There are beach weddings, and then there are Florida Keys weddings.
With turquoise water, tropical gardens, historic buildings, private islands, sunset sails, and miles of scenic coastline, the Florida Keys offer some of the most distinctive wedding settings in Florida.
And you don’t have to settle for a typical hotel ballroom. Couples can exchange vows on a private island, get married beside a historic Civil War fort, celebrate in the tropical gardens of a famous author’s home, or sail into a Key West sunset with their closest friends and family.
We’ve updated our original list of Florida Keys wedding venues to include a mix of Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, the Lower Keys, and Key West, with an emphasis on places that offer something genuinely different.
1. Tea Table Key Island Estate – Islamorada
If privacy is at the top of your wedding wish list, it’s hard to beat the idea of getting married on your own private island.
Tea Table Key Island Estate is a private island property in Islamorada that offers couples an exclusive setting just off the Overseas Highway. The property encompasses more than 15 acres and provides a completely different experience from a traditional resort wedding.
The estate is accessible by car, which is a significant advantage for a private-island venue. You can have the feeling of being somewhere far away without requiring your guests to board a boat just to reach the ceremony.
The property is particularly appealing for couples who want to turn their wedding into a destination experience rather than simply hosting a ceremony and reception.
Why it’s unique
It’s a private island estate in the heart of the Florida Keys, giving couples privacy and an unmistakable tropical setting.
Best for
- Private destination weddings
- Large family celebrations
- Multi-day wedding experiences
- Couples who want privacy
- Tropical weddings
- Couples looking for something completely different
Planning tip: Private-island weddings require more advance planning than a conventional resort wedding. Ask about current guest capacity, overnight accommodations, catering, event vendors, transportation, music, and weather contingency plans.
Visit Tea Table Key Island Estate
2. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park – Key West
Imagine exchanging vows with the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean surrounding you, with a historic Civil War-era fort just steps away.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is one of the most distinctive wedding locations in Key West.
The park sits at the southern edge of Key West and combines a historic fortress, tropical vegetation, and a beautiful beach. Florida State Parks specifically highlights the park as a wedding location, and the park’s special-events information says the concession operation can help couples find a location for their ceremony.
Couples can create a simple beach ceremony or incorporate the historic fort and surrounding grounds into their wedding experience.
The park is also famous for its sunset views. The location at the western edge of the island makes it especially attractive for couples who want a classic Key West sunset as part of their wedding day.
Why it’s unique
It’s difficult to find another Florida wedding venue that combines a historic military fort, tropical beach, and Key West sunset in one location.
Best for
- Beach weddings
- Elopements
- Small destination weddings
- Historic weddings
- Sunset ceremonies
- Couples who want a natural setting
Planning tip: This is a Florida state park, so don’t assume the rules are the same as those at a private venue. Ask about ceremony locations, permits, fees, guest counts, amplified music, decorations, parking, and reception options well before your wedding date.
Visit Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
3. The Gardens at the Oldest House – Key West
For couples who love historic Key West, The Gardens at the Oldest House offers an intimate setting right in the heart of Old Town.
The Oldest House Museum & Garden dates to the early history of Key West and is surrounded by a secluded tropical garden. The property provides a much more intimate atmosphere than a large resort and is especially appealing for couples planning a smaller celebration.
The garden can accommodate up to 120 seated guests or approximately 300 guests for a cocktail-style event, according to current Florida Keys wedding information.
Its location on Duval Street also means your guests can step directly into the historic atmosphere of Old Town Key West once the wedding is over.
Why it’s unique
You can celebrate inside a secluded tropical garden while being just steps from the energy and history of Old Town Key West.
Best for
- Intimate weddings
- Historic weddings
- Garden ceremonies
- Destination weddings
- Old Town Key West celebrations
- Couples who want a central location
Planning tip: Ask about current rental hours, guest capacity, catering, alcohol service, music, setup and cleanup requirements, and which areas of the property are included.
Visit The Oldest House Museum & Garden
4. Morada Bay – Islamorada
Some couples want their wedding to be elegant. Others want it to feel like a tropical vacation with all their favorite people.
Morada Bay in Islamorada can deliver both.
Located directly along the Florida Bay waterfront, Morada Bay is known for its colorful, tropical atmosphere and waterfront dining. The venue has long been associated with Florida Keys weddings and provides couples with a setting where the water becomes part of the celebration.
The combination of tropical landscaping, waterfront views, outdoor dining, and island atmosphere makes this particularly appealing for couples who don’t want a formal ballroom wedding.
And, of course, Islamorada sunsets provide a spectacular backdrop for evening celebrations and photographs.
Why it’s unique
The setting captures the relaxed, colorful side of the Florida Keys while still providing a polished destination-wedding experience.
Best for
- Waterfront weddings
- Sunset weddings
- Destination weddings
- Casual-elegant celebrations
- Tropical weddings
- Food-focused celebrations
Planning tip: Ask about the current wedding packages, ceremony and reception locations, guest capacity, catering, alcohol service, weather plan, and music restrictions.
5. Little Palm Island – Little Torch Key
If the phrase private island wedding sounds like your idea of paradise, Little Palm Island takes the concept to another level.
Located in the Lower Keys, Little Palm Island is a private-island resort reached by boat from Little Torch Key. The property is designed around tropical seclusion, with thatched-roof bungalows, lush landscaping, beaches, and water views.
The resort offers intimate weddings and elopements as well as larger celebrations, with current venue information indicating accommodations for wedding groups of up to approximately 60 guests.
Because the entire experience involves leaving the mainland behind, Little Palm Island is particularly well suited to couples who want their wedding to feel like a true escape.
Why it’s unique
Your guests actually travel by boat to a private island for the wedding.
Best for
- Luxury destination weddings
- Intimate weddings
- Elopements
- Multi-day celebrations
- Couples seeking privacy
- Tropical weddings
Planning tip: A private-island wedding requires careful logistics. Discuss boat transportation, weather, guest accommodations, accessibility, vendor policies, event capacity, and backup plans with the resort before booking.
6. Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters – Marathon
Want your wedding to be a little more adventurous?
Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters in Marathon offers a wedding experience that is considerably different from a traditional beach or resort celebration.
The aquarium is an interactive marine-life attraction where guests can get up close with aquatic animals and learn about the ecosystems of the Florida Keys.
Current Florida Keys wedding listings identify the aquarium as a wedding and event venue, with space for celebrations of up to approximately 300 guests.
For couples who love marine life, conservation, or simply want their guests to have something memorable to do beyond eating and dancing, this can be an especially fun option.
Why it’s unique
Your wedding takes place in an attraction centered around the marine life and ecosystems that make the Florida Keys famous.
Best for
- Marine-life lovers
- Families
- Nontraditional weddings
- Destination weddings
- Couples looking for interactive guest experiences
- Large celebrations
Planning tip: Ask specifically which aquarium areas can be incorporated into weddings, what experiences are available to guests, current guest capacity, catering, alcohol, photography, and weather backup options.
Visit Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters
7. The Hemingway Home & Museum – Key West
For literature lovers, history enthusiasts, and couples who simply love the character of Old Key West, there may be no more memorable setting than The Hemingway Home & Museum.
Ernest Hemingway lived and worked in this Spanish Colonial-style home in Key West during one of the most important periods of his writing career. The house dates to 1851 and was built using native rock from the property.
The home is surrounded by tropical gardens and is famous for its swimming pool, historic architecture, and resident six-toed cats.
The property currently accepts wedding and event inquiries, with the museum providing contact information specifically for wedding bookings.
A wedding here is about much more than renting a garden. You’re celebrating in one of the most recognizable historic properties in Key West.
Why it’s unique
It’s a historic literary landmark surrounded by tropical gardens—and the famous Hemingway cats may very well become part of your wedding-day memories.
Best for
- Literature lovers
- Historic weddings
- Intimate weddings
- Garden weddings
- Destination weddings
- Couples who want a uniquely Key West experience
Planning tip: Because this is a historic museum property, wedding events have specific operating requirements. Contact the venue directly for current event availability, guest capacity, permitted areas, photography rules, catering, alcohol, and setup requirements.
Inquire About Hemingway Home Weddings & Events
8. Key West Garden Club at West Martello – Key West
One of Key West’s most unusual wedding settings combines tropical gardens with the remains of a Civil War-era fort.
The Key West Garden Club at West Martello operates within the historic West Martello Tower overlooking the Atlantic near Higgs Beach.
The gardens contain orchids, bromeliads, tropical trees, waterfalls, ponds, and several distinct garden areas. Couples can choose settings near the sea, surrounded by tropical foliage, or beside water features.
The Garden Club currently says the venue can accommodate events of up to 100 guests.
One particularly important detail for couples is that the gardens remain open to the public during normal daytime hours. After the gates close at 5 p.m., however, the gardens become available for private events.
Why it’s unique
The combination of historic fort ruins, lush tropical gardens, and Atlantic Ocean views creates a wedding setting you won’t find at a conventional resort.
Best for
- Garden weddings
- Historic weddings
- Intimate celebrations
- Outdoor ceremonies
- Nature-loving couples
- Couples looking for something distinctly Key West
Planning tip: Review the Garden Club’s current event policies carefully. Alcohol must be served by a licensed and insured vendor, and the property has specific insurance and event-hour requirements.
Visit Key West Garden Club Venue Rentals
9. Weddings on the Water – Key West
Why get married beside the water when you can get married on the water?
Weddings on the Water specializes in Key West weddings and receptions aboard luxury catamarans and other vessels.
This option allows couples to turn the wedding itself into a sightseeing experience. Instead of looking at the Florida Keys from the shore, you and your guests can cruise into the surrounding waters while the sun sets.
Current local wedding information lists boat options capable of hosting weddings of up to approximately 150 guests, with catering and bar service available depending on the vessel and package.
This is particularly appealing for couples who want a destination wedding that feels like an experience rather than simply a ceremony at a destination.
Why it’s unique
Your ceremony, reception, sunset cruise, and Florida Keys adventure can all happen on the water.
Best for
- Sunset weddings
- Destination weddings
- Small and medium-sized celebrations
- Adventure-loving couples
- Waterfront weddings
- Couples who want something unconventional
Planning tip: Boat weddings require a little more logistical planning than land-based venues. Ask about guest capacity, weather policies, boarding locations, accessibility, catering, bathrooms, music, motion on the water, and what happens if weather prevents the boat from sailing.
Why Get Married in the Florida Keys?
The Florida Keys are different from almost anywhere else in Florida.
The chain of islands stretches roughly 120 miles from the southern tip of the Florida peninsula toward Key West, connected by the Overseas Highway and a series of bridges. That geography creates an incredible variety of wedding experiences.
In Key Largo, couples can choose waterfront resorts, private estates, and intimate bayside properties.
Islamorada is known for its beautiful water views, tropical resorts, private estates, and spectacular sunsets.
Marathon offers a more laid-back Middle Keys atmosphere with beaches, resorts, marine attractions, and easy access to both the Upper and Lower Keys.
The Lower Keys provide a quieter, more secluded experience, including some of the most exclusive private-island resorts in the Keys.
And then there’s Key West, with its historic homes, gardens, beaches, colorful architecture, sunset celebrations, and unmistakable Old Town personality.
Florida Keys Wedding Ideas Beyond the Venue
One of the advantages of planning a destination wedding in the Keys is that your wedding doesn’t have to be limited to a ceremony and reception.
Plan a Sunset Welcome Party
Invite your guests to a sunset gathering the night before the wedding. A casual beach party, waterfront dinner, or sunset sail can get everyone into the island spirit.
Make the Water Part of the Weekend
Consider adding snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, a sandbar excursion, or a private boat charter to your wedding itinerary.
Plan a Key Lime-Inspired Dessert
It wouldn’t be a Florida Keys wedding without incorporating a little key lime into the celebration. A key lime pie bar, key lime wedding favors, or a small key lime cake can give your wedding a distinctly local touch.
Don’t Forget the Sunset
In the Keys, sunset is more than just a pretty background. It can become part of your wedding-day schedule.
Work with your photographer and venue to determine exactly when sunset occurs on your wedding date and plan your ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, or reception around it.
What to Consider Before Booking a Florida Keys Wedding Venue
The Keys may look like a tropical paradise, but destination weddings here require some planning.
Transportation
The Overseas Highway is the main route through the Keys. Traffic, bridge openings, accidents, and weather can all affect travel times.
If your ceremony and reception are at different locations, build extra travel time into your schedule.
Weather
Florida Keys weddings are heavily influenced by the weather.
Summer and early fall bring heat, humidity, and frequent thunderstorms. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a summer or fall wedding, but you should have a clear weather policy and a realistic backup plan.
Guest Accommodations
Some of the most unique Keys venues are also the most limited when it comes to accommodations.
Ask how many guests can stay on-site, whether there are nearby hotels, and how guests will get between their accommodations and the wedding venue.
Permits and Public Beaches
Not every beach wedding in the Florida Keys is the same.
A private resort beach, a state park, a city beach, and a private estate can all have different requirements for weddings, photography, chairs, arches, music, alcohol, and guest counts.
Never assume that because a beach is publicly accessible you can simply set up a wedding there.
Read our Florida Wedding Permits Guide for more information about permits and planning requirements.
How Much Does a Florida Keys Wedding Cost?
There is a huge range of wedding costs in the Florida Keys.
A simple beach elopement can be relatively affordable, while a private-island destination wedding with accommodations, catering, transportation, and multiple events can become a significant investment.
When comparing venues, don’t look only at the rental price.
Ask about:
- Venue rental
- Catering
- Bar service
- Wedding planner or coordinator
- Tables and chairs
- Linens
- Lighting
- Photography
- Music
- Transportation
- Guest accommodations
- Setup and cleanup
- Taxes and service charges
- Weather backup options
A venue with a higher rental fee may actually be less expensive overall if it includes services that you’d otherwise need to purchase separately.
Which Florida Keys Wedding Venue Is Right for You?
The best part about the Florida Keys is that there isn’t one single wedding style that defines the islands.
Want a private island?
Look at Tea Table Key or Little Palm Island.
Want history?
Fort Zachary Taylor, the Oldest House, Hemingway Home, and West Martello all offer historic settings.
Want a traditional beach wedding?
Fort Zachary Taylor and the many resort properties throughout the Keys provide plenty of options.
Want to get married on the water?
A boat wedding can turn the entire celebration into a sunset adventure.
Want something tropical and colorful?
Morada Bay offers the laid-back Florida Keys atmosphere many couples imagine when they picture a destination wedding.
Want something completely unexpected?
A wedding surrounded by marine life at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Start Planning Your Florida Keys Wedding
The Florida Keys are one of the most distinctive places to get married in Florida, but they’re only one of the state’s many wedding destinations.
Continue exploring our Florida wedding guides:
- Weddings in Florida
- Florida Beach Weddings
- Best Places to Elope in Florida
- Florida Wedding Venues
- Florida Wedding Permits
- Florida Marriage License Guide
Whether you dream of saying “I do” on a private island, beneath tropical palms, beside a historic fort, surrounded by literary history, or aboard a boat sailing into a Key West sunset, there’s a Florida Keys wedding venue that can make your celebration unforgettable.
