July BLOG:

What is the very best advice that I can give you?

COME DOWN….RIGHT NOW…..AND SAVE, SAVE, SAVE LOTS OF MONEY!

It’s no secret that this damn oil well spill way up in Lousiana is affecting tourism negatively even down here. Everybody knows that……and THAT…is why you can save a lot of money right now coming here to get married!

There is no oil here. The most recent NOAA reports, available to you online, all tell us that we in the Keys are not going to see any of that oil.

It’s 500 miles away…and that’s a long way.

BUT….all of the hotels and restaurants and bars down here are experiencing a fairly substantial slow down in business because of it. They…will LOVE to see you! The well should be “capped” off in a couple of weeks. The cleanup is ongoing. It should be fine.

Want so save yourselves some SERIOUS money? COME DOWN THIS SUMMER! You WILL save money!

YOUR wedding images:

I had a lady call me just the other day asking me about our photographs.

She was concerned because she saw a wedding on our albums page where the bride and groom appeared to have their eyes closed in their wedding photos.

I thought that odd, so with her on the phone…I went in and looked for myself. I replied: “Oh…I remember this one. No…they didn’t have their eyes closed. They were actually only half closed! They were squinting.

Nothing that I can do about that…..except…..what I had already done.

I suggested that they wear ….their sunglasses.

NOPE. NO SUNGLASSES….the bride said. “I want to see his eyes”.

OK. So…there you go.

Some people have very sensitive eyes. You’re on a beach.

The UV alone….can be up to “15”. So…..it’s going to be BRIGHT!!!!!!!!

Either wear your sunglasses…..or plan your wedding for morning….before 11 am…..or after 5 pm.….as the sun is setting. It’s going to be cooler, and much less bright.

This time of day….mid-day can be very, very bright. (Tough for taking wedding photos!) It’s up to you.

All kidding aside….come down and get married. Don’t be foolish and don’t believe all of the media hype. It’s awful up around Louisiana, and that’s terrible. It’s NOT bad here however….and isn’t expected to be.

All that we have to go by is the Coast Guard, NOAA, and the United States government. If we can’t believe all of them….we’re in a lot worse trouble than this oil spill, and they’re saying that we’re not going to see it here.

Come down. Less people, better prices for everything….and no oil spill!

See ya!

Ray

JUNE 2010 blog:

June 21   UPDATE:

So…let’s talk! The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration….otherwise know as NOAA…just released the best news ever……

“There is NO TRACE of oil, sheen or tar balls anywhere near the Florida Keys”!  NONE.

Just to put you at ease while making your wedding plans:

1. The actual spill…..is 500 miles north of us.
2. Along with that, at this time of year, the strong winds out of the south have been pushing the concentration up against the southern coast of the United States pretty hard. This is why it’s turning up on “The Panhandle” beaches like Pensacola and Destin.
3. More important: Florida….has 1800 miles of coastline. The oil spill has only affected 30 miles of it.…way up north.
4. It’s not coming.  Below is the most recent NOAA observation of the Loop Current and “Franklin Eddy”….that has now spun off…to the north…and pulled any pollution up along with it.  Take a look at it!

_________________________________________________________________________________

KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY #32
June 19, 2010 • 5:30 p.m.

NOAA Suspends Offshore Oil Spill Trajectory Forecasts

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has suspended daily production of offshore Transocean/BP oil spill trajectory maps, according to a report on NOAA’s website that was confirmed by an official of the Unified Command in the Florida Keys.

If the threat of shoreline impacts to the Keys resumes, NOAA said, the agency plans to again produce offshore trajectory maps.

The website explains the suspension, because the northern end of the Loop Current has been pinched off into a large clockwise eddy (Eddy Franklin) so there is no clear path for spilled oil to enter the Loop Current from the source in the northern Gulf of Mexico that is about 500 miles northwest of Key West.

“There (also) have been no reports of recoverable oil in the Loop Current or Eddy Franklin and the oil has moved to the north and away from the Eddy Franklin (and) NOAA will continue to monitor the area with aircraft, vessel observations and satellite analysis,” the report added.

Potential impacts cannot completely be ruled out, officials said, until the leaking Transocean/BP well is completely plugged and oil no longer flows into the ocean.

Both Coast Guard and NOAA officials said they are prepared if any oil residues should reach the Keys. Officials said up to 300 trained personnel are contracted to respond to mitigate tar balls. Additional resources can be called upon, if needed. BP would fund any needed cleanup costs.

_________________________________________________________________________________

So…if you want great prices on hotels, restaurants, rental cars…..whatever….

RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME! THE VERY BEST TIME to book.  THE…BEST…TIME!

Why….is because people got freaked out with a little “tar ball” story that hit the national news a while ago. (Those few tar balls were tested…and had NO relation to the Deep Water Horizon spill.  None.  But…you know what happens…..).   So Although our hotels didn’t get many cancellations ……they didn’t book as many hotel rooms as usual for the time period.

So….there are deals to be had!  NO OIL…..DEALS TO BE HAD!

May, 2010 blog:

Dear Future Brides:

We really need to talk! I’m directing this month’s blog to you brides…..because frankly…..grooms….could care less!   They usually care more about the beer and the food after the wedding!    So it’s down to you!

Something really hit home recently that you really need to think about.   You are getting married…..OUTDOORS…..on a wide open BEACH! There is NO ROOF…..on a beach. The reason that I bring this us is………it could rain.   Could…..not will.   Could. What happens then???   You really need to take this seriously.   In April, we had 2 different brides who absolutely did the wrong thing.   Neither one of them paid any attention to our website where we discuss what happens if the weather is bad.   They also didn’t take seriously the part that strongly suggests booking your wedding…..at the very beginning of your stay here in Key West…..INSTEAD OF THE VERY LAST NIGHT!!! We love you all, but honestly…..planning your wedding for the very last night of your stay here……and not allowing yourself……and us….a “buffer” for bad weather…is…..well…….stupid!   It’s really stupid.  (Sorry…but it is.)    Our website tells you that if it should look like rain at the time of your wedding….that WE reserve the right to re-schedule your wedding ”To the nearest available date and time….that works.”   1)  OUR decision.  2) RE-schedule.    Two very key phrases!

NOW….let’s think about this a little.   Here are the issues:   1)  Your Hair and Makeup: You’re going to spend good money having these things done so that you are ultra-beautiful for your wedding….right?   You may have bride’s maids that are having these services done as well.   You obviously need to get these services performed……earlier that day, right? We try very hard to sort of predict what local radar is telling us about what the weather will look like at your scheduled time.   We’re not always right…but we come pretty close.   We also predict the weather….with your happiness in mind. (Please try to remember that.)   We also try to save you from spending all of that money on hair and makeup…….and needing to get it done again the next day!  We’re not God…however.   We’re just not.   WE CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER! You need to be reasonable…..and realistic when booking your wedding, and only book your wedding date…..with a day later or even 2 days later “buffer”……for your guests and yourself.   If you don’t……you might be disappointed.   We don’t want that. It’s true…..we get “rained out” very, very rarely. It’s almost always nice here, but every once in a while…….it’s not.   Those are the days that we need to plan for.

2)   PLAN “B” locations: Something like this….is entirely up to you…..not us.   We provide re-scheduling.   We always try very hard to provide you and your party with the exact same time…..on the next day. If that’s not possible….then we work with you to re-schedule you for a time that you like.   We don’t ever leave you hanging.   Please…..don’t leave us hanging either! Now…let’s talk about these “Plan B” locations for a moment:  a)  Your photos.   Your wedding….is going to look like it was shot in a typical hotel function room instead of out on the beautiful beach with palm trees…..because that is where we shot your all important wedding images.   Do you really want that?   Doesn’t it make sense to simply wait…..24 hours…..and have your beach wedding?   Of course it does.   PLAN AHEAD!   That’s what the term “Rain Date” means! Did I mention that you are being married…..OUTDOORS…..on a BEACH????

3)   Kicking, screaming…and sulking!: Am I kidding?  Unfortunately….NO.   Most of our brides…..are very reasonable and understanding.   They are also realistic. Every so often however…..we get a bride….or a mom…..or a dad…..or all 3……who are very rude, unreasonable…..and ridiculous about doing their wedding…….in the pouring rain. (Not kidding.)   They don’t really think about the ramifications.   They’re just wound up about that wedding….and any little change…..sets them off….and makes them crazy!    If you are one of these individuals……definitely use a “BUFFER” plan!    We don’t deal well with “crazies”.    No one here does.  There’s also no need for any of it, and it increases everybody’s stress level by 1000%!   Why?   PLEASE NOTE:  We WILL NOT perform your wedding if the weather looks bad. Been there….done that…..NEVER again.

Please, Please, Please!   When you book your wedding……book it at the beginning of your stay here……DO NOT get your heart set on a specific date, and understand that it probably will be nice and sunny when you get married…….but IF it rains…….we are going to re-schedule you to the next best time possible.   If you follow these simple guidelines……everything will go very smoothly!    We promise!    Also, on the day of your wedding, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT in your mind…..CALL US!   We’ll talk about it and come up with the best possible plan under those circumstances.  Remember:  “If you don’t look good…..we don’t look good!”

Thanks!

Ray

April, 2010 blog:

May, June and July weddings!

No matter where  you are planning on getting married, (except for Mars, perhaps), May, June and July are THE busiest months of each year….for weddings. Here in Key West……they are, without a doubt….THE BUSIEST MONTHS!!!!!!    The good news is….they are also some pretty reasonable months for hotels and room rates….because they are entering into their “slow” season or “off” season.   It also means, however, that you really need to book your wedding and plan early for these months….or lose the opportunity of choosing the exact day and time that you really want.   Even with the capacity that we have available for you, especially on Friday nights, Saturdays…and now…even Sundays…..even we can get overbooked.   But think about it….it’s already April!  You should be booked already anyway!   If you want to get married in May, June or July……think seriously about it!     It’s definitely not too early to book!

WEDDINGS….101:

We want to share some little things to try and avoid, in order to make your wedding day FUN….instead of it turning into a HORROR SHOW.   1)  BEING NERVOUS: We just completed a little study of our own.  (Not kidding.)  We asked every single bride or groom who said that they were nervous…..WHY….they were nervous.   EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM….gave us the EXACT SAME ANSWER:   “I DON”T KNOW.” Every single one….without any exception.    How foolish is that?   So we looked into it a little further, and we came up with some good advice for smart people out there who want to actually ENJOY their wedding day.   Here goes:   1)  It’s NOT like what you see on TV.   This isn’t “Who’sWedding Is It Anyway.”   This….is reality. Those are TV shows.   There is no reason to worry if you have confidence in your wedding coordinator.   There is no reason to worry for any reason.  It should be a very meaningful and pleasant experience.   If you’re still worried about something…by the time you get here…..there is definitely something seriously wrong.   You need to isolate whatever it is….and deal with it immediately.  2) “Being nervous….is part of getting married.” That…is ridiculous.  We have brides every week who are the most laid back people that we’ve ever met.   They’re not nervous.   They’re fine.  It’s DEFINITELY NOT supposed to be part of getting married.  3)  ”But my mom or my aunt or my sister or my friends or all of the above….are all making me nervous!!!.” If this is true….GET RID OF THEM!   Make them go somewhere else….and tell them to stay away from you until after the wedding.   (Not kidding.)    Try this.   It works wonders.   OK….it’s story time:   (This is a true story.)   A few months ago, we started getting calls almost every hour from a groom…..about nothing.   I finally asked: “Why…are you calling me so much?”  His answer was:  ”Oh..well…uh….because…..my bride is really nervous.” I told him that everything is fine….and stop calling.    Fast forward.   We went to pick up the bride and her mom at the hotel.   Out came this pretty, blond bride, in a beautiful wedding dress, hair done, makeup done…..looking great…..except one thing.    She had “raccoon eyes”.   “Raccoon eyes” comes from a severe lack of sleep .  So did the large bags under her eyes.   She….was a wreck.   Her mother was equally distressed.    She told us that she hadn’t slept well …..for the past 3 days, and that in fact, the night before her wedding…..she actually went by ambulance to the hospital here…..with an anxiety attack.    I immediately stopped the van and turned around to look at her.   I said:  ”Tell me that you’re joking.”  She wasn’t joking.   She was dead serious.    I proceeded to ask her and her mom what could possibly be making her that nervous?    Know what her answer was?    You got it.  ”I don’t know.”     Here’s the rest of the story:  She had been living with the groom….for the past 3 years……and they have 2 children! See anything wrong with this?   I hope that you do.   Listen, it’s not cool to be nervous on your wedding day.   It’s ridiculous.   If you don’t know why your nervous….it’s even more ridiculous still!   If he…(or she) isn’t “the right one”, or if you have to ask people what they think…..DON’T DO IT.  By the time you get to sunny Key West…..you should be “chomping on the bit” to get married!    NOT NERVOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“FUSSERS”: Uh……what is a “Fusser”? Well, it only happens once in a great while, but every so often….we run into a “fusser”.   This is someone, a mom, a girl friend, a sister…..whatever…….who literally gets titillated by tripping over themselves to make the most insignificant “adjustments” to you, your wedding gown…..whatever.   They mean well….but they really get in the way…..especially in the way of your Photographer.    By the time that you get to the beach or venue…..you’re as ready as you’re going to be.   Having a “lady in waiting” falling all over the place for no good reason….serves no good purpose.   We just had this happen.   A mom….meaning well, but really overdoing it….kept insisting on messing with the bride’s veil….(you know, the one that the bride hates and doesn’t want to wear.   Yup.  That one.)      She got right in front of the Photographer as the bride was walking down the aisle…..and right into those important photos.   We had to delete them because of it.  The brides’ veil….was way too long (Cathedral length).   When the mom finally released it…..it got caught immediatly on one of the chairs…..and came right off the bride’s head!    The bride turned around…looked at her mom with glaring eyes and said:  ”LEAVE IT, I didn’t want to wear it anywayt!”   People mean well.   They really do.  But sometimes, like at your wedding….some emotions come out of people that get way too crazy.   We don’t care, and it doesn’t really affect us…..and it is your wedding afterall.   We just want it to look as good as we can for you.   If you’re a nervous wreck, or if people are hovering all around you thinking that they’re being helpful……it will affect the overall outcome.

We love moms, we love your friends, we love everybody!   We just see….from a unique perspective….what can happen.    We simply try to help you to avoid the “crazies” that’s all!

March, 2010  blog:

From our Photography Team’s desk:  p

Sometimes……brides will call us and ask: “Why do some of my wedding photos look……washed out?    Well, that answer is easy.  It is only because one of the 10 or more friends and family members, with their little “point and shoot” digital cameras…..were flashing…..at the very same time. That’s why.  No other reason.

We love people, and we love when we all have a great time at your wedding.  We also don’t really care how many cameras are there, (obviously), ….BUT:  The more cameras that are there….blasting away at the very same time that our camera is shooting your wedding photos….will ruin your wedding images. It makes no difference who is shooting your wedding, or how good their camera equipment is, or how good their “Photoshop” program is.  Once your “original” image is blasted, (spelled OVEREXPOSED), it’s all over…for that frame.  There’s no bringing it back.  We tell everyone that.  Some listen…many don’t.  Remember….they’re your wedding images.  You’re paying us….and no one else…to shoot them.   Your friends and families all mean well …but don’t really realize that they are doing you much more damage than good by blasting away all of those flashes at the same time…..even after we have asked them not to. It’s for your benefit……not ours.

The flashes don’t really affect anything during the bright daytime hours unless they are standing very close to you.    When it does make a very damaging difference……is early morning…..OR SUNSET!  REMEMBER:  ANY OTHER FLASHES GOING OFF, AT THE SAME TIME AS OURS…DURING SUNSET…….WILL DO LOTS OF DAMAGE TO YOUR WEDDING IMAGES.  NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. We provide you with a NON copyrighted CD of your photos.  YOU can print as many photos as you want.   You can email them, Facebook them…..everything!   Why on earth would you want to risk your wedding images for no good reason?  Again, we really don’t care, but please remember:  The weddings that come out photographically the best…..are the weddings where there are no other cameras.   It’s that simple.  We don’t want to be the ‘bad guy” or “mean” to your guests.   YOU…..can be.  We….shouldn’t have to be.  We…don’t want to be.  WE…only want you to have the very best wedding images possible.  We need your help to achieve that!

MAKE UP!

Along with the “flash” subject….we would like to re-visit the make-up issue again.   We know that your wedding images are very important to you.   We want that too.   Having said that…..doing any kind of photos on a bright, UV15, hot, sunny beach…….is a hell of a lot different….than any other kind of photography. You really need to wear make-up, and your make-up really should be applied by a Professional.  It’s that simple. Here’s why:  A Professional make-up Artist will only use “Studio grade” make-up that is made for the beach type or bright lights type environment that you are going to be exposed to.   They aren’t just going to use something off of the shelf. There is a HUGE difference! You will look calm, cool and composed throughout your entire wedding day……..and what else is there?    You’ll be beautiful!

Listen…..we want you to be HAPPY!    Please let us do that.  We need your help!

February 2010 blog:

WHEN is the BEST time….for my wedding???

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times we get asked this question!   Actually…it’s a good one!  (Only…we….can’t answer that for you.)

The reason….is because it is a very subjective thing.    It all depends on one thing:  What time……you see yourself in your photos……getting married!

Sunset here,  books up the fastest year round.  Key West sunsets…are legendary, and for good reason.   A word of caution however.   IF….you need to see the actual sun in your sunset photos……get married between November 1rst and the end of February.   It’s pretty much that simple.

The sun….moves in relation to the earth…..daily.   Around December 21rst each year, we experience the shortest day of the year…and a sunset that is furthest to the south.   By June 21rst…..the longest day of the year, (and the latest sunset as well), the sun has traveled it’s furthest to the north……away from the beaches.

You still get the nice colors and romantic “natural lighting”….but not the sun itself.   Doesn’t seem to matter.   For some people….sunset is the time that they want.  Not everyone however.

There is a whole other group who only want morning! Why?   To “get it over with” ….of course!   Not making this up, that’s what they really say!   It’s not so much that getting married is an inconvenience…….it’s more that they are the type who are way overly nervous. They just don’t want to sit in a hotel room all day….all freaked out!  Here’s a story:  Not long ago….we actually had a groom that was calling us every 10 minutes or so “just checking in” to the point where we had to ask him to please…stop checking in!   There was no reason for it…and he was making us crazy!  When we picked up the bride and her mom at their hotel……the bride was a mess.  A MESS.   She looked “perfect”….but she could barely speak she was so nervous! She actually told us that she had only slept 2 hours over the past 3 nights…..and that she had spent part of “last night” ….in the hospital emergency room…..for anxiety attacks”! So….here’s the funny part. Whenever a bride or groom….(but it’s almost always the bride)…tells us how nervous she is…..I make it a point to ask them….why?   “Why…are you THIS nervous?”    Their answer…..every single time…is…..”I DON’T KNOW!!!!!!!

So…back to morning weddings.  Here’s how it goes on just about every beach, no matter where it is…but especially here.   Very few people are on the beach….before 11 am.   Almost no one.  Sometimes…it is no one.   From 11 am. to about 5 or 6 pm…..is the busiest time.   This is “seasonally adjusted” of course.   By that I mean that there are quite a few months out of the year where even during the height of the day…(and the sun)….there really aren’t people around where we perform weddings.   During a holiday period or during “spring break”…..it’s going to be more populated.   NOT PACKED.   Just more people roaming around.  Then around an hour before sunset…..they all “vaporize” back to their hotels or whatever to shower….and go downtown for the evening.  That’s how it seems to work pretty much year round.

Mid Day weddings: There is still another whole group of couples who will only consider doing their wedding…..when it’s the brightest and sunniest out.   Mid day.  That’s it.  NO other time will do!  They want the sun, the sand and the water in their photos….bright! So…everyone is different.

No matter what time you choose…..WEAR MAKEUP!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to devote an entire blog to this subject sometime really soon…..most likely as we get closer to summer.   Listen…..you are getting married….on a beach.   NOT…in a controlled lighting situation.

Consider this:

1)   It’s MEGA BRIGHT!   Every little dimple or line….is going to show like crazy…..mid day.   Morning or evening are much better….and dimmer lighting prevails.

2)   Regardless of when you are getting married……if you want great photos…..PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…….WEAR MAKEUP……have it applied…..BY A PROFESSIONAL!!   Why?   Because…..they use “Studio Grade” makeup.   It looks better under bright lighting, it doesn’t “shine” as easily….and even if you are perspiring….spelled SWEATING, you will still look great!

3)   NO ONE SHOULD GO OUT DRINKING…..the night BEFORE your wedding.  NO ONE.   YOU…and your GROOM ESPECIALLY!    DO NOT!     Here’s why: Believe me when I tell you….Key West….can handle it’s liquor…..a lot easier than you can.   From a photographer’s perspective….I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve arrived to shoot a wedding….and thought that a bunch of raccoons…were there!    Everyone…..had dark rings under their eyes, bags too.   They “looked” hung over.   The camera only shoots what it sees.  Don’t forget that.   Sometimes…the groom “needs” to have a “few quick ones” before pulling the trigger.  They can’t hurt….right?   WRONG!    Those few “quick ones” to calm his nerves…..will definitely come back to haunt him…..when he hits that bright beach,  THE SUN…and the warm temperature!   (It’s never pretty.)    The moral of the story:  DON’T DRINK THE NIGHT BEFORE…..and DEFINITELY don’t drink…right before your wedding.   It’s up to you.

So…there ya have it!    Pick your poison!    If you want pretty much TOTAL privacy for your ceremony…..there is only one time to do it…….SUN…..RISE. Sunrise….regardless of the time of year….is without a doubt….the most private time.  Why?   Because everyone else on the island…..is sleeping!    It comes early though!   Usually around 6-7 am. depending upon the date.   Sunset….is next.

Only you can decide what time works best…for you.   What is in your “mind’s eye”.   Whenever that time is…..will be the time that feels the best….for you.

January 2010 blog:

Greetings from sunny…and (usually) warm Key West, Florida!

We will be doing little articles for you on this brand new blog page monthly.   It will contain, hopefully, valuable and helpful information for you including hints on what to expect during different months of the year and especially…..getting married…..on a beach…and in the bright sunlight!

First of all, though, and most importantly, we would all like to thank all of our really great clients.   2009 was, to say the least, a very “unusual” year for the wedding business in general.  For us, however, it ended up being extremely rewarding…and successful!   We not only ended up performing more weddings and commitments than ever before in our history, but we performed quite a few ceremonies for international guests as well!   When we reviewed our year, we realized that we married couples from England, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, India, Singapore….and The People’s Republic of China! We would like to especially like to thank all of them for putting their “long distance” trust in us.   To all of our past clients, as always, we want you to know that we appreciate all of you, and we know that we would be nothing…without you.   We never forget that.  2009…..was a fantastic year for us!  Our biggest and best ever, in fact…thanks to you!   Thank you!

“Hopefully helpful” hints from us: Listen.   Let’s be honest.  Brides….dream about their wedding day from the time that they are around 3 years old!  Grooms….are thinking about the beer and food …..afterwards! As a man, and now dealing with weddings and couples every single day…..I need to tell you girls one thing:   Grooms…..cannot and should not plan your wedding!!!  NO, NO….NO! You….might think that it’s really “cute” that “honey” wants to organize the wedding……but it’s not. Grooms…..aren’t into it.   Take that to the bank.   And if they are honest……they’ll admit it to you.  And now…a little story to emphasize this hint: We had a bride call us all excited to book her wedding with us…..on the 4th of July.   We explained that on the 4th of July….there would be lots of people, and pretty  girls on the beach….with little thongs and bikinis on.  Much more so…than just about any other day of the year.   She….didn’t care.    On the morning of her wedding….she told us that she decided to bring “some decorations” and a “little arch” of her own to set up on the beach.   Uhhhhh…….we asked her who “was in charge” of setting all of that stuff up?”   Her reply:  “Oh, it’s so cute….my fiance is going there an hour earlier and doing it all….himself.”   Oh-oh.   We told her that we really didn’t think that was a good idea.  She…begged to differ with us.   OK.    Fast forward:   She…was a little late coming out of her hotel to our van.  When she arrived, she asked us to “go and make sure that everything was set up”.   We had a very busy schedule that day, it was in the 90’s, and she was late…..but we went up on the beach to look.   There was the little arch, and the decorations….laying on the beach…..amid beach blankets and towels.  But….where was the groom?    Why….he had taken his white jacket off, and his shirt off, and he was strutting back and forth across the beach, in front of the little bikini clad tourists….talking on his cell phone!   When we went up to him and asked what in hell he was doing, and why everything wasn’t set up…..his answer was:  “I don’t know what to do.  I don’t know where she wants this stuff.” Enough said.     Of course, this is an extreme example….but a true one!     We have others.    It’s not that men are stupid.   Trust me….that’s definitely not where I’m coming from.  It’s that men…..really aren’t into weddings.   They aren’t.   They’re in to you.  They want to be married (usually), but purely technically speaking……they are not into weddings.   FYI:  Men aren’t into hanging curtains either.   Same thing.  They aren’t into shopping either.   Same thing.   YOU….are the one who can visualize your wedding.    Not only can he not visualize it….he doesn’t want to either! So brides…..if you really want to have a happy wedding……you call us!   We’ll work with you….and he’ll be much happier!

NEW FOR 2010!:

We’ve “enhanced” our “White Glove Service” package!   Now…our newest (and very popular) all inclusive package…..includes an “in your hotel room” professional Hair designer and make up artist as well!  You asked for it….you got it!

NEW for 2010!:  Additional photograhy is now available for before your wedding at your hotel, after your wedding at the reception, etc.  At reduced rates, too!

NEW for 2010!:  ”Chairs ONLY” are now available!    Now, if you don’t really need our entire Decor option, you can have as many chairs only as you need delivered to the beach, set up, and then removed again after your wedding….very inexpensively!

NEW for 2010!:  BLACK & WHITE weddings!   Key West is so full of color, especially during the winter months, that we’ve been kind of reluctant to provide BLACK & WHITE or Sepia toned weddings, but we’re going to try it!   We will provide some examples for you shortly so that you can decide which format that you would like.

NEW for 2010!:  Our super popular $239 KEY WEST ISLAND WEDDINGS….are now available Every day, 7 days a week…..INCLUDING SUNSET!   Same price…..all the time (except for a couple of holidays)!

NEW for 2010!:    We are now super-excited about our brand new alliance with a great developing resort complex up in the KEY LARGO/ISLAMORADA area!  This area is beautiful….but we’ve had difficulty over the years finding “the perfect place” up there…..where weddings are actually allowed.  Well…we’ve found it!    We have just partnered up with the ALL NEW Holiday Isle Resort in Islamorada, right on the Atlantic ocean….to be their EXCLUSIVE wedding company!   We can, beginning right now, book anything from a simple beach wedding right on the water to a full blown event with catering and bar facilities up there…..at Weddings to Go! affordable prices!   Even hotel accomodations for everybody as well!   **Especially for our Miami/Ft. Lauderdale clients…..if your guests don’t want to drive all the way down to Key West…..NOW……we can be 2 HOURS CLOSER for you!!  Available now for bookings, keep checking our websites for updates!   We will have an entire page devoted to this fantastic new location coming soon!

And please remember:   Weddings to Go Key West is a year round company.  We aren’t just here “part time” during season.   We are also one of the very few companies who are licensed with both the City of Key West as well as Monroe County for your protection.

Check out our new “Monthly Blog” page every month for helpful hints specifically designed for the Florida Keys and it’s climate.   If you haven’t already….put us in your “favorite places” section. It’s faster!