Mexico Weddings

Saying “I do” with sand between your tootsies sounds like heaven. And if these captures from Gladys Jem are any indication, it so, SO was. I’m talking postcard perfect scenery, loose and lovely florals, and a day chock full of details planned by Chic Concepts. Get ready for a little case of  wedding envy m’dears, because this gallery is pretty to the max.

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From Gladys Jem…Christina and Will’s destination wedding in Mexico was an intimate day with their closest friends and family. They married at the gorgeous Casa Guillermo Villa. The day was personalized by them, and with help of the amazing planners it went off without a hitch. On the beach, donuts, fireworks, lantern release, and an amazing bride & groom. Hope you love it as much as I do.

From the Bride…My husband and I always knew we wanted to get married with our toes in the sand. Imagining the sun shining and ocean waves as our backdrop, we decided Mexico would be our wedding spot. Puerto Vallarta was close enough so the trek wouldn’t be too far, and the city had all the elements for the perfect vacation for our friends and family.  Puerto Vallarta has some absolutely beautiful all-inclusive resorts.  However, we chose a breathtakingly beautiful private, and more intimate, villa with its own beach to get married on, and host our families for the week.

We wanted the theme of the wedding to blend in with the natural beauty of the beach and villa, so we went with rustic chic. Our amazing wedding planners Chic Concepts knew exactly what we wanted and handled all the details, but we wanted to add some touches of us that our guests would pick up on. We created our own favors, name tags, table numbers, and menus with stamps and our trusty printer. The night before the wedding, my dedicated bridesmaids and their significant others helped put the final details together on our DIY creations.

Our wedding website was called baconandonuts to be silly and very us. We think it reminded people that this would be a non-traditional and fun wedding! To make sure we incorporated our guilty pleasure foods into the wedding, we had bacon and donuts printed on custom tank tops and canvas bag favors, and had plenty of both served at the wedding.

We had countless amazing memories throughout the day including the grooms side getting the-always-risky straight razor shaves, our incredibly special first look, a wonderful ceremony performed by one of our closest friends, and lots of dancing and celebrating. But one of our most memorable moments came toward the end of the evening, when our entire wedding party released wishing lanterns into the sky from the beach.  It created a long run of oooohs and ahhhs and it was incredibly special for my husband and I to light one together and watch all of our friends and family join us.

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It seems almost crazy to say it, but I’ve never actually been to Mexico.  Sure, I’ve been close… I frequent San Diego often and have even spotted it’s beautiful beaches from a whale watching boat, but I’ve never actually stepped foot on those golden sands and soaked in those paradise-like rays of sun.  I know, I know. It’s something that needs to be rectified sooner rather than later, especially since I spend my days soaking in beautiful weddings like this breathtaking Playa del Carmen soiree; an affair so pretty, it makes you want to pack those bags and catch the first flight South.  See it all captured by W&E Photographie in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… Alvin proposed to me in Playa del Carmen, Mexico during a vacation trip and we knew right from the start that we always wanted to have a destination wedding. We debated on where to have the wedding, because my extended family was in Argentina but decided that there was no better place to say “I do” than Mexico. We checked out a couple of resorts in Playa del Carmen but as soon as we drove up to Grand Velas, Alvin fell in love with the resort and knew that this was the place where we would share our wedding with family and friends.

As we planned our wedding a couple of key things that were important to each of us were having a Catholic wedding and incorporating Filipino traditions, delicious food, great photographers, and just having fun. As far as the decor of our wedding, I fell in love with a soft pastel look and not choosing colors. The flowers, bridesmaid dresses, and decor of the whole wedding was a mixture of colors with a soft palette. I loved that the girls were able to choose a dress and color that complimented their features. We also put our own personal stamp on the decor by DIY-ing the table numbers, table runners, escort cards, sweetheart table ribbon and added the paper garland (from Etsy) and wooden letters (a gift from a friend).

For our wedding day I wanted to make sure we incorporated loved ones in the ceremony and throughout the wedding day, especially Alvin’s mother. Alvin’s mother, Josefina, passed away from breast cancer in 2004. Josefina Aganon Mencias was a prestigious pediatric doctor from Dillon, South Carolina and to this day she is still honored and remembered by many folks. In the ceremony program there was a dedication to Josefina and my grandmothers who had passed away. There was also a special locket attached to my bouquet, and inside that locket was a picture of Alvin and his mother right before she was sick. I unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet such a wonderful woman. However, I knew this amazing person was special to Alvin and I wanted to honor her for raising such a great man.

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Photography: W&E Photographie | Wedding Dress: TULLE New York | Floral Design: Grand Velas | Wedding Cake: Grand Velas | Reception Venue: Grand Velas | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Rosalin’s Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bari Jay | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy | DJ: Grand Velas | Bridal Boutique: Ava Clara Couture | Flower Girl’s Dress: Monsoon | Men’s Suits: J.Crew | Ties: Banana Republic

I love Summer in Vegas.  A lot.  But when the heat (and random humidity) get to be a bit much, I long for the crisp, cool ocean breeze like it’s no one’s business.  Lucky for me (and you), this Maroma Beach affair is hitting all of those toes-in-the-sand, drink in hand sweet spots with a colorful celebration planned to absolute perfection by Canteiro.  It’s beach chic pretty meets one seriously fun party and you can see it all captured by Bride & Joy right here in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… For my wedding I wanted a big party, and I wanted it to last multiple days so we decided destination was the way to go! We travel down to Mexico a lot, so it only made sense to have the wedding down there. We were so lucky to be able to have the wedding at the gorgeous Maroma Hotel & Spa. The place is magical: the most beautiful beach, private, best service, amazing food, and wonderful people. I cannot say enough good things about this place and I think you can see how beautiful it is from the pics (but it is even prettier in person).

I wanted everyone to feel apart of the wedding so we wanted it to be small, 95 guests! It was the perfect amount, my husband and I went out of state for college and we both still have friends from Kindergarten, so we had a large wedding party, which we loved! I modeled in NYC after college so I was lucky to fly in a friend who is a photographer, Kim Nicholais of Bride & Joy. She did an amazing job of capturing moments– I didn’t want a lot of staged pictures. The night of our wedding we had a full moon which lit up the sand, it was gorgeous! The day was clear and sunny, we couldn’t have had a better day!

The wedding itself was on the beach barefoot, with a Harpist (Albino Garcia) — and not a long ceremony. Then we headed to cocktail hour on the grass off the beach, then dinner on the patio off the beach, dance floor set up right on the beach below the stars. We danced until 2am then had a bonfire on the beach and continued to party at Freddy’s bar until the wee hours. Unforgettable, so fun!

I am into fashion and hence I chose strong colors that walked the runway before my wedding mint/seafoam green, blush, baby blue (also because my husband and I both went to Carolina). I wanted an all lace dress and haven’t seen many halters so I was excited when I found mine at the Little White Dress in Denver!

The wedding planner did an amazing job of bringing my colors into the flowers and making the decorations incorporate my beach theme, with starfish and shells. They also did a good job of keeping the decorations simple and clean which I wanted. The other thing I decided I wanted was a tequila shot cake. Since we already had a delicious dessert with our dinner, I thought it would be fun to pile up tequila shots with a bride and groom on top. We then proceeded to bring a tray of shots to each table and all cheer with the shot. It was different and I hope memorable, it def started off the party in the right way! Our gifts to our guests was a bottle of Tequila, Clase Azul.

I wore a cross necklace handed down from generation to generation. I designed custom necklaces for my bridesmaids. Some of the girls are wearing their one of a kind MKaltenbach necklaces. I am a jewelry designer so I made each girl a necklace made of blush pearls, mint opal and a starfish pendant to remind them of my wedding! I do custom designs for a lot of weddings, the bride can work with me to create an amazing one of a kind gift for their bridesmaids that reflects the colors and themes of their wedding!

Photography: Bride & Joy | Event Design: Canteiro | Planner: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa | Wedding Dress: Justina McCaffrey | Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor | Catering: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa | Men's Attire: Bonobos | Bridal Boutique: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Bridesmaids Jewelry: MKaltenbach | Floral Design: Canteiro | Wedding Location: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

My official vacation doesn’t start for two whole days (woot!), but this breathtaking affair from NC Photography?  Well, it has me wishing it was tomorrow… and in sunny Mexico to boot.  Because one look at these drop-dead gorgeous nuptials was all it took to start dreaming of crashing ocean waves, clear blue skies and sandy goodness beneath my toes.  It’s the kind of day that is rich beautiful details, love-filled moments and crazy gorgeous imagery.  In other words, it’s a virtual vacation getaway right here in the full gallery.

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Following the most romantic proposal at the Banff Springs Castle, Banff Alberta on December 28th, 2011 I said yes to spending the rest of my life with Tyler! We instantly agreed upon a destination wedding, as it would be the perfect setting for a personal, intimate gathering with immediate family and close friends. We envisioned turquoise seas, white sands, and blue skies as being the perfect backdrop for our vows. We wanted rustic, classic, timeless, romantic, if you will; with all the casualties of a destination wedding, and Tyler wanted to make my dreams come true.

We researched endlessly for the perfect resort and venue and finally came across Now Sapphire, a 5 diamond resort in the Mayan Riviera-Mexico. I immediately envisioned lanterns, candlelight, chandeliers, white linens, and roses everywhere. 

Having found the perfect venue, it was on to the dress. After countless visits to popular bridal boutiques in Canada and many hours of online research,  I finally found my dream dress. Eldorado by Enzoani! A mermaid gown made of lace with tulle overlay, a sweetheart neckline-delicately covered by illusional lace straps, fitted bodice with a hand crafted floral corsage on the waist and chapel train. It was stunning and everything I envisioned.

For my bridesmaids, I chose long gowns with layers of silk chiffon — a soft romantic color palette of  ivory, nude, blush, soft grey, and taupe in the Jenny Yoo collection. The dress was perfect as it could be worn strapless, halter, one shouldered and flattering for any body type. Each bridesmaid would wear colors from the palette in a style that was flattering for their body.  Bouquets of multi-colored roses; ivory, pale pink, peach with coral infusions would tied the palette together beautifully. 

For the groomsmen, we wanted everyone to feel comfortable. Linen blended beige pants, ivory shirts and linen vests with a warm grey tie from Stu Moores Clothiers suited the boys perfectly!

The morning of the wedding… We woke up to the sound of waves crashing beneath our ocean view suite at the Now Sapphire. Room service arrived promptly at 8am to serve us breakfast and mimosas. We wanted to spend the morning together and parted ways after a morning walk on the beach; it was a beautiful way to start our day.

Following hair and makeup at the Spa, my mother and bridesmaids joined in my room to dress and spent the rest of the morning together sipping champagne. It was so special to have everyone with me on my big day. I wore my hair up, in a large bun, as I felt it was a classic/timeless look.  My make-up was soft with hues of rose and smoky eye to finish.

I gave my bridesmaids jewelry that would accent their dresses. They wore Lucia necklace and bracelet, and delicate drop earrings from the Stella and Dot collection. Layers of pearls in ivory, taupe, blush and champagne was a little extra to add to the soft romantic look I was going for. I wanted the girls to feel important and beautiful; they were radiant!

The Ceremony… When I arrived at the terrace the set up was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. After months of planning my wedding via email I was a little unsure as to how my requests would be received or interpreted. Our wedding planner, Ramon,  couldn’t have done a better job at understanding me and my personal taste.

The bridal party walked down the aisle to the instrumental Marry Me by Train. Arm in arm with my parents, I made my grand entrance while walking to the instrumental A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Following the most beautiful ceremony and vow exchange we proceeded down the aisle to the instrumental Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran. It was the perfect ending to our ceremony. As the ceremony was directly below the terrace where we would have our reception, we joined there to thank everyone for coming. Everyone had been so touched emotionally by the ceremony; Tyler and I had never felt more loved. The servers immediately greeted us and our guests with a glass of champagne and we toasted our unity and hopes of a long happy life.

Cocktail tables were dressed in Ivory linens and dressed with a blush satin sash; a guest book table with a custom guest book created by Chantille through Mixbook for the guests to sign and leave well wishes; a large vintage bird cage-purchased from Annie McGuire Interiors, Medicine Hat, AB, to hold wedding cards, a rustic wooden box of cigars decorated the table nicely and were a nice treat for our guests. Music played softly and everyone was greeted with a signature drink; pina colada with soft pink umbrellas of course. The menu: mini crab cakes, tempura prawns with a garlic aioli dip, sushi, wings and pineapple beef skewers. Everything was a hit!

The Reception… The set up was stunning. Open starlit sky, white tiffany chairs, small rectangular tables covered in ivory linens with blush satin runners; centerpieces of roses, accompanied by candlelit vintage mini lanterns that created a sense of warmth for the evening. Custom table cards that matched the formal invites we had sent out months before; designed by Karri Montean of Borrowed Blue Wedding Designs. 

Tyler and I struggled with favor ideas forever. We didn’t want anything tacky, or anything that would be left sitting on the tables. We decided on Bath and Body works medium sized candles in tikki beach scent.

Tyler and I didn’t want our guests to be bored by lengthy speeches and long dinner. We asked that our MC keep it tasteful, classy and simple. The request was well received. It was a beautiful, emotional evening. To keep ourselves entertained, we asked that our guests wear a sombrero and have a shot of Mexican tequila; much to our surprise, this did not deter our guests from making Tyler and I kiss all evening; it was hilarious.

Nicole and her husband Shawn flew to Mexico from Calgary, AB to photograph our wedding. They are pretty much photography celebrities in Alberta. Photos are memories that will last a lifetime and we knew we had to have them.

I cannot express how thankful we are to have gone south for our wedding. We had a full week to spend time with people who love and support our relationship. There was no skimping out on the details for us. We had our fairytale wedding on the white sandy beaches of Mexico and we wouldn’t change a thing~

Photography: NC Photography | Event Planning + Design: Now Sapphire | Floral Design: Now Sapphire | Wedding Dress: Enzoani | Wedding Venue: Now Sapphire

Weddings that involve toes in the sand and South of the Border sunshine are some of my absolute favorites. Because who doesn’t love a vacay/ wedding fiesta? I’m thinking no one. And this installment is particularly heavy on the awesome. It’s ghost chairs on the beach and a million and one fun design ideas crafted by The Dazzling Details and photographed by Jen Philips. Have a look here for so much more!

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From the Bride…While on vacation in Punta De Mita, Brian and I made a visit to Casa Tres Soles and immediately knew that our dream wedding would be at this sensational Villa. Once we had the venue in place I came across The Dazzling Details and was positive that they would create a stylish, romantic and unforgettable day for us.  More than anything I wanted our wedding to be a reflection of not only our love for each other but our love for our guests as well… So many people were traveling such a great distance and I wanted everyone to have the time of their lives.   

On the morning of our wedding we woke up at Casa Tres Soles and could hardly contain ourselves…. Brian and his friends jumped into the ocean for a morning surf, and my seven best friends and I started to get ready. From our Villa suite I could spy on the progress of the wedding design… each time I took a peek, I was ecstatic with the transformation. I don’t know how The Dazzling Details did it, but they made this picturesque property even more breathtaking.

Guests were greeted with margaritas and mingled under the palapa to the tunes of Frank Sinatra played in the background.  Once escorted down to the beach, our friends and family kicked of their shoes to get comfortable for the ceremony.  After we said our “I dos” we headed back up to the lawn, and as a surprise for Brian (we got married on his Birthday) I had a “Birthday Burro” waiting to give him a little ride! The Burro, Andale Pancho, was a huge hit and our guests all took turns being photographed with him. Guests enjoyed spectacular views of the ocean as they dined on the most amazing food I have ever had at a wedding. The house chef prepared Ahi Salad, Steak and Shrimp and what I was told over and over again was “The best Chile Relleno of all time.”

Throughout the ceremony and dinner there was a gorgeous detail around every corner from the ceremony chandelier to the table settings with succulents and chevron name cards.  The wedding was more than I could have dreamed of.  When my new husband and I took to the floor for our first dance I was BLOWN AWAY by the marquee “Dance” sign that hung in the palapa.  The vibe was definitely set for a party full of dancing (and swimming) that would carry on until the early morning!

Surrounded by our family, friends and an abundance of love and happiness, we were both in awe of the way that our wedding was so “US.” I couldn’t have been more pleased with everything The Dazzling Details did and more thankful to Jen Philips for capturing every moment (including ones I missed and am still discovering!) so that we can always remember what a beautiful weekend we were so privileged to have.

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Photography: Jen Philips Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue + Catering: Casa Tres Soles | Wedding Coordination, Design + Florals: The Dazzling Details | Invitations: Andrea Jalaty Design | Cinematography: Jay Diebel | Hair + Make-up Services: Sebastian Salon | DJ: Sonido Extassis | Cake: Charme Reposteria | Birthday Burro: Sr. Cayo + Andale Pancho | Magnetic Photo Favor: Inloop Cinema | Rings: David Clay | Wedding Dress: Enzoani via Jin Wang Bridal | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Veil: Jin Wang Bridal | Jewelry: Kate Spade | Bridesmaid Dresses: Various | Bridal Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar  | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Perry Ellis | Groom + Groomsmen Ties: DKNY | Groom Shoes: Rainbow Sandals

There’s a reason why destination weddings are so incredibly popular, and that reason is simple.  They are awesome.  I mean, an amazing once-in-a-lifetime vacation with your closest friends and family, topped off with a set of breathtaking nuptials in paradise?  It just doesn’t get any better.  Especially when those breathtaking nuptials are oceanside at the Dreams Resort & Spa and are followed up with a beautiful reception boasting sunny yellow hues and lush, orchid-filled centerpieces.  Oh, and did I mention the bridal party trash-the-dress?  See it all captured by Nicole Ashley Photography right here.

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From Nicole Ashley Photography… I recently photographed a beautiful wedding this past November in Huatulco Mexico at the Dreams Resort & Spa. Melanie and Jared’s big day was both beautiful and relaxed. We had amazing weather and the hotel resort went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of. Melanie shined as a soft, classic bride with a beautiful bridal party in charcoal satin. Jared stayed cool in light beige and was joined by his groomsmen in matching (to the girls) charcoal suits. Their day was full of happy tears, hugs, laughter and of course dancing. I photographed this beautiful couple again a couple days after, and to my delight- their entire bridal party again as well! We switched up Melanie’s hair for a more casual beach look and the entire bridal party joined in the fun! I loved being apart of this incredible wedding.

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Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography | Wedding Venue & Decor: Dreams Resort & Spa in Huatulco, Mexico | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Simone Carvalli | Bride’s Shoes: Aldo | Jewelry: Stella & Dot | Wedding Cake: Dreams Resort & Spa

Can I let you in on a little secret? I totally use SMP Destination as a virtual escape every.single.day. I mean, it is part of my job, right? But some days I just can’t pull away. Today is going to be one of those days. Because this Playa Del Carmen wedding is a dream. The images from Reams Photo are lovely and light-filled, the backdrops are stunning and the Bride and Groom? Well they couldn’t be more in love if they tried. It’s the best possible virtual vacation, and you can see it all here.

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From Reams Photo…Ashlee and Ryan’s wedding was the perfect mix of DIY and a low stress, budget friendly destination wedding. The whole weekend was a big adventure- a wedding in 2012 in a Mayan jungle made for the perfect backdrop! Tons of crafty details (hand drawn invitations, personalized tequila bottles with their last name, mini scrolls with handwritten vows, and a map in her shoes to start!)  She also used lots of Etsy vendors to round out the details she couldn’t get to herself. Ashlee and Ryan love to travel and it only made sense to have their friends and family there for the best getaway of their lives!

From the Bride…We LOVED all of the quality time we were able to spend with each guest without feeling like we had to rush off to see the next table or group of guests. We not only got a wedding out of the deal, but we also got the vacation of a lifetime with everyone that we love most! There simply is no price to attach to the memories we now have from that week with our friends and family. One of our favorite memories of the day was saying our vows. The officiant first asked us to face each other and hold hands and then he talked about how the hands that we were holding would be the hands to hold our children, to help us up when we fall, to comfort us in old age, etc. That was so unexpected and moving. Definitely got the tears going!  We then loved reading our own vows to each other in front of our family and closest friends. We had put a lot of thought into them and worked on them for several days with each other without ever reading them out loud. We wanted them to be promises that we made not only to each other, but also to each other’s families and to our whole group of support. While drafting them we couldn’t keep from crying (I can’t even type about it without feeling emotional and we both tear up whenever we reminisce about it) so reading them aloud to one another was especially emotional. We have agreed to re-read our vows to each other each anniversary!

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Photography: Reams Photo | Flowers: DIY | Ceremony + Reception Location: Iberostar Tucan, Riviera Maya | Invitations: DIY Bride + Groom | Cake Topper Birds: DIY | Cake Topper Banner: Stephlovesben | Papel Picado: AyMujer | Canopy Shell Curtain: DIY | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Sash: AmieNoelDesigns | Jewelry: The Jewelry Bar | Garter: TheChicaBoutique | Hair Flower: deLoop | Veil: Borrowed from friend | Bridesmaid’s Clutches: JennaLouDesigns | Bridesmaid’s Jewelry: DIY  | Groom’s Suit: Island Importers | Hats: San Diego Hat Co.

I adore a good love story, especially when it comes to us in the form of a breathtaking soiree from The Dazzling Details and Michelle Turner Photography.  That’s a duo who knows a thing or two about pretty, pretty weddings… and when you add in a couple with one of the cutest tales ever (beautiful exchange student meets dashing gentlemen), it ups the lovely quotient about 1,000 percent.  From the stunning La Mansion Vallarta setting to the uber-happy faces to the pretty pink hues, it’s a destination soiree that will leave you smiling for your entire work day.  See it all right here.

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From the Bride… Fernando and I first met way back in 2000, when I was an exchange student in his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico. We became close friends and stayed in touch regularly throughout the years. Fast forward to 2007 – Fernando was working in Puerto Vallarta, and I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to take a vacation down there, since I had never been before. We both realized we had romantic feelings for each other during that trip, and after a few subsequent years of long distance dating, Fernando proposed on Christmas Day of 2010. Having both relocated to Philadelphia, we started thinking about where we would have our wedding.

We chose Puerto Vallarta because it is where we fell in love and shared a lot of our special “first” moments as a couple – first date, first kiss, first “I love you.” We knew we wanted a wedding location that was a destination for both families, to make it fair since everybody was so far apart. We also wanted to keep it in Mexico and ideally near to the beach. I always knew I wanted an intimate wedding, so renting a private villa for our reception made perfect sense, and I fell in love with Casa Garza Blanca (now renamed La Mansion) when I saw it.

I envisioned a wedding that was utterly romantic: soft, feminine, and whimsical. I also wanted to incorporate a beach theme somehow, without doing something typical of your average destination wedding. My final vision ended up being “vintage seaside” – complete with nautical compasses serving as escort carts and favors and a message-in-a-bottle style guestbook. I also wanted to incorporate both of our unique cultures and make sure everyone felt welcome, despite the language barriers between our families.

The Dazzling Details did an amazing job fulfilling my vision. The day was perfect, despite the fact that we almost had a run-in with Hurricane Bud. The Dazzling Details made sure we had a contingency plan and rented tents which allowed us to still keep the reception outside. We had a light drizzle during most of the evening, but I actually thought the rain made the wedding even more unique and romantic. Every detail was beautiful, from the candles and soft lighting, to the bilingual menus, amazing food, and the gorgeous cake. Local touches like a cigar roller and a churro cart added a Mexican touch that our American guests adored. We were even able to catch a brief glimpse of the sunset despite the clouds. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I think the way our wedding day turned out – rain and all – was just how it was supposed to be for it to be perfect for us. As they say in Spanish, “Novia mojada, novia afortunada!”

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Wedding Photography: Michelle Turner Photography | Wedding Venue: La Mansion Vallarta | Wedding Coordination, Design + Florals: The Dazzling Details | Catering Service: Plush Catering | Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria | Wedding Dress: Watters, Cabo | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Veil: Paloma Blanca (pre-owned via Ebay) | Bride’s Earrings: Nadri Jewelry Group | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Groom’s Attire: Express | Cigar roller: Sr. Leopoldo Ponce | Authentic Churro Cart: Sr. Julio | Fireworks Presentation: Sr. Victor Zagal | DJ: Sonido Extasis

I’m not trying to brag, but we kind of have this whole “kicking off the weekend in style” thing down to a serious science.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the amazing Hillary Maybery happened to send us a stunning Punta Mita affair for just such an occasion.  One that is overflowing with breathtaking details styled to perfection by Marweddings (I’m looking at you, pretty, pretty chandeliers), beautiful blooms from Iris Designs and a Casa Tres Soles setting that will leave you drooling.  (Seriously.)  See so much more in the full gallery.

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From Hilary Maybery… The incredibly talented Gaby and Memo from Mar Weddings designed this beautiful wedding at Casa Tres Soles, Punta de Mita.

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Photography: Hillary Maybery | Event Design: Marweddings | Rehearsal, Ceremony + Reception Location: Casa Tres Soles | Floral Design + Gazebo: Iris Designs | Hand-Drawn Maps: Natty Michelle Paperie | Hair + Makeup: Apuane Spa at Four Seasons  | Earrings + Necklace: Maria Elena | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Wedding Dress: Marisa via Patsy’s Boutique

You may or may not have heard, but the Southwest is in the middle of an (excruciatingly hot) heat wave; one that is seeing temps rise to well over 120 degrees.  And since I happen to live in one of those very hot Southwestern states, I’ve been spending my time indoors, dreaming of a vacation to a nice seaside locale like it’s my job to do so.  And when I spotted this gorgeous day from the genius that is Allure Event?  I knew immediately where I had to go.  Because if a short holiday to Cabo looks anything even close to this magical day captured perfectly by Sara Richardson (complete with a cool ocean breeze), I’m in for a world of awesome.  Click here for sooo much more.

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From Allure Event… When Virginia and Andrew contacted us a few months before their wedding and asked us to help them plan a small wedding in a private villa in Cabo, they had only a few specific requests – that the ceremony be intimate and meaningful, and that we use shades of coral, orange and cream for the color scheme. Using the bride’s inspiration photos as the base of the design, we set out to create an elegant and feminine setting using lace, soft, feminine flowers and candles, lots and lots of candles! The result was exactly what they had envisioned.

The intimate ceremony was held on an outdoor terrace facing the Cabo San Lucas bay. For the ceremony, we created two large branch arrangements with hanging dendrobium orchids and crystals, with rose buds and moss at the base and set these on white, wooden pillars which framed Virginia and Andrew as they said their vows. We lined the pool ledge and terrace with rose petals and pillar candles in glass cylinders, which later served as the backdrop for the dinner reception. A singing guitarist played an acoustic version of “Have a Little Faith” by John Wyatt as Andrew took his place at the altar and then as Virginia walked down to meet him. The ceremony was officiated in Spanish by a judge and translated to English for their guests.

After the vows, the new bride and groom were whisked away to the beach for some romantic sunset photos and we began to transform the ceremony space for dinner. In order to ensure an intimate setting, we set a rectangular table which allowed for all guests to sit together. We draped the chairs with custom made lace covers which added a romantic feel to the setting. For the centerpiece, we designed a lush floral arrangement using roses, phalaenopsis orchids, ranunculus and succulents and surrounded it with an assortment of vintage pressed and cut glass in varying heights, filling these with small flower bouquets, cut roses, and votive candles. We kept the final table design a secret and completely surprised the couple as they made their way back to the villa.

The wedding cake was carrot-orange cake with orange cream cheese filling. The sweet, two tier cake was designed to recreate the gorgeous bodice detail of Virginia’s Vera Wang Dress.

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Wedding Photography: Sara Richardson Photography | Ceremony and Reception: Villa Haydee, Pedregal, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Wedding Planning + Design: Vari Avila of Allure Event | Floral Design: Rene Larios of Cabo Floral Studio | Catering: Jennifer O’Toole | Wedding Cake: Deena Fisher of Sweet Dreams Cabo | Guitar: Daryl Currie | Rentals: Del Cabo Event Design | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: Diamond White Grazia Valentine Bridal Shoes

It’s official. This gorgeous beach bride deserves some sort of serious medal. Because not only did she plan a destination wedding in locale she’d never even been, but managed to have a ton of fun along the way. The result? A day filled with fuss-free elegance that’s just begging to be saved, bookmarked and pinned. Sit back in total awe as we browse through the gallery of Emily Blake’s photos right here.

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From the Bride…Having always wanted a winery wedding, I was shocked when I shouted out, “Let’s get married in Tulum, Mexico!” after Eli and I got engaged.  I had never considered a beach wedding before, but when faced with a real decision; the thought of hundreds of people at a winery didn’t really seem like us at all, but a warm beach in Mexico with a small group of our family and closest friends certainly did!  I had never been to Tulum and we didn’t have the time to make a special trip to scope things out beforehand.  Although my friends and family thought I was a bit crazy for planning a wedding in a place I had never been to before, I decided to approach it as an adventure and threw in a lot of faith for good measure!

When we found La Zebra online, we immediately knew from the pictures that this was the place we wanted to get married.  It had everything we had envisioned; unique, intimate, rustic, and directly on the beach.  I cannot speak highly enough about the management and staff of La Zebra.  They took care of us and our guests with the most warmth and kindness.

After we secured the venue, everything seemed to fall into place.  We hired Destinations Wedding Tulum to help us secure vendors such as the Spanish guitar player for the ceremony, the Mariachi’s, and the DJ.  I exchanged many many detailed e-mails with them and posted a lot of pictures to a shared Pinterest board so they could get a sense of what I wanted.  When the day of the wedding came, I was floored at how beautifully they pulled everything together.

My favorite moment of the entire day was when I walked down the aisle (with no shoes!) to meet Eli at the water’s edge to get married.  As we took each other’s hands, I looked around at all the people in the world that we love, all gathered in one place.  It’s an overwhelming, beautiful feeling that I’ll never forget.

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Photography: Emily Blake Photography | Wedding Planning: Destination Wedding’s Tulum | Ceremony + Reception Venue: La Zebra | Make-up + Hair: Friend of Bride | Officiant: Friend of Bride and Groom, Lorin Vogel | Welcome Fiesta Dinner: El Tabano | Spanish Guitarist: Camilo Nu | DJ: DJ Fermi | Wedding Dress: Galina Couture | Groom’s Suit: Custom, Jeric Rivera, Requisite Clothing

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Destination Weddings Tulum

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You know how to kick off the week in some serious style?  With a little wedding magic from the oh-so-amazing Inkspot Crow Films, that’s how.  A little wedding magic that includes the breathtaking backdrop that is the Riviera Maya, two incredibly adorable sweethearts (hello beautiful vows) and a whole lot of happy tears.  It’s more pretty than you can ever imagine, all wrapped up in 4 minutes of amazing.  Click play to soak it all in… your Monday just got awesome.

From the Bride… Having found Inkspot Crow through Style Me Pretty, it’s exciting to have a chance to have our own video featured! When we first got engaged, I knew I didn’t want the stress that goes along with a traditional wedding, so we quickly decided that destination was the way to go for us.  After picking an all-inclusive resort, I became worried that our wedding would be very canned – that it wouldn’t have enough of our own personal touches.  It took a bit more planning, packing and effort, but I worked with the hotel and was able to add some personal touches, both to the ceremony and the reception.  My very sweet cousin, who was unable to make the ceremony, really wanted to contribute, so I gave her the tedious task of stringing the cranes and beads together for our ceremony back-drop.  She pulled it off with very little instruction and absolutely no complaining.  They turned out even better than I had imagined!  Our love of travel combined with the fact that it was a destination wedding, made for an unofficial “travel theme”. My maid of honor and I, who live 4 hours apart, worked on the table “numbers” and escort cards over the Christmas Holidays, long weekends, and even a few last-minute changes the day before! Having the people I love the most contribute to the decor made the day that much more special.  I knew they could look around and really feel like they contributed to our special day.

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Cinematography: Inkspot Crow Films | Ceremony: Gazebo 55 at El Dorado Royale | Reception: El Dorado Royale | Flowers + Cake + Catering: El Dorado Royale | Photography: Vincent Ribon of Zasil Photography | Hair + Make-up: Naay Spa Casitas | Wedding Dress: Marisa | Bridesmaids Dresses: Victoria’s Secret | Bridesmaids Jewelry: Made by Bride | Getting Ready Robes: Silk and More | Bridal Hairpiece: Flora Bond

Today I am dreaming of a breathtaking Riviera Maya wedding.  A wedding filled with chevron touches, beautiful colors (ahem, teal blue) and some of the world’s most stunning views.  In other words, I am dreaming of this gorgeous affair from Emily Steffen, which has me basically mesmerized with its darling details, adorable duo and laid-back vibe that is all kinds of crazy wonderful.  Care to take a virtual trip to paradise?  See so much more right here.

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From Emily Steffen… Everything was inspired by the bride and groom’s relationship and journey…. with happy colors, like teal, orange and grey along with chevron patterns and the backdrop of the beach in Mexico, it was SURE to be a destination wedding that was a dream for Jeanne and Adam! Their goal was laid back and relaxed (with a few put-together details)! Chevron patterns came through from the invitations to the bridesmaids scarves, the teal color was not only represented in the bridesmaids dresses, but in the ocean backdrop for the ceremony, and the starfish seating chart served as a keepsake for the guests to take home too. And the authentic Mexican food for dinner was the perfect way to end the evening.

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Photography: Emily Steffen | Resort: Azul Sensatori | Invitations: Emily Steffen + Bride | Shoes: Nine West | Dress: Watters/WTOO | Bridesmaids Dresses: Francesca’s Collection

This is why I love, love, love SMP Destination.  On any given day, we can be celebrating side by side with a darling duo upon a mountaintop, soaking in a breathtaking European locale or, like today, smiling happily with two sweeties as they say “I do” in paradise. Two sweeties, actually, who whisked away their family and friends to the Grand Velas Resort for a weekend of fun in the sun and happily ever after.  It’s vibrant hues meets stunning ocean views meets an entire gallery of lovely captured by Elizabeth Medina Photography.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From the bride… My husband Neal and I were destined for a destination wedding.  Neal is a pilot for United Airlines and flies a small plane for fun on the weekends.  One of our favorite things to do together is to take spontaneous weekend trips to the beach.  In fact, that’s how we actually met.  Neal was flying a group of my friends on a six seat Bonanza airplane from the East Hampton to Rhode Island for the day.  I joined the group at the last minute, never suspecting that I would meet my husband on the spontaneous trip. Neal and I had been dating a year when we took another last minute trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico to escape the East Coast winter.  We stayed Grand Velas Resort and fell in love with the location.  As we laid by the beautiful pool overlooking the ocean I said to Neal “ We need to figure out a way to get all of our family and friends here to enjoy this amazing place with us”.  Little did I know he was proposing to me two months later and our wedding planning began.

The Grand Velas was the natural choice for our wedding.  Late January was the perfect time for our family and friends to escape the Midwest and East Coast winter.  150 guests hoped on planes from New York, Michigan, Chicago, California and even Australia to celebrate our wedding at the beautiful beach resort. We were inspired by the spectacular surroundings of the beach location. We decided to keep the wedding simple and elegant to compliment the scenery.  The wedding colors, fuchsia, purple/blue and sunny yellow, were inspired by the resort’s pink bougainvillea, blue ocean view and sunshine overhead. The ceremony was held on the beach which we kept simple with rustic chairs, grass mats and a white hoopa framed with fuchsia flowers. The bridesmaids wore fuchsia dresses by Amsale.  The groom and groomsman wore Hugo Boss navy suits and fuchsia ties. My dress by Reem Acra was the first dress I tried on.  It was it was light and airy, perfect for the beach ceremony but also beautifully elaborate with intricate beading up close.

Neal and I are very close to our niece and nephews and it was important that everything aspect our wedding to be child-friendly.  Our nephews Jack and Max, 2 and 3 years old, wore navy blazers, striped bow ties and white Converse shoes.  Alexa, the flower girl, 5-years-old wore a little white dress and a flower wreath in her hair.  We included little gifts at for all the children at their table place setting with stickers and color books. The reception was held along the pool at the Grand Velas.  Maria Elena Glacia, our planner did a beautiful job perfecting every detail.  Square tables, all white lines and chairs were the perfect setting for the bright monochromatic flower arrangements in blue/purple, pink and yellow.  

Greenwich Letter Press designed our invitations with a beautiful Mexican tile print. We incorporated this motif into the table numbers hand-painted by LuckiiArts and menus by Laura Hooper calligraphy, who we found on Etsy.  The Mexican tiles were used on many other wedding details including chocolate tiles on the cake! White paper lanterns framed the palm trees and floated in the pool.  The full moon and cloudless sky was the perfect last touch for magical night.  Elizabeth Media, our photographer captured the simple elegance and most importantly the happiness of our wedding with absolute perfection.

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Photography: Elizabeth Medina Photography | Ceremony + Reception Location: Grand Velas Resort, Riviera Maya | Event Planning: Maria Elena Galicia of Playa Wedding | Floral Design: Roberto Galan, Agromexpress | Cinematography: PlayaWeddings | Invitations: Greenwich Letterpress | Table Numbers: LuckiiArts | Menus: Laura Hooper Caligraphy | Hair + Makeup: Styling Trio Riviera Maya | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bride’s Dress: Reem Acra | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale | Groom + Groomsman Suits: Hugo Boss

Spending an entire week in Puerto Vallarta with your closest friends and family is one seriously awesome vacation, on that we can agree.  But spending that seriously awesome vacation all in celebration of your Big Day?  Even better.  Which is exactly why these two sweeties rounded up their nearest and dearest and headed south of the border to say “I do” amongst the breathtaking landscape and towering Palm Trees.  It was a week that was more beautiful than you can imagine, complete with sweet DIY details, a stunning Pronovias gown and one gorgeous moment after another captured by Elizabeth Lloyd.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… When Rob proposed to me during a backpacking trip along the Lost Coast, a 25-mile stretch of uninhabited coast in Northern California, every part of it was perfect. The sun was setting above a clear day and we were alone on the beach with the nearest person miles away. We were without our cell phones and I had to wait until we returned from our trip to share the news with family and friends (which was no easy feat!), but spending the first two days of engagement alone was special. Much like the announcement of our engagement, we took our time planning our wedding, making sure to take in each step of the process, enjoy the moment, and cherish it.

As we began discussing our wedding plans, our vision was clear. We could not fathom an entire year of wedding planning for just 6 hours with our family and friends on our wedding day. So, just like that we decided on a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta. We rented the Quinta Maria Cortez and Casa Tres Vidas, a beachfront bed and breakfast and it’s adjoining 3 villa property for 4 nights, filled it with our closest friends and family, and had the most epic wedding week ever. For our theme, we wanted a rustic yet elegant and romantic feel and chose soft pinks, taupe, ivory and pops of coral for our colors. We had a simple ceremony on the beach, officiated by our friend who introduced Rob and I, a cocktail hour on the beach listening to the sounds of a live trio band, then moved into one of the villas for the reception.

I spent months leading up to our wedding working on DIY projects. I sewed every single chiffon flower on the napkin rings to match our rustic, blush pink and ivory color theme. I incorporated our multicultural roots by making straws and cocktail stirrers that said “cheers” in Korean and Portuguese, and of course Spanish. I made pinwheel fans printed with significant dates in our relationship, places we traveled and dined, concerts and movies we watched, and words that described us as a couple.  Our guests later told us how much they enjoyed reading the fan as they waited for the ceremony to begin. For the ring bearer pillow, I made a burlap pillow with chiffon flowers for my nephew to carry down the aisle. Lastly, for our program I drew two lovebirds on the program wearing running shoes. Rob and I first met on a relay running team, and we trained for and ran a marathon together. It has played a big role in our relationship and our programs were the perfect place to symbolize it. I gave boxes of everything I made to Tamara and Lucie of Vallarta Incredible Weddings days before the wedding. They pulled all of our ideas together (there were many), and beautifully executed how we envisioned our wedding. Full of our closest family and friends, food, and love, our wedding celebration went beyond anything we could have ever dreamed up!

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Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd | Assistant Photographer: Yanen Ali | Wedding Venue: Casa Tres Vidas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Event Planning: Lucie Aubert + Tamara Bradley from Vallarta Incredible Weddings | Wedding Stationery + Decor: DIY by the Bride | Guest Book: Etsy | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Bride’s Veil: Melissa Sweet | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

In the SMP land of all things lovely, this wedding ranks among the very best. It’s a celebration set in the most stunning Mexico locale with pretty pops of pink sprinkled all along the way. Jillian Mitchell perfectly captured this all-out party and Karen Ruezga made certain it went off without a hitch. Enjoy a swoon through out favorite photos, and then get your gush on in the full gallery right here.

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From the Bride…Brad and I met five years ago in typical New Orleans fashion: at a bar. Bound both by our love for New Orleans and our passion for music and food, we danced and ate our way through the city and quickly fell in love. After a Mardi Gras proposal at the bar where we met, it was time to plan our ceremony. It seemed as if a grand New Orleans wedding would be in order, but a traditional affair just wouldn’t have been us.

Being that I was raised in Seattle, Brad in Louisiana, and that our friends were sprinkled throughout the United States, we knew we wanted to have a phenomenal destination wedding that everyone would enjoy. We chose the charming beach town of Sayulita, Mexico knowing our guests would constantly bump into one another on each corner. After initially worrying about trying to plan a number of daily wedding activities, we finally settled on letting Sayulita take care of itself. Our guests lined the beaches and shops by day and filled the bars and restaurants by night.

Villa Amor was a wonderful choice for our wedding venue in Sayulita. Besides being one of the most beautiful places we’d ever been, their staff was overwhelmingly friendly, their wedding services were outstanding and it was the ideal size as our guests filled up almost every villa in the resort. Karen Ruezga, our wedding planner, made our dream wedding come to life and Jillian Mitchell’s gorgeous photography captured every moment. Our wedding was absolutely perfect. Although it was an unbearably humid July evening, my mother had collected dozens of vintage handkerchiefs for our guests and they were all put to good use! One of our best friends served as officiant and surprised us with a sweet reading from Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go and another close friend read a beautiful passage from The Velveteen Rabbit. As every New Orleanian knows, a good party is incomplete without great music – so we flew in the band closest to our hearts: Country Fried. They rocked a hand-picked set list filled with our favorite songs. Our reception began with our first dance to an achingly beautiful rendition of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon and didn’t end until the wee hours of the morning. Our all-night party, complete with a cigar roller and an impromptu New Orleans-style second-line, was even capped off with a fireworks display overlooking the entire town.

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Wedding Photography: Jillian Mitchell | Wedding Venue: Villa Amor | Wedding Planning: Karen Ruezga | Floral Design: Flor Mimo | Bride’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall | Wedding Dress: Watters | Groom+ Groomsmen’s Attire: Brooks Brothers | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung

It’s no secret that we adore absolutely anything and everything Jose Villa touches and with good reason; he’s one of the most wildly talented photographers we’ve ever come across. And that wild talent is paired with an incredibly gracious attitude that makes him all the more lovable. Now channel all that goodness into a five day learning extravaganza surrounded by creatives from all over the planet and the beautiful surroundings of Hacienda El Carmen and you have the Jose Villa Mexico Workshop with registration now open for 2013. Have a look at some of the beauty captured by Jose from last year’s workshop and even more right here in the full gallery.

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The mix of talents like design and styling by Lisa Vorce and Mindy Rice, gorgeous hair and makeup by Mar of Team Hair and Makeup, cinematography by Joel Serrato and a handful of awesome speakers (including our very own Abby Larson!) are added to the mix for a knowledge packed and totally unforgettable five days. And we haven’t even mentioned the students! Have a look at this collection of student work put together by Jose and Julie Song Ink.

Now on to the juicy details, all of which can be found right here. Hope to see you there! We’ve got our sunnies packed and our cameras ready. And you probably don’t need anymore persuasion but just in case we’ll leave you with one last tid bit… Hacienda El Carmen makes a mean margarita. xoxo

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Workshop: Jose Villa Workshop | Design and Styling: Lisa Vorce | Design, Styling, Floral and Cake: Mindy Rice | Cinematographer: Joel Serrato | Painter and Inspirational Speaker: Karina Puente | Hair and Make up: Mar of Team Hair and Makeup | Models: Citro Modelos and Amy and Erich McVey | Gown: Claire Pettibone | Styling: Mitra Hosseini | Workshop Assistants: Lacie Hansen and Nancy Villa | Location: Hacienda El Carmen | Table Linens: La Tavola Linens | Tabletop Glassware, Plates and Utensils: Casa de Perrin | Paper: Wiley Valentine Paper | Invite: Papel Paper and Press | Calligraphy: Purabelle Calligraphy | Calligraphy for welcome cards: Chelsea Petaja and Julie Song Ink

This wedding came at the perfect time.  I say that, because I’ve been hemming and hawing over a trip to Cabo for what seems like forever and, I swear to you, this breathtaking beauty just pushed me over the edge.  Sure, my trip won’t be filled to the brim with devastatingly gorgeous florals from Florenta Flower Design, glittery gold accents and one of the most stunning gowns I have ever laid my eyes upon, but if it elicits even 1/10th of the happiness that these images from Sara & Rocky Photography have brought me, I’ll consider myself one VERY lucky traveler.  Indeed.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Sara & Rocky Photography… Kat & Earl were married in Cabo on the beach on December 8th. They rented out this amazing villa on the beach, and had their ceremony in the sand and the reception on the terrace. Her dress was amazing, she also sewed in a blue heart from one of her dad’s old shirts underneath her dress. The details were gorgeous, beautiful flowers, gold and navy sequin tablecloths, and gold and white striped taper candles. For their sign in book, they had all of the guests write on cards to put in a book about their favorite memory of them, or best marriage advice, etc.

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Wedding Photography: Sara & Rocky Photography | Wedding Venue: Private Villa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Floral Design: Florenta Flower Design | Caterer: Chef in Cabo

If ever there were a rehearsal dinner that I wanted to curl up in and live forever, it would be right here in Mayakoba under those twinkling cafe lights. From the looks of this crazy good tablescape, you would have no idea that wild boars, boas, and crocodiles call these mangroves home. But that’s why Lisa Vorce is so amazing at what she does. With the help of Mindy Rice, she whipped this remote spot into a gorgeous dining wonderland. And Aaron Delesie was there to photograph every last angle of that wildly good-looking table. See it all right here in the full gallery. And we’ll be back in a bit with a really exciting project (and a giveaway!) involving some of these ever so creative creatives. Sit tight!

From Lisa Vorce…One of my all time favorite rehearsal dinners — thanks to our amazingly trusting clients Jaimie and Andrew! Despite the constant “no it’s not possible” answers we were given when I first sighted the property and all the warnings about mosquitos, wild boars, boas, and crocodiles… Jaimie and Andrew allowed us to push the envelope like we’ve never pushed before. Mindy and I have been long time fans of the Outstanding in the Field concept — so when I saw the extraordinary Mangroves at the Rosewood Mayakoba Resort –  I just knew we were destined to have one long table in the middle of the jungle (à la “Outstanding in the Mangroves.”) Our wooden tables, and Mexican dining chairs were perfection for the location. Mindy created brilliant tablescapes using all native jungle foliage. She had thin linear wood “troughs” custom fitted for our tables so we could have beautiful centerpieces while still leaving ample room for the family style dinner that was planned. Special details on the table included a beautiful loosely woven fabric overlay (one piece stretched along the entire length of the table!), stand-up menus made out of local Amate paper, tin votives (which were actually shiny silver tin votives that we specially treated to age them for a rustic look), vintage crocheted napkins, and tons of candlelight. Above the tables, our local contacts strong bistro lighting which helped define the space and gave us the perfect amount of ambient lighting. I could not have asked for better weather and a better evening. We may have pushed the envelope with the resort – but it was more than worth it. Rosewood did an extraordinary job and the event was incredible. The guests had a beautiful family style dinner under the starry sky with a Spanish guitar duo serenading them (mixed with the amazing sounds of the jungle… the birds chirping, the frogs croaking, and a boar or two snorting!) Muchas gracias Jaimie and Andrew for allowing us to do what we do. We truly adore you. And muchas, muchas gracias to the boars, boas, and crocodiles who graciously allowed us to dine in the jungle without popping in to say hello.

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The smile on the Bride’s (beautiful) face says it all – this was truly her best day ever. And we get to spend our morning joining her in the biggest of smiles as we pore through the images of their Sayulita soiree from Joann Arrunda Photography. Those images? They happen to be stunning, by the way. It’s a gallery filled with the most perfect details for a destination wedding surrounding a duo who couldn’t be more darling and vistas that couldn’t be more lovely – and it’s all sitting pretty right here.

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From the Bride… The entire day was beyond anything we could have imagined. There are several things that stand out in my mind. Tommy and I wanted to share a moment together before the ceremony. We wrote each other letters and stood on either side of a door and exchanged them. Knowing he was on the other side and reading the letters was such an overwhelming feeling. That moment was incredibly intimate and calming but also filled with anticipation and excitement.

Walking down the aisle and looking out at all of our closest friends and family was absolutely incredible. We are still taken back by the number of people that traveled from all over to celebrate with us.  Still there are smaller moments that I think about daily, holding my dad’s hand and trying not to cry before we walked down the aisle – all he could say to me was “honey, I’m not going to say anything cause I might cry,” those were the only words I need to hear from him. We had a mariachi band play during the cocktail hour but the real treat was when dinner was served. The mariachi band started to play slower more romantic music. We had no idea they were going to do that and they even began to serenade our guests. It was such a fun surprise and our guests love it!

We had so many wonderful people help us with the wedding. Beyond our family and friends, our wedding coordinator, Yazmin went above and beyond to make the day extra special. Our photographer, Joann Arruda, captured every moment and was incredible to work with.  Our wedding day was truly perfect and it will probably be the only time in our lives that our two worlds came together to share in such as special celebration.

The inspiration behind our big day was a collaboration of feelings and ideas. Travel and adventure are very important to us and we wanted that to be a guiding force at our wedding. Once we decided on a destination wedding we wanted to create an event that was truly a “unique experience.” We wanted our guests to be relaxed, try something new, get to know each other, and have a blast. The word “experience” was our guiding light. I have always felt that the small personal touches are what makes weddings unique.  I wanted the details to stand out and be a part of the larger experience.  

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Wedding Photography  Joann Arrunda Photography | Wedding Venue + Catering: Don Pedros in Sayulita, Mexico | Wedding Coordinator: Sea of Dreams Weddings | DJ: DJ Mo:Rockin | Invitations+ Stationery:  EPS Design & Print |  Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Bride’s Sash: Maggie Sottero | Bride’s Earrings: Beverly K Collection | Bride’s Rings: Beverly K Collection + Alexis Sepkus | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Dessy | Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: Perry Ellis via Macy’s | Hair + Makeup: Kolor by Kori