Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Molly Malone's Irish Pub & Restaurant

Wedding Reception

Our Wedding

From the beginning, it was pretty amazing how much we had in common. We both feel most at home anywhere that the sun is shining and great music is playing, especially when there’s sand under our feet and a warm ocean to sit next to.Whether we were sharing our favorite musicians and bands with each other (Jimmy Buffett being near the top of the list), planning our next warm-weather escape, or just making each other laugh uncontrollably, it didn’t take long for us to realize we had each found something special in the other person and that we wanted to experience whatever life had to offer (or throw at us) together, side-by-side, from here on out.In six and a half years together as a couple, our adventures have taken us from everyday moments to unforgettable memories. One of those memories happened last December in Key West, a place that we had traveled to a few times together and that already felt like ours. On a quiet late-night stroll and with (surprisingly) nobody else around, we got engaged near the water, in front of sailboats and palm trees lit with Christmas lights, with Jimmy Buffett’s sticker covered recording studio as the backdrop. Sounds fitting, right?Now we’re ready to return to the place that started this new chapter and celebrate the beginning of the rest of our lives together surrounded by the people we love. We can’t wait to have our wedding in Key West! It’s a place that we will forever call ours, a place where we are thankful when the sun rises and where we celebrate it when it sets. A place where we can listen to live music all day and night in countless places around the island, and where the sand under our toes and Mother Ocean’s constant calling makes it feel like Jimmy Buffett would have loved to have been at our wedding, and maybe even played us one of our favorite songs.Hey, Jimmy, we would have loved that too.

From here on out...

Our Story

Photos

Julie Turner

David Helton, Jr.

Cyndy + Dan Jones

Jeannie + Keith Mitchell

Ruben Turner + Dee 

David + Liz Helton

Jenn + Nate Smith

Emily Helton

Jess + Jason Canterbury

Pete Morrow

Ashlee Clore

Anthony Petrillo

Wedding Attendees

Q + A

Julie + DavidArriving: Mon, Dec 8 @ 12:39pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @1:19pmAccommodations: Key West Harbor Inn219 Elizabeth Street

Dan + CyndyArriving: Fri, Dec 12 @ 12:39pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 1:19pmAccommodations: Key West Harbor Inn219 Elizabeth Street

Ruben + DeeArriving:Departing:Accommodations: Best Western Hibiscus Motel1313 Simonton Street

Keith + JeannieArriving: Thurs, Dec 11, @ Approx 3pm (driving)Departing: Mon, Dec 15, early morning (driving)Accommodations: Best Western Hibiscus Motel1313 Simonton Street

David, Liz, + ZackArriving: Friday mid-day (driving)Departing: Sunday morningAccommodations: Blue Marlin Motel1320 Simonton Street

Nate + JennArriving: Wed, Dec 10 @ 5:15pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 3:02pmAccommodations: Best Western Hibiscus Motel1313 Simonton Street

Jason + JessArriving: Fri, Dec 12 @ 12:39pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 1:19pmAccommodations: Best Western Hibiscus Motel1313 Simonton Street

EmilyArriving: Thurs, Dec 11 @ 10:19amDeparting: Sun, Dec 14 @ 10:59amAccommodations: Best Western Hibiscus Motel1313 Simonton Street

JeanaArriving: Thurs, Dec 11 @ 9:37pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 3:54pmAccommodations: The Garden House329 Elizabeth Street

Ashlee + JoelArriving: Fri, Dec 12 @ 12:39pmDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 1:19pmAccommodations: Key West Harbor Inn219 Elizabeth Street

AnthonyArriving: Wed, Dec 10 @ 10:07amDeparting: Mon, Dec 15 @ 11:04amAccommodations: The Speakeasy Inn1117 Duval Street

PeteArriving: Thurs, Dec 11 @ 10:19amDeparting: Sun, Dec 14 @ 10:59amAccommodations: The Speakeasy Inn1117 Duval Street

KaylaArriving: Fri, Dec 12 @Departing: Sun, Dec 14 @Accommodations: The Garden House329 Elizabeth Street

Allison + MartyArriving: Fri, Dec 12Departing: Mon, Dec 14Accommodations: Air BNBElizabeth St. &amp; Fleming St.

Travel Info

The former home of author Ernest Hemingway, now a museum with his legacy on display—historic furniture, lush gardens, and famously six-toed cats.

The Hemingway Home and Museum

Historic fort from the Civil War era, plus one of Key West’s best beaches and sunset viewpoints.&nbsp;

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach

A lively waterfront plaza where locals and visitors gather each evening to watch (and cheer for!) the sunset, street performers, and local food carts.

Mallory Square

Historic aquarium located on the island’s famous waterfront, featuring interactive exhibits of both salt and fresh water marine animals. Local species of sharks, moray eels, and rehabilitated sea turtles are some of our favorites.

Key West Aquarium

The museum—which is located in a 1910 building that originally served as a Navy storehouse—is home to pieces of four ships: the Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, which both sank during a 1622 hurricane; The St. John’s Wreck, which transported conquistadors to the Caribbean in the mid-16th century; and the Henrietta Marie, an English slave ship that wrecked less than 50 miles off the coast of Key West. In 1985 Mel Fisher discovered the majority of what the Atocha was carrying; $450 million worth of gold, silver and Muzo Colombian emeralds.This museum is a riveting look at the island's maritime history, and as far as Key West museums go, it's a must-visit!

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

In front of the Waterfront Playhouse in Mallory Square is the Key West sculpture garden, where history meets art. It opened in September 1997 and features 39 bronze busts of the pioneering men and women that have had a huge impact on the island city of Key West. These particular people were chosen to be immortalized in the garden due to their talent, ideas and innovations which helped to shape the island, making lasting impacts both seen and unseen. In addition to the busts, you will also see a huge statue erected in honor of the wreckers. These wreckers once made the island of Key West the richest city in the country.&nbsp;“The Wreckers,” at 18 feet long and 25 feet high, depict these men saving lives and cargo from a vessel shipwrecked on our reef. The monument was created by sculptor James Mastin of Miami, Florida.

Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden

The Key West Lighthouse was built in 1825 to help the many ships entering the port avoid the hazardous reefs. Today, you can climb the 88 iron steps to the top of the tower for a scenic look at what the lighthouse keepers watched over for more than 120 years. Tour the grounds to see the Keeper’s Quarters which have been restored to their original charm and view the displays of nautical artifacts, antique furnishings, maps &amp; vintage photos. If you’re up for the climb, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Key West and the ocean.

Key West Lighthouse

Guests to the Sails to Rails Museum will journey through the Age of Sail, a time when tall ships plied the treacherous waters of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys from the 1500s to early 1900s. These waters were once filled with treasure-laden Spanish galleons, dreaded pirates, merchant ships and more as the New World made its riches known to all who sailed her waters. As a young nation began to grow and her influence grew, the Age of Sail gave way to The Age of Rail. Railroads opened up the frontiers of this emerging nation whose commerce, wealth and independence reached out to many. The United States of America was built on the foundation of its railroads and Florida was certainly no exception.

Sails To Rails Museum at Flagler Station

Tour all of Old Town Key West on the trolley and get some key insights and info along the way. This is a great way to rest your feet if you don't feel like walking everywhere while also learning about some of the history of Key West.

Old Town Trolley Tours Key West

The Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida was originally built in 1890 for U.S. Navy officers, and later became President Truman’s “winter White House” — he spent a total of 175 days in the residence during 11 visits from 1946 to 1952. Today it serves as the only presidential museum in Florida, preserving Truman’s working quarters, original furnishings, and summer-White House history.

Truman Little White House

Dante’s is a vibrant pool-bar and restaurant where you can sunbathe, swim, drink, dine and party all in one place. With a large crystal-clear pool, cascading waterfall, tiki-bar ambiance, a live DJ or band on many weekends, and happy hour specials from 4:30-7:30 pm on weekdays, it’s a go-to spot for lunch, dinner, and daytime pool fun in Key West.&nbsp;

Dante's Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant

Things to Do

Registry

The Chart Room - It's a hidden gem (so don't tell anyone else!), and where Jimmy Buffett got his start playing music in Key West in 1971!

Mallory Square's Sunset Celebration - It's a nightly festival at Mallory Square whose participants consist of arts and crafts exhibitors, food vendors, and some very interesting street performance characters. We're not sure if there are very many places quite like this in the U.S. where locals and tourists come together every night to watch and celebrate the sun set. Which is, of course, why we love it.

Sloppy Joe's - Let's see...Live music every day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.? ✅Historic to Key West since 1933? ✅Ernest Hemingway's favorite watering hole in Key West? ✅Conveniently located at the top of Duval Street? ✅ We'll save you a seat!

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park - One of the (sort of) hidden gems and local hotspots of Key West, and it happens to be the southernmost state park in the U.S.! It's known for an old Civil War Fort you can tour, a white sandy beach (but be careful it gets very rocky near and in the water), great snorkeling spots, perfect fishing spots, and relaxing shady trails.

Dry Tortugas National Park - Honestly, it's just the coolest place. Almost 70 miles west of Key West, this 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent 19th Century Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters that are GREAT for snorkeling, tons of coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of birds that frequent the area.While the charter boat is a full day's trip, the seaplanes run several times a day, but it is pricey. If your time (or budget) doesn't allow for it on this trip, definitely add it to your bucket-list for the next time you visit!

The Southernmost Point Buoy - It's an anchored concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental United States. It's kind of a "must do" as far as touristy things go. The buoy was erected in 1983 by the City of Key West to establish that the corner of South and Whitehead Streets is only 90 miles from Cuba.*NOTE* On September 4, 2025, a temporary buoy was established at the southern end of Duval Street while seawall and roadway repairs are underway. The new temporary location is at 1499 Duval Street.

Eaton Street Seafood Market - If you're into seafood, this is a great place to go! It's located at 801 Eaton Street in the heart of historic Old Town Key West and offers a wide variety of fresh, locally caught seafood. You can literally pick out the piece of fish you want from behind the counter and they'll cook it for you right there to put on a sandwich or salad. And if you've never had Stone Crab claws, they will be in season during our stay and we highly recommend giving them a try!

Jimmy Buffett's Shrimpboat Sound recording studio - Where she said "Yes".

Our Favorite Spots!

Happily Ever-After Party! January 10, 2026Molly Malone's112 E 4th St, Covington, Kentucky

Join us at Molly Malone's for our reception! We've reserved the top two floors, both from 6pm - 10pm, and there will be plenty of food, drinks, &amp; live music from our friend, Ryan McKenzie!We're looking forward to celebrating properly with you all!