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Nothing went as planned. Every plan foiled. I mean, you have a dream wedding in your head and heart that you planned sights-unseen nine days previous, and then none of works out!
Driving down south to see friends in Georgia and Larry's step brother in FL before arriving to South Beach. Left during a blizzard, which got worse in Kentucky and Tennessee. I got sick--stomach flu, car sick, migraine, followed by Covid.
Walking to the Miami Beach courthouse on a Monday morning, all dressed up and sharp. Crowds parted on sidewalks and passersby looked up, smiled, thumbs-upped! Thank you Miami Beach!
Waiting for our number to be called in the courthouse
Our officiant "Stacena" made our day. We started our wedding day in sickness and tribulation due to travel issues and logistics. We considered postponing the wedding til later in the year. We decided to get a permit in FL and hope for a better time in the coming weeks before or after the cruise. Stacena was very cheerful and sweet, and we knew right away we were in the best possible hands. We had a short and sweet legal ceremony. Everyone awaiting to conduct their unpleasant business in the courthouse took the time to wish us well. I bought this dress for our vow ceremony in Miami Beach. I thought it kinda fit the style of Miami in the 50s. I love Worn Only Once Size 0 dresses from White House/Black Market at Goodwill for $7.99.
Walking tour of Art Deco district day after the wedding
I was still sick. We found a neat diner called The Big Pink. I had rice. Larry had fish 'n chips. We split this house made Key Lime Pie with "schlag" (what Miami calls "whipped cream."). Larry was on a mission to try as many key lime pie slices all over the Keys and to rate them. In the end, the first one we tried was #1, better than every slice we tried in the Keys.
It was a super windy day. My dress took sail, so after our courthouse ceremony, we went back to our little apartment on the beach and changed into better walking clothes. We took a walk on the pier. Watched a Viking ship sail out. Counted the days til we could board ours!
Stairwell inside the courthouse
Pictures are all out of order. I keep trying to fix it.
Pictures loaded out of order. Oh well. Here are some orchids at West Martello Towers Key West Garden Club. This was another possible spot for a wedding if Miami Beach and Key Biscayne got rained out. They didn't get rained out, but they also didn't work out.
Larry surprised with a beautiful room at a quaint adults-only boutique bed and breakfast called Almond Tree Inn. Such a welcome respite after Miami Beach.
Driving down to the Keys on US 1 the Overseas Highway
Day after the wedding was finally warm enough for the beach that was right outside our apartment
The Big Pink Our super fancy wedding dinner
The Miami Beach Old City Hall was gorgeous
Larry chose this adults-only boutique hotel in the heart of Key West.
One of the many polydactyl cats at The Hemingway House
Key West Butterfly Conservatory was magical
Roosters everywhere. So cute, and they don't attack
Inside the Key West lighthouse, yet another place we had hoped to have our vow ceremony, but that didn't work out either. See the theme going on?
Went to Key Deer National Wildlife refuge. Finally found some deer in a neighborhood, lounging in people's yards.
A few days later, we headed to Key Largo. Found this super cute retro trailer, in a whacky and kind of comical RV resort. We had our own hot tub and beautiful courtyard plus pool, docks, beach (er, not really. Key Largo doesn't have beaches as it were), hammocks, bikes.
Enjoyed watching the sun set every night
Morning coffee in our little courtyard at our little trailer. Had a nice hot tub, too, which came in handy. It was not hot most days
reading and relaxing in the hammocks
We got a little tired of trying to find decent restaurants that didn't have an hour-long wait. We finally bought some subs from Publix. PubSubs. These lasted us for several lunches an dinners
Larry enjoying Largo Lager while watching the sun set from the upper deck of the pool
Key Biscayne Lighthouse
Where we tried to have a vow ceremony but couldn't because it was closed
Not pictured: Vizcaya, where we wanted to do pictures but couldn't because it was closed
Not Pictured: Little Havana where we planned to have a walking/eating reception but couldn't because I was still sick
Loved the manatees!
