval Gardens
http://www.duvalgardens.com/
Avalon (next to Southernmost Hotel)
http://www.avalonbnb.com/key-west-rates.html
Conch House
http://www.conchhouse.com/roomsrates.htm
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