Stunningly Elegant Key West Real Wedding

Taryn and Zach came all the way from Germany, where Zach is stationed, to get married in paradise. From proteas to their beloved puppy, their wedding day was the iconic destination wedding. Every detail oozed class, with a distinctive tropical elegance. It was captured beautifully with digital images and film scans by the oh-so-talented Iris Moore Photography.

Each carefully curated detail makes this magical day feel as if it is straight out the pages of a romance novel. Take a few minutes to daydream with us at the historic Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West with a stroll down Taryn and Zach's memory lane. We won't tell!

GETTING READY

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Taryn and her bridesmaids got ready at a classic old Key West cottage with a dreamy front porch and white picket fence. The bride spent a lot of time making things special for every last part of her wedding day, and the morning of was no different. 

Custom hangers for the dresses and matching floral robes made for beautiful pictures, and each accessory for her day was a perfect fit - from her stunning solitaire ring to her lace-wrapped clutch, lace and rhinestone garters, and Badgley Mischka heels. Her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel got ready with the girls, and what can we say besides adorable?

CEREMONY

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Guests were welcomed by a large gold-framed welcome sign with the couple's names and wedding date as well as sheet music cones filled with leaf 'confetti' for guests to toss as the newlyweds walk down the aisle after saying their I Do's. The wedding arbor was accented with fabric and soft florals and stood in front of the water.

Taryn and Zach were married at The Point, located on the west side of Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico meet. Located at the entry of the Key West shipping channel, The Point is always an active site with boats sailing by, fishing boats coming and going, and an occasional cruise ship passing. The breathtaking views made for a wonderful backdrop to the couple's nuptials.

RECEPTION

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Taryn worked closely with Fort Zachary Taylor's event director Kirsten who helped her to make every last detail perfect. Kristen and her team handled vendors, set up, and all of the day-of details, resulting in a spectacular affair that the bride and groom were able to enjoy without any worries. The reception was held in the Fortress, and was nothing short of magical.

The fort was built in the mid 1800’s to defend the southern coastline of the United States, and is used today as a state park. Cannons line the long, narrow reception area made entirely of brick and open to the outside through wide archways. String lights lit up the night both above the reception tables and outside, above the cozy seating area for guests to retreat to throughout the evening. Airy linen table runners, gold lanterns and candlesticks, lush greenery, and heartfelt thank you notes adorned the long tables. Don't mind us daydreaming the afternoon away!

Photographer: Iris Moore Photography

Event Venue: Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Reception Venue: Fort Zachary Taylor

Floral Designer: Duarte Floral Design

Invitation Designer: Minted

Officiant: Rev. Steve Torrence

DJ: SoundWave Productions

Equipment Rentals: Eventfully Yours Rentals

Dress Designer: Ti Adora by Alvina Valenta

Dress Store: Wolsfelt's Bridal

Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo

Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Generation Tux

Hair Stylist: Bella Luxe Hair & Makeup

Transportation: Old Town Trolley Tours

Cake Designer: Key West Cakes

Caterer: Catered Affairs of Key West

What Your Hotel Welcome Gift Bags Are Missing

We recently shared what hotel welcome bags are and why you might decide to gift them to your out-of-town guests. The hardest part now is choosing what to put in them! Here’s our guide to filling your hotel welcome gift bags to help you make sure you don't leave out anything important.

Source: Frosted Plastic Welcome Bags

These bags can be as simple or as extravagant as you want them to be – anything from a couple basic necessities to a location-themed grab bag. Throw items in the bag willy-nilly or connect them all with a theme. The goal of these bags should be to help your guests feel more comfortable during their travels.

The Necessities

• Bottles of water
• Personalized water bottles, koozies or flasks
• Outdoor items like sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, handwarmers, or a rain poncho
• Advil/tums/bandaids
• An area map
• Mints or gum
• A grooming set with tweezers, nail clippers, and a nail file

 Source: Water Bottles, Custom Lip Balm, Monogrammed Floral Sunglasses

Local Gifts

• Write a personalized guide to your favorite nearby restaurants and attractions
• Include gift cards or coupons for a restaurant (bonus: you can use these almost like tissue paper as a filler, too!)
• Locally-made food or drinks
• Check out this list of state-specific souvenir ideas

Source: Colorado, Vienna

The Practical

• Portable phone charger
• A note that says “Please call anyone but the bride” and a list of phone numbers for people who know the area and the weekend’s events
•  Snacks
• Fresh fruit
• Power bars
• Trail mix
• Chocolates
• Bride’s and groom’s favorite candy or snack
• Something sweet and something salty
• Clothing-repair kit
• Mini sewing kit
• Safety pins
• Wrinkle release spray
• Lint roller
• Bottle opener
• Hand sanitizer

Source: Bottle Openers, Phone List

The Extra

• Alcohol
• Champagne is a good go-to, but don’t be afraid to include a local wine or a couple bottles of the bride’s and groom’s favorite beers or ciders
• Coffee – beans, grounds, or already brewed
• Candles or incense
• Lotion or soap
• Deck of cards or travel-sized game
• A hardy plant like a cactus or succulent
• A small notebook and pen
• A disposable camera
• Lip balm
• Nail polish
• An uber promo code for your event
• Febreeze or air freshener
• A recipe for a dish served at the wedding or unique to the area

Source: Cards, Plant, Candles

The Whimsical

• A lottery ticket
• The bride and groom’s favorite toys
• A favorite book or a book set in the area
• A handwritten book telling the couple’s love story
• Personalized “do not disturb sign” for their hotel room door
• A framed print of a map or photograph of the area or wedding venue
• Sparklers or small fireworks
• Postcards from the area your guests can send back home
• Drink coasters

Source: Box, Postcards

Themed Bags

• Wedding
• How can you tie your wedding theme into the gift bags?
• Wedding destination
• Focus on the unique, local items and maps
• Candy
• In addition to a variety of candy, include candy-scented candles, make-your-own candy kits, candy-flavored alcohol
• Travel
• Neck pillows, small blankets, eye masks, noise-canceling headphone, reusable water bottles, reusable bags, sunglasses, hats, passport holder, toiletry bag
• Spa
• Lotion, tanning oil or sunscreen, face and eye masks, coupon or gift card for a massage after the wedding (or a handheld massager), wine
• Color
• Use your wedding colors or another favorite color scheme and choose items suggested above within that color scheme
• For example, yellow, pink, and orange: yellow-framed sunglasses, mini bottles of orange juice and pink champagne, lemon-scented soap or lotion, a rose-scented candle
• Activities
• If there's a lot to do near the wedding venue, center your gift bags around these activities: sunglasses, energy bars and trail mix, trail guides, coupons for the activities, a local scavenger hunt
• Games
• A deck of cards, travel-sized checkers or scrabble, a book of road trip games, mad libs, plus all the best gaming snacks (chips, chocolate, popcorn, pretzels, m&ms or skittles)

Source: Travel Bag, Italy, Pineapple Theme, Toiletry Bag

Make sure you include a note explaining why you included the personal items! Who likes which candy or drink? Why did you choose that particular quote for the bag? Which restaurant is your favorite and why?

Keep in mind you’re doing this to help your guests feel more comfortable away from home, and think about their favorite things. You’ll also need to remember who is driving and who is flying – and what they’ll be able to fit in their luggage.

Have a little fun with the bags. Because you're not giving them to every wedding guest, you can make them more personal and give yourself a chance to think about how much this guest means to you and why you're so happy to have them attend your wedding.

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

The Ultimate Guide to Hotel Wedding Welcome Gift Bags

Remember that wedding you went to when you had to travel for hours and then drag your luggage to your hotel room and you collapsed on the bed only to immediately realize you had forgotten your toothbrush? Or you magically arrived hours early and suddenly you needed something to do for the rest of the day, but the hotel’s welcome book was missing from the nightstand, so you ended up at a two-star restaurant on accident?

You don’t want that to happen to your guests who are traveling to your wedding. You want them to have just as magical a weekend as you will have. We've created this guide to hotel wedding welcome gift bags to help you make the start of their weekend spectacular.

Source: Canvas Bag

How Many Will You Need?
You will want to plan on putting together a bag for any guest who is traveling in order to attend your wedding. Whether they’re staying in a hotel or with a family member, these gift bags are just one small way you can make their visit more comfortable.

If you are reserving a block of rooms at a hotel or multiple hotels in your area, check in at least a month or two in advance to get an estimate of how many people have made reservations so far. You will want to add some extra for guests that may be staying with other family members, or who simply haven't made their travel plans yet.  

Choosing Your Packaging
Hotel welcome gift bags are bags filled with anything from useful to whimsical, from generic to personal. Give to your out-of-town wedding guests to make their weekends just a little better. Travel can be so stressful; it’s heartwarming to know the bride and groom are thoughtful, even when they are busy with last-minute wedding details.

There are TONS of gift bags out there. How will you ever decide which one to use?! First, set a budget and decide what items you want to include. Once you know how much money you have left over for the bag, it should be easier to pick a style.

• Do you have a lot of items to include? Consider a canvas bag, which is sturdier and will be able to hold more, and will also hold up better than a paper bag – not to mention they’re reusable, making the bag itself part of the gift.
• Plastic or paper bags will keep your cost down, and they can be easily “dressed up” with a personalized print.
• If you do want to personalize the bag, consider a frosted plastic with a bright, bold color for the print.

Source: Plastic Bag, Canvas Bag, Paper Bag

Curating The Contents
The welcome gift bags can be as simple or as extravagant as you’d like. Here are some basic guidelines for what to include.

• The necessities/things commonly forgotten while traveling
• Something special/unique to the area
• Snacks: sweet, salty, and savory
• Water bottles – ensure your guests stay hydrated
• Wedding itinerary or invitation to ensure guests know the timeline for all of your events
• Recommendations for the area; what to do, where to eat, etc. Bonus points if you include coupons!
• A note or letter from the bride and groom welcoming the guests
• Tissue paper or other filler

Source: Frosted Bag

Deciding On Delivery

The delivery may be the trickiest part of the gift. Should the bags be waiting in your guests’ hotel rooms? At the front desk when they check in? Should you hand-deliver them? Or wait until the first wedding event?

The simplest delivery method is to trust the hotel staff with the bags. The staff can keep them at the desk (be sure to write the guests’ full names on the bags!) or may even be able to deliver them to the guests' rooms before they arrive. If the guests are staying with a family member or friend, it should be no problem for you to drop the bags off at the houses before your guests get in. Delivering bags in person is probably the best way, but you’re going to be busy, so don’t sweat it if you won’t be able to greet everyone when they get to town. If everyone will be at the rehearsal dinner, you can hand them out after. Or maybe this is the perfect excuse to host a bonfire the night everyone arrives – you can have a relaxing evening and still get to watch your guests’ reactions when they see the bags!

Is It Really Worth It?

If you’re having a destination wedding, your guests are spending a lot of money on travel to be with you. If you’re not having a destination wedding but do have out-of-town guests, it’s a way to thank them for taking the extra time to travel to you. Out-of-town guests who don’t know the area may be uncomfortable being in a new place at such an important time. A welcome gift bag is a really easy way for you to let your guests know how much you appreciate the time and effort they put into being at your wedding.

Consider the luggage restrictions for travelers. There are so many rules for what you can and can’t take on an airplane, or maybe your guests don’t have access to a big enough car. They’ll have to cut down on what they pack, and the stress can cause them to forget something they actually need, or they may have to forgo something they might or might not need because they couldn’t quite justify the space it would take up without being certain they'll use it. Guests who are traveling - with kids in particular - have to make sacrifices with what they pack. Including items in the gift bags for kids (coloring books, bubbles, small toys, etc.) can relieve some of that stress.

Source: Thank You Bags

Assembling Your Gifts 

How can you possibly make time for ordering the pieces, filling the bags, and delivering them?! This last week before your wedding is probably your busiest. Consider these bags a chance to relax. Pour a glass of wine, sit down with your partner, and have fun with it. Hand write the notes and arrange the bags like they’re floral bouquets and placement matters. Or, if you really don’t have time, enlist a younger sibling or cousin to help – they may have fun with it! Even better: make the bags way in advance. As long as you're not including any perishable items, you can also put the bags together as early as you want. Even if you do want to include some perishable items, you can start the bags any time and add to them as the date gets closer.

You can save time (and money on shipping!) by ordering everything for the bag from one website, too.

Source: Canvas Bag

A welcome gift bag is an easy and thoughtful way to help your guests relax and enjoy their weekend that much more.

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.

Product Spotlight: Heart Drop Shadow Box Guest Book

Guest books for any event are a wonderful thing. Years later, you can look back and read your loved ones’ kind words and remember exactly who was there celebrating with you. 

The problem with more traditional guest books is they tend to get lost on a bookshelf or forgotten in a box filled with pictures and memorabilia. No matter how good our intentions are, items like guest books are usually eventually considered clutter and are put away somewhere.

That’s just one reason among many couples are choosing alternative guest books more often. One gorgeous alternative to a book is this shadow box with silver and gold wooden hearts for guests to sign. The box has hooks on the back, so you can hang it on a wall – meaning no clutter and no lost cardboard box full of wedding momentos for this guest book! It’s only 1.5 inches deep, too, so it won’t stick out too far on the wall.

Source: Shadow Box Display

The plexiglass can be etched as well, allowing you to personalize your box with either two lines of text (anything from your names and the wedding date to your wedding’s social media hashtag) or a single initial, in addition to the floral prints above and below.

Check out how one of our customers designed hers:

Photo Credit: Emma Cleary Photo & Video

These shadow boxes make excellent gifts at different events as well. Are you going to a baby shower? This shadow box can be hung in the baby’s room, so she/he can grow up reading the names on the hearts and know how many people love her/him. Is a bride having two bridal showers? The guests at each party can sign one color of the hearts; the mingling of the colors inside the shadow box represents the mingling of two families. Birthday parties, graduations, anniversary parties – the possibilities for this beautiful box are endless. The simplicity of the box paired with the color and design options also ensure this box will fit any theme or color scheme at the party.

Source: Gold, Silver

After the party, it’s sure to grab anyone’s attention hanging on your wall, and this can lead to even more stories about the event. You will add to your memories time and time again over the years with the box always in sight.

Elizabeth graduated from The University of Findlay with a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing. She now resides in Portland, Oregon where she is employed in the real estate business and is particularly enjoying the local cuisine. As a writer, Elizabeth believes in a quote from one of her favorite TV shows: "We have only two jobs on this Earth. The first: to learn. The second: to cope." A deep desire to learn struck Elizabeth when she was young, and now she hopes to help you cope by sharing information, and helping you apply the knowledge. Weddings and event planning can be overwhelming; sometimes it's okay to take a little advice from a stranger on the internet.