Mexico Weddings

New England is getting hit with yet another snow storm today, so I’m somewhat selfishly sharing this Mexico wedding by Style Art Life to virtually soak up all the gorgeous virtual sunshine. It’s for the greater good though, because this seaside soiree is just too pretty to pass up whatever the weather. It’s an example of why destination weddings are just so darn dreamy, and you can join me in a little faux sunshine right here.

From the Bride… Having been to the Riviera Maya before, we knew it would be the perfect setting when we decided to have a destination wedding. Our goal was to have a place that would be easily accessible for our guests but also more importantly, a place that was going to be all about having fun!

Since our wedding was a beach wedding set in Mexico, we wanted the wedding style to incorporate some hints of the sea to our Spanish theme. Wedding colors were chosen based on the colors found inside of a conch. Light peach, pinks, nudes & crème. We kept our ceremony décor simple and clean to keep the focus on the beauty of beach. We were blessed with perfect weather and kept the party going al fresco next to the beach for the reception.

Nelson proposed to me in Oia, Santorini in Greece and we had collected sand from both the Red Beach and the Black Beach during our stay there. This was not planned while we were collecting the sand but once we decided to have our wedding in Mexico, it became important for us that we used the sand from our engagement destination for the sand ceremony at our wedding destination. It made the sand ceremony that much more special for us.

We planned and designed all of the details of the wedding ourselves and did a lot of DIY projects. The groom hand drew the wedding map that was incorporated into our invitations with the help of our good friend Margaret Park who is a graphic designer. We had the most fun choosing our photo props and creating our photo prop signs which perfectly set the mood for what we wanted our wedding to be: Crazy!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Twah Dougherty from Style Art Life | Wedding Venue: Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico | Floral Design: Flores Julieta | Event Design + Planning: Bride + Groom | Cake Topper + Signs: Lazy Caterpillar | Paper Goods Design + Monogram: DIY by Bride + Margaret Park | Invitation Map: Hand Drawn by the Groom | DJ: DJ Bijan from Mayan Vibes | Photo Booth Props: DIY by Bride + Groom | Favors: Patron Tequila | Wedding Dress: Anna Maier Ulla Maija via Bergdorf Goodman | Veil: Erica Elizabeth Designs | Bride’s Accessories: Nordstrom |Garter: Mirela Olariu | Hair Accessories: BHLDN | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin + TOMS | Clutch: Anya Hindmarch | Bridesmaids’ Shoes: TOMS | Groom’s Attire: Louis Purple | Groomsmen Attire: Express | Groomsmen Ties: Me and Matilda

Simplicity is probably my favorite style. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll swoon over a ballroom wedding in a hot second – but show me a wedding where love is the greatest detail of all, and I’ll show you one happy blogger. Because that’s when the real details have room to shine. Take for instance, this Puerto Vallarta wedding captured by Rouxby. Just a simple candlelit party, where all the guests were groomsmen or bridesmaids on some of the prettiest beaches in Mexico – all centering around two people head over heels in love. Simplicity has never looked more fabulous, and you can see it all right here.

From Rouxby… This simple wedding kept true to who the couple is, while paying homage to the Mexican beach on which it took place. The guests were all bridesmaids and groomsmen of sort; they all wore black attire (most of the girls’ dresses made by the bride’s mother) and created a kind of cohesion in the wedding guests that did indeed feel like a wedding party in attendance. The ceremony and reception took place on a beach impossible to get to by car. The bride, her mother and grandmother (three generations) took a boat over early and relaxed in a mountaintop open-air cottage, enjoying champagne and simple seafood from the bay below.

The guests and the groom arrived by boat shortly before the ceremony commenced at sunset. The entire beach and hacienda where dinner was served was lit only by candlelight. Hundreds of tea light candles lined pathways and tables. The bride’s flowers were the bright tropical pinks and oranges that are at home in the jungle environment. The simple, well-made tables and chairs were constructed by local villagers, and all of the food – even tortillas and breads – were made on site. The bride’s mother made ceramic sea creatures that lined the table, but aside from that there were only flowers and candlelight for decor.

The bride and groom themselves were simply dressed. The bride wore her great grandmother’s antique earrings and necklace; a something old and something blue all in one. The dress was simple; her shoes were sandals or none at all. After a candlelight dinner, guests moved to a bonfire on the beach below and danced until the boat docked to take them back to hotels. This wedding was delightful in its simplicity. The power of candlelight; of a truly breathtaking location; of a simple dress code for intimate guests — it all created an incredibly beautiful, old-fashioned evening. A reminder that well-placed simplicity–and a priority of who attends and where–can be all you need.

Wedding Photography: Rouxby | Wedding Venue: Las Caletas in in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Event Planning: Blanca Ramirez from Vallarta Adventures | Floral Design: Vallarta Adventures

The second my eyes graced all the gorgeous sitting in this post, I was a goner. I knew from that moment on, I would spend this day drooling over all the Cabo prettiness captured by Callaway Gable, inevitably delaying my productivity a bit. But it’s worth it and then some, because every image is a dream come true. And the couple in the middle of it all? They are a vision, making your hours spent in this gallery feel like you are flipping through the most stylish of magazines. See it all here.

From the Bride…We both love to travel and knew we wanted to tie the knot in a destination setting but wanted it close enough so most of our guest would be able to attend the celebration with us. Since we live in California and a lot of our guests were from California we choose Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I knew I wanted to keep everything very simple and clean because I did not want to take away from the beautiful architecture. My colors were light grey, tan, white and an accent of green.The wedding was held in a beautiful wooden chapel that looks over the water. It is open on both ends to let the ocean breeze through and it has a giant iron cross hanging down in the front. The chapel was not a working chapel but an architectural setting for weddings to take place. This all took place at The Cabo Azul Resort.

We had a traditional Christian Ceremony and my father was the one who officiated the wedding. It was a very emotional ceremony for everyone because he was able to tell personal stories that were from the heart. The ceremony was very personal to us since my father was marrying us and he was able to tell specifics from our lives that everyone was able to relate to. It was also very emotional because he was giving away his first daughter to a man that she loves.

The reception was held at Javier’s Restaurant on the deck outside which was also located at the resort and  My husband surprised everyone by hiring fire dancers and it was such a hit. Even people from other resorts and people who had been walking on the beach came over to see the amazing show. Friends of ours had their yacht there and they let us take it out for a week after the wedding. We invited 3 other couples from the wedding party and all lived on the boat for a week. We fished, snorkeled, swam with sea lions and went exploring in all the cities around Cabo. My favorite memory of the day was my husband’s speech to me during the reception. I had never heard my husband speak in public and it was the most beautiful speech and I could tell he meant every word he said

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Brian and Allison Callaway from Callaway Gable | Wedding Venue: Cabo Azul Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico | Floral Design: Areté Florals | Dessert: Cabo Azul Resort | Ceremony Music: Trio Los Mosquitos | Reception Music: DJ Ricardo Patino from DJ System | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Groom’s Attire: Joseph Abboud | Hair: Carolyn Kennebeck | Makeup: Keely Brown

We always have a little impromptu office party when one of our beloved LBB Members shares their wedding with us… but when the lovely Anita of Elan Makeup Studio sent us her gorgeous destination I-do’s, we considered packing up our party, moving it outdoors, and mixing up a few Friday margaritas. Anita and her handsome hubby threw a colorful Caribbean celebration that will have you searching high and low for an excuse to get your toes in the sand. Captured by the lovely Sarah Kate Photography it’s stress-free sophistication and you can see it all right here in the gallery. Congratulations Anita + Mike!! Thank you for sharing your day with us. XO

From the bride: Being in the Dallas wedding industry, I had always wanted to have a destination wedding since I knew it would be extremely hard to choose from the amazing vendors here. When Mike proposed, I asked where he thought we should get married. I am a Texas girl; he is a Northern California boy so we both knew that regardless our friends and family would have to travel to witness our vows. Mike suggested Playa Del Carmen, Mexico as our destination wedding place, if they had to travel then why not to a beautiful beach. That is when I knew I was marrying the perfect person!

We searched on line for the perfect beach front hotel and found The Azul Fives Resort by Karisma. We needed something family and kid friendly since our immediate family had little ones. The staff was wonderful and very accommodating, they even spent and extra 2 hours during our first walk through to make sure our extra things we wanted were perfect as well as showing us our option “b” if it rained. Once we found the resort we started the planning process with the help of their coordinators located in Miami, Florida.

We had 72 guests that attended our big day, large for a destination wedding but it really was the perfect number to celebrate with. Mike and I agreed that we wanted a close friend to marry us; we chose one of our longtime friends Tony Pham to be our clergy and both of us had 6 attendants. Knowing that it was a beach wedding we started out with a casual vibe that quickly changed when I found my beautiful dress with the help of Marsha French at Stardust celebrations and my shoes (that I actually ordered on line a year before Mike had proposed). I chose bright and vibrant colors for our wedding. If you know either one of us, then you know “bright” is perfect. Cobalt blue dresses for the girls, navy linen shirts with khakis for the boys and bright orange, yellow and red flowers for decor. We had one vendor that we hired from the Dallas area, Sarah Kate Photography of course! Our photos were going to be the only thing we would have to remember our special day with and she was the perfect person for us.

Mike was a very involved groom; he helped with the decisions of everything and was a great sport during the entire process. With both of us being big music fans, the playlist was a joint effort and really made the wedding and reception perfect. Everyone was seated to Vitamin Strings Quartet songs, the bridal party walked down to “Marry Me” by Train and my Mom walked me down the aisle to “This Years Love” by David Gray. Our first dance song was “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel. Blue glow sticks and black sunglasses were brought out during the reception, something we knew our guests would love.

I hope that I inspire new brides to think bold and embrace color, especially on the beach where it can pop. Don’t be afraid of using your imagination either and stepping out of the box making it your own!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Sarah Kate Photography | Hair + Makup: Mayra Lopez of Elan Makeup Studio | Wedding Venue:  Azul Fives Resort | Officiant: Tony Pham | Wedding Dress: Custom by Steven Birnbaum via Stardust Celebrations | Bride’s Veil: Custom by House of Lovely | Shoes: Betsy Johnson | Cake Topper: Green Lily Creations | Hanger: Wisconmon | Rings: Bova Diamonds

Ever since my honeymoon in Tulum two years ago, I’ve been dreaming of going back. It’s such a romantic place, full of magic and beauty, making it the perfect spot to say I do. This couple knew they struck gold when they decided to ditch their hometown of NYC and head for the beach. Button Up Photography captured all the pretty and you can see even more right here in the full gallery!

From the Bride… My one must for our wedding was having our ceremony outdoors. The trouble was, we live in New York City. I scoured the city for venues with gardens or plots of grass, some even high on top of skyscrapers, but nothing was ever quite right. They were either too small, too large, way too expensive, lacked decent in-case-of-rain options or just didn’t feel enough like being outdoors. All along my fiancé, Julian was hoping for a smaller affair with just our immediate families. When we couldn’t find the right space in NY, I said ok, let’s do a small wedding, but to make it special- we’re going to Tulum! It was on!

My fiancé’s family threw a rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding at another hotel just down the beach. They were so great and packed little flashlights for each person, because there aren’t many lights on Tulum’s beach at night. It was one of my favorite memories of our wedding weekend- walking down the beach with all our little lights toward the hotel. A saxophonist was playing as we arrived and had cocktails on the beach. Later we had dinner with tons of speeches that my in-laws had pre-arranged. It was lovely!

For our wedding, we had a Mexican trio sing while guests were sitting and through the cocktail hour and later switched to a DJ. People signed our guest book with advice and included a mini Polaroid picture. The staff passed around mojitos with our cocktail napkins in our three colors (fuchsia, purple and blue) each with a different love quote. My favorite was from the author of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie, which said “Magic does happen, if only we wish hard enough.”

Since I had been poring over Style Me Pretty’s pages in the months before our wedding, I got a ton of ideas here- our papel picado banners and flags, the silver sea urchin placeholders and the Botanical Paperworks guest gifts. I even found my earrings on here! I forgot to ask my photographer to get photos of our welcome bags unfortunately. I had papel picado stamps made and stamped a banner on card stock with the colors of our wedding, and we wrote personal notes to each guest. I filled the bags with bottled water, a salty and sweet treat, altoids, little emergency kits, Tocca sunscreen towlettes, travel candles and mini bottles of Patron. I used the same papel picado stamps for rose petal bags and every third guest chair at our ceremony either had petals, maracas or a papel picado flag, as well as palm fans wrapped in purple ribbon. I also wrote the place cards and table numbers and addressed our wedding invitations myself and made my own envelope liners. I had so much fun with all that stuff!

The night went by so quickly, dances, cake-cutting, tequila shots, even some pool jumping. The staff also built a bonfire on the beach and after the DJ and photographer left we sat in a big circle and sang. It was amazing! The only thing better than having the wedding of your dreams, is having a whole weekend with your closest friends and family in paradise!

[dotted]

Wedding Photography: Hideki Falcon from Button Up Photography | Wedding Venue: Be Tulum Hotel in Tulum, Mexico | Wedding Invitations: PostScript Brooklyn | Wedding Stationery: Botanical Paperworks | Place Card Holders: Gallery 360 | Papel Picado Banners + Flags: Ay Mujer | Cocktail Napkins + Matches: For Your Party |Lanterns: CB2 | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Veil: Bridal Veil Falls, NYC | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Parker | Groom’s Attire: Prada

“Contagiously fun.”  That’s how I knew this wedding was going to be awesome.  Those two little words spoken by a bride that knows a thing or two about planning a gorgeous wedding.  A gorgeous wedding, mind you, that is bursting with rustic meets modern details, breathtaking images from Spencer Combs and a night of “unstoppable dancing.”  Yep, unstoppable dancing.  Are these two crazy cool or what?  Click here for sooo much more and then stay tuned for even more lovely from Modern 8 Films below.

From the Bride… Our vision for the wedding was simple, modern, fresh, rustic but most importantly – we wanted it to be contagiously fun. We were determined to find a beautiful setting that consisted of rustic, sunny beaches, and to basically find a wedding chapel that was equally as breathtaking – and this is essentially what we experienced at Cabo’s Azul’s El Corazon, a five story wedding chapel with candlelit waterfalls and the Sea of Cortez as our romantic backdrop. For our reception, we wanted to treat our family and friends to an awe-inspiring oceanfront terrace where we could dance the night away.

As a corporate event planner, this was going to be the first wedding I was going to plan – and boy, was it a blast! I worked very closely with Cabo’s leading event/linen decor designer – Suzanne Morel’s Linen Things and More. We came up with a burlap-inspired concept that tied into our soft gray and blush palettes. Burlap was used as table runners, candle wrappers and even in our invitations that were created by Beacon Lane.

And while I wanted to create as many handmade items for our wedding, timing proved to be a challenge. That’s when I turned to Etsy and fell in love with so many inspiring self-made items. Instead of having a typical guest book, I wanted to tie in our love for champagne and so we decided to use our favorite champagne, Moet, as our wedding guest signing piece, which we plan on opening at a future anniversary. Makes for a wonderful keepsake, too!

For our ceremony, we incorporated Filipino wedding traditions that included the lighting of candles that were lit by our parents first to symbolize their blessings, followed by the tying of the cord to symbolize unity, and the placement of a veil to grant us protection and shelter. Our wedding ceremony was probably the best part of our day, where we exchanged our own vows in front of our most beloved family and friends. It was truly the most amazing experience.

And after an evening of great food and unstoppable dancing, Fred and I wanted to come up with something unique and special to wrap up our wedding day and it was perhaps the most romantic endings we were so happy to have carried out. We invited our guests to the beach at midnight, where they stood in a circle around us, sparklers lit and blazing, while we had our last dance to David Grey’s “This Year’s Love.” It was magical.

We are delighted to share our day with you and with the love of family and friends, our wedding was beyond anything we could have ever imagined.

Wedding Photography: Spencer Combs / Wedding Venue: Cabo Azul Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico / Floral Design: Cabo Floral Studios / Wedding Cinematography: Modern 8 Films / Wedding Band: Trio Los Mosquitos / Music: DJ Ricardo / Linen Rental: Linen Things and More / Hangers: Burlap Babe / Cake Toppers + Unity Candles: Morgan Hill / Wine Labels: Nancy Nikko / Thank You Sign: Julie Newbrough / Flower Girl Basket: Sparkle and Posy / Vintage White Frame Chalkboard: Kelley Cummins / Chair Signs: Romantic Planet / Menu Design: Cheer Up Cherup / Place Cards: Rachel Carl / Wedding Sparklers Signs: Lollipops and Pussycats / Wedding Invitations: Beacon Lane / Wedding Dress: Oleg Cassini / Bridesmaids’ + Flower Girl Attire: Vera Wang / Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire: Brooks Brothers / Hair + Makeup: Suzanne Morel

If ever there was a moment where I was about to drop everything and jet off to Mexico, it would be this moment. The culprit? This gorgeous destination wedding crafted by Fiestas Los Cabos and Elena Damy.  From the second I laid eyes on the images from Parker J Pfister Photography I was done with snow and winter and so, so ready for sunshine and margaritas. They play extra nice with south of the border “I Dos”.  See for yourself right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… From the moment we got engaged Kenny and I knew we wanted to kick off our marriage celebrating with family and friends in a warm and fun location. The One and Only Palmilla in Cabo was a natural choice since it was the first place we vacationed together. We envisioned a relaxing and fun weekend with activities for our guests to enjoy. Judging by the fact that people are still talking about it I think we more than fulfilled our vision!

Everything from our save the date box filled with stationary by Ceci New York, a mini bottle of patron and a sombrero to the welcome bag with beach balls, waterproof iPod speakers, Cuban cigars, and other vacation essentials set the tone for the weekend to come.

We started the weekend festivities with a beautiful sunset cruise on the Sea of Cortez. The following day our guests enjoyed a beachside yoga session and a golf tournament aptly named the “Ashley and Kenny Classic.” Friday’s rehearsal dinner was held at the Office and featured their famous margaritas and fire dancers. Our wedding day’s sunset ceremony, fireworks when we cut the cake, and 2 am jump in Palmilla’s fountain were the perfect ending to a weekend we will never forget.

Wedding Photography: Parker J Pfister Photography / Wedding Venue: One and Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico / Wedding Design, Coordinator + Planning: Tara Null of Fiestas Los Cabos / Floral Design: Elena Damy / Stationery: Ceci New York / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Vintage Jimmy Choo / Hair: Michael Jacobson of  Michael and Michael / Makeup: April Toofan / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna

Tying the knot on the gorgeous shoreline of Mexico always sounds like a good idea in my book. And from the looks of these gorgeous images snapped up by Paige Jones, it looks like a fabulous idea too. The easy yet elegant feel to this destination dream wedding makes me wish I was there, right now, celebrating this adorable duo. Since I can’t do that, I’ll just allow myself to get lost in the gallery for a bit. Care to join me? See it here.

From the Bride… Why Troncones, Mexico? After we were engaged we were certain we would have our wedding in Seattle over the summer. We are both from the Pacific Northwest and had always envisioned a Northwest wedding on the water. My dad was also sick (cancer) and we didn’t know what kind of time we had. Planning was stressful, difficult and no fun at all. Two days before our engagement party we literally sat on the floor of our apartment and declared we could not do “this” (wedding in Seattle) and decided on a destination wedding. Troncones made the most sense because we love it so much and were already scheming how we could get all our friends there on a big group vacay. We also knew that no matter what happened over the next year, if we were in Troncones, my dad would be there.

Rings were designed and created by Saskia Moes from Portland, Oregon. A little story about the rings: My engagement ring was Ben’s grandmothers. My wedding band was made from pieces of family jewelry melted down, and my mom gave us the three little diamonds that were in the band. Ben’s ring is made from my dad’s wedding ring. Saskia melted it down and had it made to fit Ben.

Wedding Photography: Paige Jones / Wedding Venue: Casa Majahua in Troncones, Mexico / Floral Design: Rosemary Stafford Floral Design / Caterer: Mary & Jean Pascal Bochet / Wedding Dress: Cicada Bridal / Rings: Saskia Moes

 

I am currently bundled up under a sea of blankets gripping a steaming cup of coffee as snow softly falls outside my window, so this Mexico wedding by Rensche Mari is such a vision to me. A dream, if I may say. The sunshine and endless ocean views obviously are pulling at my snowed-in heart strings, but the thing that really put me over the edge? The Groom sent in the description below, and that gets be every time. See so much more here.

From the Groom… One of my favorite things about a wedding is when family and friends are involved. Heloise’s mom started a day before with arranging the flowers and getting everything perfect for her tables, her dad, brother, cousin and friends helped too, her mom also made the gift boxes out of pewter with the K&H entails…so it was truly made with love!

From Rensche Mari… They invited close friends and family to join them on their special weekend. Everyone was in a very relaxing mood, surely due to having margaritas, mexican beer, great food and getting some vitamin D from the sun. On the day of the wedding we had perfect weather and a beautiful ceremony on the beach. Afterward the bride & groom where showered with rice and everyone cast a stone into the sea with some well wishes for the couple.

Wedding Photography: Rensche Mari / Wedding Venue: Le Reve Hotel and Spa in Playa del Carmen, Mexico / Floral Design + Decor: DIY by the Bride, Bride’s Mother, Family + Friends / Wedding Invitations: Delphine Press / Entertainment: Plug In Audiovisual / Wedding Dress: Something Blue Vancouver / Shoes: Coloriffics / Hair + Makeup: Styling Trio Riviera Maya / Grooms attire: Hugo Boss / Rings: Era Designs / Wedding Coordinator: Arlenis Ruiz with Le Rêve Hotel & Spa

“Magical.”  That’s exactly how Joseph West Photography is describing this masterpiece of a wedding and I most certainly agree.  Because everyone knows that Mexico and destination weddings are a match made in nuptial heaven and when they are as breathtakingly gorgeous as this one is, it’s an entirely new level of pretty.  From the stunning beachside setting to the sophisticated meets casual vibe to a bride that will stop your heart with her beauty, the gallery is one moment after another of pure, unadulterated magic.  And it’s amazing.  Click here for even more lovely.

From Joseph West Photography… When asked to be a part of Omar and Laura’s wedding in Ixtapa, Mexico I was absolutely thrilled. From the start, it was quite magical. From the local scenery of Ixtapa (the first night starting with a little salsa dancing offs the resort in town) to the restaurant overlooking the Pacific. It was quite magical.

The wedding day in itself was perfect. Ixtapa weather and the resort made for a great location. The party lasted well into the night, with even a little luchador action happening. Watching these two get married was quite an honour to me; the love they portrayed is evident in the photos.

Wedding Photography: Joseph West Photography / Wedding Venue: Las Brisas Hotel in Ixtapa, Mexico

When we’re not spending our time obsessing over the work of Jennifer Lindberg Weddings, we’re spending our time drooling over her brand spankin’ new blog, Most of All, I Remember, so it pretty much goes without saying – we’re big, big fans.  So big, in fact, that when she sent along this breathtaking Cabo San Lucas affair, we let out a collective gasp.  Because when Jennifer teams up with the geniuses at Elena Damy Floral & Event Design, the Esperanza Resort and the oh-so-talented Allison R. Banks, it’s always a guaranteed day of pretty.  One that rocks oceanside views and a stunning couple that just couldn’t wait to say I Do.  Join me in the gallery for more.

From the Bride… I had wanted to get married in Cabo for as long as I could remember, and it truly could not have been a more beautiful or more perfect day. It had rained the night before, so when I woke up that morning and pulled the curtains back, I was thrilled to see that it was gorgeous out. The sun was shining and the ocean was sparkling below, and I just knew it was going to be the best day of my life. I had a few friends up to my suite for breakfast, and then we all headed down to the pool to relax and visit with our guests while Michael finished up his round of golf from the day before. It was so fun to see everyone having such a great time together, and the hotel even had a roaming neck massage therapist visit the pool to quell any lingering jitters and cap off the perfect afternoon.

My suite overlooked the site where our ceremony was going to be held, so I got to watch it all come together while I was getting dressed. My sister (the maid of honor) and all of my best friends joined me for champagne and some treats from the hotel while I finished preening, and everyone was kind enough to stand in awe when I finally walked out in my dress. We got some beautiful pictures before the ceremony, and it was so fun to spend a little time with everyone before the big moment. My father passed away when I was in high school, so I had asked the dad of one of my very best friends to walk me down the aisle. It was the perfect choice, and I couldn’t have been happier to have him at my side. When I finally met Michael at the altar, the feeling was unbelievable. I was so excited to see him and couldn’t wait to say “I do.” During the planning, I had made an effort to make sure that our outdoor ceremony still felt like we were in a church. The Beesons had been kind enough to fly our Episcopalian minister in from Houston to officiate the service. The florist made us a custom floral cross that was breathtaking and even had pillows made just for me and Michael so that we could kneel during the Lord’s Prayer. All of those details really made the ceremony so meaningful to both of us, and I am very grateful to everyone for making it happen.  

We took some more beautiful pictures with our wedding party on the beach, and then we said our vows again with just our families in front of a Mexican justice of the peace with one of Michael’s best friends translating. For something that was a mere formality to make things legal, it turned out to be pretty special too, and I loved getting to say “Si!” when she asked if I would take Michael as my husband. We joined everyone for cocktails and danced to our first song,”That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding, while everyone took their seats for dinner on the terrace. The setting was just amazing. Our florist did an incredible job capturing my vision, and our calligrapher’s work on the menus and place cards just made it all the more beautiful. We even had a super moon overhead to provide some spectacular waves crashing on the rocks. There may have been a bit of a splash zone, but it was all so beautiful that no one cared. My mom gave the most perfect toast before dinner, of course aimed at telling Michael just how lucky he was to have found me. We had an amazing meal, followed up by wedding cake and Ole Miss-themed, red velvet groom’s cake, two fireworks shows, and a hell of a good time on the dance floor. It was magical, and I couldn’t feel luckier that it all actually happened. 

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Wedding Venue: Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico / Floral Design: Elena Damy Floral & Event Design / Graphic Design: Rachel Rothberg of ph design shop / Calligraphy: Allison R. Banks Designs / Ceremony Musicians: Violetta Poleteck + Daryl Currie / Reception Band: Cabo Max / Wedding Dress: Ines DiSanto “Tivoli” via Belle Mariee Bridal Couture / Bride’s Sash: Anne Barge / Bride’s Veil + Hair Pins: Sara Gabriel / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Earrings: MIJA Jewelry / Bride’s Necklace: From the Groom / Hair + Makeup: Neysa Berman of Blanc Bridal Salon / Bride’s Rehearsal Dinner Dress: Alice & Olivia / Bride’s Rehearsal Dinner Shoes: B Brian Atwood / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Shoshanna / Mother of the Bride’s Dress: Oscar de la Renta / Groom’s Blazer: Peter Millar / Groom’s Belt + Buckle: Max Lang, From the Bride / Groom’s Pants: Cubavera / Groom’s Tie: Alynn / Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Mi Casa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

We love it when a bride and groom aren’t afraid of a little color – and this adorable Utah duo is most definitely a fan of vibrant hues.  So much so, in fact, that they filled their entire Sayulita wedding with one crazy gorgeous detail after another, all in bright pops of fuchsia, orange, yellow and green.  Vallarta Weddings styled the entire affair to absolute perfection and Donna Day Photography was on hand to capture every fun-filled moment.  Join me in the gallery to see it all.

From Vallarta Weddings… Tessa and Tim, from Salt Lake City, Utah, went for a vibrant and colorful wedding in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico, because they wanted their guests to experience the “Real Mexico!” They could have not chosen a better location than the beautiful Casa de los Delfines! The villa is a beautiful property above the quaint town of Sayulita with an awesome ocean view and the most beautiful, vibrant Mexican colors throughout the house. The ceremony took place in the beautiful manicured garden of Casa de los Delfines. A simple but beautiful floral altar with colorful tropical flowers (yellow and orange lilies, purple irises and other tropical flowers) and the palm trees and ocean were the perfect background for the ceremony! Scented sandalwood fans with an intricate carved design and a delicate white tassel attached awaited on each guest’s chair! They were the perfect wedding favor choice for those warm days in Mexico.  The beautiful and meaningful ceremony, officiated by a dear friend of bride and groom, got some of us very emotional. A mariachi band played a romantic song for the bridal processional and a festive song for the couple’s recessional.

Then the mariachi lead the guests to the cocktail area by to the pool, just in time for them to enjoy the amazing sunset and cocktails. Waiters received guests with trays of margaritas on the rocks! Mexican lanterns hang above the cocktail tables provided a beautiful dimmed light, and the bar area was adorned with paper picado banners! Also during cocktail hour, the bride and groom and guests had photos taken with a cute Mexican donkey who was dressed for the occasion with paper flowers and more papel picado.  An engagement photo of the happy couple with a blank cardboard frame was the photo “guest book.”

After the cocktail hour, guests proceeded to the reception dinner area, where an amazing selection of delicious Mexican dishes awaited them in the buffet area. Hand-made escort cards with a green palm design were placed at the entrance to the reception to direct guests to their tables. The entire property was decorated with colorful papel picado and illuminated with colorful Mexican paper lanterns called “farolitos.” In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, bride and groom opted for colorful cupcakes with the cutest Day of the Dead bride and groom topper! After dinner, the traditional toasts were given with a traditional Mexican drink (tequila, of course!) Then the amazing rock band played a marvelous version of the “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole for the bride and groom’s first dance. Then all the guests got in the dance floor and danced the night away! 

Wedding Photography: Donna Day Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa de los Delfines in Sayulita, Mexico / Wedding Design + Planning: Vallarta Weddings / Catering: Don Pedro’s / Wedding Cupcakes: Charme Reposteria / Band: The Zippers / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Enzo Angiolini

Raise your hand if you’ve fantasized about having an incredibly intimate and undeniably romantic ceremony on a beach somewhere. You too? Even though I wouldn’t change a thing about the barn wedding I had, I’ll always have a thing for pretty beach getaway weddings. And this adorable couple’s day is just how I would have done it; sweet and simple and ending with a bon fire. Lyde & Wright Photography captured all the pretty and you can see it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Lyde & Wright Photography… Jamie and Grant chose to have a small destination wedding at the beautiful Westin Resort in Cabo San Lucas. With close family and friends, they had their ceremony right on the beach. Jamie works as an event planner in the state of Washington, so most of their decor was DIY. Her mother-in-law embroidered all the napkins for the reception, and they made gift bags for all the guests with treats from the Los Cabos area. The ceremony took place just before sunset, allowing most of their formal portraits to be taken right as the sun was going down over the desert. The reception was on an open air patio, secluded from the rest of the resort. The night ended with a campfire by the beach, roasting marshmallows and lighting sparklers. 

Wedding Photography: Lyde & Wright Photography / Wedding Venue: The Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos in Los Cabos, Mexico / Event Design: Del Cabo Event Design / Floral Design: Emporio Arte Floral / Wedding Invitations: Darling Press & Stationers / Wedding Dress: Wtoo / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch

Happy Halloween, lovelies! We are seriously pinching ourselves this morning because we couldn’t have asked for a prettier or more festive wedding to share with all of you today. Sent into us by the super talented, and not to mention timely, Sara Richardson Photography, this Dia de Los Muertos inspired wedding will have you smiling from ear to ear all day long. It’s bright, casual and whimsical all at once and it’s all right here for you to see. 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Allure Event… Dacia and Daniel, who live in Australia, were interested in having an out-of-the-ordinary wedding for their guests who were traveling from around the world to join them. Daniel is a drummer and covered in tattoos, and Dacia loves vintage ’50s pinup style! In their words, they wanted a bright, fun, Mexican fiesta with a vintage touch. To bring their vision to life, we incorporated authentic Mexican elements such as the equipal tables and chairs used for dinner, colorful otomi table runners, prayer candles, clay serveware for the taco buffet, sugar skulls as favors and cempasúchil flowers in vintage glasses.

We kept the ceremony setting relaxed and intimate by placing large drop cloths on the sand with colorful feather pillows for guests to sit on. A Spanish guitarist played as guests arrived at the ceremony site and continued to play as Dacia and her father made their way down to the beach for the ceremony. A light turquoise arch with a simple papel picado banner framed the bride and groom during the ceremony. Daniel’s ex-stepfather officiated their ceremony and Dacia’s father read “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss in lieu of a religious reading. After the kiss, guests showered the couple with dried basil flowers (they symbolize “best wishes”) to honor Dacia’s Italian heritage. To hold the basil flowers, we created small cotton cloth sachets and tied them with little milagros charms with red string and placed them in a vintage suitcase with a wooden sacred heart with little milagros.

The reception was held under the large palapa at Villas de Cerritos, which had been decorated with colorful papel picado banners hung over the equipal tables and two bright piñatas over the dance floor. For the cocktail hour, we created an intimate sitting area we named the Frida Lounge and used more colorful feather cushions, carrying some of the same elements used for the ceremony. A seven-piece mariachi band serenaded guests during dinner, while a DJ played for the rest of the evening. For the centerpieces, we used a combination of vintage goblets and glasses and modern bud vases filled with cempasúchil flowers, as well as garden-style arrangements in shades of red and pink with hints of purple and yellow. The wedding cake was flavored Mexican vanilla and filled with nuts and cajeta. The three-tier cake was decorated with Day of the Dead sugar skulls, which also served as the cake topper. The couple also cut into a Pan de Muerto (sweet, orange blossom-scented bread), which was served alongside the wedding cake on clay plates.

Wedding Photography: Sara Richardson Photography / Ceremony: San Pedrito Beach in Cerritos, Baja California Sur, Mexico / Reception: Villas de Cerritos Beach in Cerritos, Baja California Sur, Mexico / Event Planning: Vari Avila of Allure Event / Floral Design: Florenta Floral Design / Catering: Jennifer O’Toole / Wedding Cake: Criss Cake / Mariachi: Mariachi Cabo / DJ: Alex DJ / Wedding Dress: Zimmerman / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Guitarist: Alonso Aguirre / Caterer: Jennifer O’Toole

When you think of Los Cabos, you most likely begin daydreaming of warm sands on open beaches and maybe the most gorgeous terrain in North America. But I bet you don’t think of an organic farm as picturesque as Huerta Los Tamarindos that seems to have been tailor-made for these two lovebirds to exchange their vows. Surrounded by sunflowers and marigolds of the prettiest of arrangements from Cabo Flowers & Cakes, every image from Sara Richardson Photography seems to glow those brilliant golden hues. See it all in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Rachel Hansen of Infinity Weddings… Nita and Aaron loved the country/farm concept for their wedding, which is not common for Cabo destination weddings. It took us a while to find the perfect location to host their special event, and what better than a certified organic farm less than a mile from the beach? Huerta Los Tamarindos has been producing organic produce for local restaurants and exporting to the US for the past 10 years. Their large property had ample space to host all wedding events on site for Nita and Aaron’s 100 guests. Seeing the sunset over the crops while drinking organic mojitos and munching on the fresh farm food just added to the overall charm of their wedding. We decorated the ceremony arch and dinner tables with fresh sunflowers, cilantro and marigolds grown on the farm. Cabo Flowers added special touches of baby’s breath, daisies and alstromeria to complete the centerpieces in various glass jars and containers. Aside from the scenery, other fun elements for this wedding included a photo booth, DJ music until the wee hours of the morning and sparklers for the newlyweds’ exit.

Wedding Photography: Sara Richardson Photography / Wedding Venue: Huerta Los Tamarindos in Los Cabos, Mexico / Wedding Planning: Rachel Hansen of Infinity Weddings / Floral Design: Cabo Flowers & Cakes / Wedding Cinematography: Jorge Ibarra / Catering: Lazy Gourmet / Music: Victor Palma of MX Trio (624-126-9527) / DJ: DJ Ricardo Patino / Rentals: Diamante Rentals / Transportation: David Hernandez (624-154-2128) / Wedding Dress: Wtoo

I’m going to just come out and say it – this wedding is perfect. It’s casual and so much fun, all the while being beyond gorgeous (I mean, how could it not be, when it’s set on a Mexican beach?). The best thing about sharing this wedding this morning are the images from Fer Juaristi – which are definitely letting me feel the ocean breeze and sand between my toes. So what do you say we grab a couple margaritas and take a little vacation to Mexico a la the gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Between our friends and family in Miami, Philly, New York and Michigan – and our own home base in Los Angeles – we realized wherever we held our wedding would be a destination for the majority of the guests. So we decided to make it a destination for everyone – and chose the beautiful Beloved Hotel in Playa Mujeres, Mexico (about 25 minutes north of Cancun). The hotel is a rare find – intimate (109 rooms), luxurious, and all-inclusive. Our 150+ guests all stayed at the resort with us, so it felt almost like our own private property!

Planning a destination wedding was actually much easier than I thought it would be. One of the very first decisions we made (and spent the most time researching) was choosing our photographer. As soon as I saw Fer Juaristi’s work, I was in love. He’s totally non-traditional, and a true artist. Once he was booked, we let our fantastic wedding planner Leanne Marie and her partner Maju take care of securing all of our other vendors, from the guitarists at the ceremony, to the mariachi band, to the DJ, dance floor, lighting, furniture rentals, etc.

As for the details – I went a little DIY crazy on the welcome bags – which included “Wedding Weekend Survival Kits”, personalized suntan lotion & aloe vera that I bottled myself (*do not recommend!), mini bottles of tequila, and a brochure detailing the weekend’s events. I also made little message-in-a-bottle escort cards, and all of the signs/table numbers. All in all – we brought about four extra suitcases stuffed to the brim with wedding goodies that we quite luckily managed to squeak through customs.

Overall, we just wanted the day to be fun, laid-back and modern. One of our close friends officiated the ceremony and did an incredible job making it both heartfelt and hilarious. After cocktail hour by the pool, everyone returned to the beach for the reception on the sand. The party was non-stop and so much fun, complete with fire dancers and dancing in the ocean. It may be a cliche, but it truly was the best day of our lives.

Photography: Fer Juaristi with additional photography by Emily Young / Flowers, lighting & rentals: Planner 1 Events / Event Planning: Leanne Marie Weddings / Ceremony Location: The Beloved Hotel / Invitations: Bella Figura / Dress: Lazaro via Panache Bridal / Hair & Makeup: The Styling Trio / Bridesmaid dresses: Nordstrom / Bridesmaid robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

Next up, we’ve off to Mexico for a wedding that’s bursting with color + personality! Wanting something small and beach-side, this couple travelled to the secluded Yucatan coast with their nearest and dearest, rented out the beautiful La Zebra for the weekend and DIY-ed the celebration of their dreams (on a tight budget, nonetheless)!  Bridesmaids crafted the bouquets the morning-of, the invitations were all hand-typed on a vintage typewriter and the bride even helped design her own wedding dress!  Renata Yagolnitzer captured every.last.detail, and you can see the rest right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When Rubin and I decided to get married, we knew we wanted to do it with our toes in the sand. We also knew that we wanted it to be small and intimate, so we chose to have a destination wedding. We figured that since our love was so great, we needed more than one day to celebrate it. We decided to, with our guests, rent out an entire hotel and have a whole weekend of fun. We picked the Yucatan coast because of its pristine beauty. Tulum is a romantic and secluded town that offered us everything we could want in a wedding. It took us a long time to decide on La Zebra as our venue because there were so many hotels to choose from, but once we saw it, we knew it was perfect. They lovely people at La Zebra took care of our and our guests’ every need with unmatched care and kindness, and Victoria Holmes, La Zebra’s in-house wedding planner, treated our special day like it was her own. The entire team bent over backwards to give us the wedding of our dreams.

I looked at so many wedding dresses, but none of them felt like me, so I searched for a designer to help me create my dream dress. I found Rebecca Schoneveld Cheek, who creates romantic, effortless bridal gowns inspired by 1930s fashion. She has a studio very close to me in Park Slope, and together, we designed the dress I had always wanted. The unique experience of having a custom gown made just for me and getting to know Rebecca was one of my favorite things about the entire process.

Our budget was limited, so our wedding was the ultimate DIY event. I wanted to keep the decorations to a minimum since the location had so much natural beauty. We made the invitations ourselves using a letter press and Rubin’s late grandmother’s typewriter. I made all the faux mercury glass vases and votives myself, and our gorgeous chuppa was made with found driftwood by Colin Selig, a sculptor and family friend. The photography, cinematography, DJing and event styling were also done by our very talented friends; Ren Yags, Jeffrey Max, Trent Wolbe and Rebecca Bartoshesky, respectively. My bridesmaids did all the flower arraigning the morning of the wedding, and the groomsmen worked tirelessly with the staff to set everything up.

The week of the wedding was stormy and wet. It rained every day,  and every forecast said it would thunder and pour the entire day of the wedding. Victoria tried to convince me to plan to have the wedding at a covered location on the grounds of La Zebra, but I refused. I believed it would be a beautiful day, and the morning of the wedding there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! Not a single drop of rain fell on our perfect day. We had the ceremony on the beach, officiated by our Uncle Jack. For dinner, everyone got to build their own tacos, we had cocktails made with fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice and grocery store donuts for dessert (they were delicious!). We danced outside till 2 a.m. (even the parents) and ended the night by running into the water. We received enough love for an entire lifetime. It was a magical, ridiculously fun, heart-warming, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Wedding Photography: Renata Yagolnitzer / Wedding Venue: La Zebra in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico / Event Design: Rebecca Bartoshesky (A Friend) / Event Planning: Ren Ariel Sano-St. John (The Bride) / Floral Design: DIY / Wedding Cinematography: Jeffrey Max (A Friend) / Catering: Lina’s Mexican Kitchen / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride & Groom / DJ: Trent Wolbe (A Friend) / Chuppa: Colin Selig (A Friend) / Wedding Dress: Custom by Rebecca Schoneveld Cheek / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Kay Konvertibles

This wedding is why I love Style Me Pretty so very much. It’s one of those weddings that breathes, that smiles, that has soul and style and substance. And while it’s wildly different than my own nuptials, it has its own kind of beauty that brings out a lazy, long and authentic smile every time I pore through the images. Photographed by Emily Scannell, we are smitten for this San Miguel beauty. And click here to see so much more.

From the Bride… San Miguel de Allende is a charming colonial town, resting on a hillside of the Bajio mountains in central Mexico. It is the birthplace of my great-grandparents and where Matt and I first vacationed together as a couple. I’ve always held a special affection for Mexico in my heart and liked the idea of having a destination wedding. After Matt proposed, it seemed like the perfect setting. I knew our wedding was going to be very intimate. I wanted our 45 guests to have an experience, not just with our wedding, but with this very special place in the world. I took on the majority of planning the wedding to ensure personal touches and details were a true reflection of Matt and me. I drew inspiration from the romantic, 400-year-old hacienda where we spent our day, as well as my dress — rustic elegance with a romantic sophistication. The house had an authentic beauty that I did not want to change. The rooftop ceremony at sunset only needed touches of nube bundles (Mexican flowers that my mom and I had a blast discovering at the local mercado) candles, chairs and a guitar duo. The ceremony was led by a close friend. Matt and I not only wrote our own vows but also the ceremony. We incorporated phrases from Mexican-American poet/author Luis Urrea, traditional Catholic vows and our own sentiments. After the ceremony, we had traditional mariachis, who played “Son de la Negra” (my parents exited the church to the same song) as we processioned out into the street for our wedding parade with a tequila burro. All of our guests drank tequila and danced through the town square and then back to the house. Upon our return, the bougainvillea-adorned courtyard was candlelit with rustic wooden tables, antique lace runners and burning candelabras. We had a delicious, three-course, sit-down dinner, which ended with a tres leches cake drizzled with chocolate. And then, of course, we danced into the night! We felt nothing but a tremendous amount of gratitude, joy, friendship, love y destino. :)  

Wedding Photography: Emily Scannell Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Caprichio in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / Wedding Planning + Catering: Penzi / Wedding Invitations: Mariah Walcutt / Flowers, Wedding Website, Sighs, Loteria Guest Book Postcards, Table Runners, Save-the-Dates, Menus + Seating Chart: DIY / Wedding Dress: Manuel Mota for Pronovias / Bride’s Veil: Handmade / Maid of Honor’s Dress: BCBG

Call your travel agent and get ready to book the next flight out to Playa del Carmen because this wedding by Krista Photography is going to melt your heart. How can you possibly make the picturesque setting of Hacienda Tres Rios Resort any more beautiful? Bring in an incredible team of pro’s such as Canteiro to help create a tropical paradise with elegant floral arrangements, sophisticated signage and refined tablescapes {to name a few!}. Head to the full gallery for more.

 

 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Krista Guenin of Krista Photography… Averie and Keith originally contacted me about doing some engagement photos for them. We got along so well that they asked me to also come with them to Mexico to photograph their wedding! I was thrilled — and not just because it was in Mexico, but because I knew it was going to be beautiful and tons of fun!  The whole weekend was just wonderful — from the welcome party under the palm trees, to the wedding between the pool and the ocean, to the trash the dress session around the grounds on the last day. Everything was beautifully planned and put together, and it was also a BLAST! They had a fun group of friends and family with them to celebrate, and they made the most of it and had a fabulous time dancing the night away under the stars. I loved being a part of it all!!

From the Bride… Our wedding weekend at Tres Rios was nothing short of a dream come true, and it is displayed so beautifully in Krista’s photos. It was a stunning location that we were thrilled to find (with the help of Leanne Marie Wedding). We had a great group of family and friends with us, and everything went off without a hitch! We truly had a blast! Keith and I fell in love with the natural feel of the hotel and wanted this element to be a big part of our overall wedding design. I also wanted our day to have a romantic and somewhat rustic vibe. Our custom invitations from Hello Tenfold really solidified the design direction. The flowers Ellie from Hello Tenfold created were inspired by traditional Mexican embroidery but also reflected a tropical, fun and romantic feel. We tied the invites with twine and used kraft envelopes to keep it rustic. Edna from EFD Creative helped me carry these ideas throughout the entire wedding by suggesting loose flowers and helping me decide on our romantic lantern centerpieces. I turned to Etsy for some finishing touches, such as our directional sign, which is now hanging in our kitchen! Our team of vendors in Mexico pulled off such a memorable event for us and all our guests. The food was delicious and plentiful, the cake was the best wedding cake I have ever had, the DJ was unstoppable and amazing, and Gabi Labor from Planner 1 Events and Leanne and Maju from Leanne Marie Weddings really held it all together with their on-point coordination. We are thrilled with how everything turned out, especially the photo documentation — thank you, Krista!

From Edna Dratch-Parker of EFD Creative — Event Planning & Design… Working with Averie on her Mexico wedding was so much fun! Destination weddings present a unique set of challenges because you can’t physically be there to guide the planning process, so it’s especially important to work closely together to create the best vision from afar. Averie was interested is EFD Creative because we specialize in wedding branding, which is focusing on design to create its own special look and feel and carrying the style throughout. This allows for the couple’s own personal stamp on the event. Averie wanted her wedding day to feel carefree and relaxed, and she wanted the tone to reflect that mood. We started with finding the colors that gave the tropical feel Averie wanted: peaches, soft red, earth greens and browns. We decided on table decor that included lanterns and flowers for a romantic touch, with burlap runners underneath to set them apart and add depth and texture. The wedding took place on the beach in an intimate, cabana-style hut, and for the reception, we created a natural setting using earth tones with sparks of color from the tropical color palette we selected. It is a rewarding to design for an event in a location you have never personally experienced, but it’s most exciting to see it come to life through the images. All the pieces came together — invitations, signage, decor — and were perfectly executed into a magical day.

Wedding Photography: Krista Guenin + CoCo Boardman of Krista Photography / Wedding Venue: Hacienda Tres Rios Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico / Event Planning: Leanne + Maju of Leanne Marie Weddings, Edna Dratch-Parker of EFD Creative — Event Planning & Design + Gabi Lavor of Canteiro / Floral Design: Gabi Lavor of Canteiro / Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Ellie Snow of Hello Tenfold / Welcome Bag Tags: Kim of Three Eggs Design / Averie & Keith Sign: Mary of Love the Unique / Frames: The Rusty Roof via Amazon / Photo Booth Props: Angela of The Manic Moose / Wedding Dress: Marisa via Madeleine’s Daughter / Bride’s Jewelry: Tejani Jewelry / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair + Makeup:  Melissa + Edgar of MVP Hair and Make Up Artistry / Mother-of-the-Bride’s Dress: Nordstrom / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss

With a little slice of Mexico, a big dose of this couple’s personal style and a gorgeous fireworks display at the end of the night, this wedding has magic (and fiesta!) written all over it. This crew knows how to have fun, and it’s impossible not to be moved by the love and emotion in the air. Casa Garza Blanca is a stunning venue, and when it’s lit up with lights at night, WOAH. Everything comes to life! Bundles of thanks to the amazingly talented Socorro Sandoval and Eric James Photography for the full gallery of images that you’ll find here.

See the FULL gallery right here!

From the Bride… Donovan and I spent a week in Mismaloya in May of 2011. We are both lovers of Mexico and have both vacationed there a few times a year even prior to meeting one another. I was thrilled to see a part of Mexico that I had no idea existed. It was lush, green, tropical and had so much cultural history. It could be as rural or as luxurious as you wanted — truly a gem for two people who lead busy lives and appreciate the simple moments. Mother Nature has gone above and beyond in the Bay of Banderas! The day after we returned from our trip and were unpacking the new home that we had purchased and left in disarray for a little rest and relaxation, Donovan proposed! Immediately, we both knew exactly where we were getting married, and the planning began. There was never hesitation to have a destination wedding because we wanted to share this place with the friends and family that bring laughter, joy, compassion, support and love to our lives. Our intent was to make this not only a wedding for us, but also a vacation for everyone! We invited 72 people and to our surprise, 58 of them immediately replied YES.

Finding a planner was the next step, and I stumbled upon The Dazzling Details on a website that I was getting daily emails from. Instantly I knew that they were the company that we had to hire! Although we wanted our wedding to be in a location outside of the US, we also knew that the vision we had was very American. Immediately Kristin and Michelle worked with us by agreeing to make a special exception and plan two weddings in one weekend — had we known how elaborate our wedding would be, we would never have asked this of them! We were beyond impressed at their ability to capture “us” on our special day.

On the wedding day, I walked into Casa Garza Blanca and was stopped speechless in my tracks. I had never seen the venue in person, and as if that was not enough to take in, I found myself holding back tears as I looked around at what The Dazzling Details team had created. The word that I often use to describe it is “magical.” I literally was without words and had to catch my breath. I felt as if I was the luckiest bride in the most beautiful place in the world at that moment. There was not a detail left undone. I was not a “simple” bride but a “more is more” bride. The Dazzling Details went out of their way to give me every option from the ceremony furniture, BIG flowers, bling, classic romance, candles, fireworks, two cakes, plenty of yummy goodies, a cigar roller, fire dancers and a late night taco cart. The staff was amazing to our guests, and the dance floor was never empty! Our planners were” invisible” throughout the wedding day, making themselves inconspicuous while overseeing every detail and ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. There is not a detail that Donovan and I would change, and we are thankful everyday for the wedding of our dreams!

From The Dazzling Details… Suzi and Donovan first contacted us in October after having visited Puerto Vallarta, their original venue and wedding team. They had determined that their already-in-place-wedding-plans for late February simply didn’t fit with what they envisioned! We happily hopped on board and went into high-gear planning to pull together an amazing celebration in just a few months! We found them a new venue, booked a new team of vendors and worked intensely with them to have a clear understanding of the ambiance they wanted to create for their wedding day, and the end result was fantastic! 

Wedding Photography: Socorro Sandoval + Eric James Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Garza Blanca in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Wedding Coordination, Floral + Event Design: The Dazzling Details / Officiant: Tamara Bradley of Puerto Vallarta Wedding Officiants / Wedding Cinematography: Ray Dion of Promovision PV / Catering: B&B Banquetes / Wedding Cake, Groom’s Cake, Groom’s Cookies + Fruit Tarts: Charme Reposteria / Taco al Pastor Cart: Don Juan / Sweets Buffet: Naef Catering / Wedding Invitations: Photo Card Chef / DJ: Sonido Extassis / Fireworks: Victor Zagal / Fire Dancers: Biosfera / Cigar Rolling: Leopoldo Ponce / Accommodations: Barcelo Resort & Spa / Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel / Bride’s Reception Dress: Betsy & Adam via Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Flip Flops: Tommy Bahama / Hair + Makeup: Sebastian Salon / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Cache / Bridesmaid’s Reception Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank / Groom’s Shoes: To Boot via Nordstrom