GENERAL
What is Southernmost Bride?
We are an Officiant/Professional Photographer team who will provide you with everything you will need for a hassle-free wedding ceremony in the Florida Keys. We are most proud of our high quality, creative photography.
If you already have an Officiant or coordinator and just need a photographer and/or videographer, please email or call us. Ask us also about our photo/video package deals. Contact Info: 305-393-0245 or SouthernmostBride@live.com.
What officiant/photographer packages do you offer?
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
$395 officiant/photographer package is 1 hour of photography, Sunday – Thursday ($495 Friday & Saturday)
$265 officiant/photographer package is 20 minutes total, including the ceremony, approximately 30 photographs, not available for sunset
Then you build your own package. You will let us know what you want to add on, for example, a bouquet, boutonniere, professional video, etc. If the prices are not on our “packages” page for a particular item, then email us.
How do we book you?
Send us an email with your wedding date and everything you would like in your package: bouquet, champagne, additional hours of photography, video, etc.
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, security code, billing address.)
How much notice do you need?
We recommend booking with us at least a day before, but the day of may work as well. 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 “Recent Weddings” 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.
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. 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, Fort Zach has pine trees.
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 Recent Weddings. 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 or Hawk’s Cay, 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 or Fort Zach 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.
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!
What if I want a bouquet?
Through a reputable local florist, we offer 16 bouquets at a set price of $100 or you can choose your bouquet to be all one color, and the florist will choose the flowers for the set price. Or you can email us a photo of a specific bouquet you would like, and we will send you a quote.
Copy/past link below to view the 16 bouquets :
http://solaris.zenfolio.com/p492956084/h3ee4b2e1#h3ee4b2e1
How much are chairs?
Chairs are approximately $4/chair. There’s also a delivery and a set-up charge, which on a Saturday will be $150 plus the price of each chair. Most weddings on the beach do not have chairs because the ceremony isn’t very long.
What about ceremony décor?
We have a beautiful Victorian style arch we rent. Flower arrangements on the arch are an additional charge. Our florist also offers more variety and styles of arches, which start at $350 plus delivery & set-up. The most popular for the beach, however, is the bamboo canopy. See 1.2.10 Allison/Aaron’s wedding under recent weddings for a photo of a bamboo canopy.
Tiki torches
Rose petals/aisle – $100
What is a sand ceremony?
A sand ceremony is when you pour sand into one container and the Officiant reads a passage about the uniting of your lives together. It is equivalent to the unity candle at a church ceremony. We charge $30 for the set-up (table, pouring containers) plus the price of the container you want to purchase. Prices vary depending on the size of the container, or you can bring your own containers.
Click link to view our sand ceremony containers:
http://solaris.zenfolio.com/p806147534/h226b8e7e#h226b8e7e
For a price list, email us.
Do you offer wedding cakes?
We order cakes through Cakes by Karol, who is a fabulous baker. She makes small wedding cakes, which are delicious. They are 6”. She also does bigger wedding cakes.
http://www.cakesbykarol.com/
MUSICIANS
Do you provide music for the walk down the aisle?
No, but if you tell us ahead of time that you would like to set up a boombox or iPod player, we will bring a little table for you. There will be someone in your group who will be in charge of playing and stopping the right song, etc. If it’s a windy day, the music may be a little hard to hear, so make sure your boombox is loud.
Steel Drummers
Bongo D
http://www.reggaekeywest.com/
James Wist
http://www.keywestcalypso.com/
Guitarist
Rolando Rojas
(305) 619-94985
Salsa Band
http://www.caribeofkeywest.com/
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. 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.
Is there a place to change into my dress?
No, there’s no place to change close to where the ceremony will be. I suggest getting ready at the cruise ship.
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.
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.
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.
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 video package for $345?
Edited wedding video, Key West montage, DVD menu with chapter menu, & wedding photo printed on the disc with the couple’s name and the date. Packaging will be a clear DVD case.
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 you create a DVD cover?
Yes, we can customize a DVD cover with your professional photographs for $45. Email us for a sample. The DVD will come in a black DVD case.
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 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. Please email Southernmost Bride for a quote.
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/
Keys Piano Bar (across the street from Square One)
http://www.thekeyspianobar.com/
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/
Bagatelle
http://www.bagatellekeywest.com/
Camille’s
http://www.camilleskeywest.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/
Mangoes
Opera (Italian)
http://www.operarestaurant.com/
Rooftop Café
http://www.rooftopcafekeywest.com/weddings.html
Seven Fish
http://www.7fish.com/
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
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
Albury Court
http://www.historickeywestinns.com/properties/albury/albury_court.htm
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