Your favorite Key West Wedding Planners are happy to announce We’ve Got The Keys has been selected as a 2010 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, a special section in the popular bride’s magazine, The Knot.
The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country.
“We love being in the company of all the best professionals in the country, said WGTK president Nadene Grossman. “The brides know who make their planning easier and their day the most special. I’m proud of my planning staff!”
Okay ladies…want your Man’s input for your Wedding? Grab some champagne and take a weekend to create your own inspiration books!
As a Key West Wedding Planner, I have had many of Brides come to me with inspiration boards, books and presentations but never have I had a Bride & Groom that each have made their own!
I met Claudia & Greg this week and they both had a presentation book they had put together. This couple was hilarious from the moment I met them we laughed. Greg had picked out Wedding gowns, and even shoes he liked for Claudia. I will tell you that overall the visions were well…. “slightly” different however in the end they had great fun with this and many ideas they each had we were able to mesh together and come up with a happy compromise. After all Marriage is all about Compromise!
Heather and Marcus were married at The Casa Marina Resort in Key West. It was a lovely Key West evening and the weather was as perfect as their “we’ve got the keys” wedding!
Kristin had the opportunity to work with Jeremy Nelson of Blueshore Productions to capture the events of the day. He got some great shots and put together the trailer below.
If you are thinking of having your destination wedding any place else, take a look at this video…..I think it will change your mind!
No Shoes?…..No problem! One of the best things about having your island wedding in Key West is being able to kick back….kick off the shoes and enjoy your carefree day courtesy of We’ve Got The Keys!
Imagine our surprise at We’ve Got the Keys when the Fed Ex delivery guy came by the other morning with pizza box in hand!
Love that Zza!
Kristin and Allison had been working with a couple from New York, and at some point the conversation turned to Pizza. It turns out they were all familiar with a well known New York style pizza joint that is also known for delivering long distances!
Key West wedding photographer, Julie Ambos, recently placed 2nd, 4th, and 8th in the WORLD for the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) Awards. The WPJA is a professional organization composed of photojournalists and wedding photographers from around the world.
It’s her fourth win this year and they were all photos from “We’ve Got The Keys” weddings! Way to go STUDIO JULIE! Thank you for photographing our weddings in Key West in your award winning way!
2nd Place - Emotion
The judges said “That smile says it all. This was a simple moment with well-balanced light but the subject’s incredible expression seals the deal.” These are exactly the kind of emotions that Kristin and her team want all of our clients to feel on their wedding day!
4th Place - Reception
“What a bizarre scene!”…..but the judges said they loved how Julie added a cinematic quality to the two contrasted moments happening in the picture.
8th Place - Details
The details of a modern wedding…..When you come to Key West for a destination wedding….leave the Blackberrys behind!
10th Place - Reception
The judges said this is not a unique wedding moment, but it made a great picture because Julie was in the right position and ready to capture the whole scene.
“A good photograph…..touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it….” – Irving Penn
Two of Julie’s winning pics are from a beautiful December afternoon when Maggie and Zach surrounded themselves with family and friends in Key West as they said “I do.” It was a day filled with friends, family, tears of joy, and laughter. We were lucky to have been able to work with them to create a day that was memorable and magical for all, and fortunate to have had Julie capturing it all in a way that touches the heart and leaves the viewer wishing they were there!
Click below to see more of this Key West Destination Wedding:
Maggie and Zach's Key West Wedding Slideshow
FROM THE LATEST CONTEST
The following wedding photographers earned the highest points in the WPJA Q1 2009 wedding photography contest:
If you love Jazzy D.J.s and Princes who are Fresh…..You’re going to love this from Los Angeles based “Broke-Ass Bride“…..
BAB’s wedding videographer included a “love story” video as part of their package. They took the fresh approach and designed this off the hook music video that was shown at their wedding reception.
Broke Ass Bride and her Hubby
One day, the future newlyweds were chillin’ out, maxin’ and relaxin’ all cool. They were shootin’ around video ideas and decided to go “old school”!
I figured that since the “We’ve Got the Keys” blog has been talking about music in Key West lately we might as well spend a little time and talk about the music at your Key West wedding.
“We’ve Got the Keys” works with the best musicians and D.J. services in Key West. We know that Good music makes a Great wedding reception, and we will make sure your guests are talking about your wedding long after the last dance….for ALL the right reasons…..But we’ll need your help! (see below)
What will you dance to for the first song?
ATTENTION GROOMS – TO – BE:
(This message is from the lone male in the “We’ve Got the Keys” office!)
GREAT NEWS !! If you are lucky, your lovely fiance will work closely with Kristin, Megan, or Allison to go over every little detail of what will be one of the happiest days of your life.
But WHAT’S EVEN BETTER?…..”You’re a Guy!” The wedding reception that you have always dreamed of ever since you were a little boy is going to happen, and you are pretty much exempt from most of the planning!
The Wedding Singer
Most wedding experts will agree that music selection falls under the duties of a groom…..This post is here to warn you that those same experts are in a gazillion wedding magazines, and websites listing songs they say you “must have” on your play list.
They offer suggestions for first dances with categories like Hip, Rockin, Funny, Country, Jazzy, Classic, Romantic, and Soulful. They even have a list of 54 “Beachy Tunes” they say will make a “splash” at your beach bash wedding!
These lists offer good starting points, but include a lot of cheesy, boring, music, so be careful…and remember… just because your fiance likes to sing it to you when it comes on the radio in the car it doesn’t mean it belongs at your wedding reception.
“They” say all the single ladies will like this one (below) and it should be played at the bouquet toss. “I” say EVERYONE will like it and play it whenever you want!!!…..
Below are my suggestions for songs that should NOT be played at your wedding reception.
Why? M C A?
Might have been fun at one time but overused:
DO NOT PLAY
“The Macarena”
“The Chicken Dance”
“Electric Boogie”
“YMCA”
DANCE!
Stalking, Surviving Past Loves, and Shotgun Weddings:
DO NOT PLAY
“Every Breath You Take” – The Police
“My Heart Will Go On” – Celine Dion
“I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
“Candle in the Wind” – Elton John
“White Wedding” – Billy Idol
“Shotgun Wedding” – Rod Stewart
DANCE!!
Anything by Chicago, Journey, or Whitney Houston:
DO NOT PLAY
Chicago
Journey
Whitney Houston
DANCE!!
You Know Why:
DO NOT PLAY
“Jesse’s Girl” – Rick Springfield
“If You Can’t Be With the One you Love, Love the One You’re With”
“Gold Digger” – Kanye West
“My Best Friend’s Girl” – The Cars
Whatever you play….Just Remember…..It’s YOUR party! HAVE FUN!
“Sing like no one’s listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching, and Live like it’s Heaven on Earth.” – Mark Twain
For 14 years the Key West Songwriters’ Festival has grown and evolved to include theater experiences and mainstage performances in addition to the intimate venues around Key West. This year’s mainstage event was held on the Ocean Key’s Sunset Pier featuring an opening set by Robert Earl Keen followed by award winning singer songwriter Jamey Johnson and his band the Kent Hardly Playboys. The weather was perfect, the pier was packed, and the bands picked into the night.
Key West Songwriters' Festival Main Stage
Robert Earl Keen is a talented Texas songwriter with 15 albums under his belt. His mixture of tales that go from sensitive story portraits to raucous barroom fun seem to fit in Key West as well as they do in his native Houston.
Robert Earl Keen at the San Carlos Theater
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson currently has a top ten hit “In Color” and in additional to his own great songs, He has co-written singles for the likes of Trace Atkins, Joe Nichols and George Strait.
Key West Color
Chas Sanford and Nadene at Tropic Cinema
Robert Earl Keen and Raul Malo in the Lobby at Tropic Cinema
Not long ago, Key West was in desperate need of a theater to show the best of independent, foreign and alternative movies. In 2004 the Key West Film Society opened the Tropic Cinema as home not only to movies but also to a wide variety of community cultural events from literary lectures to our very own Key West Songwriters’ Festival.
Tropic Cinema - Key West
Tropic Theater Stage
The Theater at San Carlos
The San Carlos Institute - Key West
2009 marked the first time that the San Carlos Theater was used for performances at the Key West Songwriters’ Festival. The San Carlos is one of Florida’s most beautiful and historic landmarks. Founded in 1871 by Cuban exiles in Key West as and educational, civic, and patriotic center. It is a multi-purpose facility that serves as a museum, library, art gallery and theater. It is the perfect addition to the festival and some songwriters even expressed interest in coming back to perform their own shows in Key West at San Carlos.
Paul Overstreet
Scotty Emerick and Paul Overstreet
Scotty Emerick - Back from Iraq
When Scotty Emerick landed in Key West for the 14th Annual Songwriters’ Festival he had just returned from a USO tour with Toby Keith for American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has co-written with Keith on smash hits like “I’m Just Talkin About Tonight,” “Beer for My Horses,” “I Love This Bar,” “Whiskey Girl” and “As Good As I Once Was” . Click on the video link below to see Emerick perform his song “Love Me Like My Dog” at the Key West Songwriters’ Festival. You’ll enjoy it…. even if you don’t have a dog!
Traditionally a country music lineup, this year’s Key West Songwriters’ Festival drew outside the lines and included Kim Carnes “Betty Davis Eyes,” Shawn Mullins who wrote and performs the smash hit “Lullaby,” and Chris Barron, formerly with the alternative rock group the Spin Doctors “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes”
Kim Carnes
Kim Carnes, Tim Nichols, and Connie Harrington
Shawn Mullins
Chuck Cannon, Shawn Mullins, and Chuck Jones
Unfortunately this year’s festival has come to a close and these talented musicians and songwriters have had to return to Nashville. Hopefully they have been inspired by their Key West experience to write the next number one hit! If you haven’t experienced the Key West Songwriters’ Festival, make your plans now….we’ll do it all again next year! …..
Until then…we’ll keep the Pina Coladas cold for you!
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