Mexico Weddings

A little over a year ago these two lovebirds photographed my wedding and now I am just giddy to show you their jaw-dropping, gorgeous destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta.  This isn’t the first time these crazy kids have got together with Ben & Erin Chrisman. Two years ago Daniel surprised Davina by whisking her off to Las Vegas to have her dream elopement with her dream photographer.  Fast forward to this past April when their nearest and dearest gathered at a love-filled celebration packed to the brim with pretty.  The most perfect destination wedding if I ever did see one.  It is glamorous, chic, a little vintage, a little dramatic and oh-so magical.  There are so many moments that will absolutely take your breath away so make sure you spend some time in the full gallery! And fly on over to Ben & Erin Chrisman’s slideshow to see the entire extraordinary event unfold.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Groom…When Davina and I got engaged a little over 2 years ago, we wasted no time to make it official and eloped to Las Vegas. We chose to do this as we knew we would be planning a destination wedding for our “actual” wedding, so we wanted to simplify the logistics of the legal ceremony by doing it in Vegas, just the two of us. Despite having been legally married at the beginning of our engagement, we never considered ourselves husband and wife. This would only come once we exchanged our own vows, in front of our friends and family, with Davina in a white dress.

Right after our first wedding, we started searching everywhere for the perfect venue – and somehow stumbled upon Casa China Blanca. We weren’t looking to get married in Puerto Vallarta, or even Mexico, but just fell in love with this white mansion on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean. We couldn’t be happier for it to have been there, as it led us to Kristin & Michelle, of The Dazzling Details. It was really important for us to time everything around the light, so the ceremony had to take place at sunset. After a visit to Puerto Vallarta in the fall of 2010, we were faced with many obstacles. The sunset was at 8:30pm, and we had to stop the loud music by 11pm. Not much time for a sit-down dinner! So with the help of our planners, we decided to do things a little differently. We ended up having a cocktail dinner, drinks, speeches, all before the actual ceremony. After the ceremony, we danced down the aisle, straight onto the dance floor, and danced non-stop to Davina’s father’s band until we were kicked out!

Being wedding photographers ourselves (Davina and Daniel), it was extremely important for us to have photographers who would capture all the emotion, and surprise us with out-of-this world creative, dramatic photos. And we got just that by hiring our good friends Ben & Erin Chrisman. We have been following their work for many years, and they are a constant inspiration, in our work, and in our personal lives. There was never any doubt that we wanted our wedding to be documented through their eyes. We were fortunate enough to witness their union a few months earlier, also in Mexico, and we’re so happy they were there to celebrate with us!

Wedding Photographers: Ben & Erin Chrisman / Event Planning + Decor: The Dazzling Details / Catering: ByB / Venue: Casa China Blanca / Band: Minuit (Bride’s Father) / Bride’s Hair + Make-up: Maya Goldenberg / Flowers: DIY / Wedding Stationary: DIY / Bride’s Cocktail Dress: H&M / Bride’s Wedding Dress: Pnina Tornai via Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Exit Dress: Tadashi Shoji / Bride’s Jewelry: Vintage +  JCrew / Bride’s Exit Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Attire: Zara / Groom’s Shoes: Reiss

These San Pancho nuptials are so absolutely gorgeous, so incredibly stunning and so utterly breathtaking, that they can only be described as total perfection.  I am more than enamored with the rustic-y beach setting and the vibrant color palette.  And those dresses.  Oh my goodness, do I adore those dresses.  Each and every one designed by the lovely bride, including her own glamorous gown.  All captured by the talented Elizabeth Lloyd, this wedding could not be more perfect if it tried.  Join me for even more pretty in the gallery!

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From Elizabeth Lloyd… Lauren and Jon’s ceremony took place on the beach of a gorgeous villa in the Northern tip of San Pancho, Mexico. Agua frescas and a trio welcomed the guests as they were escorted down to the beach where guests surrounded the simple palm leaf and flower arch. After the ceremony, cocktails were served under the palapa. Papel Picado with ‘Lauren y Jon’ stamped into it flowed across the ceiling of the palapa. While the guests took in the raw beauty of the untouched pacific coast, Lauren and Jon wandered throughout the villa and down to the beach for photos. The wedding party was then escorted to the wonderful restaurant Mar Plata in San Pancho where the dinner and reception took place.

With an eclectic group of guests (Lauren is a clothing designer, Jon is a filmmaker) everyone danced to the tunes of a famous Mexican DJ and got wild in the photo booth. Lauren designed her own wedding gown and in the middle of the first dance Jon ‘stepped’ on it, taking part of it off and revealing a short cocktail dress!

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd / Wedding Planning: Amandine Darmstaedter / Floral Design: Tia Vero / Wedding Ceremony Location: El Chololo (Private Villa) / Wedding Reception Location: Mar Plata / Rehearsal Dinner Location: La Perla / Wedding Dress: Designed by the Bride / Bridesmaid Dresses: Designed by the Bride / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren Black Label / DJ: Sergio of Zoe / Wedding Cake: NAEF Cuisine

Cabos wowbos!  Can you really go wrong with romantic nuptials on the sandy shores of Los Cabos?  I think not.  Add oodles of details full of color and merriment, an amazing Melissa Sweet gown and vibrant photography by Nakai Photography and you have one babelicious Baja beauty!  Click here to see even more in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… We knew from the beginning that we wanted a small destination wedding. We own a customized catering company and work really hard to create events and weddings all over the Chicagoland area- for us, having a wedding here was just another Saturday night at work. We needed to think very outside the box…outside the country!

The start of the planning was pretty painless. I am not much of a “researcher.” I like to make decisions and I don’t spend a whole lot of time dwelling or shopping around. I googled “Cabo wedding planner,” clicked on the first result (or maybe it was the name I liked best), gave Baja Weddings a call and it was done and done! Jenny was amazing- she helped us narrow down the best locations for us from a few thousand miles away. We went to Cabo for 3 days on a mission to find out where all of this bliss would happen. Immediately, we both were impressed by Cabo. I had never seen such a landscape in my life- mountains, ocean, desert, cacti, palm trees. Just beautiful scenery. Jenny drove us around ALL DAY- looking at hotels, restaurants, resorts, and nothing was calling our names. Then, she said, “Please just check out this golf club right before I drop you back off.” And there was Cabo Del Sol, calling, screaming, our names. It was absolutely perfect and just what we wanted. Beautiful, open air space with incredible Mexican architecture and decor. It was perched up on a hill overlooking the ocean, but the ceremony would be a little golf cart drive down to the beach. It was perfect!

I truly feel like planning our wedding was so fun. It wasn’t all totally easy and I had a lot of really helpful opinions from my sisters, friends and mom. My wedding planner Jenny seemed to really ‘get’ me and my style. When you have a destination wedding, by nature, you are giving up a lot of control. I really didn’t want to get so crazed over the details, so being far away, you are forced to trust. We had spent months developing a relationship with Jenny and I was so happy to have someone who knew my vision planning my wedding. Until she called me two months before the wedding to let me know she would be leaving Cabo and returning to the states. Dum dum dummmmmmm. She assured me that Roxanne, who would be taking over for her, was great. Great would be an understatement. She was absolutely incredible. Although she serendipitously became part of our wedding, she quite deliberately helped us create the most special day of our lives.

The ceremony was MAGIC. Driving down to the beach with my dad all ready to walk down the aisle was the most emotional moment for me. I knew everyone was down there waiting for me, that Vaido and I were about to see each other and that I was about to WALK DOWN THE AISLE on my wedding day. Unreal. As my dad and I started walking, he squeezed my arm and with a cracked voice said “I love you.” I have heard him say I love you every time we talk, but I have never heard him say it like this. It was such a special moment that I will cherish forever.  Our ceremony was perfect. Most of what I remember was staring into my Vaido’s eyes and feeling the warm sun on my face. I kept turning around to everyone and smiling just so they knew I was happy they were all there sitting behind us. Our kiss. The best. Right when we kissed, a surprise mariachi band that snuck up on the hill behind everyone started playing “Son de la Negra,” a traditional Mexican song. It was so fun to walk back down the aisle, everyone throwing rose petals on us, to the live mariachi band and even more fun that no one knew it was coming! It really made it feel like it was time to fiesta.

Our incredibly talented photographer, Kenny Nakai, knew that I felt pretty strongly about not having many formal posed photos taken. Our parents are both divorced and remarried, so making sure all the combinations of family had photos would have taken forever. The great part about having such an amazing photographer is that I didn’t worry for one minute if there would be good photos. He has a vision no one else could imagine and is able to capture moments you could never plan or anticipate.

The reception is so cool- just a big party that you planned for all of your favorite people to enjoy! I love white linens and I’m kind of a less is more when it comes to table decor, so we kept it pretty simple. The dining room at Cabo del Sol is beautiful and I didn’t want to take away from that in any way. The centerpieces were pretty simple too, a beautiful mix of succulents and cymbidium orchids flooded with candles. Our five-course meal was sprinkled with the most lovely toasts and speeches that of course made everyone laugh and cry. We were then invited to the outside bar and dance floor where the band began playing. We had a Cuban cigar table that Roxanne set up and I loved that even my girlfriends were puffing away. The reception was exactly what I had hoped for: lots of laughter, champagne, dancing, sweating, great music, and memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Everyone had So. Much. Fun.

I think the key to truly enjoying your destination wedding is to get lost in the moment of it, trust the people that are putting it together fully and don’t worry when things don’t go as planned. Isn’t the whole point of wanting everything perfect so that you can enjoy this day? Let it be magical and it will be magical!

Wedding Photography: Nakai Photography / Wedding Coordination: Roxanne of Baja Weddings / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue: Cabo Del Sol / Makeup: Suzanne Morel Spa / Flowers: Cabo Flowers / Band: Déjà Vu / Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Earrings: Ippolita / Groom’s Suit: Express / Groom’s Tie: Saks Fifth Avenue / Groom’s Cufflinks: Banana Republic / Groom’s Shirt: Armani / Groom’s Shoes: Aldo

Get ready to soak up some fabulous Cabo San Lucas gorgeousness. The bride = gorgeous. The styling (the majority of it also being DIY) = gorgeous. The images from The Youngrens = gorgeous. The stunning Cabo back drop = gorgeous. Seriously, so.much.gorgeous to be had, and lucky for all of us the full gallery of images is oozing with even more.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… To have a destination wedding was an easy road for us with no arm-twisting needed. We had originally planned on having a large wedding in Los Angeles, but with both sides of our family being spread out all over the country planning such a large affair turned out to be…not so much fun. After one overwhelmingly long night of vendor searching and location finding we jokingly said, “Lets just get married on a beach somewhere.” It only took one look to know we both agreed and into Google search we went. Esperanza Resort of Auberge Resorts in Cabo San Lucas was the first location we found and we knew it was the one; a week long vacation with people we love and adore like crazy was exactly the kind of wedding we wanted.

As crazy as it sounds for a type A like myself, we never even visited the resort before getting married. Our gut instinct was so strong and the reputation of Auberge Resorts is so wonderful we just knew it was perfect in every single way. Once we decided on the location my inspiration for a theme was based on the resort itself. My favorite colors are cobalt blue, sunflower yellow and off white and that tied in perfectly with the resort decor. Since the wedding location also happened to be cliff side overlooking the gorgeous Sea of Cortez, I knew that nautical-seaside-romance was exactly what our wedding would be. It took no time at all for all the details to start falling into place.

I might have been a tad over confident in the beginning about planning a wedding in another country, but I knew I wanted to be my own wedding planner. I was smitten with so many ideas and I also knew the image I had in my head was something only I could create. I also mean create literally because about 70% of the wedding was DIY. I’m happy to say I managed it all and lived to tell about it, but it was far trickier then I imagined! The first projects were creating our save the dates and the passport covers that we sent out with them, which were hand stamped with “All You need is Love” on the bottom of each one. Josh’s family had never traveled out of the country and this was an extra special touch that they really enjoyed. We sent the bridal party some cute (and tasty!) cookies in the shape of a dress with “Will you be in my bridal party?” written in icing. It was a fun and cute way to ask people!

The dinner and reception decor was not only my biggest challenge, but it was also the most fun because I had to be incredibly creative with customs. I knew I wanted to create a lot of the details myself but with the restrictions of what and how much you could send through customs it was incredibly stressful. I can guarantee I did not sleep much until I knew my shipment had made it to the resort safe and sound. Someone referred to me as a “customs ninja” and it’s a title I will proudly wear because it was tricky! Another obstacle was the flowers we could use for the ceremony and reception.  With the intense humidity, real flowers were out of the question. My vision for the centerpieces was manzanita trees with blossoms and crystals, but to import real manzanita to the florist was incredibly difficult through customs. I opted for very realistic (though faux) manzanita trees and decorated them with crepe paper flowers I bought on Etsy and hanging crystals with candles. As I set it up on the morning of the wedding it looked better then I could have ever imagined. At the last moment before we left I wanted to be sure to have table numbers for easy guest seating. I hand made moss numbers and hung them from the trees on the tables and it worked perfectly.

Looking back on the entire wedding day it seems like a daydream though there were some very real moments I’m especially thankful for. The genuine amount of love, care and immense appreciation we had for everyone there was thick in the air and it lent to the feel of our entire wedding. I will never forget the intimate moment with my Mom seeing me in my dress for the very first time and helping me into it. When she handed me my bouquet she had adorned it with my Great Grandmother’s wedding ring and a sweet note that my Great Grandmother wrote before she passed, all tied off in her favorite scarf. I felt flooded with love and warmth like she was there with us. We also had a special tribute to a very young woman and my dear friend, Alicia, who had very recently lost her fight with cancer. During the reception we played a song Ali and I always used to sing together. To see and feel everyone I love gather in one big circle and sing “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond at the top of their lungs through laughter and tears was magical and touched me so deeply. It’s a moment I will never forget.

Most importantly, however, we have our amazing photographers, Jeff and Erin Youngren, to thank for a lot of our favorite moments.  Not only did they capture every smile, look, and tear of the entire week as our photographers, but as our friends they made us feel so loved and comfortable that we never even noticed the cameras.  The moments they so lovingly guided us into were magical.  I know Josh and I will never forget when we first talked to Jeff and Erin on the phone. They called us in the middle of their amazing vacation in Thailand just to talk to us about our wedding. As we carried on a call from two opposite sides of the world, we felt like we were catching up with two people we had known all of our lives. As the call was ending, I looked at Josh and we had the biggest, cheesiest smiles on our faces and we knew Jeff and Erin were not only going to be our photographers, but lifelong friends and mentors as well. The last thing I said to them that evening was ” We would love for you to come to our wedding as our friends who just happen to have really nice cameras, not as vendors.” That’s exactly what they did and who they were and we know our wedding would not be half of what it was without Jeff and Erin being the people they are. They are such a gift and any couple that finds them behind the lens on their most important day is absolutely blessed.

We could only have planned our wedding day so far in our heads and the actual event far surpassed anything I could have imagined. We wanted our wedding to be about love and spending all the time in the world with those you care about and for people to feel that. They say all you need is love, and we got that and so much more.

Wedding Photography: The Youngrens / Flowers: Los Cabos Flowers / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: Esperanza Resort / Bride’s Shoes: Grazia (Valentine) / Dress: J.Crew / Hair & Makeup: Suzanne Morel / Event Design & Planning: The Bride / Bridesmaid Shoes: Grazia (Tiffany) / Bridesmaid Dresses: Amanda Archer / Wedding Invitations: Two Yellow Shoes / Dinner Thank You Cards: A Graphic Artist / Wedding Clutch: Kiu Designs / Rice Paper Candles: Blossom / Mr. & Mrs. Forks: Beach House Living / Crepe Paper Flowers: Treasured Editions / Moss Numbers & Manzanita Trees: Kate ‘n Kylie / Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Banana Republic + Tommy Bahama / Planning and Coordination: Katie Rebecca Events

Is it just me, or is Sayulita some magical place that produces beautiful images bursting with personality? Maybe it’s just the uber talented Jillian of Jillian Mitchell Photography that made me realize a trip to this gorgeous surfer town needs to move up on the to-do list. This engagement shoot is just too lovely, and the absolutely perfect way to get your weekend off to a sunny start, so be sure to spend some time soaking up the full gallery of images!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride-to-Be… My fiancé and I began the arduous task of planning a destination wedding in January of this year. Destination weddings are easy breezy, right?  Perhaps for the laissez-faire, hands-off bride.  For a bride that is hands on, like the let-me-do-it-myself me, finding the perfect dynamic was an anxiety-filled road.

Then I found Jillian Mitchell’s Web site, a wedding photographer based out of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I knew photography was the most important piece of my wedding, so I had planned to interview photographers in the states and bring the best one with us – wherever we decided to get married.  Jill 180-ed that plan with a few page-clicks through her gallery. I suddenly knew there’d be no need for interviewing state-side photographers.

When I realized we’d have an opportunity to meet Jill in Mexico prior to our wedding and actually do an engagement shoot with her, I was over the moon.  And she did not disappoint.  These photos were taken in Sayulita, a small town about 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta.  Sayulita is the kind of place where time really does slow down, where sipping in the air off the coastline really is medicine for your insides.  It’s a bohemian inspired surfer town in an all-things-vintage-Mexican-kinda-way.  It’s charming. It’s endearing.  And Jill captures it perfectly.  Her photos are art.  But they are more – they capture warmth and authenticity of emotion.

Even before meeting her, I knew the person behind the camera had to be a warm soul as well.  Our initial email correspondence proved me right.  Jill is not only willing to help with photography, she is willing to help with a slew of details related to do-it-yourself-wedding-planning in a faraway place.  Her introduction is how I met the gorgeous faces behind Sea of Dreams, the wonderful individuals that styled our engagement shoot. Their storefront in Sayulita’s downtown plaza is Mexico’s version of Etsy in a shop; adorable handmade fabulousness.  If you visit Sayulita – and can take a break from surfing the waves – you have to check them out.

Jill stole my heart.  Sayulita stole my heart.   I think my fiancé would be jealous, except he’s too focused on channeling his inner surfer when we return for our wedding in May.

Photography: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Design: Sea of Dreams Weddings

I just love me a good Mexico wedding on the beach. I seriously can’t get enough of them and their stormy skies and effortlessly hip design. I go nuts for them each and every time! And when they just so happen to be designed by AE Planning + Design, with florals by Canteiro, and photographed by Paco and Betty, well then I just go into a total wedding blogger tizzy! Check out my favorites below, but don’t miss out on the fiesta going on right now in the gallery.

See entire image gallery here!

From AE Planning & Design: Jamie and Justin live in San Francisco and really wanted to have a destination wedding in a warm location.  Originally they were interested in Puerto Vallarta but the gals at AE Planning + Design encouraged them to also check out the Riviera Maya area of Mexico for comparison.  They fell in love with the area and Le Reve Hotel specifically.  They decided to buy out the hotel for the weekend to create an intimate setting for all their loved ones.  They invited their closest friends and family for a weekend long affair.

Their ceremony was held on the beach before sunset and guests cocktailed around the pool before heading into the restaurant for dinner.  The escort cards were attached to bottles of hot sauce for the guests to take home.  Each table was named after one of the couple’s many pets and they did custom paintings of each pet for the table signage.  Guests dined on Tikin Xix fish (a Mayan traditional dish) and roasted chicken with local vegetables.  After dinner, everyone danced to a custom playlist assembled by Justin and Jamie.  Guests then retreated late night to a bonfire on the beach.

Planning & Design:  AE Planning & Design / Photography: Paco and Betty / Venue:  Le Reve Hotel / Flowers and Rentals: Canteiro / Audio: Plugin Audio Visual / Table name paintings: Bride and Groom / Save the Dates and Invitations: Groom / Day of paper materials: based on the grooms’ designs by Hello Lucky / Bride’s Dress: Ramona Keveza / Groom’s suit: Al’s Attire

I am absolutely wild about this whimsical and vibrant Puerto Vallarta wedding by Elizabeth Lloyd and The Dazzling Details.  It is at once playful and totally glamorous which are two things that should always go together.  The white modern words scattered throughout from the LOVE placed off-centered on the ceremony canopy to the numbers spelled out on each table is a really fun and unexpected touch.  Click here to see even more!

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From Elizabeth Lloyd… Monica and Jared’s wedding was held at the stunning villa Quinta Laura in the hills of Conchas Chinas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. With a ceremony over-looking the Pacific Ocean, a classy, hacienda style dinner, and a night of dancing and fireworks under the palapa and the stars. The amazing design team of The Dazzling Details worked their magic, transformed the space, and handled every little thing so Monica and Jared could soak it all in.

From Kristen of The Dazzling Details… They requested a palette of greens, pinks and silver with a squeeze of lime! Guests arrived to the front courtyard and were greeted with self-serve fresh fruit waters and the amazing scent of rose petals floating in the fountain! As ceremony was about to begin, guests were ushered to the lower terrace where the bride and groom exchanged vows beneath a beautiful canopy of flowing fabrics and fresh flowers. Throughout the cocktail area, silver-painted words that the couple had chosen to describe themselves were used as decor alongside floral arrangements and limes. And as a special surprise, we had a live artist on site painting the dinner reception while it was happening! Later on, we gifted the painting to the couple as a memory of their wedding reception!

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd / Event Coordination & Design: The Dazzling Details / Floral Design: The Dazzling Details / Wedding Venue: Quinta Laura, Puerto Vallarta / Catering: ByB Banquetes / Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria / Latin Trio: Trio Montecarlo / DJ: Sonido Extasis / Hair & Makeup: Sebastian Salon / Bridesmaid Dresses: Thread / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Bakers / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren

Growing up I wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing pink but somehow, over the years, I’ve grown quite fond of this romantic hue.  Each shade can give off a totally different vibe and tell a totally different story. I love the bold, sexy look of fuchsia so you know I was all about this destination wedding in Mexico photographed by Kate Triano Photography.  The pops of hot pink transform the space into a super fun and playful oasis and brings a little bit of whimsy to this modern affair.  Click here to see even more!

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With the assistance of My Simple Details, Astrid and Fred planned a modern, fun, and bright destination wedding in Mexico with 25 of their closest friends and family. Kate Triano Photography was there to capture all the details.

Flowers were provided by Planner 1 Events located in Cancun, Mexico. Other props and details were provided by My Simple Details and included custom drink straws, fuchsia birdcage veil, navy and fuchsia ribbon streamers, a life size cut-out of Fred and Astrid’s dog, Henry, who couldn’t make it, a fabric love sign, modern white flower girl bowl, various pillows, and fuchsia fans as guest favors.

Wedding Photography: Kate Triano Photography / Floral Design: Planner 1 Events / Event Design & Planning: Vicki Grafton of My Simple Details / Wedding Ceremony & Reception Location: La Amada Hotel / Wedding Dress: Essence of Australia / Groom’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: Cousin of the Bride / Fans: Favors and Flowers / Streamers: My Simple Details / Cloth Love Banner: Sweet Peas & Seashells / Straws: Shop Sweet Lulu

Let me let you in on a little secret…more than once during the planning of my wedding, I thought about running off to a sunny destination (with the mister of course) and eloping. I have to think it’s pretty common, and this Mexico wedding by Elizabeth Lloyd captures exactly why I was so enamored with the idea. It just seems to incredibly romantic to start the fabulous journey of marriage in some exotic location, just the two of you. The zebras that showed up for this couple’s ceremony just happen to be an awesome bonus. I could get lost in all of these beautiful and intimate images, and there is a full gallery of beauties so you can do just that.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From Elizabeth Lloyd… Frank and Lauren were engaged for a year and planning for a big southern wedding, until they threw in that towel and decided to tie the knot all by themselves (well, with a few (hundred) zebras, emu, crocs, pumas, turtles, and flamingos) in an awe-inspiring location.

Here’s what Frank wrote to me after they arrived at Cuixmala.  “I would describe the vibe as Africa meets Mexico meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Jurassic Park.”  Cuixmala is a 32,473-acre biosphere reserve and an exclusive hotel compound owned by the family of billionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith, and has housed guests such as Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger to Madonna and Mick Jagger. Cuixmala was their paradise alone on their wedding day.

Wedding Photography: Elizabeth Lloyd / Wedding Location: Cuixmala / Wedding Dress: J.Crew (Whitney) / Bride’s Shoes: Max Studio / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Hilfiger / Wedding Planner: Maria Campos of Cuixmala

If today’s first little number doesn’t make you want to jump for joy and then board a plane to Mexico, you might wanna check your pulse! The impromptu limbo contests with suspenders (Sure! Why not?), the shots of tequila, the fireworks, the super chic couple…the blue dress! I’m in destination wedding heaven! Captured by the obviously amazing Michelle Turner, this wedding is the fiesta that just won’t quit! Go ahead, check out my favs below, but don’t even think about skipping out on this party…head on over to the gallery for even more south of the border beauty!

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When my now-husband proposed in Sayulita, a small fishing village on Mexico’s pacific coast, we immediately began thinking how perfect it would be to get married there. We were so swept up by the beauty and laid back spirit of the place that we forged ahead with wedding plans without exactly considering how hard it would be to plan a destination wedding all the way from Brooklyn. We chose a venue that was stunning on its own and didn’t require much enhancement – a cliff with a 360 degree view of the ocean and the town below and a thatched-roof palapa for dining and dancing.

We focused on lighting with lots of strands of lights with large round bulbs and filled the place with plenty of jewel-toned flowers. By keeping it simple with bicolored hydrangea, mums, lithianthus and some coconut and black berries, our florist was able to achieve a look that was both vintagey and rich in hue. We used vintage milk glass planters, compotes and some pretty vintage teacups as vessels for the flowers and a vintage cut glass cakestands for the dessert table, all sourced on ebay. We rented navy tablecloths and used burlap table runners (custom made for an incredible price by someone I found on ebay) and gathered vintage embroidered napkins from our families.  For the table numbers, I kept it simple, stamping scalloped-edged cards in a natural brown with large numbers and standing them up on each table using small metal pinfrogs. We had pieces of wood painted with chalkboard paint and wrote the menu and a sign for the dessert table on them with chalk. We had a local calligrapher write up a seating chart in white ink on black paper to match the “chalkboard” look.We were so grateful to each and every member of our friends and family who made the trip down, that we wanted happy pictures of each of them to be displayed at the wedding.  We used simple twine and clothespins to hang hundreds of pictures as people entered the venue.

We had a talented jewelry designer friend-of-a-friend Tracy Matthews design my engagement ring as a replica of an outrageously expensive Art Nouveau ring I’d seen and fallen in love with at a Manhattan vintage jewelry boutique. The results were entirely on point and entirely me.

I really wanted to make the invitations myself and fancied the idea that each could be its own small original piece of art.  Since we wanted to keep paper waste down, we decided on a single sheet invitation that referred people to our wedding website for everything from RSVPing and meal selection, to accommodation options, directions, maps and activity suggestions.  We had Erin Napier at Lucky Luxe lay out our invitation text and had a letterpress plate made through Boxcar Press.

As I began thinking about a dress, I knew that I wanted a dress that was eco-friendly and truly unique.  So I reached out to fellow Brooklynite and Project Runway winner Leanne Marshall. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted – vintage inspired, glamorous, but lightweight and comfortable to wear – and sent Leanne some inspiration images. After making hairpieces and accessories for other brides over the past few years through my eco-boutique Green Eyed Girl, I was excited to create my own hairpiece and veil.  I used vintage cobalt blue dupioni silk to make a large flower and made a separate veil out of gold birdcage veiling that I could easily remove for the reception. I wore drop pearl earrings that had belonged to my grandmother, who passed away when my mom was a child, so it was really special to have a piece of her with me on my wedding day.  I also made hairpieces for my Maid of Honor and the flower girls out of vintage silk ribbons and fabrics.

I decided to do a little costume change prior to our first dance.  I knew that there was no chance we’d be able to pull off the lifts and spins in our opening dance without doing some serious damage to my wedding dress.  Never one to need much of an excuse to don another fun dress, I found a fantastic 1950s tulle strapless dress for $25 on ebay and transformed it from a drab yellow to a punchy deep teal with simple fabric dye.  It was the perfect dance dress.

We tapped our talented Best Man to provide the music for our walk down the aisle.  He rocked Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You on his acoustic guitar.  For the walk back down the aisle as husband and wife, we wanted something that was celebratory and festive and would bring a smile to everyone’s face at such a happy moment.  We asked a local mariachi band how they felt about learning some Beatles.  They were game and burst into a playful rendition of She Loves You just after we finished our “I Dos.”

We knew it was going to be hot and sunny for our wedding ceremony and felt that fans would be a much-appreciated detail.  So we decided to kill three birds with one stone, combining the wedding program and a Thank You to our guests by making each one side of a two-sided paddle fan.  We had a calligrapher write up our text for each side and then had them printed and cut at a local print shop.  For dinnertime and the reception, we had friends help create music playlists and had an iPod docking station and sound system, a decision that was a money-saver and also ensured that the dance floor remained full until the wee hours. We covered a dessert table with lots of vintage cakestands and dishes filled with goodies reflecting both my Italiian roots (who knew that the French bakery in a small Mexican town would make a killer biscotti) and my husband’s Armenian, Middle Eastern heritage (my mother-in-law smuggled in special Middle Eastern treats and pastries all the way from Canada).

A few things we are so happy we did and that were entirely worth all the effort –We were more involved than we wanted to be at the time with coordinating housing for our guests, but reserving houses and pushing people to book them early was more than worth the effort because it created a little community and allowed our guests to mingle with each other from house to house during the wedding week. By the time our wedding day arrived, our family and friends had all had the chance to really connect with each other, which made our wedding feel even more intimate and packed with happiness.  One of the greatest sources of joy for us was seeing the friendships that formed across our different groups of friends and our families. As for design, I would encourage couples doing destination weddings to not give up on the design vision you have and to get creative about what details can be realized even thousands of miles away.  Keep an open mind and think about small details that will make the wedding truly a reflective of your personalities, your sensibilities and what makes you tick as a couple.

Photography: Michelle Turner / Flowers: Sayulita Weddings / Event Design: Green Eyed Girl / Event Planning: Sayulita Weddings / Accessories: Green Eyed Girl / Ceremony and Reception Location: Brisa del Mar Palapa Sayulita, Mexico / Wedding dress: Leanne Marshall / Hairpiece and veil: Green Eyed Girl / Engagement Ring: custom by Tracy Matthews / Wedding Rings: Satomi Kawakita / Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss / Invitation layout: Lucky Luxe

I have been waiting for soooo long to devour every inch of this gorgeous wedding and it has fully lived up to my south of the border dreams. Tori, the ravishing bride, is half of the fab duo behind Sitting in a Tree Events so we knew before we ever laid eyes on this Sayulita beauty that it was going to be good – like pinch us, we’re in destination wedding dreamland kind of good. Sarah Yates was on site to capture all of the amazing hand-crafted details and so many dreamy moments. All in a days work for this rock star photographer. There seriously were far too many swoon-worthy bits so you must, must check out the gallery for more Mexico goodness.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

And that’s not all lovelies, the sweet little churro on top is this perfect film by Austin Hendrix Productions (the groom!). Talk about  a wedding power couple…

From the Bride… Margaritas, fish tacos and a vision of vintage Mexico inspired our Sayulita Wedding. We were in search of a town where time slowed and fishing boats, surfers and dogs littered the sand. Nothing too perfect or pristine – a Mexico that is still full of authentic charm, dirt roads, women making churros in the town square, lush landscaping and not a tour bus in sight.  An unconventional destination wedding in a place people wouldn’t normally go, yet would fall madly in love with once they arrived.  A place of memories tied distinctly to our union.  We fell in love with the idea of Mexico years ago on a trip for a friend’s wedding and knew we would someday be married there.

Our love of all things vintage inspired everything from our handkerchief invites to my bouquet and the boutonnieres.  We spent a month designing and printing our wedding invitations on fabric with a home printer, an iron and some freezer paper.  We wanted our invitations to arrive in the mail looking like small packages of love letters.  I collected stamps on Ebay for envelopes, while at the same time scouring antique stores for vintage brooches for my bouquet.  Once I had 60 on hand I spent 2 days hand-wiring the brooches like flowers to create the bouquet.  I added photos of our two dogs to a locket since they couldn’t be with us in Mexico.  The bout’s were created from stray brooches and fabric and then each female in our family was gifted with a brooch on the morning of the wedding  to keep.  My sister tied hers to her bouquet.

I found my dress hanging in a Nordstrom Rack (after purchasing a glamorous Karl Lagerfeld in the beginning stages) and had two of the same dresses combined and reconstructed adding torn chiffon to the train to create something whimsical and girly.  I fell in love with the tea-dyed lace and antique color on the dress and that in turn inspired the rest of the wedding.  From that point on I began to tea-dye absolutely everything (the lace on my veil, the paper goods and gift tags) to create an aged appearance.  I really wanted it all to look like it had washed up on the shores of Sayulita years before.

Because Mexico is such a colorful place and Villa Amor was so beautiful, we wanted to avoid clichés (minus the sombreros purchased for our photo booth) and anything that would overpower where we were.  Small vintage touches and personalized accents were most important.  My parents carried two huge duffel bags down full of oatmeal burlap for the tables.  My sister hauled 3 vintage cake stands and the cake toppers.  Austin and I had bags full of vases, napkins and paper goods.  We cut yards of ribbon ahead of time and wound them in another duffel bag.  Every member of our family played a huge role in bringing down all the elements that would make up the design of our wedding.  It looked like we were moving to Mexico, not just having a wedding there.

My mom spent a week sewing napkins from fabrics collected over time.  Keeping with the look of the bride and groom on our invitations, my mom made sketches of each of our 60 guests, which we then printed on muslin and sewed with gold thread onto tea-dyed hangtags.  Each one was unique.  Itty bitty portraits for our friends.  We printed and sewed for days straight; killing one sewing machine with the stiff, tea-dyed paper.  After buying another, Austin actually stayed up into the wee hours to finish the project.  I’ll never forget watching him sew all those escort cards at 2 AM!  What a fiancé! We tried to keep cohesion throughout the wedding:  in the use of fabric (handkerchief invites, handmade napkins and vintage handkerchiefs that were handed our to our guests during our ceremony), the brooches (the bouquet, the boutonnieres and given as gifts to all our family members), and the tea dying of all the paper goods.  We were after a vintage love story—and hopefully that’s how it translated.

Having a destination wedding you really have no idea what to expect.  Everything is based on photos and relies on the expertise of the people you stumble upon to steer you in the right direction.  The thing about destination weddings is they have you as a captive audience and you really only have so many choices.  Sourcing things from Mexico via the internet was nearly impossible and our way of gaining some sort of control was to carry on as much personalization as possible in a few suitcases.  With that said, having a destination wedding is the best decision we ever made.  What you give up in control you gain in time and memories with your family and friends.  Amazing, unforgettable, pinch-yourself memories.

Despite some difficulties, Villa Amor was everything we wanted.  It felt like a place lost in time; villas nestled in hillsides, hidden doors and winding staircases.  Our ceremony was held under trees overlooking the ocean, followed by a cocktail hour with mariachis and margaritas.  A 200-step climb up the crumbling and twisting brick staircases led to the reception – a breathtaking cobblestone plateau overlooking all of Sayulita and the ocean.  There was something so dramatic about our guests grumbling and huffing and puffing up those stairs in heels and then arriving to this secret spot nestled in the hills where we would dance the night away.  And that we did; DJ Michael Antonia is truly the best, and had all 60 guests on their feet, shaking and singing along at full volume.  Our friends and family left proclaiming:  Best. Wedding. Ever.

Our wedding felt so full of love, friendship and emotion.  And that’s what we had hoped for in dragging everyone to Sayulita.  Margaritas, mariachis, tacos, some good surf, and a place our guests won’t stop talking about.  A dream destination wedding in a very magical place.  And we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Wedding Photography: Sarah Yates / Wedding Venue: Villa Amor / Event Design + Floral Design + Paper Goods: Sitting in a Tree (The Bride) / Event Coordination: Myka Haddad of Sitting in a Tree / DJ: Michael Antonia of The Flashdance / Wedding Cinematography: Austin Hendrix Productions / Wedding Dress: Nordstrom Rack (Bride’s Custom Design Using Two Dresses) / Wedding Veil: Mother of the Bride / Reception Dress: Haute Hippie / Floral Headpiece: Untamed Petals / Maid of Honor’s Dress: Vera Wang (With Handmade Flowers) / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Additional Images: Destination I Do Magazine

This wedding and the gorgeous images from First Comes Love Photo just puts my mind at ease. It’s one of those where you feel instantly transported to the ceremony site when soaking in all the dreamy destination details. I can almost feel the sweet Mexico rays of sunshine on my face and hear the mariachi band strumming away. From the bride’s perfectly swishy dress to the groom’s sand colored suit, it’s everything that is fabulous about a destination wedding, and there is even more Mexico in the full gallery.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… Rory and I chose to get married in Tulum, Mexico because it’ s a magical, beautiful place, and we wanted to keep our wedding a small and intimate affair. We always dreamed of having all our closest friends and family together somewhere sunny and sandy to celebrate with us. We had 40 guests join us on October 30, 2010 for a week long celebration of love and togetherness, and we couldn’ t be more pleased with the way everything turned out.

We were inspired by the culture and natural elements that surrounded us. We incorporated tropical leaves, white sands, and the vibrant colors of Mexico and its traditional folk art into our décor. We had custom papel picado flags and banners made that mirrored the save the dates and invitations. The flower colors were bright pinks, oranges, with green and gold accents on the tables, against clean white tables cloths. I made the seating cards, and brought the glass sphere place card holders, that I ordered online, which held sand and grasses which we collected on site. The leaves that sat on the table under the place card holders and candles were gathered on site as well. My mom and I brought down suitcases full of stuff for décor and welcome bags, including pretty sandlewood fans for guests to use, and the white honeycomb paper globes that were hung in the reception area. We also scoured the town of Tulum for unique little gifts for the welcome bags and communal basket at La Luna.There were so many little elements that made it really pretty and special, and to help make our guests comfortable. It was a lot of work, but so worth it in the end.

My dress and Rory’s suit were by J. Crew. My dress, oh I wish I could wear it again, was a limited release and oh so beautiful, and so pretty in the setting we were in, a sandycolor with gold tones and lots and lots of flowing French tulle. I wore a very special vintage pin (my something blue) on my dress that was a gift from my aunt Madalon, which had been passed down from my grandmother, a gift from my jeweler grandfather. I also held a beautiful embroidered handkerchief that is my mothers, to wipe away all the emotional tears during the ceremony. My gold earrings were also my mother’ s that she used to wear all the time. The flower in my hair was made for me at the Silver Moon in Chicago, with a vintage button center that I chose from their collection. My engagement ring and wedding band were vintage platinum pieces purchased from a close family friend, a man whom my grandfather mentored in the jewelry business.

We all went barefoot for the ceremony conducted by the local duo of Charlie and Maria. Charlie calls this ceremony a “cosmic wedding,” and it was a truly beautiful moving experience.  We loved how interactive the ceremony was, and that in the end each and every guest played a role in our union.  A five piece Mariachi band dressed all in white began to play immediately following the ceremony, and led ourguests to the bar for fresh margaritas.

Our fabulous photographer, Alison Bank was one of the best decisions we made. She captured the day with such love and light, and was such a wonderful calming person to be around on such an important day in our lives. She was great at wrangling people for group shots and was totally unobtrusive during the ceremony. I am so in love with our wedding photos, they are stunning.

Staff of La Luna created an amazing authentic Mexican buffet of traditional Yucatecan dishes, and sourced an incredible tres leches cake from a bakery in Tulum village that we topped with a Dia de los Muertos bride and groom we purchased in town. Every aspect of the wedding that was taken care of by Jacob and the staff at La Luna far surpassed our expectations, they never cut any corners, and were just awesome people to be around. We can’ t imagine having held our event anywhere else.

Wedding Photography: Alison Bank of First Comes Love Photo / Wedding Venue: Cabanas La Luna / Day of Coordinators: Gwen and Marion of Destination Wedding Tulum / Groom’s Suit: J. Crew / Wedding Dress: J. Crew / Hair Flower: Silver Moon / Wedding Invitations: Rick Leech, Friend of the Bride & Groom +  Damian Riddell, Friend of the Bride & Groom / Custom Papel Picado Flags & Banners: Ay Mujer / Groom’s Pocket Square: Vintage / Groom’s Tie Clip: Purely Paige / Groom’s Wedding Ring: Tinah Dee / Wedding Dress Pin: Vintage

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Destination Weddings Tulum

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We are having a Mexico Wedding kind of day. It must be the grip of Spring fever that has us New Englanders dreaming of sandy beaches and cocktails in the warm sun. Or maybe it’s just that this dreamy garden wedding meets Mexico is out of this world GORGEOUS. Photographed by the lovely Jillian Mitchell with design and styling courtesy of Mishka Designs, this is a full on destination wedding extravaganza and you all are invited. See more of the day here.

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

Wedding Photographer: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Tommy Bahama / Bridesmaids Attire: J.Crew / Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Location: La Terrazola Restaurant, Sayulita, Mexico / Wedding Ceremony Location: Brisa del Mar Palapa, Sayulita, Mexico / Event Design: Mishka Designs / Wedding Coordinator: Kerry Moehler / Hair and Makeup: Kolor by Kori

If only there was a way to snap my fingers and magically end up in this dream of a destination photo shoot styled by Grey Likes Weddings – I would appear amidst the sand in less than 2.5 seconds. Believe me, I am snapping over here with all my might trying to do just that. It doesn’t hurt that the amazingly breathtaking Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya provided the stunning backdrop and the images from Troy and Aimee of Troy Grover Photography (who also played models for the day – adorable) are just a vacation within themselves. I don’t know about you, but I think I might just take a little Thursday vacation in the oh so pretty full gallery of this stunning shoot, care to join me?

Take a little trip on over to 100 Layer Cake for more of this dreamy destination photo shoot and information on Summer Watkins’ upcoming workshop!

Destination weddings are always a lovely opportunity to combine the excitement of a wedding with the relaxation of a vacation. Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings recently teamed up with honeymoon planner, Katie of Ever After Honeymoons, to plan an inspiration shoot for destination brides.  Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico hosted our team and helped put on a simple beachside affair doused in local flavor.  Photographers (and models) Troy and Aimee Grover captured all of the lovely images. Megan of MaeMae Paperie designed a custom invitation suite with loads of color and whimsical patterns.

We made an effort to utilize ideas that can easily be packed in a suitcase for airplane travel. Flowers were picked fresh onsite for the bouquets and boutonniere. Red fringe was attached to poles found at the resort for carefree ceremony decor. Tequila shots greeted guests at their place cards, while Zoetry’s sommelier provided a variety of tequilas for an impromptu tequila tasting. Mini bottles of boutique tequila varieties, along with shot glasses and a lime were used as favors.

In addition to the wedding, we shot a rehearsal dinner on a catamaran,which is actually available daily to all Zoetry guests. Coronas and street tacos were served as guests enjoyed a seafaring tour of the Mexican coastline.

Location: Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya / Stylist: Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings / Honeymoon Destination Planner and Coordinator: Katie Frederick of Ever After Honeymoons / Photography and Modeling: Troy and Aimee of Troy Grover Photographers / Paper goods: Megan of MaeMae Paperie / Wedding Dress: Terra Amore by Jessica Charles

This wedding from Paulina Ulluo might be a bridesmaid’s ultimate fantasy.  Of course being a bridesmaid is about sharing that very special day with one of your best of friends but taking a dream vacation to Mexico, wearing a gorgeous mod dress with sexy gold heels and carrying a beautiful bouquet?  Definitely a perk!  It doesn’t hurt that this celebration is also dripping with design-savvy details.  Visit the full wedding gallery for more from this chic-tastic, modern destination wedding!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

When we got engaged- we knew we wanted a destination wedding to be able to spend quality time with our guests who would be traveling primarily from California, Washington and Pennsylvania. I remembered a vacation home in Punta Mita that I had seen years ago (as part of my obsession of looking at places I could be vacationing at that very moment) and absolutely fell in love with it. Once we visited- that was that. Everyone stayed at a hotel in Puerto Vallarta (which was already so much fun) and the day of the wedding we shuttled everyone to the venue. The vision for our wedding was really sculpted by the venue.  It’s very modern and stark- but is amazing against the backdrop of the ocean. I loved the clean lines and used them as inspiration for décor such as the ghost chairs, simple flower arrangements, white lounge areas, etc.

That said, we wanted it to look fresh and modern, but not too stuffy- so we incorporated quirky fun items so it didn’t look so formal. Things like the funny nose cups, viewmasters with reels from old 70’s and 80’s shows, striped straws, churro bar, etc. I loved the color combo of yellow and gray and felt it popped against the white house.

DIY projects – both my and my husband’s moms really took the cake on this one! My mom made all the table runners and napkins for the tables. We made our escort cards with Milagros (an inspiration from SMP including the verbiage!) and used a very talented calligrapher from Etsy to do the writing. In addition, our programs were inspired by a post on Style Me Pretty (and the bride gave us the sample!) and printed along with our menus by Scott’s mom – who also did our invitations.

The best thing about our wedding was how much FUN everyone had. Once the dance party started- it didn’t stop- and we just couldn’t be more grateful to our friends and family for making the trip!

Wedding Photographer: Paulina Ulloa / Wedding Coordination: Prisar Vallarta / Videographer: Eddy Caldarelli from Sandpiper Media / Calligraphy: Andrea Nay / Programs, Placecards, Menu, Invitations: Yummyprints + Mother of the Groom / Venue: Casa China Blanca / Dress: La Sposa / Suit: Hugo Boss

Out of all the stunning wedding venue locations we see around here the desert is fast becoming a favorite of mine.  The muted, dreamy shades of blues, greens and browns create the ideal backdrop for any wedding no matter the style.  This timeless beauty, created by Suzanne Taussig Wedding & Event Design and photographed by Bliss Wedding Studio, shines with the Arizona desert unfolding behind it.  Chic elegance paired with contemporary design is a foolproof combination especially with a precious pair of sweethearts at the center of it all!  There are more desert views and beautiful design inspiration in the full gallery!

Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!

The gorgeous and contemporary Sanctuary Resort & Spa in Arizona was the most perfect place that Seattle couple Kelley & Jeff could have chosen for their wedding.  Wanting a clean, crisp and modern destination atmosphere , Kelley had to look no further than this Sonoran Desert mountaintop location.  Perched above the million dollar views, the wedding location was a natural fit for Kelley’s fresh white and desert green color scheme.  Kelley’s inspiration came from a simple lime dot china pattern that set the color tone of the day.

With Arizona’s October weather still in the low 90s, the destination guests were treated to gentle afternoon breezes up on the mountaintop during the ceremony.  The couple’s love of jazz  resonated from the hilltop as Jeff happily waited  for his lovely bride.   The bridal party’s fashion was cool and hip, reflecting a modern charcoal style while flattering the couture beauties.  The bride, looking classy and elegant, simply floated down the flagstone aisle in movie star fashion.

A beautiful ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception overlooking the valley just as the Sonoran sun was setting and the desert valley lights began to twinkle.  The guests were awed by the chic, all white dinner reception with that beloved lime dot china accented by hundreds of white hydrangea, roses and mini calla lilies and romantic floating candlelight.  This exceptionally sweet couple and their families could not have been happier with their destination celebration.

Photography: Bliss Wedding Studio / Event Design, Planning + Flowers: Suzanne Taussig Wedding & Event Design / Venue: The Sanctuary Resort & Spa / Dress: Anne Barge / Bridesmaid Dresses: twobirds bridesmaids

We’ve got a feeling that today is going to be a really, really good day on Style Me Pretty. Our favorite photographer extraordinaire, Jose Villa, has sent TWO blissful weddings our way and our jaws literally had to be picked up off the ground when we first laid eyes on the goods. So grab a comfy seat, hunker down and prepare for a full day of JOSE.

First up is a dreamy destination wedding held on the beaches of Los Barriles, Mexico. The bride (who happens to be one of our favorite fashion and design bloggers) took a classic, less is more approach to all the gorgeous details and they couldn’t be a more perfect mix with the sunny locale and Jose Villa’s eye for the best photographs. Plus, we are major suckers for a great pair of sparkly shoes. Be sure to stop by the gallery for more of the good stuff and we’ll be back in a bit with another heartbreakingly beautiful day. Seriously, does it get any better?

there is eve more of this drop dead gorgeous affair right here!

It’s often said girls spend their lives dreaming about their wedding. Well, if that’s true, I guess I broke the mold. I barely given a single thought to what I’d want my wedding to be like until I found myself staring at my (then) boyfriend on bended knee proposing (at homeplate of my favorite team the Seattle Mariners no less). Amazingly, everything fell into place very quickly though. We knew we wanted simple, low key and meaningful with side of warm, beach and tequila thrown in for good measure! A family-favorite getaway destination in Mexico proved to be the perfect spot for what turned out to be a truly perfect day (and I can still say it was perfect despite power outages, no running water and crazy wind!). Among immediate family and our closet friends, we exchanged vows, ate the most amazing food and threw a party I know we, and I hope our guests, will never forget.

To plan, I pulled in every resource I could think of – I would have been completely lost without the world of wedding blogs like SMP – to plan a long distance wedding, in a remote location, in country who’s language I do not speak! I had help from so many amazing people, my brother the Spanish-translator, destination planning extraordinaire Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events, uber-talented Etsy designers, my dearest girlfriends, my invitation designers and of course my beloved photographer extraordinaire, Jose Villa, who captured everything more beautifully than I ever could have hoped. For the girl who’d never put a lot of thought into weddings, the whole process turned out better than I ever might have dreamed.

Photography: Jose Villa / Invitation suite: Brown Sugar Design / Calligraphy: Grace Edmands and menus by Primele on Etsy / Gift bags, signs and other decor: All DIY / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Jewelry: Badgley Mischka / Hair & Make-up: Self + girlfriends / Pompoms: Party Poms on Etsy / Napkins: Country Life Naturals on Etsy / Catering: Local Baja restaurant Campestre Trini / Location: Casa Baha Sonadora Los Barriles, Mexico / Ring Bowls: Paloma’s Nest

If you are on the hunt for some fun and vibrant fiesta inspiration then look no further!  In The Now Weddings created a classic Mexican event with to-die-for vintage details.  Traditional and old world decor mixed with bold and playful elements are just perfect for a couple that wants to celebrate their heritage but throw in a few personalized surprises!  The super-talented Becky Hill Photography captured every last stunning detail so get to the full gallery to see it all!

Click here for more inspiration in the full gallery!

We wanted to bring to life the warmth and family-feel of a classic Mexican event. Even giving a nod to the Catholic traditions celebrated in Mexico.

A brief walk through of the event leads you from a “wisdom donation” guest book- where friends and family were encouraged to donate their experiences and enhance the bride and groom’s lives, sealed properly with a wax seal. The lush grounds of the Casino made the perfect backdrop for this festive event. We took bold, lively colors and mixed them with subtle muted tones to give a modern edge.Our “watering hole” held 3 colorful options for guests- alcoholic and non- to drink in the fun! The sweets station was an over-the-top idea mixing crowd pleasing flavors such as churros to modern plating like our sorbet served in ice shot glasses!

But the main event was the s’mores roasting station- a custom [mini!!] s’mores set up featuring and celebrating all that Mexican sweets have to offer. We made recipes for the guests to create-their-own custom treat. Favorite flavors like “Mexican wedding cookie” and “death by chocolate” are sure to make guests smile from ear to ear [and I have since sold TWO clients for later this year on this very idea!!].

Our sweetheart table kept it simple with lush garden-style florals in an array of oranges and yellows, adding in pops of that hot purple we can’t get enough of. We topped off the details with peach champagne to give that golden luster and tie it all together!

Photography: Becky Hill Photography (please note…although Becky is a well known Chicago photographer, she has a second home base in Los Angeles) / Design and Planning: In The Now Weddings / Hair and Makeup: 1011 Makeup / Models: In The Now‘ s Sharon and Steve  / Flowers: In The Now Weddings / Rentals: FOUND Vintage Rentals / Dress: Jenny Yoo / Suit: Friar Tux / S’mores Station: Sugar | Tart / Venue: Historic Casino San Clemente / Shoot Production: Be Inspired PR / Invitations: Momental Designs / Wood block & drink container text: Creative Media Print

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Good morning and happy, happy Friday! Most of you are rallying up for a three day weekend which is ALWAYS nice so we figured we would get the party started with a sun-filled Mexican wedding courtesy of Jillian Mitchell. These Sayulita nuptials are filled with so many DIY projects, making for a completely original and customized event. We love it when couples take a destination wedding by the horns and infuse the day with their own personalities. Colorful, magical, gorgeous are just a few descriptive words that come to mind. Find more of this drool-inducing fiesta in the gallery.

see more of those fun DIY details here!

There were a few things that my handsome husband and I were certain that we wanted for our wedding. We wanted a small, intimate gathering of our close friends and family. Our petite guest list of 19 people suited this requirement perfectly. We wanted to find the perfect location that had the right mix of sweetness and rustic charm. We found just that in the small, fishing village of Sayulita, Mexico. We wanted to find a photographer that would be able to understand us and share our vision for our big day. We were lucky enough to find that in the uber talented Jillian Mitchell. She was able to capture the magic of the day and put it into print. But most of all, we wanted our wedding to reflect us. We included lots of DIY projects and personal touches, making our wedding our very own. It was sweet, it was charming and it was perfect…for us.

The day amazing and it couldn’t have happened without all the hard work of our loving friends and family. Oh, and a kick-butt photographer doesn’t hurt either!

Photographer: Jillian Mitchell / Ceremony Location: Casa de los Delfines Sayulita, Mexico / Reception Location: Cafe del Mar San Pancho, Mexico / Wedding Dress: J. Crew / Wedding Shoes: Nine West / Groom’s outfit: Tailor made / Shoes: Vans / Bouquet: Vero Bruena / Decor and Design: DIY

We are continuing the awesomeness that is mini-wedding Wednesday with a handmade Mexico affair. I spy with my little eye palm trees, beaches and sombreros and they were all captured to perfection by Jillian Mitchell Photography. Oh Mexico, you complete us with your bright, festive affairs. And what south of the border wedding would be complete without a serenade from a mariachi band? There is more of this fiesta to be had in the gallery, so get clicking.

you can find more of the Mexican festivities here!

I was so lucky to have been a part of this wedding! Ashley, the bride, knew that she wanted a fun, bright, Mexican style wedding with a touch of modern on a small beach called San Pancho in Nayarit, Mexico.

From the Bride: We hired Mishka Designs to make our vision come to life, and she more than exceeded our expectations. We wanted the wedding to have a fun and festive vibe, nothing too formal, with the bright colors of Mexico as the star. We love to travel, so I’m inspired by exotic Moroccan patterns and the beautiful Mexican talavera designs. Mishka not only incorporated both of these into the wedding, but our love of travel was also translated into the escort cards and table markers. Besides traveling, our favorite thing to do together is cook, so as a surprise, Mishka made placecards that were recipes unique to the areas of our favorite places! The whole design element of the wedding was so beautiful and personal. Since everyone had to travel far to get down to San Pancho, we wanted to show them all a great time, which I know we did.

And here’s what Mishka had to say:  We just had a couple of months to put Ashley & Dave’s design together – but Ashley was pretty laid back and very open-minded and engaging – so it wasn’t the push it could have been :). She just wanted something “festive and fun, not too fancy” with the colors of Mexico. At first I think there was some surprise that we were going to do everything catered specifically for her – no cookie-cutting going on, but after Ashley adjusted to the fact that this was a design JUST for her, ideas just took off!

Photography: Jillian Mitchell Photography / Flowers, Event Design and Planning: Mishka Designs / Ceremony and Reception Location: San Pancho, in Nayarit, Mexico / Caterer: Naef Cuisine