There are a million reasons you are just going to die over this wedding. With The Dazzling Details at the designing helm, it’s no surprise that this Puerto Vallarta pretty is a stunner. But beyond all the perfectly curated details and the breathtaking coastal backdrop captured by License To Still, the thing that made me melt like never before was the Groom’s reaction to this gorgeous Bride walking down the aisle. It’s what ever girl hopes for, and this lovely lady got it and then some. See it all here!
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From the Bride… Ashaunte and I knew pretty early that we wanted to have a destination wedding. The week after we were engaged, we headed to Puerto Vallarta for a weekend getaway. Right away, we fell in love with the city. This wasn’t the Mexico I pictured. It was lush with views of the jungle, mountains and the ocean. Ashaunte said, “Why don’t we get married here?” Never in a million years had I pictured Mexico for my wedding, but the idea sounded rather perfect as we laid on the beach and watched the beautiful sunset over the ocean. Once the process started it was a breeze. Working with all of our vendors – particularly our wedding planners at The Dazzling Details and our wedding photographer, Nate Broshot — being hands off was pretty easy. Honestly, I have no idea how working brides can function any other way. There are just SO many details! I am so grateful that all I had to do was paint the picture, and everything came together after that.
Friday was the big day: 11-11-11. I felt so relaxed and ready after such a great week hanging out with our closest family and friends. When I walked into the wedding venue, I was completely blown away! Vintage, romantic, chic — they nailed it! I was brought to tears when I saw that our altar would be two bookcases that held our guests’ and ancestors’ wedding pictures. How cool was it going to be to get married surrounded by not only our closest family and friends, but the images of them on their wedding day!? My love for designer shoes showed up in several places, including the dinner tables, which were marked by names of my favorite brands. While we took pictures, our guests enjoyed margaritas made with fresh fruit and appetizers that included south of the border sushi and chicken satay. Dinner was held on the beach under a fabulous tent and the tables were set family style so it felt so incredibly comfortable and intimate. There was even a cute table with activities to entertain the kids. As we danced the night away, the pool was filled with floating lanterns. We nibbled on a fabulous dessert assortment, which included authentic churros, cheesecake and chocolate-covered strawberries. I strongly feel that wedding desserts should be about variety and not just the wedding cake, so the fabulous assortment made me happy. The biggest OMG moment was a surprise fireworks show our wedding planners arranged after I mentioned the day before that not having fireworks was my only regret. When the fireworks exploded when we cut our cake, I was brought to tears.
I truly hope all brides feel the way I did on my wedding day. I got to marry the man who surpasses all of my dreams in a setting that was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. To top it off, 60 of the most important people in our lives were there to see it all. I cannot thank enough the many wonderful people who helped make what our guests described over and over as “the best wedding ever” possible. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking to have a truly unique experience.
Wedding Photography: Nate Broshot of License To Still / Wedding Venue: Villa Garza Blanca in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Wedding Coordination, Floral + Event Design: The Dazzling Details / Officiant: Pastor Phillip Tarver (Minister at the Bride & Groom’s Church) / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Charme Reposteria / DJ: Extassis / Guestbook: Lillian Rose / Wedding Invitations: By Invitation Only / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri / Bride’s Hair Piece: Susy Madrigal of Ideal Outfit / Bride’s Garter Belt: Her Grandmother’s from 1949 / Rings: Tacori / Hair: Karonda Cook (A Friend of Bride) / Makeup: Sebastian Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Simple Silhouettes / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Charles David / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Forever 21 / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Groom’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Groom’s Watch: Movado / Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Groomsmen’s Accessories: The Tie Bar