Outdoor Wedding in Key West :: Old Town Manor Weddings

A beachside ceremony and garden reception were the perfect fit for Meg & Mike’s outdoor wedding in Key West.

Meg and Mike from San Francisco looked no further than Old Town Manor for their outdoor wedding reception and guest accommodations last November. Their guest list was the perfect size of 35 to create an intimate and meaningful evening for all. Instead of re-telling their stories, we put them in the hot seat. Here’s what they said.

How did you meet?

Meg: I was waiting for a friend in Mike’s bar. I ordered a Black & Tan and when I finished he suggested I try a Koko Brown. The rest is history!

Why do you love Key West?

Everywhere we went we were greeted with a smile. Key West was so accepting of our group and made us feel like family. We even had a good time at the courthouse when we got the marriage license.

What was your favorite moment of the evening?

Our first dance, it was like we were the only people in Old Town Manor’s garden

outdoor wedding - Maggie Stolzberg Photography

What song did you dance to?

“Til There Was You” by Etta Jones. Since we hired Mitch Marcus Trio – a jazz band – we wanted to make sure that it was a song that would work with a three piece (band) and would be danceable. The lyrics fit our mood just perfectly.

Which Key West vendor did you choose first for your outdoor wedding?

We booked Old Town Manor first. The venue was the tropical atmosphere we were looking for and the intimate size that would accommodate our small group.

How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding day?

Mike: We made sure that our extreme love of food and music was part of the planning. We created items that we were not able to find on our own to really make the wedding our own. Meg even spent hours creating paper flower escort cards and menus to fit our personalities. We are both big sports fans and we even incorporated retired numbers from our favorite teams as table numbers.

What was your favorite part of the dinner spread from your caterer, Great Events?

Meg: The beet and citrus ceviche was outstanding and surprising.

Mike: The raw bar, which was the meeting spot for all of the guests at the wedding.

What was your favorite decorative piece or element?

Meg: We had succulents in my bouquet and as Mike’s boutonniere. Those succulents are now planted and are growing healthy and strong.

Mike: Meg had custom terrapin (turtles) made by an artist friend. She surprised me with them the night before the wedding. They are based on the terrapins from the Grateful Dead – Terrapin Station album.