Key West Wedding

Their first dance song was Kenny Chesney’s “You And Tequila Make Me Crazy” — the reason?  On Ali and Caleb’s first date, tequila was the cocktail of choice…a few weeks after their first date, Kenny Chesney hit the radio with the island ballad and Caleb called Ali up and said that had to be their song.  A few short years later, the Chesney tune performed by Key West’s Rusty Lemmon, made an excellent beginning to the rest of their lives as husband and wife.

Ali and Caleb’s Key West ceremony at The Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea and reception at Waldorf Astoria’s The Reach, was simply perfect.  Ali and I chatted months ago about their families and friends coming from all over the United States, mainly from Pennsylvania, making their wedding a fun destination weekend!

The day started at a little Key West bungalow style rental property, called Louisa, that only the Florida Key’s knows how to do well.  This rental was so perfect for a photographer looking to capture pretty lighting!  From the white walls to the beach sand colored tiled floors some of my favorite “getting ready” moments were captured in that space.  Something most brides may not think about, but where you put on your wedding dress is so awesome if there’s pretty lighting!

The ceremony at The Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea was a gorgeous chapel with an upstairs balcony 🙂 …hello, photographers dream!  And the minister gave such a sentimental eulogy to Ali and Caleb.  I like how one of the comments the minister made was “wake up every morning and think of a way to be the best husband or best wife you can be.”  Wonderful ceremonies always make me sentimental and appreciate my own marriage.

After the ceremony we took a trolly around Key West with the bridal party, stopping at a few favorite places of Ali and Caleb, one of my favorites being Key West’s famous, The Green Parrot.  It was a fun break in-between photos for the bridal party to stop in and relax, get a cocktail and then continue on with photos 🙂 Every wedding should have a cocktail break!

Then the photo-session followed with one of the most fun receptions!  Ali and Caleb’s friends and family did not stop dancing, the entire evening.  Seriously.  So fun.  Great job Rusty Lemmon for keeping the party hopping!  And great job, Ali and Caleb for having such fabulous friends 🙂