Your wedding venue is the stage upon which life-long memories are created! From Key West's dazzling beaches to tropical gardens to elegant resorts, there is a location here that will fit the wedding of your dreams. In the 11+ years I've done wedding photography on this amazing island, I've learned the ins and outs of just about every venue here. Though it was tough to narrow it down to my absolute favorites, here are my recommendations for Key West's best wedding venues, in alphabetical order! (Many of them are also wonderful places for your stay!)

The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

This venue is half historical, half tropical, and 100% romantic! The full acre of lush gardens, featuring many varieties of orchids, is a tranquil and timeless setting for a wedding. You and your guests will be able to tour the historic home, built by Captain John Huling Geiger in the 1840s, and learn about the naturalist John James Audubon’s visit to Key West to paint native birds.

The Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea

The only Catholic church in Key West, the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea is a stunning and memorable wedding setting. Built in 1905, its American Victorian architecture has been historically preserved, including many unique features such as round arches, louvered shutters, the original bell, and stained glass windows. The grounds feature the famous Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, made of natural stone, and a Rosary Path made of inlaid stones.

Casa Marina

Unmistakable with its Spanish-style architecture and red tile roof, Casa Marina is a Waldorf Astoria Resort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's one of the island's largest venues, with capacity for up to 300 people. Inside, the decor of the ballrooms is elegant and contemporary, with high ceilings and classic neutral colors. But it's the exterior grounds that are jaw-dropping. Casa Marina offers over 1,100 of private beach, perfect for a romantic seaside ceremony. Two large swimming pools, luxurious patios, and many swaying palm trees complete the picturesque tropical setting.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Imagine holding your wedding at a spot where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico combine. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park offers this

beautiful site, known as The Point, as well as three others by the water or the beach. All four sites can be reserved for your beachside nuptials and reception. The park's Cayo Hueso Cafe can cater your reception for four hours, starting at sunset.

Hemingway Home

For history buffs and lovers of literature, what better place to hold your wedding than on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the famed Hemingway Home? The gardens boast a stunning array of exotic flowers, and you and your wedding guests can also enjoy a private tour of the author's home, built in 1851 and containing Papa Hemingway's furniture, as well as his wife Pauline's chandelier collection.

Margaritaville Resort & Marina

Margaritaville is memorable venue for a quintessential Key West wedding. Located on the waterfront and in the heart of Old Town, offers you classic waterfront elegance in just about any setting you can imagine for your celebration of up to 300 people. You can choose from an open layout pier where the sunset can be your backdrop, a rooftop deck with unobstructed ocean views, a poolside terrace, a lush garden lined with palm trees, a beach with a private cottage, and a traditional ballroom.

Ocean Key Resort & Spa

If you're looking for a wedding location reminiscent of a tropical paradise, check out Ocean Key Resort & Spa. Imagine you and your guests overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, dining on an iconic pier, or dancing in a ballroom. The stunning grounds full of palm trees and luscious landscaping offer garden, beach, and poolside ceremony settings.

Old Town Manor

Old Town Manor offers a truly unique wedding venue. A restored Victorian mansion built in 1886 provides not only a beautiful setting but also 14 comfortable, updated rooms for your guests. The manor's tropical gardens, quaint pool with a brick patio, and charming veranda add to its charm and beauty.

The Reach

An elegant unpainted wooden pier and Key West's only private natural beach provide a scenic setting at The Reach, for those who are seeking nature's beautiful simplicity. Three ballrooms and five event rooms with versatile floor plans are also available, and all locales are timeless and classic wedding locales.

Southernmost Beach Resort

The Southernmost Beach Resort provides you with the distinction of holding your wedding on - you guessed it - the USA's southernmost beach! An additional setting includes another beach with a sand bar at the end of a tropical garden. For those desiring a poolside ceremony, the resort's Tranquility Veranda offers an outdoor pool terrace with lush landscaping.

Sunset Key Cottages Resort

Just a short ride away from Key West, Sunset Key offers a gorgeous wedding venue for those valuing exclusivity, privacy, and idyllic ocean views. Envision white beaches, a poolside garden with a red brick path, and a white illuminated tent. And if that isn't enough, how about cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on a chartered catamaran?