Wanting a simple wedding for two, Greg & Kristin chose to take a cruise and "elope" in Key West. Having never been to Key West, they contacted a Key West wedding planner for local advice and assistance with the details of their beach wedding. Their coordinator offered a wedding package consisting of officiating, tropical bouquet and boutonniere, wedding photography and planning assistance.

On the morning of the wedding, their ship, the Carnival Cruise Lines "Imagination", arrived in Key West at 7AM. After breakfast and dressing for their wedding (in casual beach wedding attire, of course!), they disembarked and headed to the courthouse, located just a few short blocks from the cruise docks, to obtain their marriage license. The entire process was easy and only took about 30 minutes. At the courthouse, they were greeted by their wedding planner and transported to Smathers Beach, located on the Atlantic Ocean about 4 miles from the cruise docks.

Upon arrival at the beach they took off their shoes and chose a lovely spot, shaded by palm trees, for their wedding ceremony. Their photographer captured the special moments of their ceremony and took some wonderful portraits afterwards.

By 11:00AM they were strolling the beach as a newly married couple. After a celebration drink on Duval Street, they headed back to the ship to continue on their honeymoon. For the two of them, it was a perfect Key West wedding.

Our wedding was exactly what we wanted, simple but elegant.

Trish and I met and were sweethearts when we were 14 years old, and I was the first boy to kiss her in a “grown- up” way. We had remained in periodic touch throughout the years, due to my close friendship with her brother. When her husband, also my friend, sadly passed away two years ago, her brother asked if I would call her, and I did, to offer my shoulder and my ear. As it turned out, we talked every day for the next 114 days, until we could see each other.

We both knew that we had a connection all through the years, but of course, she was happily married and there was never a time or an opportunity to think that we would ever be together. Through our friendship and my support of her during the saddest time of her life, we found ourselves in a position to allow ourselves to care about each other and to start to think about a life together.

I always knew that if I could choose anyone to be my wife, without regard to availability, it would be Trish. And she says that I was always the only man, other than her late husband, that she ever wanted to impress.

So our Key West wedding was the culmination of an improbable dream, one that neither of us ever imagined would come true. I am so grateful that God and circumstances kept me available for her when she needed me most, and I am certain that she is, and has always been, my other half.

The beach at Key West, without guests, cumbersome details, stress or complications, was exactly what we both wanted and needed at this time in our lives, a measure of the relief we have found in each other.     

Trish and Jerry