Mexico Weddings

File this one under “picture perfect” and “amazing places,” because this is a wedding that you will want to reference again and again. Nate Broshot at License to Still (we will never get over that name!)  captured this incredible, modern wedding designed by The Dazzling Details with photographs fit for an editorial. It doesn’t hurt that the bride is already drop dead gorgeous and has a radiant smile to boot. Get your Monday morning going with some more serious eye candy in the gallery right here.

From the Bride… Will and I met in “Intro to Petroleum Engineering” my first semester at LSU. I am terrible with names but remember making a mental note to not forget his. We would have classes together for the next four years — he was smart and would make a good study buddy. It never crossed my mind that I had just met my husband. We happily studied and dated our way through college and both moved to Houston after graduation. After almost six years together, Will surprised me one casual night after dinner at home and asked me to marry him! After many happy, incoherent noises, I accepted!

We immediately thought of a destination wedding. We love to travel and wanted to have a relaxed, fun experience with our loved ones. Puerto Vallarta was decided on as the perfect spot: an easy direct flight from Houston, amazing weather and a wonderful, authentic vibe. I wanted our wedding to feel fresh, contemporary and chic, which perfectly suited our modern villa venue. After many fun hours scouring SMP, Kristin of The Dazzling Details and I started to pull together an inspiration board that perfectly summed up everything I envisioned. It was very important to us for our wedding to be personal and representative of our lives. Some of my favorite elements were the lace from my mother’s wedding dress incorporated around and into my bouquet as tiny lace flowers, the Champagne Julep signature cocktail direct from our favorite restaurant in Houston to PV!, and Will and I making our respective entrances to contemporary songs that our harpist learned for the ceremony.

The entire weekend was amazing, but the wedding day was perfection. The final design completely blew us (and everyone else) away; The Dazzling Details had completely outdone themselves. Our photographer, Nate Broshot of License to Still, blended seamlessly with our guests (and amazed everyone with his memory for names). Will and I felt completely enveloped in joy and well wishes from our friends and family — you could almost touch the good will! My favorite part of the day was our vows that we had written together. Promising the rest of our lives together in such an unbelievable setting is a memory I will always cherish.

Wedding Photography: Nate Broshot  of License To Still / Wedding Venue: Casa China Blanca in Punta de Mita, Mexico / Wedding Coordination + Floral Design: The Dazzling Details / Officiant: Tamara Bradley / Catering: ByB Banquetes / Cupcakes: Mediterranean Cafe / Wedding Invitations: Invited Design / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Bride’s Bracelet: Judith Jack / Bride’s Earrings: Eliot Danori / Bride’s Hair Piece: La Blanc Fleur / Hair + Makeup: Sebastian Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Steve Madden / Bridesmaids’ Bracelet: Ann Taylor / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: ABS Allen Schwartz / Groom’s Suit: Custom by T & V Tailoring Ho Chi Minh City / Groom’s Tie: Christian Dior / Groomsmen’s Attire: Custom by T & V Tailoring Ho Chi Minh City / Rings: JNS Diamond Imports

Okay, I’m just going to come right out and say it. I have total wedding envy. This Puerto Vallarta wedding is insanely gorgeous and is filled with so many charming and pretty details, it’s hard to believe this was all planned from another country. Huge, huge props go out to the fab ladies at The Dazzling Details for putting together this beachy yet rustic yet totally chic fete. There are seriously so many fabulous elements to mention, but maybe my fav is the cute little attendants that greeted guests with flower cones. Totally adorable! I could go on and on, but I’ll let the gorgeous images by KLK Photography do the talking. Click here for more.

Don’t miss this gorgeous film by Promovision PV:

From the Bride… At first, the only thing Justin and I were certain about for our wedding was that we wanted to get married. Well, that and he knew he wanted a delicious square cake! So at the beginning of our engagement, with only the cake part down and feeling overwhelmed with planning a wedding celebration, Justin and I decided to come up with a list of elements that we would really love to have on our special day: outdoors, relaxed, beautiful area and venue, warm temperature, personal and fun! With our shared love for traveling, we felt a destination wedding would be perfect. This, however, limited our selection to only the entire planet! I quickly became discouraged by all the options and by the thought of planning the personalized wedding we wanted abroad, so I decided to start looking locally. We looked up and down the California coast, but every time we found something we liked we went back to our first list and always felt like we were compromising. After going through this process several times, I decided to give the destination thing one last attempt. My mom mentioned Puerto Vallarta, the location of my favorite family vacation as a little girl. She remembered me saying during that trip that I wanted to get married there someday. Too young to really remember that, I wondered if Puerto Vallarta could really be the perfect place for us. Giving the idea of a destination wedding another go, my mom and I flew down to Puerto Vallarta to visit possible locations.

To put it simply, Puerto Vallarta is the Mexico I adore. Its romantic cobble stone streets lined with bougainvillea, lush green mountains on top of gorgeous beaches, warm people and Spanish coastal villas are a dream! Still, though I loved PV, we were unsure of taking on the challenge of planning from California. Then we found The Dazzling Details team, and all the uncertainty disappeared. Over the course of looking, I began to develop a vision, although it was rather complicated. When The Dazzling Details asked me to share it, I was worried I might scare them away. I told them I envisioned a wedding with influences from Mexico and France, chic and airy, rustic yet beachy and with a travel theme that reflected our love for experiencing the world. Luckily, the team embraced my very specific vision and even managed to place a big fat Justin and Kristi stamp on it! Our day was magical. I just kept thinking, “This is exactly what we wanted but more beautiful then I could have ever dreamed, and it is so us!” We wouldn’t change a single thing — no regrets — and no compromising necessary! 

From The Dazzling Details… From the simple yet chic beach ceremony to the candlelit dinner reception and the festive celebration of romance that followed, this is a wedding to be remembered. Guests gathered at the villa in the late afternoon for agua fresca and then walked together down the cobblestone street to beautiful Conchas Chinas Beach for the simple chic wedding ceremony. Two of the younger guests awaited the group at the beach peddling flower petal cones and greeting guests! Following the ceremony, guests were greeted by an unexpected visitor at the villa entrance! Kristi and Justin SO wanted a Mexican burro to be part of the celebration, and so it was! Wedding guests styled themselves with mustaches, sombreros and paper flowers and posed alongside the furry guest of honor! Up in the villa, lounging areas decorated with single blooms in bud vases, mini terracotta pots, succulents and paper airplanes (in honor of the pilot bride’s passion for flying) invited guests to get comfortable while cocktailing! Early on, the bride professed her love of fresh French cheeses and blueberries, so we combined the two and surprised the couple with cheese boards at each table for guests to enjoy upon being seated. Maracas painted with the word “amor” were placed on each dinner chair, and guests shook them throughout the meal in lively celebration while exposed bulb lighting and papel picado danced overhead! Following dinner, some serious dancing ensued with guests being offered hand-rolled cigars, sugary Mexican churros and hot chocolate throughout the evening. And as if that weren’t enough, at the very end of the night, the couple exited the villa in style with a sparkler send off and hopped into a classic antique taxi and drove off into the starry night!

Wedding Photography: KLK Photography / Wedding Venue: Villa Celeste in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Wedding Coordination, Event + Floral Design: The Dazzling Details / Officiant: Gustavo Espinal / Wedding Cinematography: Ray Dion of Promovision PV / Catering: B & B Banquetes / Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria / Live Latin Trio: Trio Montecarlo / DJ: Sonido Extassis / Cigar Roller: Sr. Leopoldo Ponce / Wedding Dress: Alyne via Mon Amie Bridal Salon / Bride’s Bracelet: A Gift from Her Mother / Bride’s Earrings: Custom via The Equus Gallery & Studio / Bride’s Shoes: BP. via Nordstrom / Hair + Makeup: Dreams Spa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Barney’s New York / Flower Girl’s Attire: David’s Bridal / Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic / Groom’s Shoes: Sperry Top-Siders / Groom’s Hat: A Beach Vendor in Puerto Vallarta / Boys’ Attire: Old Navy / Suspenders + Bow Tie: The Rainbow Connection / Boys’ Shoes: Sperry Top-Siders

Destination weddings are the perfect combination of wedding and leisure, sentiment and fun in the sun, celebrating love and a gorgeous vacation… all in one fell swoop. Of course, when that fell swoop happens upon Mexico and is documented by Laura Ivanova Photography and Hollywood Cinema it becomes more like a beautiful ballet leap into Mr. and Mrs.- dom. Take a mid-morning vacay in the gallery for even more from this pink filled, sand-in-your-toes, wedding extravaganza.

From the Bride… The internet has brought many couples together in many ways, including us. Allen and I met 12 years ago in a chat room on AOL. We’ve been together ever since, and we both enjoy our common love for travel and food. When we got engaged, we knew we wanted to have a small, intimate wedding with our closest friends and family. Allen and I are not overly formal people, so we both agreed that it was important for our wedding to be fun and memorable, yet romantic. With all of that in mind, we decided on a destination wedding. Luckily for us, we came across the luxurious Grand Velas in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and we absolutely fell in love. This elegant and spectacular resort is situated along the beautiful white sand beaches in Riviera Maya. We thought the backdrop was absolutely breathtaking. and the award-winning hospitality and food made it the perfect spot to have our destination wedding.

When we started discussing the theme and feel of the wedding, Allen left it all up to me. Because I am a graphic designer, he supported all my crazy ideas (including buying a letterpress machine with which we made our own invites). I spent an insane amount of hours on all the DIY projects to make the wedding more personal. As a designer I got obsessed with typefaces, layouts and colors, but I have to admit I did enjoy designing our save-the-dates, invitations, programs and menus, as well as many other details. We also incorporated lot of small details that were inspired by our travel across the world. We created our guestbook using a suitcase of collected postcards from our travels together. Our table names were places we had traveled to together, and our escort cards were gold, vintage keys to direct guests to their seats. I was incredibly happy with how they turned out, and we had lots of compliments on these small details. It definitely gave our guests something to talk about over the reception. As for colors, blush is my absolute favorite color because it feels very romantic. My whole theme behind the wedding was that I wanted it to look very whimsical and fairytale-like. So for our wedding color palette, we chose to use soft forms of blush with gold accents. My sister Merry also made this lace table runner that added a soft touch to the reception table.

On the wedding day, all the vendors were amazing. The wedding planner, Elena from Grand Velas, helped in coordinating all the small details I knew I wanted. Our DJ, Julian, was a blast, and our peony centerpieces from Maya Floral were gorgeous. Last but not least, our photographer, Laura Ivanova, and our cinematographers, Richard and Margarita, captured every special moment on our big day. In the end, I cannot tell you how absolutely amazing our wedding turn out to be. The ceremony came together beautifully by the white sand beaches and turquoise water of Grand Velas Rivier Maya Resort. In the end we had an intimate destination wedding with 14 of our closest friends and family. It was unforgettable experience and truly one of the best memorable days for everyone.

Wedding Photography: Laura Ivanova Photography / Wedding Venue: Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico / Wedding Planning: Elena Galicia of Grand Velas Riviera Maya / Floral Design: Maya Floral / Wedding Cinematography: Hollywood Cinema / Wedding Invitations + Stationery: The Bride / DJ: Mood Event Services / Table Runner + Headband: The Bride’s Sister, Merry / Travel Planning: Worldwide Group Travel & Events / Wedding Dress: Ronoche via Kleinfield / Bride’s Shoes: Bourne / Bride’s Makeup: Barbara Garcia of Grand Velas Riviera Maya (barbaragade@hotmail.com) / Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Even though this adventurous couple booked their wedding a year and a half in advance, they were only allowed to coordinate with the hotel on wedding plans during the final two moths leading up to their big day! But they didn’t freak out and instead turned their last minute plans into a shopping adventure and sourced all the decor locally. And we totally love that! Brittanee Taylor Photography captured each and every meaningful moment and there’s a whole lot more right here in the full gallery!

Don’t miss the gorgeous film by Brittanee Taylor Photography:

From the Bride… Tim took me on a trip to his hometown, Seattle. One morning, we woke up early to explore the famous Pikes Place Market. After walking the market and getting breakfast and coffee, Tim took me to a park overlooking the Puget Sound, dropped to one knee, and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! We wanted someplace that would be inaccessible by cell phone so we didn’t have to bring our blackberries., and we booked the destination venue about a year and a half ahead of time. We did small preparations throughout that time, but the hotel’s policy only allowed us to communicate with the planner during the last two months before the wedding! We went most of the planning phase without having any idea what was going on!

As far as special touches, I had two pieces of jewelry from my grandmothers that were incorporated into my bouquets. We made message in a bottle placeholders using Cabo San Lucas sand. Everyone could take their bottles home with a little bit of Cabo with them. We also bought 50 or 60 different glass cups from the local Mexican Walmart, filled these with Cabo sand and candles and used them to decorate the tables. It was fun going down there without knowing what we would find and making it work. It was a shopping adventure.

Wedding Photography: Brittanee Taylor Photography / Wedding Venue + Floral Design: RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico / Wedding Cinematography: Andrew of Brittanee Taylor Photography / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Sandals: Rainbow

With a so pretty you’d think it was fake blue ocean as the backdrop and a too gorgeous for words couple who could pretty much be models, this next feature may just ensure you plan a destination wedding. Simple burlap details and baby’s breath florals were the perfect subtle details for this seaside stunner held at the picturesque Now Jade Riviera Cancun resort and shot by Kelly Morin Photography. There is so much more pretty to be seen in the full gallery!

From With Style Designs… Krista and Nathan are one of those sweet couples you can’t get enough of. Krista has an infectious smile and free spirit, while Nathan has a charming and calming presence about him. One thing that always resonates when you are around them is their pure love for each other. Their honest and carefree personalities inspired the décor, as well as the entire wedding. Krista’s vision was to have a wedding full of natural, mismatched sweetness. The color palette was full of beige and blush hues, while décor was natural whites and burlap with a hint of jade green to play off the name of the resort. Burlap and peonies where the over all grounding of the inspiration.

For the ceremony, the vision was natural, white, draped canopies and chocolate brown Chiavari chairs. The understated colour was the lovely bridesmaids. For the bridesmaids’ dresses, the ladies went for the eclectic look of various blush and dove gray hues to show off each of their personalities. It gave the look the only punch of colour on the palette. The wedding party consisted of six of the bride and groom’s closest friends and family. The girls had fun with their mismatched dresses and brought a lot of life to group. Definitely a loving group of “besties” that made for a fun-filled day of bliss. Krista’s wish was to surround herself with love. It was definitely that day to them. The flower that were chosen again were all nature-inspired. The ladies held baby’s breath bouquets wrapped in burlap and lace,  while the bride held a bouquet of green hydrangea and white peonies. Krista’s bouquet was also wrapped in burlap and lace to give it a sweet touch.

For the reception, the tables had mismatched burlap accents instead of traditional runners. With understated stationery and centerpieces, the guests’ tables were clean and fresh. Centerpieces consisted of baby’s breath and candles with accents of burlap everywhere. Simple and sweet.

Wedding Photography: Kelly Morin Photography / Wedding Venue: Now Jade Riviera Cancun in Puerto Morelos, Mexico / Event Design: Jaime Valdes-Riench of Travel & Events with Style / Wedding Invitations: With Style Designs / Wedding Dress: Pronovias

Cabo del Sol is clearly to-die-drop-dead-gorgeous on its own, but SIGNATURE Event Consulting & Design managed to double the TDDDG factor with their midas touch. This Alvina Valenta clad bride takes it over the top with her stunning big day look, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that the groom is a sight for sore eyes. To add to the recipe behind this wedding location sweetness: Cabo just so happens to be the locale of this lovely couple’s engagement. If your eyes are in need of a vacay, be our guest and rest them on Amy Bennett Photography‘s stunning shots in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… Greg and I have a soft spot for Los Cabos — we just love it there! He proposed to me in Cabo last summer, and we knew we had to find a way to fit this place into our wedding plans. Shortly after our engagement, we did some research and found our amazing planners from Signature Mexico: Sarai and Martha. We scheduled a trip to meet them, and we immediately loved their styles and personalities. We were thrilled they 100% understood our wedding vision – a fun and “intimate” wedding weekend for 120 guests. These two ladies are amazing at what they do. I’m still in shock how they kept their cool during the whole process.

Our wedding weekend started on Thursday night. We had a very small group of people for dinner at Esperanza Resort, where Greg and I got engaged. On Friday night (the day before our wedding), we hosted a welcome reception for everyone. This gave us the opportunity to talk to all our friends, relax and have fun. The Hilton set up amazing food stations and desserts to die for – but Sarai and Martha added the finishing touches on the design and décor that made the night perfect! In fact, we scheduled the reception for two hours during the sunset, but since everybody was having so much fun, we had to extend it! For our wedding, we always dreamed about exchanging our vows in front of the ocean surrounded by all our friends and family, so we decided to marry in Cabo del Sol. We both come from very traditional families, so even though a traditional church wedding was a little more complicated, we wanted to make sure the reception was all about having a big party with our friends and family!

We loved our vendors. Planning a destination wedding can be sometimes challenging, so the ladies at Signature set us up with a list of amazing vendors who fit our tastes and expectations (the hair and makeup team made me and all the bridesmaids so happy, the flowers were so beautiful, the music during the reception was awesome, and all our friends were fascinated with our DJ). And last but not least, we wanted to make sure we documented our day with the best photographer in town, and that’s why we hired Amy Bennett. The photos are sweet and geniune, and she was able to tell a beautiful story in pictures. We loved her energy and how great she was with us and all our guests. We had the time of our lives. Cabo will always be a part of us and our relationship!

Wedding Photography: Amy Bennett Photography / Wedding Venue: Cabo del Sol in Los Cabos, Mexico / Wedding Design + Styling: SIGNATURE Event Consulting & Design / Floral Design: Pina Hernandez / Wedding Cinematography: Amy Bennett + Tomek Szott / Wedding Invitations: Smock / Programs + Menus: Shine Invitations / Music: Los Pulpos en su Tinta + DJ Ricardo / Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Jewelry: Mavilo / Bride’s Hair Fascinator: Joann J. of Abloom New York / Hair + Makeup: Suzanne Morel / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Attire: John Varvatos

If you have one good friend in life, you’re considered to be lucky. This couple isn’t just lucky in love, but they are blessed to have had their four best friends with them to celebrate their simple, sweet and romantic wedding day. You can literally feel the sentiment in these captured moments by Amanda Mae Images. I only wish that I could be a fly on the wall at the Posada Margherita reception to share in laughter, love and building more memories to come. To see more of the happiness, click here. 

From Amanda Mae Images… With the sun sinking down to dip its rays in the turquoise waters off the beaches of Tulum, Mexico, Geena and Steve said their vows surrounded by their four closest friends and a few passersby on vacation. Geena, a free spirit who loves to laugh, kept her wedding simple, choosing the natural beauty of the location as her cathedral. The morning was spent swimming and sunbathing with a quick trip into town to find Geena’s bouquet from a local open air market. Her dress was a simple, flowing gown, which was repeatedly drenched as she played in the water. And her attendants’ gifts were earrings — hand-made by the bride. Steve and his two closest buddies waited at the beach restaurant over margaritas as Geena and her two bridesmaids got ready. With tears in his eyes, Steve watched Geena emerge from a bungalow and walk down the “isle” to the music of the waves. The ceremony was short but meaningful as each of the wedding party read their thoughts and blessings to the couple. The reception was held at Posada Margherita, a treasure of a restaurant filled with hand-carved tables, local artwork and the view of the moon rising over the beach. Homemade pasta, Italian wine and the catch of the day were served, and the celebration concluded with a moonlit walk to the beach-side bungalows.

Wedding Photography: Amanda Mae Images / Ceremony: A Beach in Tulum, Mexico / Reception: Posada Margherita in Tulum, Mexico / Wedding Dress: BCBG

Is it crazy that this little wedding blogger has never known there was an official time for the Jewish bride and groom to be alone and really the commitment they just made sink in? Yichud. I LOVE this tradition – a time for the couple to let the joy and happiness wash over them while their friends and family are outside celebrating their new marriage. It seems perfect – something I wouldn’t mind incorporating into my every day! Michelle Turner Photography travelled to Mexico with these two lovebirds to capture their big day and it could not have been more magical. Make sure to save some time for the beach views in the full image gallery.

From Michelle Turner Photography … Sarah and Marc held their destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Sarah and Marc met at work – they are both teachers in California (Sarah is a special education teacher, and Marc is a math and science teacher). When they started working at the same school, their classrooms shared a wall, and Sarah said that she first noticed the sound of Marc’s voice from the other side of the wall. They became friends first, though, and didn’t start dating until they had been friends for more than a year. They started spending time together in a group during happy hour after work, and Sarah told me that they shared their first kiss after work in a dive bar! They decided to get married while Marc was teaching in South Africa– Sarah visited him there, and he surprised her with the ring!

They chose a destination wedding because they wanted to include their family and friends who were scattered around the globe. Hence the travel theme that makes an appearance in all of their little details.

I asked Sarah and Marc to share their favorite moment from the wedding with me. Sarah said:

When I came around the corner to walk down the aisle- I remember hearing the ocean, which I love deeply- I had both my parents next to me and I felt like I locked eyes with almost all of my friends… and then I saw Marc and we both started laughing we were so excited. I was stunned by how much fun I had at our actual ceremony. I have never lived more fully in a single moment. Marc said that his favorite moment was right after our ceremony, when we got to spend a few minutes in Yichud. In a Jewish wedding the bride and groom spend a few minutes in seclusion after the ceremony to let what has happened sink in. We got to taste all our great food- we toasted each other. It was so special to have those few minutes alone just us- at the same time we could hear our friends laughing outside which made us both realize how lucky we were to have each other and to be surrounded by these incredible friends and family.

Photographer: Michelle Turner Photography / Venue + Flowers: Playa Fiesta / Dress: Anne Barge, Bliss Bridal / Earrings + Hairpiece: Bliss Bridal / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Invitation: Minted + Sarah and Marc stamped and cut out the compass embellishments / Programs: Esty by Robin Bellomy + Marc and Sarah designed and assembled the rest / Menus: DIY / Favors: Donated school supplies through the United Nations Children’s Fund to Children in Internally Displaced Person’s Camps / Table Cards: DIY / Additional Table Décor: Pottery Barn / Escort Cards: Sunshine and Ravioli / Chair signs, cake topper: Etsy by Morgann Hill / Straws: Etsy / Chuppah: Handmade by Marc’s mom and completed with Marc’s grandmother’s lace table cloth / Ring Box: Vintage cigar box / Yarmulkes: Mary Piper + Stepmother of the Groom / Welcome Bags: DIY

Talk about the perfect way to ring in the New Year with a fiesta at Hacienda Palo Maria by Michelle Turner Photography. Guests mixed and mingled under the Mexico sunset with delicious flare by PLUSH Catering & Events and bright tunes of mariachis that serenaded the bride down the aisle. The spirit and warmth of the day are so joyous that I feel a little cha cha cha coming on. Be sure to check out more memorable images in the entire gallery by clicking here.

From Michelle Turner Photography… Laurie and Chris held their destination wedding on New Year’s Eve at the Hacienda Palo Maria in Conchas Chinas, Mexico. Their wedding venue was a last-minute substitution, as Chris’ family villa in Conchas Chinas sustained fire damage the week of the wedding. Laurie and Chris had such a great attitude, and things just came together perfectly for their wedding at their replacement venue. Because of the holiday, Laurie and Chris had both fireworks and sparklers at their event, along with amazing food from Plush Catering and mariachis that serenaded Laurie as she walked down the aisle with her father. 

Wedding Photography: Michelle Turner Photography / Wedding Venue: Hacienda Palo Maria in Conchas Chinas, Mexico / Event Planning + Catering: PLUSH Catering & Events / Wedding Invitations + Save-the-Dates: Wedding Paper Divas / Place Cards, Signs, Menus + Programs: Abby of Flair Designery LLC / Wedding Dress: Anna Maier Ulla-Maija

Most brides wouldn’t dare trash their wedding dress, especially this stunning Casablanca Bridal gown. If you’re one of them, we dare you not to have second thoughts after you see Emily Snitzer Photography‘s shoot of this couple’s post nuptial dip in the Caribbean Sea. The Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa not only provided the scenic backdrop for this elegant tropical soiree, they also took care of the florals, linens, and rentals (talk about a one stop shop). These photos make the dress destruction look like such devilish fun, you simply must see the all the just married mischief for yourself!

From the Bride… The backdrop … breathtaking. The gown … stunning. The ceremony … elegant. The wedding party … rockstars. The couple … in love. The day … absolute. There is no location more captivating than Dreams Riviera Cancun, which is located just outside of Puerto Morelos, 20 minutes south of Cancun. The day was sun-drenched with perfect temperatures. The ceremony occurred shortly before sunset overlooking the ocean. So many details went into this occasion from the brooch bouquet, to the stylized wedding party, to the personal remembrances of those recently lost. Beyond the amazing ceremony and reception photos, a second shoot was conducted to trash the dress in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. The photography capturing each and every moment of our special day is impeccable.

Wedding Photography: Emily Snitzer Photography / Wedding Venue: Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico / Floral Design, Linens + Rentals: Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa / Wedding Dress + Sash: Casablanca Bridal via Azteca Wedding Plaza / Makeup + Hair: Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa / Jewelry: Jared / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Carrillo’s Wedding Emporium / Menswear: Dillard’s

Rise and shine, SMPers!  It’s another glorious Saturday morning here on Style Me Pretty Destination and we simply could.not.wait one minute longer to introduce you to some of our brand new advertisers, because, well… they are AMAZING.  Yep, if you can believe it, your day is about to get even sunnier and we have the oh-so-wonderful (and uber-talented) Diva’s Events, Events at GlenLary and L&A PHOTOVIDEO to thank.  So, grab that cup of morning coffee, get super cozy and join me in giving them each a big SMP welcome!  It’s going to be a fabulous day.

A destination wedding in Italy.  We swoon just thinking about it.  And when it comes to planning that fabulous Italian day of your dreams, well, Diva’s Events has you totally covered.  Yep, their drop dead gorgeous events will leave you completely speechless – and their website is a one stop shop for pretty, pretty inspiration.  So, head on over there to give them a big SMP welcome… and be sure to check out the amazing discount they are offering before you go!

From Diva’s Events… Diva’s Events is an Italian agency specialized in Wedding and Events Planning. Como Lake, Tuscany, Maggiore Lake, Milan, Rome and so on… Wedding in Italy is not also a dream but it could become realty.  

Our strength is the passion and enthusiasm with which we fulfill our mission. The goal is to understand the desires of our customers and realize their dreams exceeding expectations.  

We offer a very personalized service, where details make the difference.  After an initial meeting cognitive and absolutely free, we will explain the different proposals tailored for you and your needs. We are specialized for Italian wedding specially for our stranger clients. We book also the hotel for your guests offering you the best solutions.

Elena Bertuzzi is the Foundress and the Event Planner.  Her credo is to understand and respect the identity of its customers in order for them to pack the Perfect Event, expertly blending functionality and style.  Elena has a degree in Public Relations and Advertising. She has a Master in Fashion Promotion and a Master in Wedding Planning.  Expert connoisseur of the world that revolves around the wedding, she worked such as writer for the magazine “Sposabella” and “Nozze In”, publisher of Condé Nast.

For SMP’s brides we offer a special discount of 10% on our service of wedding planning.

A glorious historical estate, acres upon acres of Kentucky Bluegrass and breathtaking weddings that will literally knock your socks off.  SMPers – meet Events at GlenLary.  A beyond beautiful setting in the heart of Kentucky and the perfect location for that uber-elegant and oh-so-Southern wedding you’ve always dreamed of.  We’ve been in love with this majestic venue from the moment we laid our eyes on that gorgeous entrance… and, trust us, you’ll be just as smitten.  So, make some plans to visit their website ASAP – and prepare yourselves for a whole lot of pretty!

From Events at GlenLary… The GlenLary Estate was built in 1840 and has all the charm and sophistication of that epic southern plantation similar to ones seen in “The Notebook” or “Forrest Gump”.  It is now a new event venue for weddings, galas, fundraisers, corporate events and film.

The GlenLary Estate, the setting for Events at GlenLary, includes the elegant manor which stands in the midst of 80 acres of fertile Kentucky Bluegrass pastures speckled with thoroughbred horses, yearlings and foals.  Additionally, there is the historic reclaimed cabin, which overlooks a spectacular veranda, which is a perfect setting for a cocktail reception or grooms get away. As well as a beautiful barn.

The south lawn accommodates tents or open-air galas, and allows guests to gather by the pool enjoying conversations and refreshments. Pool can also be covered to create a magical dancefloor under the stars.

There are many different areas on the property to throw the gala of your dreams, we are happy to work with you to find the perfect location.  The property can hold anywhere from 20-300 guests and is open for bookings throughout the entire year.

From the moment you drive through the large gates, you are taken aback and just stare at the beauty. From that moment on, you are surrounded by such love and warmth, you never want to leave.

It’s no secret that we seriously ADORE ourselves some glorious images here at SMP… and when we first laid eyes on the pretty, pretty pictures of L&A PHOTOVIDEO, well… let’s just say that we were a tad bit excited.  Yep, Leticia Alarcón is a master at capturing those oh-so-special moments – and when you take a look at all of the lovely below, you’ll most definitely see what we mean.  So, stop on by her website to show her some love… and to take advantage of her amazing offer below!

From L&A PHOTOVIDEO… With an amazing eye and great passion and love for what she does, Leticia Alarcón, captures the wedding day with sensibility to details and emotions, creating sublime artsy images that couples will keep and revive forever.  She is 100% bilingual, which makes it easier to communicate with couples.

L&A PHOTOVIDEO has been established in Puerto Vallarta for the last 18 years.  The director and founder of the company, Leticia Alarcón, is originally  from  Mexico, she lived in the States for 5 years where she  studied photography in Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA.  She  a member of the WPPI association, PPA association  and attends two different workshops and trade shows along the U.S. every year to follow the latest trends in image retouching and photography technology developments.

A special offer for Style Me Pretty Brides: when you book any of our Elite collection, you will receive a complimentary one hour trash the dress session with all your images in high resolution.  For any comments email directly.

Welcome, welcome to the family Diva’s Events, Events at GlenLary and L&A PHOTOVIDEO!  We are so happy to have you! xoxo

Photography: Andrea Monachello + Melanie Mauer + L&A PHOTOVIDEO

The very best, most captivating destination weddings are those that are completely organic. Where the decor, the ambiance, the moments are inspired by the land and the culture and the beauty of the region. And this wedding is the very definition of inspired. It’s rich and layered and full soul. And it is bursting at the seams with pure, unabashed romance. Just as a destination wedding should be. With decor and planning by The Dazzling Details and photographs by Jillian Mitchell, this wedding is destination gold. Click here to see so much more.

Click here to see the full wedding gallery!

From the lovely bride…A love for travel, adventure, and the great outdoors were a few of the things that attracted us to one another when we met, over six years ago. Therefore, it was a no brainer that travel and the outdoors would definitely be components in our wedding. A strong love of family and friends would be the other.

When we began planning our wedding, it was essential it be held at a destination by an ocean, but it was also equally important to have all family members and friends available to celebrate. There wasn’t a way to have both, as some would not be able to travel. So, we divided our celebration in order to have the best of both worlds… we would do a very intimate destination wedding with immediate family and a grand reception in downtown Portland, Oregon, for the rest of our family and friends upon our return home. This arrangement encompassed both sides of our personality as a couple; outdoor travel fanatics and downtown sheik (plus, I would get to wear my dress twice; what bride wouldn’t want to do that!).

With that decision made, we began concentrating on the destination part. Considering many options of places to go, we wondered, “Should it be somewhere we’ve never been, and how far could we travel and still convince our immediate family members to join us?” We found ourselves continuously thinking of Puerto Vallarta, our first major vacation as a couple, and in our minds… the place where we knew we were in this relationship for good, even years before we were engaged. PV held a very sentimental place in our hearts, and we really wanted our families to experience that during an occasion as important as our wedding…. where we would be joining not only our lives together for a lifetime, but our families as well.

As I began collecting wedding ideas, I found The Dazzling Details online. I immediately fell in love with Kristin, Michelle and the team’s work and so did Chris. I have to do event planning in my profession and Chris is a contractor/designer by trade, so aesthetics and truly capturing the essence of our personalities was extremely important to us! There was no doubt that The Dazzling Details would deliver on all of our hopes for our intimate gathering, a total of ten individuals. Every expectation was exceeded!

From start to finish, Chris and I never worried about a thing, because the team was truly exceptional!! Thru the guidance of Kristin and Michelle, we opted to have our wedding and ‘family’ reception at a lovely villa outside the city. What a fabulous family vacation, with our wedding being the big final event! The ceremony, conducted on a sandy beach with the ocean as a backdrop, was enhanced with elegant simplicity and unexpected personal touches along the way. Despite an unexpected day of rain, the drizzle cleared immediately before the group was seated for ceremony, and just a peak of sunlight illuminated the ceremony through dreary skies while the couple said their vows. It beautifully highlighted the natural splendor of the setting, allowing our wedding vows to be the focus.

Every detail was amazing, but the reception/dinner area was probably our favorite “scene” created by our planners. I was moved to tears by the perfection of every intricately designed component. They captured everything we could have ever imagined we would want – they draped multiple chandeliers high above the dining area, accented the table with dozens of candles, had a variety of bouquet holders and different wood elements, natural linen fabrics, and even a small suitcase that served as part of a centerpiece! One of my favorite touches was our cake holder, especially designed out of tree branches. All color choices for the event palette were colors found in nature: browns, grays, linens, and whites to highlight our love of the outdoors. Collectively, it made for a magical and memorable event that to this day everyone is still talking about… and for all that weren’t there, they wish they could have been!! Our wedding celebration was truly exquisite!!

Wedding Coordination, Design + Florals: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Photography: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Wedding Venue: Casita Camino al Mar / Catering: Plush Catering / Live Latin guitarist (ceremony and cocktail reception) – Lenny Lopez / Ceremony Officiate: Tamara Bradley with Puerto Vallarta Wedding Officiants / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein /  Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria

If you’ve never been to Puerto Vallarta before, I have an inkling you’ll be looking into travel arrangements after seeing this destination dream wedding by Elizabeth Lloyd Photography. It’s destination perfection. And when that pretty place is paired with a swoon-worthy color palette, fab DIY details and a new Mr. & Mrs. you just want to squeeze they are so adorable – you get a full gallery of images that is a vacation in itself.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Before we were even engaged, we knew we would get married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was the location of our first vacation together almost six years earlier and hopefully many more vacations in the years to come. We had about a year and a half to plan our wedding, and I used much of this time to work on many DIY projects: the flower belts for me and my bridesmaids, my jeweled shoe clips, the jeweled lockets hung from my bouquet, our polaroid guest book, menus, place card signs on the backs of each chair, an aisle runner and capiz shell dangles for the altar, to name a few. The last DIY project mentioned now serves as an art piece hung on a wall in out bedroom.

For our wedding, we envisioned a small, intimate, candlelit beach celebration. We had 20 guests join us, and all were traveling to Mexico for the first time. We made sure to plan some fun events (a Mexican-style welcome dinner, horseback riding and a sailing trip) in the days leading up to wedding. By the day of the wedding, there was a bond formed between all of our guests, and it was great to see everyone truly happy.

I was so happy with our choice of vendors. Michael and Eva of Vallarta Weddings allowed us the ability to infuse many of our DIY projects. Our original venue fell through about a month before our wedding, and they suggested Casa Canela. This location was lush, romantic and private. A perfect blend for a romantic evening. Plush Catering was able to create a six-course tasting menu that offered our guests a less traditional wedding meal. We were lucky enough to book the amazing Mango Trio to play during our ceremony and cocktail hour. They provided the perfect soundtrack to our surroundings. And last but not least we wanted to make sure we documented our day both through video and photos. Russell John Films provided the cinematography. The film is so perfectly us. Its sweet in the right places and lighthearted in other places, but most of all it tells a beautiful story. And of course we wanted to make sure we came away with some amazing photographs. We worked with Kiersten Rowland of Elizabeth Lloyd Photography. I loved her energy and was so happy we had a trash the dress shoot with her. By that time, we were more used to being in front of a camera, and I think she snapped some of our most favorite pics during this session. We had the time of our lives. Mexico will always be a part of us and our relationship. We hope to be back soon!

Wedding Photography: Kiersten Rowland of Elizabeth Lloyd Photography / Wedding Venue: Casa Canela in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Event Planning: Vallarta Weddings / Wedding Cinematography: Russell John Films / Catering: Plush Catering & Events / Band: The Mango Trio / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Shoes: J.Crew

If I could snap my fingers and be anywhere in the world right now, it would have to be sitting front and center at this gorgeous fête on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. Amber Events knows how to whip up an insanely good looking beach party and this wedding is a prime example. Beautiful details at every turn, flowers by Canteiro that can render a wedding blogger darn right speechless (well almost) and images by Elizabeth Medina Photography that will have you spending the rest of the day in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Amber Events… Mark, a tech entrepreneur, and Jessica, creator of the popular silhouPETte, a line of custom jewelry featuring dog and cat silhouettes, wanted the best of an intimate destination wedding with their nearest and dearest, as well as a swanky party with all of the people that they loved — so they decided to have both! They brought me on as their planner for both events five months before their destination wedding in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and their reception in Los Angeles, and we created two separate but stunning events within three days of each other.

For their Mexico wedding, they brought just 30 friends and family to the contemporary Rosewood Mayakoba over President’s Day weekend and hosted a four-day vacation complete with karaoke nights and soccer games on the beach, an adventure day at Xplor and a formal dinner at Cenacolo in Playa del Carmen. The wedding ceremony was held on the boat dock at the Rosewood Mayakoba and Jessica, wearing a Rivini dress, made her entrance with her maids on a boat. Their good friend Joe officiated their ceremony. The guests were surprised with a mariachi group playing for the recessional and the cocktail hour on the beach. For the reception, guests left their shoes at the shoe valet and proceeded down the fire-lit path to the reception. Their seating assignments were attached to vintage sea glass bottles on a table set with family photos. They dined on Mayan cuisine at rustic wooden tables with bistro lights strung overhead.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Medina Photography / Wedding Venue: Rosewood Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico / Wedding Planning + Design: Amber Events / Floral Design: Canteiro / Wedding Cinematography: Loyd Calomay Films / Wedding Stationery + Calligraphy: Copper Willow Paper Studio / Adventure Day: Xplor / Formal Dinner: Cenacolo / Transportation, Lighting + Rentals: Mayan Hospitality Services / Ceremony Music: Arpason / DJ: Doremixx Audio Visual & Professional DJ’s / Wedding Dress: Rivini / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren + Prada / Bride’s Earrings: Antiques via Neil Lane / Bride’s Ring: A Family Heirloom / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent / Bridesmaids’ Cuff Bracelets: Etsy / Charm Necklaces for Maids of Honor: silhouPETte / Groom’s Attire: John Varvatos / Groomsmen’s Attire: John Varvatos / Groomsmen’s Ties: Handmade by the Bride’s Mother, Yori

Are you day dreaming of sandy beaches, salt in the air and sand in your hair? Well get your passport handy because we’re jet setting our day dreams to Cancun, Mexico! Liga Photography has captured my heart along with unforgettable photos of this fancy fiesta. I absolutely love the bold pops of purple against beachy earth tones of sand and palm tree greens. Be sure to cha cha cha over to the full gallery for more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Liga Photography… This past September, I traveled to Cancun, Mexico, for the lovely wedding of sweet Deirdre and Joe. Their wedding and reception was held at a private beach-side mansion affiliated with Excellence Playa Mujures Resort, an amazing five-star resort in Cancun. Deirdre wore a beautiful lace Dolce & Gabbana gown, perfectly elegant and light enough for a beach ceremony. Her three bridesmaids were the perfect accompaniment wearing rich purple dresses by Pretty Maids. Joe kept it classic and simple as well wearing a Ermeneglido Zegna suit, while his groomsmen wore light purple button downs and white linen pants from Jeremy Argyle NYC. Tropical flowers were placed throughout, and deep hues of purple created an overall statement for their reception. The clouds rolled in as Deirdre and Joe were being introduced and just as they were beginning the first dance, the sky opened up and it began raining. Instead of everyone running for cover, they all remained in their chairs while cheering on Deirdre and Joe to continue in their first dance. Truly one of the most romantic and unforgettable moments I’ve experienced while documenting weddings.

Wedding Photography: Abby Liga of Liga Photography / Wedding Venue: A Private Residence via Excellence Playa Mujeres in Cancun, Mexico / Wedding Planning: Valerie Bennett / Wedding Dress: Dolce & Gabbana via Neiman Marcus / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Pretty Maids / Groom’s Suit: Ermenegildo Zegna / Groomsmen Attire: Jeremy Argyle NYC

Mexico dreaming. That is never a bad way to spend the afternoon. We are dipping our proverbial toes in the sand, feeling that imaginary sun on our shoulders and reveling in all things Puerto Vallarta; the perfect destination to tie the knot if you ask us. Especially when it’s a perfectly executed beach affair by the Dazzling Details mixed with enough snapshots by Brandi Smyth Photography to have us booking the next flight out. Literally. See more of this beach bash right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Kenny and I met almost five years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. We instantly hit it off and became inseparable! The challenge, of course, was that we lived five hours away from each other and needed to figure out how to make a long distance relationship work. After dating a year long distance, we knew that it was time for us to make the next step so Kenny decided to move to North Louisiana to live closer to me and my son, Camden. Kenny has always been my rock. I knew from day one that he was the person that I was going to marry, and he was the one to complete our family. He has been an amazing father to Camden and has been the perfect person to fit into our lives. Kenny proposed to me in November of 2011 with my son, hours before we were scheduled to take our family Christmas pictures. Of course, I said yes and the rest is history!

From the start of our engagement, Kenny and I knew that we wanted to have a destination wedding. The problem was just deciding on the destination. We came across Puerto Vallerta, Mexico, with the help of our wonderful travel agent. It was love at first sight. We fell in love with the charm that Puerto Vallerta offered and the beautiful panoramic views. The deciding factor was when I came across The Dazzling Details on a blog that I was reading. They seemed perfect in every way. I emailed them immediately, and within the first few emails I knew that we found our destination, and that is when the fun began!

I had a distinct vision of what I wanted for our special day. First, and foremost was that I wanted my 8-year-old son to feel very much a part of our wedding day. The second thing was to be an experience that not only we would remember but also our whole wedding group. The Dazzling Details took every email from us and translated into a masterpiece. It was unique, modern and everything that we ever could have hoped for. They included so many personal touches that were little surprises for us along the way. March 29th will always be a day that we will always cherish — it was the day that we officially became an “us.” Arriving home from Puerto Vallerta, we also found out that we brought back a very special souvenir from Mexico — we have a baby due in December of 2012. This year has been an incredible journey for us, and it’s only going to get better!

Wedding Photography: Brandi Smyth Photography / Wedding Venue: Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa in Puerto Vallerta, Mexico / Wedding + Floral Design: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Invitations: Chez Rivage / Wedding Dress: Tadashi Shoji via Nordstrom / Bride’s Cuff + Headpiece: Custom by Doloris Petunia / Hair + Makeup: Trisha Hughes + Britnee Pippin / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Nordstrom / Flowergirl’s Dress: Custom by Doloris Petunia / Men’s Attire: Squires Formalwear

We might have the best jobs ever here at Style Me Pretty.  Who else gets to be a part of some of the most heartwarming, magical, beautiful moments in people’s lives every single day?  I love sharing gorgeous photographs but there is just something so special about getting to experience a wedding day through film.  We not only get to see all the romantic details of this Riviera Maya wedding from Percy Sales Events and Canteiro, but San Jose Filmmakers captured every sweet, heart-string-tugging moment as well for our viewing pleasure!

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From Percy Sales Events… This wedding was a great adventure. As soon as Racquel got engaged, she immediately called me at Percy Sales Events, and said, “I want a destination wedding, and I want you to plan it!” Destination wedding are so fun, and it takes a lot of thought to make sure that the location fits the needs of the couple and also stays within their budget. After talking about different locations — Europe, Philippines, the Caribbean and Hawaii — Racquel and Lynn honed in on the ever-tropical Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Their wedding reflected who they are as a couple, and the articulate, beautiful newswoman and the budding chef made their wedding unique and enjoyable for all. Their ceremony took place at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Xcaret, which overlooks the Caribbean Ocean. It integrated Racquel’s Filipino heritage while infusing Lynn’s Puerto Rican and Chinese background. Their reception took place at La Isla at Xcaret, an underground open air cave, a unique location that really played into regions Mayan roots. Racquel and Lynn offered their guests a top-notch culinary meal that they crafted with the chef at Xcaret. They surprised their guests with a Mayan stage show, a perfect touch during dinner. They danced and they celebrated until midnight in the tropical weather of the Riviera Maya. Guests walked away with blown glass hearts picked from a wrought iron tree that read, “Take A Piece of Our Hearts – Racquel + Lynn 09.27.11.”

The day after the celebration, Racquel and Lynn did a trash the dress session with San Jose Filmmakers and San Jose Photography at some local cenotes in Riviera Maya, Mexico. They swam in their wedding attire in some of the region’s most beautiful rain forests and in ancient wells that made for beautiful. This video captures a glimpse to their beautiful day.

Wedding Cinematography: San Jose Filmmakers / Ceremony: St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Xcaret in Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico / Reception: La Isla at Xcaret in Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico / Wedding Photography: San Jose Photography / Wedding Design + Planning: Percy Sales of Percy Sales Events / Floral Design, Centerpieces + Rentals: Canteiro / Local Coordination: Graciela Carmona Rivera + Gabriela Rodarte Medrano / Wedding Cake: Dolcet Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Jocelyn the Paper Stylist / Accommodations: Occidental Grand Xcaret / Wedding Dress: Studio 1 (Bought During a Brides Against Breast Cancer Event in Syracuse, New York) / Hair + Makeup: The Spa at Occidental Grand Xcaret

Mexico has never looked better than it does through Cliff Mautner Photography‘s lens. It’s no secret that we are seriously crushing on the art that Cliff Mautner calls work, but this Oaxaca wedding, packed with beautiful Mexican culture, has left us speechless. I can’t pick my jaw up off the floor long enough to say any more than you MUST visit the full image gallery, it’s gorgeous!

Make sure to visit the gallery for more!

We met each other in 2007 and we started dating for almost four years until April 2011. He invited me to New York because he had a surprise for me. He had planned a special dinner for us at the Gramercy Park Hotel (He knows I love that place very much). Under a big mysterious trip, we arrived to N.Y. and later at the wonderful Italian restaurant at the GPH. There was a bottle of champagne for us at the table, which sounded very strange because we do not usually drink champagne, unless special reason for it, and after a succulent plate when the restaurant was almost empty, he left a the table a small box with a gift and note asking me to married him. I was shocked! And of course, and I said immediately “YES! YES!” … that was wonderful night!!

Oaxaca is a Magic Place where you can feel and live the Mexican history, traditions and culture. The historical places and monuments are considered the most important in Mexico. We decided to celebrate this important moment with our families and friends making that weekend as a special party for everybody.

We decided to have a warm and beautiful reception considering our friends and our family as a special invites. We took advantage of the great variety of multicolor you can see in Oaxaca, so, we chose not only a beautiful church, we also got a fantastic botanic garden place for our party where we all enjoyed a lovely evening.

Photographer: Cliff Mautner Photography / Cinematgoraphy: Paola Tassinari / Floral Designer: Becky Alazraki / Hairdresser + Makeup: Leo Cantu / Event Planning: Marcela Gonzalez Wedding Planner, mgeventos@prodigy.net.mx + Grisell Neumann Wedding Planner, ilevenboda@gmail.com / Invitation Designer: Thelma Paez, thelmapaez@prodigy.net.mx / Cake + Desserts: Angela Esparza, angelaesparza@hotmail.com / DJ: Ezquerro DJ / Live Performance: Aldo Garcia / Wedding Gown Designer: Kleinfeld Bridal, Pnina Tornai / Earrings: Bvlgari / Rings: Tiffany & Co.

There are a million reasons you are just going to die over this wedding. With The Dazzling Details at the designing helm, it’s no surprise that this Puerto Vallarta pretty is a stunner. But beyond all the perfectly curated details and the breathtaking coastal backdrop captured by License To Still, the thing that made me melt like never before was the Groom’s reaction to this gorgeous Bride walking down the aisle. It’s what ever girl hopes for, and this lovely lady got it and then some. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Ashaunte and I knew pretty early that we wanted to have a destination wedding. The week after we were engaged, we headed to Puerto Vallarta for a weekend getaway. Right away, we fell in love with the city. This wasn’t the Mexico I pictured. It was lush with views of the jungle, mountains and the ocean. Ashaunte said, “Why don’t we get married here?” Never in a million years had I pictured Mexico for my wedding, but the idea sounded rather perfect as we laid on the beach and watched the beautiful sunset over the ocean. Once the process started it was a breeze. Working with all of our vendors – particularly our wedding planners at The Dazzling Details and our wedding photographer, Nate Broshot — being hands off was pretty easy. Honestly, I have no idea how working brides can function any other way. There are just SO many details! I am so grateful that all I had to do was paint the picture, and everything came together after that.

Friday was the big day: 11-11-11. I felt so relaxed and ready after such a great week hanging out with our closest family and friends.  When I walked into the wedding venue, I was completely blown away! Vintage, romantic, chic — they nailed it! I was brought to tears when I saw that our altar would be two bookcases that held our guests’ and ancestors’ wedding pictures. How cool was it going to be to get married surrounded by not only our closest family and friends, but the images of them on their wedding day!? My love for designer shoes showed up in several places, including the dinner tables, which were marked by names of my favorite brands. While we took pictures, our guests enjoyed margaritas made with fresh fruit and appetizers that included south of the border sushi and chicken satay. Dinner was held on the beach under a fabulous tent and the tables were set family style so it felt so incredibly comfortable and intimate. There was even a cute table with activities to entertain the kids. As we danced the night away, the pool was filled with floating lanterns. We nibbled on a fabulous dessert assortment, which included authentic churros, cheesecake and chocolate-covered strawberries. I strongly feel that wedding desserts should be about variety and not just the wedding cake, so the fabulous assortment made me happy. The biggest OMG moment was a surprise fireworks show our wedding planners arranged after I mentioned the day before that not having fireworks was my only regret. When the fireworks exploded when we cut our cake, I was brought to tears.

I truly hope all brides feel the way I did on my wedding day. I got to marry the man who surpasses all of my dreams in a setting that was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. To top it off, 60 of the most important people in our lives were there to see it all. I cannot thank enough the many wonderful people who helped make what our guests described over and over as “the best wedding ever” possible.  I would recommend it for anyone who is looking to have a truly unique experience.

Wedding Photography: Nate Broshot of License To Still / Wedding Venue: Villa Garza Blanca in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Wedding Coordination, Floral + Event Design: The Dazzling Details / Officiant: Pastor Phillip Tarver (Minister at the Bride & Groom’s Church) / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Charme Reposteria / DJ: Extassis / Guestbook: Lillian Rose / Wedding Invitations: By Invitation Only / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely / Bride’s Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti / Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri / Bride’s Hair Piece: Susy Madrigal of Ideal Outfit / Bride’s Garter Belt: Her Grandmother’s from 1949 / Rings: Tacori / Hair: Karonda Cook (A Friend of Bride) / Makeup: Sebastian Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Simple Silhouettes / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Charles David / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Forever 21 / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Groom’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Groom’s Watch: Movado / Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Groomsmen’s Accessories: The Tie Bar

I don’t think there is a single image from this entire Mexico wedding by Christina Szczupak Photography that isn’t completely and utterly stunning.  Of course, I imagine that when you have a couple as breathtakingly gorgeous as these two it’s pretty impossible to get a bad shot.  Plus their simple and sweet wedding is so perfectly suited for the stunning Playa del Carmen setting.  See it all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Christina of Christina Szczupak Photography… Erica and Syed wed in the beautiful location of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They did a fantastic job of creating a simple and casual, yet beautiful wedding for all of their friends and family who flew in from Michigan. They added a lot of personal, non-traditional touches, which made their blend of cultures seamless.

From the Bride… We didn’t have a wedding party, so we had the girls hand me each a flower once I walked down the aisle. My mom tied a ribbon around all the flowers last to make up my bouquet. Syed always wears a Detroit hat and wanted to at the wedding, but instead we had all of his friends surprise him by putting on their hats as he walked down the aisle. We then had a reading be one of our favorite books, Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. We didn’t want to do any formal parent dances or a couples dance, so instead we started the wedding with professional dancers to get everyone in the mood. We had guests from a variety of different backgrounds, so we focused on providing a variety of fun activities, such as a photo booth, cigar roller, music videos projected above the dance floor and professional dancers, that could appeal to everyone.

Wedding Photography: Christina Szczupak Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Kool Beach Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico / Wedding Planning: Erica Bressen of Weddings in Playa / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock / Bride’s Shoes + Clutch Purse: Nine West / Hair: Doranna de Bortoli / Groom’s Suit: Apartment Number 9