What did you and your bridesmaids wear to get ready for your big day?
We wore Half Asleep Ruffle Robes to get ready. I wore a white robe and my mom, mother-in-law, and three best friends wore blue robes, which was the color scheme for our wedding. One of my oldest friends started Half Asleep and it was special to wear something on my wedding day that had a personal touch. Plus, they are so comfortable and beautiful!
How did the pandemic affect your original wedding plans?
We originally planned to get married at Epiphany Church followed by a reception at Biscayne Bay Yacht Club in Coconut Grove. Both of these places were a big part of my childhood. But, the COVID pandemic changed all of our wedding plans. We quickly realized it wasn’t feasible to have our big wedding during a pandemic. As two physicians, our biggest priority was the safety of our friends and family. We discussed postponing, but ultimately decided we didn’t want to wait to get married. So, two months before the wedding we made an impromptu decision to cancel our big wedding and have a small family wedding in Islamorada, Fl with our families and a few close friends.
Why did you choose Islamorada as your wedding location?
Growing up, I spent most of my weekends in Islamorada with my cousins and grandparents at our family Keys house. It was my childhood dream to get married at Pierre’s in Islamorada, so in many ways it felt like the right decision. We ended up having the most beautiful, intimate wedding at Pierre’s (despite the tropical storm). We live streamed the wedding so all of our family and friends could be there!
How did you meet Keith and when did you know he was the one?
Keith and I met at a small party in Gainesville, FL. I was in my first week of medical school and Keith was a class above me. During the party, I texted my friends to say I met the cutest guy in the world. It turned out that we lived in the same apartment building and had mutual friends. Almost a year later, we reconnected and started dating. There was no “aha moment” like the movies for me, rather I slowly fell in love and realized I couldn’t imagine life without him.
What was the highlight of your wedding day?
The highlight of the day was dancing to live music all night with our closest family and friends. After so many months of stressful planning, it was great to finally enjoy the night and celebrate. The Bay King Band was incredible and I highly recommend them!
Looking back, what advice would you give future brides?
Focus on what matters most to you as a couple. It’s easy to get caught up in the small details and stress of wedding planning. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you get to celebrate your marriage with those you love most.
What advice do you have for brides that are struggling to decide on whether or not to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19?
There’s no right decision for everyone, but I would say to live in the moment and don’t postpone! There was something so special about having an intimate wedding with our closest family and friends. I don’t regret it for a second! For those wanting to have a small wedding, elope, or do something totally different, COVID gives you an easy excuse without hurting guests’ feelings.
