Key West Elopement | Amanda + Justin’s Pizza-Filled, Arcade-Gaming, Pool-Jumping Adventure

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching the big wedding stress for something tropical, playful, and 100% fun, Amanda and Justin’s Key West elopement is about to inspire the heck out of you. Their day was filled with pizza, vintage arcade games, Tangled-inspired floating lanterns, and a spontaneous pool jump—because why not?

This is your reminder that you can elope however you want. And Key West? It’s the perfect place to make it happen.

? Keep reading for their full elopement story—from how they met to how they made their day completely their own. And if you’re ready to start planning your own Key West elopement? Click here to see how I can help you make it epic!

Their Story: “You’re Ebay, Aren’t You?”

Amanda and Justin’s love story goes all the way back to awkward school years—8th and 9th grade. The spark? A conversation about eBay, shotty dial-up internet, and hallway shout-outs that turned into a quirky nickname. (Yes, Amanda was lovingly called “Ebay” for years.)

Fast forward to high school study hall. Justin sees Amanda and goes, “You’re Ebay, aren’t you?” That was it. They reconnected, started hanging out, and knew they were meant to be.

The proposal? Totally them. In a barn, after a horse ride, Amanda sweaty and unsuspecting. Justin turned her around, dropped to one knee… and about 60 seconds later, her dad walked in and unintentionally crashed the moment. Iconic.

Why They Chose to Elope in Key West

These two are introverts through and through. No big audience. No performative traditions. Just a day that felt 100% theirs. They’d never taken a real vacation together, so eloping in the Florida Keys was their excuse to finally adventure somewhere tropical and meaningful. Amanda said it best:

“We just wanted to be us. To focus on ourselves. Because at the end of the day, it’s about us—dammit—not someone else having a good time.”

Can we get that embroidered on a hat, please?

Planning a Key West Elopement That Actually Feels Like You

When Amanda said she wanted two things – a true adventure and a Tangled-style floating lantern photo at the end of the night – I was all in. Of course, I immediately watched Tangled for research purposes to make sure we nailed that aspect on their elopement day.

During the planning process, I sent them a deep-dive questionnaire to really understand who they are. Many times when couples come to me with a vision, they forget about the things that actually make them…them. Within the planning questionnaire, I ask questions to see what they like to do together to bring in those elements into their elopement day to make it truly one of a kind. What came through? Late nights gaming, creative projects, and a love for tropical nature. The result: an 8-hour day tailored to their kind of fun. And this is what I do for all my couples: zero templates or cookie cutter packages, and 100% you.

Their Key West Elopement Day

Getting Ready at Margarittaville Resort

We started the day at Margaritaville Resort. Amanda got glammed up with Frankie Key West while Justin chilled out in the next room. This resort is one of my favorite spots to recommend to couples for three reasons: 1) suites that allow you to get ready together or separately; 2) a lush tropical courtyard that makes for the perfect first look backdrop; and 3) it’s right across from Smathers Beach so you don’t need to worry about parking if this is part of your day.

First Look + Monroe County Courthouse Ceremony

Once they were ready, we planned a first look down in the courtyard which featured tons of lush tropical greenery. I set Justin up and walked him through the motions of how the first look would go. When Amanda placed her hand on his shoulder and Justin turned, she was met with a soon-to-be-husband that was freakin’ smitten with her. After a cute victory dance, they were ready to make it OFFICIAL. Oh, did I mention they rented a Jeep to really get married in style? Then we hopped in their rented Jeep and hit the Monroe County courthouse to pick up the papers for their private vows at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Gardens.

Vows at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Gardens

After the courthouse, we headed to the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Gardens where they would exchange private vows. In the garden, there was a cute wall covered in greenery and a trickling waterfall. The moment was celebrated by walking the garden and really taking in nature as husband and wife. There were tons of spots within the garden for portraits and little moments together.

Arcade Games + Pizza on Duval Street

In true Key West fashion, we headed to Duval Street to walk around, check out the scene, grab some pizza, and…video games? To be completely honest, I thought that Key West would be the last place to have a vintage video game scene with a great craft beer (and saki) selection, but I was totally wrong. The Retro Room is tucked away off Duval Street and had tons of free vintage video games for patrons to play. Since playing video games was something they loved doing together, this was the perfect addition to their Key West elopement day. We grabbed some saki and Amanda and Justin played all the games their little hearts desired!

Sunset Portraits, Champagne & Lanterns on Smathers Beach

As the night came to a close, we headed to Smathers beach to re-create the Tangled lantern scene. While my amazing husband helped set up the scene with LED floating lanterns, we spent some time snapping portraits with the most epic sunset, popped champagne to commemorate the day, and had the official “marriage handshake“.

And then… they jumped in the pool

As a totally last-minute and spontaneous decision, Amanda and Justin wanted to jump in the resort’s pool because why not? You can do whatever you want on your elopement day! While I’m sure the hotel guests were confused, it was just another way that Amanda and Justin proved that this day was truly dedicated to them and doing whatever the hell they wanted. Best Day Ever.

Are you totally inspired to elope in Key West and ready to start planning your own Key West elopement? Let’s start dreaming it up! I’m here help you craft a day that’s totally unique to who you are as a couple. No cookie cutter, template ceremonies around here. Period.

Key West Elopement FAQ

Can you legally elope in Key West?

Yup! Eloping in Key West is super simple. You’ll need to apply for a Florida marriage license (which you can do in person at the Monroe County Courthouse or at any Florida courthouse if you’re road-tripping down). No waiting period for out-of-state couples, and no witnesses required. Read more about how to elope in Key West!

Do we need a permit to elope on the beach in Key West?

Some locations – like Fort Zachary Taylor State Park or private resort beaches – do require permits or reservations for ceremonies. But don’t stress, I help guide you through all that when we plan your elopement!

When’s the best time of year to elope in Key West?

Key West is warm year-round, but the sweet spot is November through April – hello perfect temps and no hurricanes. June through September can be hot and humid (and it’s technically hurricane season), but it’s also less crowded and more budget-friendly. Read more about when to elope in Key West!

Can we bring our dog to our elopement in Key West?

HECK yes. Key West is super dog-friendly. Many of the beaches, gardens, and resorts welcome pups. I’ve even been to a few restaurants that allowed our dog to come inside. As a Key West elopement photographer, I’ll help you find locations where your fur baby can be part of the day.

Feeling Inspired to Elope in Key West?

Let’s rip it, sister. Your elopement should feel like the two of you—free, fun, chill, and unforgettable.

I’ll help you plan it start to finish: location and vendor recommendations, activity ideas, fully planned timelines, permit guidance, and of course, epic portraits.

Whether you’re dreaming of vows on the beach, in a tropical garden, or under the stars with floating lanterns—your elopement should be as unforgettable as your love story. My Key West elopement packages are all about ease, adventure, and real connection.

?Want to see what your day could look like? Get the full Key West elopement experience here.

Key West Elopement Vendors

Photographer: Anna Holden Photo
Resort: Margaritaville Resort
Hair & Makeup: Frankie Key West
Ceremony: Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Gardens
Florals: Kitsune Kanzashi
Vow Books: AAW Arts
Arcade: The Retro Room
Jeep Rental: Jeep

Key West Elopement Photography

Key West Elopement Photographer