Mexico Weddings

I have to say, this is not helping my thirst for a tropical vacation. A little sun and relaxation south of the boarder would be complete heaven for this blogger. But the next best thing would have to be delving into the images of a seaside Los Barilles wedding shot by Rebecca Gosselin Photography. Bright, tropical flower-infused festivities that are sure to have you checking kayak lickity split for a ticket to paradise. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… My husband and I fell in love traveling to Mexico, so it was only fitting that we get married there. Non-traditionalists, we originally planned to have a small ceremony on the beach with just our parents and us. We quickly realized that we could not celebrate such a meaningful time without our best friends and close family members. With a strict budget of $10,000, we were able to put together a truly magical day that extended into a week-long celebration with all of our closest loved ones. For DIY inspiration, I frequented Style Me Pretty to get ideas for a rustic, bohemian, beach wedding blend. I knew succulents were a must and loved the combination of green cymbidium orchids and wood boxes. I bought yards of burlap to cut into squares for under the centerpieces and super glued burlap ribbon to make napkin rings. I also used the ribbon to tie around mason jars with candles inside (my in-laws, who drove instead of flying, were able to transport most of the materials). The favors were handmade natural soaps that were ordered from Desert Soaps, where they make incredible natural products using ingredients all grown from their nine-acre ranch in southern Baja.

Planning a destination wedding without a wedding planner required lots and lots of e-mails regarding travel and lodging arrangements for guests as well as communication with local vendors. After months of planning, at some point before we arrived in Los Barilles, I realized I had to let everything go and trust that it was all going to work out. The day of the wedding I had my small army of ladies running around setting up tables, decorations and making sure all the details were put in place, which was such a great help and allowed me to completely enjoy the day. As we were rushing to get the ceremony started before the sunset, we realized that there was no ceremony music because the mariachi band was running late. Just as we were about to walk down the aisle to a random selection from the DJ, the mariachi band walked in the hotel and began playing. It was perfect timing and such a fun entrance that set the tone for the rest of the evening!

My dream has always been to have incredible sunset pictures from my wedding, but because we were getting married on the Sea of Cortez, our only option was a sunrise photo shoot. When I mentioned this to the dedicated and professional photographers of Rebbeca Gosselin Photography, they were completely game. They did a fabulous job capturing every lovely moment including the sunRISE photo shoot at 5 a.m. the morning after the wedding!

Wedding Photography: Rebecca Gosselin Photography / Wedding Venue: Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles, Mexico / Floral Design: Cabo Flowers / Event Design: The Bride + Her Friends & Family / Event Planning: The Bride / Music: Mariachi Baja Sur / Favors: Desert Soaps / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Shoes: Marc Fisher / Hair + Makeup: Sandy of Salon de Cortez at Hotel Palmas de Cortez

You know we L.O.V.E our destination weddings here at SMP.  The gorgeous sunsets, crystal blue waters, stunning seaside ceremonies… we just can’t get enough.  And when it comes to choosing that perfect destination wedding location, we’re head over heels for all things Grand Velas Resorts. Comprised of two spectacular properties, Riviera Nayarit and Riviera Maya, Grand Velas Resorts is all about making your dreams.come.true with their romantic settings, breathtaking beaches and award-winning hospitality.  Yep, the perfect place to say “I Do.”

Choosing one of Grand Velas Resorts’ AAA Five-Diamond locations means you’ll be spending your wedding day in the lap of luxury.  Just imagine vowing forever in a sweet gazebo overlooking the golden beaches of the Bay of Banderas or that first kiss in the white sands of the Caribbean.  With Riviera Nayarit and Riviera Maya, the possibilities are literally endless – and always filled with romance. Plus, Grand Velas Resorts’ wedding specialists are there to help you every step of the way, so you can totally depend on their years of experience and rest easy knowing your big day will go off without a hitch.  Fabulous.

So, whether you’ve been dreaming of a wedding on the coast of the Mexican Pacific or that beachy Caribbean paradise, Grand Velas Resorts has a locale that is right for you.  From awe-inspiring oceanfront ceremonies, to lush garden receptions to lavish salons for those larger soirees, Grand Velas Resorts will turn your visions into a complete reality – creating a magical day that you will NEVER forget.

Adam Nyholt is whisking us away to the loveliest Puerto Vallarta party this morning through each of his gorgeous images, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. My toes might as well be sinking in the sand, because I have definitely booked a one way ticket to day-dream paradise thanks to this beach beauty – it’s destination wedding perfection, and there is even more in the full gallery of images!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Because our family and friends are spread across the country, we weren’t under any pressure to have the wedding in one particular location, so we decided to pick a place with great weather and easy access from the U.S. We decided on Puerto Vallarta after seeing the fantastic work by the Dazzling Details wedding planners and talking about our vision with them. Our families hadn’t had many opportunities to meet, so it was important to us that the whole weekend be low-key, relaxed and fun for them. We envisioned a great, long weekend escape where everyone could really feel like they had stepped away from their lives for a few days. To enhance the “magical escape” theme, we opted to have the wedding and reception at a private villa just outside the city. When guests descended to the beach where the ceremony was held, they were handed a glass of peach sangria and treated to a lovely string quartet. Our planners, Kristen and Michelle, had the ceremony area decked out with giant bunches of baby’s breath and a beautiful elevated, lace-covered chuppah, which really set the tone for the simple, beachy beautiful event – Adam got some amazing shots showing the gorgeous ceremony décor with the ocean waves in the background.

For the cocktail hour and reception, we moved back upstairs to garden/pool area of the villa. The guests were surprised with a (very enthusiastic and very good) mariachi band for the cocktail hour, as well as plenty of margaritas and a relaxed seating area to enjoy the view of the sun setting over the ocean! Every detail was amazing, but the dinner area was probably my favorite “scene” our planners put together. Having a variety of light sources and a warm glow was very important to me, and the Dazzling Details did not disappoint — they draped string lights high above the dinner area and covered the tables in dozens of candles and huge bouquets of baby’s breath. It made for a magical and memorable meal with our closest friends and family. After dinner, we cut the cake and did our first dance to the Buddy Guy/Eric Clapton version of “Come Rain or Come Shine,” a great blues-y song that gave us a really special quiet few moments together. And of course, after that, there was plenty of aggressive dancing! I bought my bridesmaids each a pair of TOMS (and even swapped out my fabulous Valentinos for a pair), so we had no problem making full use of the dance floor. We risked our lives (or so it felt) for the hora and generally had an amazing time! The Dazzling Details took my vision of a magical, relaxed, glamorous dinner party and translated it into the most beautiful event I could have imagined, and Adam was able to capture everything so we can keep reliving the fun (which is good, because we can’t WAIT to go back soon)!

Wedding Photography: Adam Nyholt, Photographer / Wedding Venue: Casa Garza Blanca near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Invitations: Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence / Catering: ByB Banquetes / Ceremony String Quartet: Ensemble Maestoso / Cocktail Hour Music: Mariachi Nuevo Continental / DJ: Extassis / Wedding Dress: Carol Hannah / Shoes: Valentino / Hair + Makeup: Sebastian Hair Salon

When a wedding has a shoe check at the door, it is pretty much a guarantee it’s going to be a really good time. And this good time comes in the form of a seaside fête captured by Amanda Wilcher Photographers with enough alfresco-meets-beach-infused details by The Dazzling Details to make us wish every wedding was a toes in the sand kind of affair. See it all right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Jeff and I like to believe that fate played a little role in bringing us together. After meeting on an EL platform on the way home from a teacher training, we kept bumping into each other. Soon I learned I had accepted a job at the same school he taught at, and Jeff, very cleverly, suggested we carpool to work to save gas money. After driving for a few weeks I learned Jeff didn’t even own a car! Despite my initial annoyance, Jeff found a way into my heart and I never looked back. After dating for four years, Jeff proposed, and we immediately knew we would be wed with our toes in the sand. We had attended a destination wedding in the Bahamas and loved that the celebration extended beyond just one night. The process was long, as we took almost a year to decide on beautiful Puerto Vallarta as our destination. We traveled down to Dreams Resort per a recommendation by our travel agent and immediately knew it was the spot to host our wedding, as the beach was private and picture-perfect.

 We were a bit hesitant with the lack of control or input we were able to contribute to our overall vision in planning a destination wedding. However, fate stepped in again. After scrolling through the pages of Style Me Pretty we came across The Dazzling Details, a design/wedding planning team that is based in Puerto Vallarta. We met with the owner, Kristin Crawford, on our trip to visit Dreams and all our concerns quickly disappeared.  Kristin listened to our every word and began making our vision a reality. Jeff and I did not want anything overdone for our big day. We wanted the scenery to speak for itself and to just accent it with beautiful touches of white. Seeing as though we are both very laid-back people, we wanted simple design elements that added an element of romance and a bit of a vintage feel. This included mismatched vases, loads of candlelight, mason jars, different-shaped tables and twinkling lights everywhere. We wanted to create an atmosphere where everyone could just get lost in the moment.

The day of our wedding was perfect. Many people had prepared me for something to go wrong, but we had luck on our side. The day began with a rainbow streaked across the sky and ended with laughter drowning into the sounds of the ocean. We exchanged vows we wrote for one another in front of 70 of our closest family and friends with our toes in the sand and the waves crashing in front of us. We chose some of our favorite songs to accent our ceremony and made sure to include a reading from a children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit (because we are both teachers). The ceremony was truly reflective of us as a couple. After the ceremony, guests relaxed on loungers, enjoyed cocktails, listened to the Latin trio and visited the photo booth Dazzling Details created: a car symbolizing the good ole’ days of carpooling to work! The night continued with dancing and other special surprises, including a fireworks show that left everyone in awe. We wouldn’t do it all over again because it truly couldn’t get any better, and our hearts could not have felt any fuller! Not a single element was overlooked, and The Dazzling Details was there every step of the way!

Wedding Photography: Amanda Wilcher Photographers / Wedding Venue: Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Event + Floral Design, Planning + Decor: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria / Latin Trio: Trio Montecarlo / DJ: Sonido Extassis / Officiant: Lucie Aubert / Travel Agent: Donna Wade of Heritage Travel (773-774-3400) / Cut-Out Car Photo Booth: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani via Weddings 826 / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston via Bella Bridesmaid / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen’s Pants: Jos. A Bank

There is nothing, nothing, nothing better than walking down that aisle with your eyes locked on the person you are about to marry. Especially if that aisle is made of sand and you can hear the waves subtly crashing in the background. We’re suckers for romance here, but romance AND a beach get us every single time. Captured by Callaway Gable Photography, this wedding has the romance, has the beach, and has the undeniable style we just LOVE. Click here for more!

David is a recent business school graduate who started his own business, and Melissa is an economics PhD student. How else do an outgoing Jewish boy who grew up on a kibbutz and a bookish first-generation American girl meet, but in college! We love traveling and doing outdoor activities together, and David proposed underwater on a scuba diving excursion in Maui. A “stunt ring” in a heart-shaped shell had been strategically placed on a ledge about 40 feet underwater, and Melissa immediately noticed it (the ribbon gave it away).

Melissa’s family is from the Caribbean, and she and David love, love, love a great beach vacation. We wanted a place that was naturally beautiful but easily accessible for our guests. The Riviera Maya, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen along Mexico’s east coast, is exactly that. We chose our hotel, Ceiba del Mar, because it is physically beautiful (it’s owned by a Mexican architect who incorporated lots of local artistry and natural landscaping), the staff is incredibly friendly and competent, and it was just the right size for us (about 85 rooms, and we had about 155 guests).

For colors, the beach itself was our inspiration — the muted gold of a handful of sand, the coral blush of a shell, and the brown of a washed-up piece of driftwood. We wanted the wedding overall to feel very tropical and relaxed, but in a sophisticated, modern way. That’s why we stuck to a pretty simple palette, and incorporated sketches of sea life into the designs of many elements (our invitations, ceremony program, reception place cards and table numbers).

In addition to being beautiful, we really wanted our celebration to be personal and a celebration of bringing together two families and cultures (Haitian and Jewish), plus friends from all over the world. We designed our own ceremony, and family members played all the roles, from officiant to violinist. We chose to incorporate the most meaningful elements of each of our faith traditions, including signing a ketubah and breaking the glass. We honored the memories of loved ones who couldn’t be there by placing flowers on a seat in the front row, and Melissa wore the wedding ring of her deceased uncle on a necklace.

At the reception, the table names were beach towns we have been to together, from Malibu, CA to Goa, India. Our wedding cake flavor was rum, in honor of Melissa’s favorite — her aunt’s Haitian rum cake. We also gave the DJ a very eclectic playlist, which included everything from the horah to reggae.

Photographer: Callaway Gable / Cinematography: Reel Tributes / Floral Designer: Eventos Euforia / Event Planning & Design: Tropical Wedding Experts / Invitation Designer: Hammerpress / Cake & Desserts: Ceiba del Mar / Wedding Gown Designer: Casablanca / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: David’s Bridal / Groom’s suit tailor: Diwan Saheb / Wedding bands and engagement ring: Santisi & Bove / Venue: Ceiba del Mar

Sayulita is such a pretty little spot for a destination wedding. The sun, the sand, the laid back atmosphere: it all makes for a dreamy beach escape and one perfect for saying “I Do” with all your favorite people in tow. Which is EXACTLY what this fun loving Bride and Groom did and from the looks of the fabulous images by Nate Broshot, this wedding/vacation was Destination done so, so right. See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Our story began at a triathlon in Rocky Point, Mexico. We met at the awards ceremony, where the man I would later marry was celebrating his team’s victory by parading around in Speedo goggles and a half-burned sombrero. I was instantly drawn to his fun-loving, adventurous spirit. Lucky for me, our chance meeting in Rocky Point was just the beginning of an amazing life together. Six years and 10 countries later (yes, his sense of adventure wore off on me), we were tying the knot in Sayulita, Mexico. Needless to say, we’d gotten to know each other pretty intimately over the course of several nail-biting excursions, and it was clear there was no other person I’d rather share all of life’s ups and downs with.

We’d visited Sayulita for the first time a year before. From the moment our feet hit the sand, we knew it was the perfect spot for our wedding. It was quaint, charming and vibrant with a cozy, modern feel. The ideal mix for the less-experienced travelers in our family. Everything fell into place from there, thanks to our incredible wedding planner, Yazmin of Sea of Dreams.

From the Groom… We knew that we wanted a small, intimate villa wedding. What we got was a week-long experience where our friends became family and everyone left with a collection of memorable stories and adventures. The day of the wedding was special for us. As the groom I had three responsibilities – be on time, look good, and hire the photographer. This trifecta aligned perfectly with Nate Broshot. Nate was awesome! His style complemented ours, and by the end of the day, he not only knew everyone’s name but also how we knew them. Nate made my job easy, which left me plenty of time to work the DIY element into our wedding. I first ventured down this path with our save-the-dates. Since we met at a triathlon, we focused on a bicycle theme and rode with it. The save-the-dates, invitations and guest bags all had a bicycle element. For the wedding I also created Papel Picado guest cards. Each card was hand cut, and then lovingly inked by each of our guests. Some drew pictures, others words of wisdom but all were truly unique. Some even tried to take them home… Blue is our favorite color, so from blue on the save-the-dates to cobalt blue Mexican glassware, the touch was everywhere. Our wedding planner had a knack for bringing together every last detail. On the whole, this stunning day in Sayulita turned out to be a perfect expression of our relationship.

Wedding Photography: Nate Broshot / Ceremony: Playa de los Muertos in Sayulita, Mexico / Reception: Casa Los Arcos in Sayulita, Mexico / Wedding Coordination: Yazmin of Sea of Dreams (yazmini@hotmail.com) / Floral Design: Francisco Salazar of Vodax Detalle de Lujo / Catering + Cake: Naef Cuisine / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Groom / Dinnerware: Purchased at Guadalajara Mercado / DJ: Vallarta No Problem / Guestbook: DIY by the Groom / Officiant: Rollie / Wedding Dress: Pronovias “Hebra” / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bride’s Earrings: 1920s Crystal Chandeliers Worn by The Bride’s Sister at Her Wedding / Bride’s Crystal Bracelet: Nordstrom / Hair Piece: H&M Ivory Cloth Flower + Tarina Tarantino Swarovski Crystal Clip / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Caché / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Payless / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Forever 21 / Hair: Kolor by Kori / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein / Groom’s Shoes: Rainbow Sandals / Groom’s Accessories: Nixon / Groomsmen’s Pants: Calvin Klein / Groomsmen’s Shirts: Express / Ring: Designed by the Groom + Machined by Boone

Get ready for a virtual vacation by way of this stylish couple’s swoon-worthy seaside soiree! It’s destination perfection, and this post is like an all expenses paid trip to the destination wedding of your dreams thanks to the picture perfect images captured by Elizabeth Lloyd. They are just.that.good. Each image is filled with the most subtle yet stunning, perfect-for-Mexico details crafted by the Bride and her talented planner Mishka of Mishka Designs. And I must say, this Bride sure knows how to accessorize! From her show stopping necklace to her stunning belt to her handsome new hubby and cute as can be daughter, it’s all what destination dreams are made of! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When Chris and I got engaged, we sat down with a bottle of wine and asked each other what we wanted our wedding day to feel like. We decided that we wanted it to feel comfortable, stress free, low-key, casual and FUN with fantastic food. Chris wanted a more traditional wedding, and I wanted a simple city hall ceremony, so as a compromise, we decided on a destination wedding in Mexico. (Mostly because the food is so yummy down there.) During the planning process I routinely looked back at those answers to help ground me, as the “wedding machine” can easily invoke chaos. The whole design process began for me with our wedding invitations. I wanted something different that also spoke of the kind of wedding we were going to have. I became frustrated when I couldn’t find anything for sale in our budget that represented our wackiness and my sense of design, so I made them myself. Using Chris’ dad as the photographer and my friend Julian’s screen-printing skills, I came up with a fun spoof on Frieda and Diego’s famous wedding portrait. I created an illustration of a sacred heart that is so iconic of Mexican folk art and branded it all over the invitation in black and gold.

Once we decided on a location — a stunning villa called Hacienda Camino del Mar in the quaint town of Bucerias on the Puerto Vallarta side of Mexico — we booked the marvelous wedding planner Mishka of “Mishka Designs” run by her and her handy husband who builds absolutely everything for each and every wedding they do. We based the whole design around Mexican craftwork, bright colors and gold as well as a nod to Disney — we both have 3-year-old daughters and are constantly watching princess movies.

The ceremony was a simple beach wedding held under a beautiful chuppah built by Mishka’s husband that was flanked by stunning white papel picado banners. There were handmade wooden fans placed on every chair to mirror the heart illustration from our invitation design. Bubbles were blown as we exited the ceremony, which created a fun whimsical atmosphere, and my daughter liked them too. It was like a dream being on the beach at sunset with the surf crashing next to us. The reception was held on the roof of the villa. From the mishmash of design references I gave to Mishka, she created a stunning vintage/bistro/outdoor soiree. We had a buffet dinner of upscale Mexican street food that was yummy beyond belief and everyone danced their butts off. After the dancing, Mishka moved everyone downstairs to the pool where a surprise act of fire dancers was waiting. It was absolutely magical. The whole wedding was perfectly personalized to us from the bird and banner plaques my bridesmaids carried down the isle to the hand painted photo booth at the reception, and the little butterfly bouquet my daughter carried down the aisle. At every turn there was a surprise. Little did I know when I booked Mishka as our planner that Mishka and I would turn out to be design soul mates! I had several of my guests ask if I had shipped or brought all of the personal touches with me because it looked so much like what I would do myself, they were all surprised to find out that Mishka had created everything. The entire day was exactly what I had envisioned and hoped for! Chris and I are so happy and grateful to everyone who helped us create our special day — thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd / Wedding Venue: Hacienda Camino del Mar in Bucerias, Mexico / Wedding Design + Coordination: Mishka Designs / Catering: Andres of ByB / DJ: Los Hombres del Negro / Flamenco Guitarists: Latcho & Andrea / Officiant: Tamara Bradley de Morales of Chic Concepts / Wedding Cake: Memo of Charme / Wedding Dresses + Belt: BCBG Max Azria / Phoenix Necklace + Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Larissa Sodum, Friend of the Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Winners, Mendocino + Honey

I’m sure at some point during the planning process most Brides day dream of grabbing their love and their wedding plans and heading for warmer climates to celebrate their love on a breathtaking beach somewhere. It does have a lovely ring to it after all. And some couples? They actually take the plunge into tropical wedding bliss. Michelle Turner Photography was on hand to capture just such an affair on the beaches of Mexico where sun and lovely views run a plenty. It’s gorgeous and it’s sitting pretty in the full gallery for you to devour.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Michelle of Michelle Turner Photography… Sarah and Stefan were married at the Playa Fiesta Hotel and Beach Club outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Sarah described her wedding as a mix of “J.Crew and Etsy,” since she wanted a simple look with a lot of customized details that she had hand made by Etsy vendors and carried down to Mexico in many suitcases.  

Wedding Photography: Michelle Turner Photography / Wedding Venue, Event Design + Flowers: Hotel Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico / Event Planning: Lindsay Burgess / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Necklace: Will Oaks Studio / Bride’s Earrings: lime green modern / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The Jersey Maid / Groomsmen’s Ties: Handmade by Emmy / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Programs: DIY by the Groom’s Mother / Other Printed Materials: DIY by The Bride and a Co-Worker / Rings: Fabuluster

We have on our hands quite the Destination looker. It comes in the form of an AHMAZING film by the masterminds behind bubblerock studios. I’ll set the scene: Mexico, love, love and more love and maybe even a tequila tasting party. Intrigued? This is the recipe for the perfect destination nuptials crafted by the Bride (also the voice behind The Oceanside Bride) and Jacin from Lovely Little Details  and you, my dears, have a front row seat to all the festivities. Enjoy!

And before we bid adios, enjoy a few great shots from the Tequila tasting welcome party. Does that sound like a good time or what?

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From the bride (of The Oceanside Bride)… After ditching what became a headache of a plan to marry in southern California (we were planning it ourselves from Florida where we live), we decided to go destination all the way and head to the paradise location of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I would have thought planning within our own country would have been easier, but for us it didn’t work out that way.  After “meeting” Steph from Bubblerock Studios on Twitter and later being introduced to Jacin from Lovely Little Details, with less than four months to the big day, I was convinced I had to have both on my destination wedding dream team. It may sound like an oxymoron but our wedding vibe could be described as “Modern Vintage” and had a few reoccurring themes intertwined throughout, which included vintage doilies, an old school and new-age music-theme, and tributes to our beloved Boston Terrier who we had to leave back at home. We used the summer colors of gray, turquoise, coral, and cream to compliment the sandy, ocean, and mountainous landscape of Cabo.

In all, we had four additional suitcases filled to the brim with wedding day details! Most details were DIY or purchased from Etsy. We collected non-matching picture frames, which were later spray-painted silver, and instead of numbering the tables, we named them after some our favorite music artists. Tables were adorned with vintage doilies collected from antique shops, silver votives, and small medicine bottles filled with baby’s breath. My mom and I hand-stitched over 75 fabric flowers to put at each place setting and several more that were used for mother corsages and groomsmen boutonnieres. The cake topper was hand painted by me and made out of small wooden pieces which were little replicas of my groom, me and our fur baby. Instead of a guest book, we had Bella Puzzles create a custom puzzle for us in the shape of Mexico that we had all our guests sign on individual pieces.

Our best decision though was having Steph and Jacin there. From designing all the fun details of our tequila tasting to scouting out local Mexico-themed goodies for the out-of-town bags and coordinating the entire wedding day, Jacin was a dream come true. For the last four months before our wedding, I never had to worry about anything. She had so many great ideas and added the best personalized touches to our entire wedding weekend that had our guests raving. And Steph and Robin from Bubblerock — well, just watch one of their videos and you’ll be left speechless (and in tears!). We couldn’t feel luckier that they joined us in Cabo all the way from New Zealand to capture the beginning of our lives as husband and wife. And because Bubblerock documented all our wedding weekend events, friends and family who were not able to join us in Mexico have said they have been able to relive the celebration as though they were there.

Cinematography: Steph & Robin Killip of bubblerock studios / Venue: Dreams Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico / Tequila Tasting Photography: bubblerock studios / Wedding Day Photography: Fabian Espinosa / Styling + Planning – The Bride (of The Oceanside Bride) + Jacin from Lovely Little Details / Flowers: Lovely Little Details / Officiant: Reverend Marco Arechiga / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Wedding Invitation Design: Such Sweet Tierney

This gorgeous burst of sunshine is just what the doctor ordered on this chilly February morning. I’m pretty much obsessed with its bright and cheery color palette and how it mixes so beautifully with the subtle tones of the beach. The details captured oh-so-perfectly by Brooke Beasley Photography are so pretty, your fingers will be tired from pinning them all morning. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I wanted to create a colorful rustic beach wedding theme with an Asian flair. My husband is half-Japanese and I really wanted to honor his heritage. After many months of searching online wedding blogs and googling beach weddings, I found little things here and there that worked for me and my vision.

I had always dreamed of being on a beach and saying “I Do” with the ocean in the background. My dream became reality November 5th, 2011. Destination weddings are only for the strong, imaginative, and trusting. You really have to trust that it will come together and take frequent deep breaths. I really wanted to incorporate a local feel in my big day. My fiance (now husband) and I ended up making our own centerpieces. Thankfully he is in construction because he made the rustic wooden boxes I wanted, and I stained them. We found local succulents and cactus that we loved and filled the boxes with sand and planted them. We put a small paper lantern on each box that really added a colorful touch. I also wanted to welcome guests with bags we had created online. Inside were local Mexican candies, natural Mexican juices, bottled water, hand sanitizers,  a local map and an event timeline. We found small cowbells while we were in La Paz that my fiance said we should put on each chair for the guests to ring for “the kiss.” They ended up being a big hit! I loved the idea of the guest book being on clothes pins and string in between palm trees at the cocktail lounge area. The cake was the topper for me and was made my father, who lives in Mexico. It was a passion fruit cake filled with passion fruit curd a mascarpone cream frosting wrapped in while chocolate. It was made with locally grown organic Mayacuya passion fruit. We enjoyed a small wedding party of a few close relatives. All of the little touches were perfect and it was more beautiful then I imagined.

We ended up making it a wedding weekend filled with events to be talked about for a lifetime. We had a welcome dinner the day before at my father’s restaurant. Guests enjoyed freshly-made brick oven pizza! It was a great opportunity for the wedding group to mingle — the high desert location on a landscaped patio with luminaries surrounding the dining area made for a magical night. The casual post-wedding brunch was also at my father’s restaurant. He prepared an amazing chile relleno frittata (a spin off of my grandmother’s recipe) and fresh fruit. It was a great way to end an unforgettable destination experience.  

Wedding Photography: Brooke Beasley Photography / Wedding Venue: La Concha Beach Resort in La Paz, Mexico / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal (Style #2005) via Glamour Closet / Shoes: Bandolino (Jillie) via Zappos / DJ: Adan Mijares of DJ Mijares / La Paz Wedding Planner: Ana Fernandez / Decorations: Inspired by Luna Bazaar / Hair + Makeup: Alisse Galde of Daredevils & Queens Salon (707-548-8319) / Ceremony Programs, Customized Menus, Poem Cards, Welcome Bags, + Table Numbers: Printed via Zazzle / Welcome Dinner + Post-Wedding Brunch: Cafe El Triunfo (Chef/Owner Marc Spahr is the Bride’s Father)

Now this is how you do a Destination wedding. Warm weather, sandy beaches, palm trees and I’m sure a few fruity cocktails. More importantly, there’s not a lick of snow insight. Yep, Puerto Vallarta is indeed heaven and this wedding of one really adorable couple is basking in all this locale has to offer. But enough about musings of the tropical climate kind, (forgive me it’s COLD in Boston). When Michelle Turner is manning the photography helm, we just know there’s a pretty parade about to commence. See the full dreamy affair right here and don’t forget to hit that play button on the wedding video by Eduardo Reyes. It will have you hopping on a plane for warmer climates stat.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Edurdo of Eduardo Reyes… April and Glenn are from Georgia and over the holidays they traveled to Puerto Vallarta to get married at the beautiful Playa Fiesta Hotel. This adorable couple’s wedding was small and intimate.

Glenn and April’s brother, Adam, were college roommates and best friends during their freshman year of college. April was visiting her brother during her junior year of college and instantly fell in love with Glenn! Glenn asked April’s brother if he could talk to his sister and Adam said yes, but later said that Glenn could only “talk” to his sister and not “date” her! They are still best friends, and Adam was Glenn’s best man.

April and Glenn’s flowers, created by FlorArt Vallarta, consisted primarily of succulents mixed with white, peach, and pink ranunculus. The green of the succulents accented the bridal bouquet, the groom’s boutonniere, the cake topper, the centerpieces, and even the favors! In addition to the fact that succulents make April think of Mexico in general, she was inspired to include succulents in her wedding design when she saw them featured on a style blog.

Wedding Photography: Michelle Turner / Wedding Cinematography: Eduardo Reyes / Flowers: FlorArt Vallarta / Wedding Venue + Event Planning: Playa Fiesta / Wedding Invitations: Stephens Exclusives / Wedding Dress: David Fielden via Kelly’s Closet / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Brooch Bouquet: Handmade by the Maid of Honor / Hangover Remedy Gift Bag: Stephens Exclusives

This Puerto Vallarta wedding is sure to go down in destination wedding history.  It has certainly made its way into my wedding loving heart at lighting speed.  It is a little bohemian, a little rock n’ roll and super chic which is no surprise considering The Dazzling Details was behind the perfect beach design and the crazy talented Jeff Newsom behind the lens.  The gallery is chock full of even more seriously amazing details so head over there now!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Cana Video Productions is one of my favorite videographers and after watching this sweet film you’ll see why!

From Kristin of The Dazzling Details… Devon’s one request was to be able to surf the morning of his wedding. Kara has a love of all lanterns, and at the top of the list are star lanterns. Relaxed, romantic and intimate was important. On the beach was equally important. They are a little bit Bohemian, a little bit rock and roll, a lot about family and friends. The color palette of green, gray and purple blended perfectly with natural wood to create one of the most beautiful wedding atmospheres I have ever experienced. We wanted the ceremony to be all about the natural beauty of the beach, so a canopy was created with natural bamboo and a simple white linen draped off-center and surrounded with upside-down hanging greenery. Lanterns filled with florals lined the aisle, and a shoe check area was created to encourage bare-footed-ness! The bridesmaids carried beautiful mini-bouquets, and the flower girl held the most adorable pillow (hanging on a branch) created from the same fabrics used in lounge pillows and embroidered with K + D.

While the bride and groom took a few photos following the ceremony, some guests enjoyed cocktails at the nearby palapa bar to avoid the hot sun while others braved the heat and relaxed in lounge area beneath hotel umbrellas! Beautiful beach cabanas were built with oversized pillows and low tables for those who wanted to relax right on the beach floor with a striking view of the ocean just yards away. And with a groom who absolutely had to surf the morning of his wedding, well, it’s just clear that surfing somehow had to be incorporated into the decor as well. We searched and searched and found old surf boards in Sayulita that we drilled holes into, hammered oxidized nails into and hung escort cards on twine right on the boards. The escort cards, which were each marked with a vintage surfing image, led guests to their dinner tables where the same image popped out of the florals. The tables were topped with burlap centers and decorated with an eclectic grouping of pieces including lanterns, simple jar arrangements, limes, tin stars and twigs. The result was so natural, stunning and fun!

During dinner, guests toasted, chatted and watched the sun drop in to the evening sky. And, of course, prepared themselves for the hours of dancing ahead. The dance floor was created especially for Kara; in the middle of the floor, we constructed a small canopy with upside-down greenery around the perimeter and dozens of star lanterns suspended from underneath to add a twinkling bit of romance to illuminate the dance floor once darkness had set in. Later on in the evening, cake was cut and served while guests mingled in lounge areas and on the beach.

Wedding Photography: Jeff Newsom / Wedding Coordination, Design + Flowers: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Cinematography: Drew Barefoot + Ben Potter of Cana Video Productions / Wedding Venue + Catering: Dreams Resort Puerto Vallarta / Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria / DJ: Sonido Extasis / Trio: Trio Montecarlo / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: The Salon at Dreams Resort Puerto Vallarta / Wedding Gown: Watters “Sonora” / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: BCBG

Ger ready for a totally vibrant, totally colorful, and totally gorgeous Central Mexico wedding that will have you re-thinking your plans for a destination wedding on the beach. Yup, that’s right, there’s no water in sight here and it’s oh-so refreshing. Sheri Whitko Photography captured this gorgeous wedding and the beyond beautiful town of San Miguel de Allende to perfection. I seriously can’t stop staring at all that beautiful bougainvillea! Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Kevin and I knew as soon as we got engaged that we wanted to have a destination wedding in Mexico, but we never really saw ourselves having the typical Mexican beach wedding. Upon a friend’s recommendation, we checked out San Miguel de Allende, an old colonial town in central Mexico. It was love at first sight. San Miguel is a fairy tale little town filled with cobblestone streets, romantic alleyways covered in bougainvillea and enchanting doorways. It transports you back in time and makes you feel as though you walked into another world. We knew instantly that it was where we wanted to get married. We have always loved Mexico, and we hoped by getting married there, we would be able to spend more time with our guests and create a more personalized experience. We were also on a pretty strict budget and knew that our money would be able go a lot further in Mexico than in California.

We wanted our wedding to feel as personal as possible, but more than anything we wanted to make sure that our guests knew how happy and grateful we were that they had come all the way to Mexico to celebrate with us. We had suitcases completely full of snacks and goodies that we used in our welcome bags, and other suitcases full of just decorations. We wrote handwritten letters to each guest, thanking them for coming and expressing how lucky we felt to have such great people in our lives, and used these as our escort cards. As part of our ceremony, we wrote letters to each other and sealed them away in a wooden box with a bottle of wine, to be used as a sort of “time capsule” that we will open years from now on a later anniversary. Our budget restricted us from getting a photo booth, so we made a faux photo booth that doubled as our guestbook and had everyone take pictures with a Polaroid camera and then write us a note.

Our goal was to have a wedding that was colorful, vibrant and reflective of the local culture, but still representative of us. One of my favorite parts of the day was the celebratory tequila parade that followed immediately after our ceremony. It is local tradition that after the ceremony you and your guests walk the streets of San Miguel so that the locals can come out to congratulate you and wish you a long and happy marriage. We started off this parade with a tequila donkey and huge ten-foot tall puppets called mojigangas and then followed behind an amazing eight-piece mariachi band as they led us throughout the streets. To say it was fun is an understatement. There were so many times that we wondered if we were crazy for having a destination wedding, in central Mexico no less, but it was the best decision we could have made. Our friends and family got to genuinely know each and become friends themselves. The sheer enormity of having that many people travel so far to celebrate with you was the most incredibly powerful, overwhelming, and happy feeling I have ever experienced. It was completely worth any stress and anxiety that came with it, and we would do it over again in a heartbeat.

Wedding Photography: Sheri Whitko Photography / Event Coordination: Alicia Villar of San Miguel Weddings / Venue: Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bridal Belt: Twisted Crystals / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss / Hair Flower: Presumptuous Me / Wine Box: Naturally Aspen / Guestbook Backdrop: AngelG / Polaroid Guestbook: The Handmade Boutique / Faux Photo Booth: DIY

It just doesn’t get more luxurious than this Cabo San Lucas beach chic celebration designed by Yifat Oren & Associates and captured beautifully by Jonas Peterson. Each awe-inspiring image makes me feel like I am right there with this beautiful couple, toes in the sand and a margarita in hand.  And that dress? That picture perfect Vera Wang stunner that little girl’s dreams are made of? Well, the bride is giving it away to one oh so lucky bride through her site Beyond Yoga! Does it get any better than that! So be sure to enter, and don’t forget there is even more pretty in the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Yifat Oren & Associates…Los Angeles tastemaker, daughter of legendary producer Peter Guber and creator of luxury lifestyle brand Beyond Yoga, Jodi Guber, wed Seth Brufsky, a Senior Partner at Ares Management, an alternative investment company, last December in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Yifat Oren, of Yifat Oren & Associates in Los Angeles, worked with Jodi on making her wedding an affair to remember. No stranger to unforgettably stunning events, Yifat’s high-profile clientele includes Reese Witherspoon, Mariska Hargitay, Jason Bateman and Kevin Costner – just to name a few!

The Los-Angeles based couple planned an enchanting ceremony and reception at The One & Only Palmilla, an oasis on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, were they celebrated with 98 of their closest friends and family. The couple and their guests all donned white for the truly breathtaking occasion, which infused color and vibrancy through décor details, bold flavors, Mexican fare and flare and a never-empty dance floor.

The rehearsal dinner took place on the beach, as did the couple’s magical ceremony. Jodi and Seths’ guests were greeted by a tequila tasting station and a buffet filled with authentic Mexican eats. Authentic fabrics from Puebla were used as colorful inspiration for the evening’s décor which was completed by Mexican flag swathed photobooths that bore the words “Jodi and Seth” and “Mazal Tov”.

For her ceremony, Jodi dreamed of something unexpected and mirage-esque, which Yifat illustrated by flanking the Chuppah’s surrounding areas with lace and organza flags. Traditional Mexican Aguas Frescas were served as guests arrived while being greeted by a band featuring traditional Mayan instruments, with the bride’s entrance announced with the blowing of a 2,000 year old conch shell. The Chuppah’s design was inspired by classic, European fashion – “it reminded me of Chanel, meets Lanvin meets Vivian Westwood,” the bride explained, “layers and layers of organza and lace with a Dupioni silk runner in white.” Jodi’s Vera Wang wedding gown continued in the same vein, layering dramatic tulle and organza fastened with a white silk sash for the ceremony and then a black one for the reception where Jodi and Seth made a dramatic entrance. A bed of rolling hot pink paved (the e needs and accent on it!) florals spilled on to the sand from underneath the Chuppah and served as the sole splash of color aside from the exceptional hues of the ocean at sunset. 

At the reception, dinner was served in the Palmilla’s Agua Restaurant, where guests dined on handmade appetizers amongst bold hot pink centerpieces of Cymbidium orchids in driftwood vessels and votive candles. Champagne linens covered each surface, with each place setting featuring a single succulent placed in the fold of a linen napkin with delicate croched scallloped edges. After dinner, dancing took place in the Agua Bar, where the DJ had guests on their feet late into the night. Custom lounge furniture created the sultry, nightlife vibe the couple and Yifat had envisioned for festivities and guests dined on a dessert buffet which included miniature authentic churros dipped in hot chocolate sauce.

Jodi could not have been happier with her romantic, intimate and joyous celebration. Now, with her Prince Charming and two beautiful step daughters, Caroline, 11 and Georgia, 8, she truly feels as though she has it all.

Jodi believes in paying it forward and has decided to give away her wedding dress in order to help create a ‘Beyond’ moment for someone else that was as meaningful and memory filled as hers was. Look gorgeous beyond your wildest dreams and enter for a chance to win this flawless Vera Wang wedding dress. All you have to do is share with us why you deserve this beyond amazing opportunity at Beyond Yoga.

Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Wedding Photography: Jonas Peterson / Floral Design: Baura NY / Event Design + Production: Yifat Oren & Associates / Ceremony + Reception Location: The One & Only Palmilla / Invitations: Tiny Pine Press / Music: Patrick Belton of Dubgypsy / Rehearsal Dinner: Palmilla’s North Beach

This breathtaking photo shoot by Erin Kate Photography should bring inspiration to many of you lovely brides whether you are planning a destination wedding in Mexico, an elegant winter celebration or an organic union brimming with old-world romance.  I adore the seating chart banner exquisitely created with kraft paper and white ink, the paper seating flags tucked into sweet pots of figs and the natural florals wrapped in burlap and lace.  Be completely inspired in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Erin Kate Photography…Small pieces of Mexican art are used throughout this inspiration shoot. I wanted to keep the feel elegant and organic. Texture adds interest and is found in the form of lace, ribbon, twine, metal, and linen. The bride’s bouquet includes wild grasses, lavender, straw flowers, aspen leaves, eucalyptus berries, and lambs ear and is wrapped in linen and tied with a ribbon. The groom’s boutonniere is a cluster of straw flowers, grasses, eucalyptus berries on lambs ear and tied with twine and lace.

The couples rings are hung on twine and placed on a moss pillow in a metal heart box. The bride wears a beautiful lace blouse by Catherine Malandrino, a simple linen skirt, and distressed cowboy boots. A lace handkerchief was borrowed from the bride’s grandmother.

A sweet blond hen didn’t want to miss out on the celebration. Guests find their table assignments from a handwritten paper sign and are welcomed at their seat by a small bowl of figs. The wedding cake is wrapped at it’s base with lace ribbon and is adorned by a paper heart banner and a Dia de los Muertos bride and groom. A wooden angel watches over the happy couple and a candle alter is adorned with soft flowers. The bride and groom thank their guests for celebrating their wedding day with a simple “Muchas Gracias”!

Style, Design + Photography: Erin Kate Photography / Blouse: Catherine Malandrino

A virtual trip to Mexico is just what the doctor ordered for this chilly, chilly Tuesday… and this stunning Cancun affair by Roey Yohai has all of the right ingredients to seriously brighten your day.  A beyond breathtaking oceanside setting, gorgeous florals by Azul Beach Hotel, a stunning bride and groom and one very fabulous pair of Loubs…. I couldn’t love this wedding more if I tried.  Thankfully, there’s an entire gallery filled to the brim with all of the pretty details, because I’m not missing a minute of this lovely.  Join me there for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Roey Yohai… Jenny and Mike met during the summer of 2003, shortly after Jenny graduated from college in North Carolina and moved to New York City. To supplement her meager income as Public Relations Coordinator at InStyle Magazine, Jenny returned to the York Grill, a neighborhood favorite restaurant on the Upper East Side, on weekends as a hostess and cocktail waitress, where she had worked during her previous summer internships. Since the previous summer, a new guy had joined the family-like staff as kitchen manager and bartender – Mike had left his career in banking to be able to spend time during the day with his 3 year-old daughter, Grace. Jenny and Mike became friends quickly and often went out in a group with co-workers but, by November and much to their surprise, had become a couple.

Jenny threw a surprise 30th birthday party for Mike in March, where she met his family for the first time and things moved quickly afterward. Mike and Jenny moved to Brooklyn in 2006, where Grace moved in with them full-time. Time flew quickly due to the Grace’s busy school schedule and their demanding careers, Jenny now Fashion Director at a top public relations firm, and Mike a leading pharmaceutical sales representative. In April 2010, Mike proposed on one knee during a vacation in Tulum, Mexico. The couple returned to Mexico to say their vows surrounded by close family and friends the following year.

Wedding Photography: Roey Yohai of Elan Artists / Bride’s Dress + Veil: Naeem Khan / Bride’s Earrings: Ranjana Khan / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groom’s Tie: Thomas Pink / Bridesmaid Dresses: Express / Groomsmen Shirts + Pants: J.Crew / Flower Girl Dress: Monnalisa / Graphic Design: Paulina Perzynska / Printing: Kate’s Paperie / Wedding Venue + Flowers: Azul Beach Hotel

Oh Sayulita – how I love thee!  Every wedding that we feature from this majestic Mexican village makes me want to hop on the next jet plane headed south of the border.  This enchanting affair captured by Derk’s Works only increases my wanderlust with its gorgeous seaside views, luscious florals and sweetly modern details.  And, yes, all those picture perfect details were created by the stylish blogger bride!  Click here to see them all!

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From Derk’s Works….You know that feeling you get when you’re invited to the “cool kid table”? There is that excitement and rush, knowing that the people you like and look up to think similarly of you! When my cousin, and extremely stylish style blogger, Anna approached me about being the photographer for their wedding I had a tinge of humble gratitude and then a wash of excitement. The day was beautiful and Anna was radiant. Each detail was carefully laid out and the entire event oozed the love, joy and impeccable style of the bride and groom. It was an honor to photograph the day and see all of Anna’s planing fall together into complete perfection.

From the Bride…Since Eric and I have been dating since we were 16, we knew our wedding would have to be something that reflected our unique relationship. Enter: Mexico. It was the natural option since we visited the Riveria Nayarit and fell in love with the beautiful beaches and welcoming people.  We wanted to celebrate with our closest friends and family and have an unforgettable vacation, as well, which made Sayulita the perfect place.  Our wedding was unforgettable and truly one of the best and most memorable days of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Derk’s Works / Wedding Planner: Yazmin Gizeh of Sea of Dreams Weddings / Catering: Naef Cuisine / Floral Design: Vodax Detalle by Francisco Salazar / Wedding Venue: Villa del Oso / Name Place Tags, Burlap Runners, Favor Bags, Table Names: DIY (The Bride)

Sweet details can be found in every corner of this beautiful Puerto Vallarta wedding by Elizabeth Lloyd Photographer.  And most of them created by the two stunning brides from the invitations to the napkin rings.  Each element is easy enough to transport to a magical destination like Mexico but add so much charm and personality to this rustic, DIY affair.  See all the lovely creations in the full gallery!

Click here to se the entire gallery of images!

From Elizabeth Lloyd Photographer…As soon as I met with Lorena and Dustyn in Manhattan to discuss their wedding in Puerto Vallarta, I knew it was going to be a special, creative, personalized wedding and a blast to photograph. I could not have imagined the amount of work that they were to embark on to transform their oceanfront villa into a charming, rustic affair filled with beautiful touches.

From Dustyn…We live in New York City but Lorena is from Argentina, so after some research we chose to have our wedding celebration half way between these locations in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  For several months leading up to our special day we spent weekends making everything we could reasonably make for a destination wedding, from our own invitations to the napkin rings.  We even bought a sewing machine and Lorena funneled her creative energy and newly discovered DIY spirit to make things including customized pillow covers for the cocktail area and sashes for the chairs.

Then after a few days in Puerto Vallarta with our family, more friends and family joined us for a wedding celebration that I’m sure no one will forget.  It started with a ceremony on the beach, where we followed the cutest ring bearer and flower boys you’ll ever see down the aisle to a custom made wooden canopy.  We failed in holding back tears while we recited our vows and watched our wedding rings as they were passed around and blessed by family and friends before making their way to our fingers.

After a magical first kiss as a married couple, we returned across the street to our gorgeous classic Mexican hacienda and were welcomed with a 10 man mariachi band, freely flowing cocktails, and amazing aappetizers.  A DJ took over as we were seated for dinner, and my brother gave a heartfelt toast as the sun set behind him out over the water.  As darkness came, the fire-dancers we hired surprised even us with their drumming, dancing, and fire-wielding skills.  Later we danced to Eva Cassidy’s Songbird, then had friends and family join us when Smashmouth’s cover of “I’m a Believer” came on the speakers.  From our first steps down the aisle, to jumping into the pool late that night under the stars with our guests, the smiles never left our faces.  Thousands more words are captured in the pictures from our amazing photographer who was able to distill these magical moments into works of art we get to keep forever.  I could not have imagined a more amazing way to celebrate our marriage and lifelong commitment to each other!

Dustyn’s Dress: J.Crew / Lorena’s Dress: Nicole Miller / Engagement Rings + Wedding Rings: Brilliant Earth / Dustyn’s Shoes: Seychelles / Lorena’s Shoes: TOMS (ceremony) + Badgley Mischka (reception) / Location: Villa Celeste, Conchas Chinas / Hair Pieces: Lorena Plaza (Bride) / Design: Lorena Plaza (Bride) / Planning + Coordination: Chic Concepts / Catering: Elite Services / Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd Photographer

I am fairly certain that I will be spending this lovely Thursday morning all wrapped up in this stunning Mexico soiree by Holly Wilmeth, so I should probably start clearing my calendar now.  Boasting beautiful blooms, a beyond gorgeous location and one of my favorite gowns of all time from Gabriella New York Bridal Salon, this intimate affair is what I call destination wedding perfection.  All planned by Alicia Vilar Segura of San Miguel Weddings, there is not a single detail that I don’t completely adore.  Click here for more.

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From the Bride… Cy and I met through a mutual friend who had lived with my cousin, Julia, in Mexico City. Cy had attended the University of New Mexico with my cousins. We were introduced over a beer, became fast friends over movies and Red Vines, and started dating 6 months later. My cousin, Julia, was my Maid of Honor and actually introduced me to San Miguel de Allende, our wedding location.

My goal was to have a small, intimate wedding that was a reflection of my husband and me. We love culture, interesting food, beautiful and creative surroundings, and our family and friends. Our wedding was a perfect combination of all of that. We introduced our family and friends to San Miguel de Allende, a colorful colonial town in Mexico. Many of our friends and most of our family had never been to San Miguel. They all loved everything about it – the food, the sights, the people, and the markets! Cy and I loved planning the menu for our reception; we wanted to share a unique blend of modern Mexican cuisine with our guests. I also wanted to make sure my cake was delicious, and still beautifully unique. I’ve never seen a cake I’ve loved more– the white shaved chocolate and the fresh flowers were divine. I asked my wedding planner to have cream and white Otomi (hand-embroidered with beautiful birds, and indigenous to Mexico) table runners made for each table. These beautiful handcrafted pieces were not only stunning but also exhibited the extraordinary talent of Mexican artistry. The fabulous Mariachi band at our cocktail hour also showcased the talent and beauty of the Mexican culture. Antique silver frames with our parents’, grandparents’ and great grandparents’ weddings were the first thing my guests saw as they were greeted with champagne upon entering our wedding venue. Showing our friends those who came before us and have inspired us and helped lead us to this day was important to us. Having our family and most special friends there to share the day with made our day complete.

Cy and I spent many hours creating our ceremony and our program.We were blessed to have a family member, Reverend Erin Bair (Who happens to be my sister-in-law’s sister!) as our officiant. Cyrus and I each chose unique readings that meant something special to us. We wrote our vows together and based them on a beautiful sermon that was written to honor one my best friends and mentor, Sr. Peg Dolan. She evoked love in every aspect of her life and my mom believes it was Sr. Peg relentless prayers that led me to meet Cy. My father sang the Irish Blessing (a tribute to my Irish heritage) to us at the end of our wedding. In our program, we wanted to celebrate the people who played a part of our wedding. We made sure to list each individual and why they were special to us. We also described the traditions and symbols of our ceremony and my attire (ie something borrowed, etc) so our guests knew exactly why our ceremony was the way it was. Every part of our ceremony shared a bit of our hearts with our guests.

My wedding planner was superb! Because it was a destination wedding, I needed help coordinating all the details I knew I wanted. Having Alicia in San Miguel helping me was one of the best decisions I made. My advice, know what you want and go for it!! I hesitated to get married in Mexico because I thought that people might not want to travel to Mexico or be unable to make the long trip. I knew though, that San Miguel was where Cy and I had to get married. I had known it for a long time. The town, the food, the culture, the energy – it just called our names. I was right! I should have never second-guessed myself because of the fear of other people’s reactions.

Wedding Photography: Holly Wilmeth / Lodging: Casa Tierra Negra, The Rosewood Hotel, Hotel Matilda + Various Private Homes provided by Casa Elegantes / Wedding Coordination: Alicia Vilar Segura of San Miguel Weddings / Ceremony + Reception Location: Casa Elegantes / Cake Design: El Petit Four / Stationery: Paper Joy / Hair, Floral Design + DJ: Provided by San Miguel Weddings / Make-up: Friend / Wedding Gown: Anna Maier Ulla Maija (Bianca Gown) via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Belt: Amy Kuschel via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon / Headpiece + Veil: Custom Francesca Bianco, Phoenix / Wedding Ring: Gauthier / Earrings: Nadri / Right Hand Ring: Borrowed from Mother of the Bride (a Sapphire and Diamond ring – my something blue and borrowed) / Bride’s Shoes: Caparros / Bridesmaid Dresses: Enzoani

This charming Mexico wedding by Brooke Allison Photography was just the lovely I needed to brighten my Wednesday morning.  With the casual, yet elegant vibe, gorgeous seaside setting, cute as can be florals and soft pink hues, I simply can’t stop grinning from all of the pretty.  Not to mention those fabulous heels, which have me crushing big time on their purple perfection.  I think I love them.  Believe me, you don’t want to miss a moment… join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Brooke Allison Photography… I am super excited to share Sara & John’s wedding with you! They are first year medical students with families that lived far apart from each other. They decided to make a destination wedding where guests could travel and enjoy some R&R with them and their families. Now Jade Resort provided a chic, Miami-vibe where bright colors met classic dresses.

Sara’s bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses were both from J.Crew and shared the same detail and cut on the top of the bodice. This was a really cool look for photographs and a beautiful way to tie them together.

Their decor was bright, fun and organized by Sara who packed and brought it all with her in suitcases! The night ended with cigars and typical shot-taking dances led by the bar staff! Overall, the day was highlighted by crystal blue skies, aqua waters and a gorgeous day of sun and sand!

Wedding Photography: Brooke Allison Photography / Wedding Ceremony + Reception Location: Now Jade / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Zappos / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Table Number Stickers: Etsy