Julie and Jeremy - See These "Two Friends" Get Married During Fantasy Fest!
The email came from someone I’ve known for years…
Danny Hughes and his wife Maura own a local Key West restaurant that has been around since the days of black and white photographs, a place called Two Friends Patio.
They’d received word from some of their establishment’s biggest fans, Julie and Jeremy (a fact the couple proved by sharing a photo of their matching tattoos depicting the famous Two Friends logo) that the couple wanted to elope to Key West, and celebrate their reception at the famous location!
Talk about brand loyalty!
After an introduction, I connected the couple with Bradi Parks, a local wedding planner with Catered Affairs, to help oversee the details, logistics, timing, and connect them further with local vendors who could turn their dream into a reality.
Press PLAY to relive their Key West Elopement below!
The day of the wedding arrives and Julie arrived at the studio to have her hair and makeup done by Talie Ayers, a stylist with Beauty Boutique and the Glam Squad. She opted for a half-up style with curls on the end, and a natural but glamorous makeup style that just gorgeous in the island setting.
I captured some of her special details, including a custom book they had made, a fun drink coozie, her rings, and a cherished photo of her dad, which she carried with her down the aisle.
The flowers that arrived from Love in Bloom looked lovely and had that soft and casual tropical feel she was going for.
We set up a nice first look moment for the couple to see each other for the first time, using the picturesque entrance of my studio building as the setting, both to keep them out of the heat but also because the lighting coming in from the historic wooden doors was just gorgeous.
After a few quick photos of the couple both together and individually, we set off for Higgs Beach, where officiant Ana Aguilar was there ready to oversee the ceremony behind the historic West Martello Tower.
The couple exchanged their vows with the waves crashing against the sea wall in the background, and exchanged rings under the crystal clear blue skies of the Key West sunshine. It was a very heartwarming ceremony in which they read their handwritten vows to one another, and both of them got a little teary eyed before they could finish reading. If you look closely, you’ll see the tear on Julie’s cheek. #heartemoji
After combining two sets of colorful sand from the decorative conch shells into an amber bottle, combined with the natural sand of Higgs Beach, the couple were officially joined as husband and wife, with a beautiful kiss as they were announced as Mr and Mrs!
After some hugs and photos with the officiant and wedding planner, I took the couple down the beach to enjoy the sights, grabbing photos of them up on the sea wall with the island sky and ocean behind them.
We made sure to take advantage of the adjacent fortress at the West Martello tower, with its historic arches and worn red brick structure. It makes a great place for architectural style photos and long perspective shots that shows off the texture and character of the building.
Next it was time to hit the road and grab some wedding photos as we made our way to their reception. We stopped off in Bahama Village, one of my favorite places to shoot with its colorful facades and funky buildings.
Walking through the streets of Key West, it was clear that the couple were genuinely having a good time and so happy to finally be married. We chuckled as Jeremy updated his Facebook status, and Julie made sure to Facetime with their kids back home who had been awaiting an update on the status of the nuptials!
Of course with it being the morning before the Fantasy Fest parade, we got to take advantage of a Duval Street setting that was completely devoid of cars, and walk down the middle of the town like they owned the place! The cheers from the onlookers on the sidewalk made it even more fun, with some yelling words of encouragement and others playfully comical urges to run. :) . The couple took it in stride (literally) and gave the people what they wanted, with a big kiss in the middle of downtown Key West!
When we arrived at Two Friends Patio, a table had been reserved for the couple so that they could be in the middle of the action, near the bar, and with entertainment on stage. Despite having initially had a line wrapped around the building, they were able to go right in and sit down to relax and enjoy their meal. I took that time to capture some of the details of the rings, cake, building, and capture candids of the couple sipping their colorful cocktails in a joy-filled “cheers”!
After cutting the cake, it was time for the first dance, and the musician invited everyone to congratulate them on their wedding as Jeremy led his new wife in a slow song with smiles and laughter.
After the dance, we made our way outside one more time to capture some final photos on Front Street, incorporating the unique downtown architecture, meeting some interesting characters (who wanted to gift the couple with a random teal rug, no less!) and finishing the day with Jeremy and Julie dancing their way down the cobblestone streets, officially joining the ranks of many who call Key West their second home and now get to count it as the place they got married!
For a little recap of some of our favorite photos from the day, enjoy their slideshow below:
Congratulations to the happy couple, and thank you for including us in your special celebration!
Ceremony Venue: Higgs Beach
Reception Venue: Two Friends Patio
Planner: Bradi | Catered Affairs
Hair and Makeup: Talie | Beauty Boutique & the Glam Squad
Officiant: Ana Aguilar
Flowers: Love in Bloom
Rings: Kay Jewelers
Dress: Lane Bryant
Key West Photographer: Karrie Porter