Best Places to Elope in Key West

Looking for the best places to elope in Key West? Then you’re in the right place! Some of the best Key West elopement locations are off the beaten path and I’m here to show you the way. As a Key West Elopement photographer that has captured dozens of Florida elopements, I’m on a mission to make sure you have the best damn day through resources to help you plan your Key West elopement!

If you want to learn more about how you can elope in Key West, check out this how to elope in Key West guide!

Best Key West Elopement Locations

For the skimmers out there, here’s a list of the best places to elope in Key West that are covered within this blog! Scroll to read more about each location.

• On A Boat
• Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
• Monroe County Courthouse
• Smathers Beach
• Garden of Eden Rooftop Bar
• Literally anywhere on Duval Street
• Southernmost Point
• Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
• The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
• Mallory Square
• Truman Little White House
• Key West Garden Club

Need help figuring out which location best suits your Key West elopement vision? Let’s start planning!

What to Consider For Your Key West Elopement Location?

So you know that you want to be in Key West, but you have zero ideas of where to actually get married? I’m here to help! Before going through this guide, consider these questions when thinking about your elopement location:

• Do you want to be on the beach or around the water? Both are easy to do in Key West!
• Do you want to be in the action or more secluded?
• Do you want to be here for a certain season?
• Do you want to be here for a certain event?
• What type of activities do you want to do (bar hopping, exploring, snorkeling, boating, paddle boarding, etc.)?

Once you have the answers to those questions, it makes finding the perfect location a breeze! Check out the below locations to see if any of them fit into your vision! Still need some help? Feel free to reach out to see how I can help bring your elopement vision to life!

On A Boat

Things to Consider: If you want to go off-shore/deep sea fishing, there may be a season you need to follow. Check with your charter captain to coordinate the fishing seasons. Read this guide on how to plan a Florida boat elopement!

Pro Tip: Find a charter that can help bring your vision to life! Know in advance what you’d like to do before calling around. Most fishing charters run on the weekends; however, some may be willing to accommodate your vision if you just want to booze cruise and take in the views.

Perfect For: Couples that want to be a little adventurous and incorporate deep sea fishing, swimming, lobstering, snorkeling, island hopping, booze cruising, wildlife watching, or sunrise or sunset ceremonies over the water into their elopement.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Location Link: Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Things to Know: Entry fee is $6 per vehicle, and secure a $100 special event permit for your ceremony.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is the perfect mix of Florida history and Florida! This park is on the smaller side, but it packs a punch with the views. Check out my TikTok on this Key West location for a walk-through of the park!

Perfect For: Couples that are history buffs and want gorgeous Australian pines, palm trees, and expansive ocean views.

Smathers Beach

Location Link: Smathers Beach
Things to Consider: A public beach with no entry fee or permit required for small gatherings.

Smathers Beach has an expansive shoreline with palm trees galore. Since this location is free and doesn’t require a permit for elopements, the beaches can be crowded. However, this spot is great for popping champagne and jumping in the water after your portraits!

Perfect For: Couples that don’t want the hassle of permits, want those palm tree views, and want to jump in the water for their elopement!

Monroe County Courthouse

Location Link: Monroe County Clerk of Court

What to Consider: The inside of the building is very much like your standard Clerk of Court. The best parts of the building are located outside. If you get married by the Clerk of Court, it will not be in front of the building.

Perfect For: Couples that want historic architecture as part of their wedding vows.

Garden of Eden Rooftop Bar

Location Link: Garden of Eden

What to Consider: This bar is a famous nudist bar! This means that you’ll need to rent the entire place out if you’d like to elope there.

Perfect For: Couples that want an intimate rooftop wedding with a few guests, want the urban vibe, and like the idea of getting married at The Famous Garden of Eden!

Literally anywhere on Duval Street

Key West loves love! Because of this (and maybe the island state of mind) they’re very lax on their permitting requirements, which means you can elope literally anywhere on Duval as long as you’re not holding up bar hoppers.

Perfect For: Couples that want to be in the middle of the action and want to celebrate by visiting all he local Key West bars.

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

Location Link: Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden

Things to Consider: Entry fee is $10 per person, and coordinate with the garden for any special permitting.

Perfect For: Couples that want to be surrounded by gardens in a serene and relaxed environment.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Location Link: Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Details: Entry fee is $15 per person, and coordinate with the museum for any special arrangements.

Perfect For: Couples that want to be immersed in history, architecture, lush gardens, and the Old Man and The Sea.

Mallory Square

Location Link: Mallory Square

Things to Consider: Vibrant atmosphere and nightly sunset celebrations. No entry fee, but keep in mind popular sunset events might draw a large crowd.

Perfect For: Couples that want excitement, a good sunset, and be close to all the attractions.

Key West Elopement Photographer