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A Hurricane Forced This Couple to Postpone Their Wedding Two Times! But It Was So Worth It!

From Bohemia Photography… We had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Briauna and Travis at the Dreams resort in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. We didn’t have the opportunity to meet them before the wedding, but as soon as we walked into Briauna’s hotel room, I knew it was going to be a good day. Briauna is one of those people that can light up a room with her positive energy. I can see why she had her own entourage with her while she was getting ready, she was so kind and funny when speaking to her friends and family, and people just gravitate towards her.

I’d like to think all that positive energy was responsible for keeping the rain at bay all day, too! Dark clouds loomed in every direction, and after living in Mexico for over three years, I can say it’s a miracle that the sky never rained a drop! The clouds actually created this beautiful glow and dreamy effect on the water, which I was quite happy with. Sometimes sunshine is overrated.

The wedding day was filled with happiness, and their sweet 7-year-old daughter kept everyone laughing all day long. She was a bundle of personality, and definitely gets the award for best first kiss reaction of the year! The night ended with dancing on the beach and surprise fireworks (ok, let’s call it a large sparkler) at the end of the first dance. The day was the perfect dream destination wedding any bride and groom could hope for.

From the Bride… I first went to Mexico for my 25th birthday and fell completely in love. My family teased me often about how obsessed I was. While there my first time, I saw the beautiful weddings taking place at our resort and knew that if Travis and I ever got married I’d want it somewhere I wouldn’t have to think of decorations or the location. I am not the banquet hall type and I don’t like the hassle of planning. I’m such an anti-planner that I wanted it at a place in Mexico that needed nothing but the setting of the beach and me and Travis. It was perfect.

Photography: Bohemia Photography | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | DJ: Do Remixx | Groom's Attire: J. Hillburn | Venue: Dreams Puerto Aventuras

Six weeks before their original wedding date, Cabo San Lucas was left devastated by Hurricane Odile, forcing this beautiful bride and groom to postpone their destination wedding. After further discussions with their vendors, including Amy Abbott Events, they decided to postpone even further. Thankfully, the third time was the charm and the day turned out beautifully with help from vendors like Del Cabo Event Design and Suzanne Morel Face and Body Care. See it all, courtesy of Cali Frankovic and Sam Perches, in The Vault!

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See How a Wedding Photographer Says “I Do” in a Beachy Mexican Fiesta

From The Bride…Nick and I love to travel. Once engaged, we knew we wanted a destination wedding. We also wanted the celebration to be a week-long event with all of our family and friends. My career is in the hospitality/wedding industry, so a destination wedding was a must for me. I dreamed of leaving all of the wedding week events to the experts.

Choosing Cabo San Lucas was an easy decision for us. Nick and I were in a long distance relationship throughout our three years of dating and being engaged. In reality, our relationship grew out of a suitcase and countless plane tickets. Traveling just about anywhere for our wedding was not a problem for us. Cabo was an extremely well located place for both our northern and southern guests. The minute we arrived in Cabo for our first wedding site visit, we instantly feel in love with everything Baja. From the great people, to the fun culture, to the amazing food, we knew this was the perfect place.

Then, September 14th, 2014 happened. The beautiful town of Cabo San Lucas was hit by the devastating category 4 Hurricane Odile. At the time, our wedding was scheduled for November 1st, 2014, just 6 weeks later. Odile was a catastrophic blow for all the people in the Baja, as they went without electricity for weeks and many of their homes were destroyed. However, through it all, it was amazing to see the resilience of the people in the Baja. They immediately banded together and brought Cabo back to life in a matter of weeks. We had our hearts set on our dream wedding in Cabo, especially at the magical Esperanza Resort. Due to the damage from the hurricane and all of the uncertainties in Cabo going forward, we initially decided to postpone the wedding until January 2015. After further discussions with everyone in Cabo and at Esperanza, we made the decision to postpone even further, to March, 21st, 2015, as the resort was completely destroyed by the hurricane. Third time is a charm, right?!

Through it all, the wait was worth it! We kicked it all off the wedding week with a welcome dinner at The Office on Medano Beach. Guests enjoyed wonderful food, great live music, and the lively and fun beach atmosphere. The following day we took all of our guests on a private sunset cruise on the Tropicat, which was a huge hit. The sunset cruise included fun food, great music, breathtaking sunsets, and even a whale jumping show from the local talent. After the cruise, we continued the night with a pub crawl to all of the famous downtown Cabo hot spots.

The next day we hosted a beach party at the beautiful Esperanza Beach. With the help of the amazing staff, we created the perfect venue for fun in the sun, including lounge chairs, delicious food, and some signature margaritas. We followed the beach party up with the rehearsal dinner at Hacienda Cocina y Cantina. We had a live band, memorable speeches from our wedding party, and some more excellent Mexican food.

Esperanza is a secluded and magical place. Our wedding ceremony was located on the Esperanza Beach, with the backdrop of the crashing waves and the view of the famous arch. Seeing Nick for the first time that day, while I walked down the aisle, his uncle played the violin to tune of the traditional Wedding March, I was overwhelmed with love. My father, also a musician in his spare time, surprised me and wrote a song for my wedding day. As he played his song, “No Ordinary Girl,” there was not a dry eye in crowd. Nick and I kept the emotions going, as we wrote our own vows and pronounced our love to one another.

Following the ceremony, a Mariachi band played while our guests enjoyed the cocktail hour on the terraces of the Punta Ballena Beach Club. Then our guests enjoyed a three course dinner. The food portion of the reception was important to Nick and me, as we love great food and wanted to share that love with our guests. The meal started with tuna ceviche, followed by a deconstructed beet salad, and the main course options of lamb, tamales, or sea bass.

After dinner, The Kilometro Band fired things up and the fiesta began. We surprised our guests with a live donkey for the photo booth, as well as a cigar roller…both of which were a huge hit! We danced for hours, and then transitioned the party to the beach. We created the perfect late night venue with chairs and bean bags on the sand, fun food and snacks, and a bonfire. My father played music on his guitar, while our guests sang along late into the night. It was the best night of our lives!

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After deciding on a “wild, free party” destination wedding in Sayulita, Mexico, photographer Melissa Fuller and her husband Josh’s next order of business was deciding how much tequila they needed to buy! And with tequila, bright colors, festive designs, and a whole lot of love both the couple and their guests had a wedding of a lifetime. See it all from the most incredible talents (Laura Austin, Frank Harrington, Amanda Lopez, Trevor Traynor, John Lucarelli, and Grimace Films) in The Vault!

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Escape the Ordinary with This Maya Riviera Wedding

From The Bride…Melissa Fuller, Little Black Book wedding photographer and her husband Josh, immediately fell in love with the vibe of Sayulita, Mexico after a long bout of indecision of where to host their very own wedding. “There is a slowness to the days in the charming town, situated just outside of Puerto Vallarta. When visiting you spend your days in a salty wash, getting in and out of the slow breaking longboard wave, shopping the beautiful local art, and eating fresh fish tacos,” writes the bride whose heart was an easy win.

When deciding what to do for our own wedding, the answers came easily once we established our theme. I’m not talking about colors and decor…I’m talking about the feel. And the theme we chose was literally marooning our closest friends and family in a tropical place and having the most wild free party we could manifest. We ended up making decisions on everything from that mantra. The next order of business was deciding how much tequila we needed to buy!

Pulling from the town, Josh and Mel decided to go with a neutral and white palette. With a destination wedding you are limited by the amount of things you can bring on an airplane. Writes Melissa, “One thing that was safe was knowing that white, cream and stone would all compliment the already beautiful gardens at the venue. We also wanted our guests to arrive and feel as if they had been taken away to a retreat. Guests were asked to wear white and shades of neutrals. I designed a tipi to serve as a natural wood cathedral that was built buy the local palapa builders and embellished by family with rope chandlers that I created. It was stunning. For decor, I spent my evenings leading up to the wedding doing a lot of DIY macrame and twine making with a cup of wine in hand. I knew that I could make a lot of twine flags and later make decisions about where they should go and just string them up around the property. All of the decorations fit into one large suitcase!”

They leaned heavy on their friends and family whose contributions came together, culminating in what become an epic party. One of their favorite memories is sitting in a beach house the day before the wedding with their friend, The Whooligan, covered in sand sipping on beers while putting together the playlist for the wedding at the final hour. “It all just came together like that. You do as much as you can before, but it was the moments of everyone coming together and splitting up into little groups for little adventures that we will always remember. We threw songs out there, cracked jokes, and got pumped for the big day laughing at each other’s suggestions. It was the best!” they share.

The couple also owns a company making re-useable stainless steel cups and being environmentally conscious is high on their list of priorities. They served a mix of specialty cocktails, hibiscus margaritas, local beer, and aqua fresca from the cups which doubled as gifts for their guests. Guests were also given wood veneer etched artwork from the folks at 5 Points Collective that matched a screen print the couple used in lieu of a traditional guestbook. “I wanted something that I would want out at our house not something that would tucked away and never be seen again and for our guests to take home something that wouldn’t end up in the trash or their nic-nacs drawer,” writes Melissa who found the artists while window shopping in Venice one day. The message on the print, “See the Unseen, Be the Unbeen,” was perfect and the art couldn’t have looked more like a scene from Sayulita.

Melissa used Squarespace to design the wedding website which aided in relaying ever-changing travel and accommodation information to their guests. She used the images on the home gallery page to tell people what they needed to know about the feel of the days to come. “It ended up being a huge success, one of my favorite pages I created was an RSVP page where I populated an image of our guests after they said they were coming. People had a lot of fun watching familiar faces pop up and it helped build the anticipation of the wedding and get folks to know each other who might not have met yet.”

For fare, Mel and Josh kept it simple and delicious. Everyone loves tacos. After the ceremony and before sunset guests milled the beach eating a mix of tamales, ham and pineapple tacos pastor, wood fired pizza and late night churros. To counteract the effects of the tequila bar they had a stack of fresh coconuts with straws prepped to keep partygoers hydrated.

It got sweaty, shirtless, and barefoot. “It was f*%#ing awesome!!” summarizes Josh who doesn’t dice his words.

We would like to say a huge thanks to the people who came together for our lives and this event. Laura Austin, Frank Harrington, John Lucarelli, Miguel the man with the plan, their parents and families, and Trev and Amanda, their friends who turned their Thanksgiving break into a wedding scouting mission. JJ & the folks at Pizzeria Rustica where they had their rehearsal dinner. To the talented Meghan Minillo for her lovely signage. And to Johannes and Anne who created a home so beautiful beyond imagination that our wildest wedding dreams came true.

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What’s better than a wedding on the beach? Absolutely nothing. Just ask Andrew Mark Photography who captured this sweet seaside special celebration to share.a From the palm portraits to the adorable noisemakers you’re sure to love every bit of this celebration. See it all in The Vault!

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Seaside “I do’s” Followed by Fireworks on the beach? Yes, please!

From Andrew Mark Photography…Beverlie & John’s destination wedding took place on a private beach club in the Maya Riviera! It was simply stunning and everything the couple wanted. Just them, their closest friends and family, and the sunset over the ocean.

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Here’s proof that all you need is a breathtaking locale like the Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, some seriously sweet details and a group of your closest friends + family to celebrate your “I do’s” in serious style. Think stunning seaside “I do’s” meets al fresco dining meets a fireworks display that is all kinds of awesome. See every moment captured by Naal Wedding Photography in THE VAULT.

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They Returned to the Spot of Their First Vacation to Say “I Do”

From Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa… A lovely wedding happened this winter on Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa. Allie & Bowman met in 2011 after discovering they both had similar passions for travel, food, adventure and sports.

Four years after, Allie & Bowman celebrated their love with an intimate ceremony on the beach with their closest friends and family. They prepared a special itinerary to make sure everyone had fun while staying at Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa, including snorkeling, sailing, and of course, the Wedding!

Fireworks, DJ and dancing and a beautiful decor were part of this celebration.

Photography: Naal Wedding Photography | Event Design: Canteiro | Venue: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

When your first vacation as a couple is to Cabo San Lucas, why not return there for your wedding? For this Bride and Groom, a destination wedding in Cabo meant that they could share their memories with friends and family and create new ones together. And with the help of vendors like Creative Destination Events and Suzanne Morel Face and Body Care, is was a celebration to remember. Experience the magic for yourself, courtesy of Pink Palm Photo in The Vault!

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Saying Goodbye to Mexico in Style

From The Bride…We first met in Zurich, Switzerland at a work training program. The program continued in NYC where we planned to meet again for a run…and our relationship took off from there! In April 2014, he planned a spontaneous weekend trip to New York City. Since our first “date” was a run through Central Park, he planned for us to go for a run there and surprised me by proposing in the middle of our run! It was a very intimate moment!

We wanted our wedding to be an intimate event during which we had several days to spend with our closest family and friends, and for it to be a unique experience for everyone. That’s why we decided on a destination wedding!

Cabo San Lucas was our first vacation together and we had such an incredible time there so we wanted to share that experience with family and friends. It is such a meaningful place for us and our families. Our guests were skeptical at first about traveling to Mexico, but then became very excited and supportive!

Our ceremony location at Villa Turquesa was so beautiful & located in one of the most picturesque parts of Cabo. Our view was better than anywhere else I’ve been there! The gold and white decor enhanced the view, and we and our guests were stunned at the beauty of everything.

One of the best ideas we made for our wedding was having all our family and friends stay in homes together. We rented three villas in Pedregal. Casa Turquesa, in Pedregal, was where a majority of our guests stayed. It really brought everyone closer and allowed our families to get to know each other so much better than if everyone booked separate hotels. It was so much fun to wake up and have breakfast together and just hang out by the pool all day.

My dad walking me down the aisle and his speech were very meaningful. My dad had a heart attack two months before our original wedding date (April 2015). It meant so much to Chris and I and our families that he was there and was healthy enough to be a part of all of the “father-of-the-bride” traditions. I was so grateful for that.

For our ceremony just before sunset, we decided to write our own vows. Saying our own vows to each other was the best decision we ever made. I am terrified of public speaking so I had been worrying about it for months but it was such an intimate moment for us and I’m so glad that we did it. It was definitely one of our favorite moments.

Our first dance under the twilight sky is another best memory. We decided when we first started the wedding planning process that we wanted to have a really fun first dance to surprise our family and friends. It was such a memorable moment for us. We had all of our guests clapping to the music and laughing at us because of how silly and playful it was. It really set the tone for the rest of the evening! We had the most amazing lighting then too. The photos look so great!

Our photographers, a husband & wife team from Pink Palm Photo were amazing! They were so easy to work with and really made the process enjoyable and fun. They found lots of ways to make our photos look natural and not staged. And on the wedding day, we hardly knew they were there. Somehow they captured all the amazing moments we want to always remember but I feel like I never saw them!

From Creative Destination Events…Planning this’ wedding was an extraordinary experience, from the first site visit they did to the end of the evening on the wedding day!

The bride was seeking a very particular style. She wanted the mixture between something very elegant, classy and modern as well as natural.

The final showcase and décor was unique. An organic but very chic and elegant look with a modern touch reflected in the geometrical lanterns and gold accents.

One of our favorite design details was the way the white distressed tables made a perfect match with the beautiful chiffon runner, elegant but keeping the natural look of the furniture.

We also loved the combination of gold accents with very natural and organic flowers. And incorporating the beautiful setting of Cabo made the vision complete!

It’s only Wednesday and we’ve been to Mexico and back with one image after another, filling our Pinterest boards with inspiration and aspiration thanks to Jose Villa’s Workshop last fall, where we not only presented but fell in love with weddings all over again. To cap it off, we have the Farewell Dinner here, where attendees dined on authentic Mexican cuisine (we’re talking tacos and churros to our heart’s content) and admired the beauty all around. Can the 2016 Workshop hurry on up and get here?

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Jose Villa 2016 Mexico Workshop

Dates: November 6 – 10, 2016
Location: Hacienda El Carmen

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A Modern, Masculine Take on a Traditional Mexican Wedding

I was lucky enough to see the vendors behind the Jose Villa 2015 Mexico workshop in action, and let me tell you, it was a total dream come true. First the welcome dinner, then the engagement, and now the “I do” that’s unlike any wedding you’ve seen. We’ve got one last Jose workshop post up next, but in the meantime join me in applauding each and every artist behind this incredible day and styled details.

From Mindy Rice…

THE CEREMONY

The ceremony was a work of ART … literally! We asked artist Karina Puente to recreate a traditional arch on to the textured adobe wall of a local hacienda. The softness of the charcoal drawing was absolutely amazing as the altar backdrop. Traditional Equipales chairs provided seating while candles and floral in abundance, were clustered in a purposely haphazard way! The final product might have been my favorite to date! So interesting as you can tell it was a creative group effort!

THE STYLED WEDDING DINNER

Wanting to take a direction less traveled, Lynn, Augusta and I decide to give the wedding dinner a more modern look, yet we wanted the colors and tones to reflect a more traditional Mexico. Our inspiration from color was gathered from our surroundings – the exterior of the Hacienda, the aged black moss that beautifully highlights the buildings and the soft caramel color of Piloncillo – a local sugar harvested in the region.

Karina Puente used a charcoal medium that was consistent throughout the workshop. An exaggerated agave mural was designed to hang behind our dinner table. The juxtaposition of white canvas and black charcoal was rustic in style yet modern in contrast. The table was dramatic, as the details we choose were strong and masculine. Hammered bronze candlesticks were paired with bronze glazed pottery. The floral, though minimal, was chosen to stand alone. White King Protea, black Rex Begonia leaves, Allium Nigrum, dried wild yarrow and Jacaranda accented the vessels and candles. Hammered domed lighting fixtures hung above the table in pairs.

The place setting was bold. Anna Weatherly china in black, gold and white, was paired with a subtle Heath plate in a color called “mist” . The Ebony flatware was a perfect compliment to the paper suite Amber Moon designed – thick agave colored menus were letter-pressed in a more modern font. Black leather was incorporated as a backing and also as the guest name tags, each attached with a brass brad in the upper left corner.

The linen, a textured caramel colored silk, was dramatic with a wide band of black . Each was fitted to the table, transforming the room with it’s tailored masculine look.

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Jose Villa 2016 Mexico Workshop

Dates: November 6 – 10, 2016
Location: Hacienda El Carmen

Click here for more information!

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Head-to-Toe Black Makes For an Ultra Chic Engagement Session

I’ll be totally honest with you: Tuesdays are not my jam. But today is delightfully different as we look back at Jose Villa’s Workshop last fall and get to see all the goods from my personal favorite session there – the engagement shoot. From outfits I’d die for to the custom backdrop created by Karina Puente, these pics are perfect proof to why this workshop was an bucket list experience for me. Enough with my rambling; check out all the stylish inspiration you need below and get ready for more tomorrow.

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Jose Villa 2016 Mexico Workshop

Dates: November 6 – 10, 2016
Location: Hacienda El Carmen

Click here for more information!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
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This Welcome Dinner Takes It To The Next Level

There’s no denying it; as SMPers we get to be a part of some pretty fabulous things but at the tippy top of that list? Traveling to the beautiful countryside of Mexico and participating in Jose Villa’s Workshop last fall. With Easton Events, Mindy Rice, Studio by Fleur, Casa de Perrin and more coming together, we were left beyond inspired. In honor of the 2016 Workshop Announcement – and the last one at the legendary Hacienda – we’re looking back at all the beauty starting with this Welcome Dinner, thanks to Jose’s amazing images of it all. This week is off to one great start if we do say so ourselves…

From Mindy Rice… When designing the Welcome Party at the hacienda, I took in the location as the main source of inspiration. Situated in the old grain room, the colors of the walls and floor reminded me of a more Colonial time in Mexico. A long, family style table fit the space beautifully as the natural light spilled in through the large iron doors. Lynn, Augusta (Easton Events) and I decide on blue as the evening color…. a rich dusty blue linen was designed with simple inverted pleats on each of the corners allowing the linen to hang with a weighty drape! The color was inspired by the aged blue paint you see in the small village of El Carmen. Flickering candles melted freely and vines were added to the brick crevices- all of these details added a sense of time to this already historic setting!

For floral, I used my collection of antique pewter troughs and ornate finials with pewter floral detailing. The fresh floral consisted of delicate blue hydrangea, Loquats, wild millet, guava branches, delphinium and blue forget-me-nots. A vine that grows freely on the hacienda was added, giving the table a softer, more organic look.

Our generous napkins with a hand crochet, lace edge, were dramatic as they spill off the table. Filligris, silver rings gathered each of the Jan Barboglio napkins giving the table a refined look.

Casa de Perrin supplied the beautiful dishes, flatware and glassware for the evening. The charger plate, hand glazed in soft white with a delicate scalloped edge, was stunning under the clean silhouette of the Heath dinner plate. The cutlery in pewter, was timeless and so pretty placed on the blue linen! Simple cut crystal glassware and salt pinches reflected off the various candles as guest dined.

Amber Moon designed the most darling fold out menus. Each letter pressed with an organic motif in a dusty grey/blue hue. A delicate hemp thread tied each closed… like a gift for each guest.

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Jose Villa 2016 Mexico Workshop

Dates: November 6 – 10, 2016
Location: Hacienda El Carmen

Click here for more information!

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Married on a Floral Farm? Total Venue Envy

Let’s just say that this couple picked the coolest venue. Because when it comes to finding a unique space for your Big Day, it doesn’t get any better than a 10-acre floral farm blooming with romance. Mag & B Photography was on hand to capture it all and to say that it’s a show-stopper would be putting it lightly. From the freshly pressed carrot margaritas to the stunning views, see it all unfold in The Vault!

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From the Bride… Sean and I are from two different worlds – well, Boston and San Francisco, respectively. We currently live in Boston, and as we are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives – so many cherished relationships all over the world – we knew that no matter where we chose to celebrate our love that most of our friends and family would need to travel. If we were going to ask so many people to pack a bag, hop on a plane, deal with long lines and security, then we certainly wanted them to be welcomed with fun and a great party.

When looking for a venue, we wanted something to embody what’s special to us. Something drastically different from what we’d seen. We wanted something adventurous, a venue that burst with natural beauty, something vibrantly unexpected, and something that reflected the journey, not only of where we had been and where we are going, but something that reflected each and every one of our guests’ journeys as well. We searched high and low: Boston, Sonoma, Montana, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and beyond before stumbling upon the magical Flora Farms. The research and detailed spreadsheets stopped there. We had found our place on the edge of the world with its boundless beauty, from the sunshine to the sea. Flora Farms is the best kind of farm: a working, 10-acre organic farm in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo, where the carrot margaritas are freshly juiced and the people’s smiles warm your heart. Make it over the hill and down the dirt road and you won’t ever want to leave.

It didn’t hurt that our favorite things were prevalent at the farm as well; the food and the drink are beyond compare at Flora Farms. We celebrate, we commiserate and we plan our future over margaritas – why should our special day be any different? We booked the venue sight-unseen (beyond lots of obsessive Instagram stalking of the lucky people who had been and ‘grammed about it). Then came Lauren, our wedding planner, who corralled the best vendors in Cabo. Planning from afar, each one brought their beauty to the day; we never even had to ask.

We tried to fit the wedding with our personalities: carefree and easy-going but with sometimes very specific attention to details – and, more spreadsheets (we blame our day jobs for those). With no specific theme to speak of, beyond a hint of romantic color, delicious cocktails and a good time, we were able to spend a memorable few days pre-and-post-wedding relaxing by the pool with those closest to us. Our families and friends bonded and grew to love each other over sunscreen, quesadillas and 3-5pm happy hours so that our wedding dinner, catch-of-the-day fish, garlic roasted chicken, house made burrata and pearl pasta, served family-style was a true testament to the new family that we all had become.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime event for us and we loved that our guests were able to make some special memories of their own, extending their vacations and spending additional time together. We wish we could do it all over again. We had so much fun!

From Mag & B Photography… This was a unique wedding in the setting of Flora Farms, an organic farm located in Cabo, MX. This couple was wonderful to work with and it was apparent how much thought was put in to all the details of the day. They truly embraced the farm setting. Emily and Sean had their “first sight” at the farm, and it couldn’t of been more special. The look on the grooms face said it all. Her dress was Vera Wang, and perfect for her surroundings. It was a warm, balmy night and as romantic as it was in true form it evolved in to quite the party. The love in the room was almost tangible. Congrats to these two, it was the perfect night and we absolutely loved celebrating your love in such a lovely place.

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See these smiles? Yeah, that’s real. That’s genuine joy right there if I do say so myself and I can’t get enough of it. Dana Fernandez is my hero today, capturing these cuties in Cabo; if you’re in need of a mood boost, head right over to our Vault and you will not be disappointed.

From the Bride-to-be… We chose to do our engagement shoot in Cabo to capture our love for the beach and travel. Matthew and I have been to Cabo a handful of times together starting early on in our relationship. It is a very meaningful place for us where we have shared many fond memories and will continue to do so. To further emphasize our love of exploring the world together, Matthew is wearing a pair of shoes we got on a trip to Germany. We also love getting dressed up so we went all out with a suit and gown. Taking the photos was paired with a weekend spent in Cabo with both of our parents and Matthew’s aunt, Dana (the photographer ), which made it truly unforgettable!
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Photography: Josh & Dana Fernandez | Gown: Rent The Runway | Suit: M Penner | Film Lab: The Find Lab

Beachside Ceremony with the Dreamiest Floral Arch EVER

If florals are your fav then you’ve just GOT to see this ceremony arch. It’s pretty, it’s pink, and it’s sure to find its way to your Pinterest boards. A beachside ceremony married with modern glamour, this is one celebration that we would’ve vied for an invitation to. From the fountain style sparklers that lit up the dance floor to the endless love that reigns throughout, Table4 Weddings captured it all in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Lee and I share a passion for traveling and after our engagement in Barcelona, we knew we wanted our wedding to be a vacation destination for our guests where we could spend the days leading up to our wedding with our closest friends and family. The moment Lee and I stepped into the stunning lobby of the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, we knew that we had found our wedding venue. From the lush tropical greenery, white sand beaches and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean we knew it would be the perfect backdrop for our “I dos.”

We envisioned a romantic and elegant wedding with a timeless color palette and every detail of our wedding weekend to be a reflection of us. Walking into our reception as we were introduced for the first time truly took my breath away. Fountain style sparklers lit up around the dance floor as we danced to “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. One of my favorite memories from our reception was looking around and noticing not one seat was occupied because all of our guests were living in the moment with us on the dance floor, made my night complete. I had been told that the evening would fly by, and I can remember taking pause a couple times throughout the night wishing I could freeze time so I could soak it in and relish in the incredible dream we were living. Being surrounded by our closest family and friends in the most gorgeous setting I have ever seen in my life, was truly magical.

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Pronovias

ATELIER PRONOVIAS

PRONOVIAS

Dancing Lights, Cruise Collection

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This Mexican beach wedding is like none you’ve ever seen before. From the ancient Mayan traditions to the flamenco dancers to the hand-painted pottery escort cards, this wedding is all kinds of special. But with vendors like Brilliant Event Planning, Cantiero, Belmond Maroma Resort And Spa, Daniel J Photography and Pure Love Films, it’s no surprise this wedding is one-of-a-kind. See it all now in The Vault!

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A Cabo Wedding Designed for the Modern Bride

From Brilliant Event Planning…Jessica and Jack truly wanted to give their guests an experience – not just a wedding day. To make this a reality, they took over Belmond Maroma! Since they had exclusive use of the property, they were able to have many days of events and activities. They had an Authentic Tequila Tasting Cantina night, a Fiesta Blanca (Mexican themed white party!), as well as yoga, bike trips, and more. However, the best part of having the hotel to ourselves was the fact that we could do the reception in the exquisite front entrance to the property, which meant dinner and dancing under the stars in the jungle!

Belmond Maroma used to be someone’s home before it was a hotel and still feels like that today. To compliment this, we tapped into an authentic and traditional Mexican style wherever possible. The escort cards were handmade pottery, Ottomi patterns were incorporated into the white party, entertainers ranged from mariachi to flamenco dancers, and the welcome bags included worry dolls for guests to ensure they started relaxing from the moment they arrived! Even the ceremony was filled with tradition. Jessica and Jack opted for a Mayan Ceremony, which is performed by a shaman. Guests got their auras cleansed upon arrival and Jessica and Jack made an offering to the ocean during the ceremony.

After witnessing Jessica and Jack be pronounced husband and wife, guests made their way to the reception by candlelight. For table decor, gold band charger were alternated with gold beaded and each guest found their seat by looking for their custom menu with their name. The entire space smelled of roses and eucalyptus, thanks to the lush table runner! The band was the most important thing to Jack, so we flew The Social from Miami and they kept guests on the dance floor all night long!

The entire wedding weekend exploded with personal touches, including a custom sign that showed the distance to all of the places that Jessica and Jack have visited and loved. The bar, which is normally “Freddy’s bar” was even renamed as Jack and Freddy’s bar for the occasion!

Fun fact: On the morning of the wedding, it was threatening to rain. So, at the advice of one of the locals, we followed an old Mayan tradition that says if you put crossed knives into the ground, you will ward off the rain…and it worked! We had beautiful weather the entire day and ended the night with a bonfire and s’mores on the beach!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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With family spread across 17 different countries, this couple knew a destination wedding was a perfect way to organize the chaos. They chose the beaches of Cabo San Lucas and set out to plan their sleek and chic nuptials with a sexy Baja vibe. From the hair and makeup by Suzanne Morel to entire floral and event design perfected by Elena Damy, there’s so much inspiration to steal and thanks to Ashley Bosnick we’ve got it all inside The Vault!

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Fun-Filled Destination Wedding at Secrets The Vine Cancun

From The Bride…“Why Mexico?” everyone asked. “Why not?!” I said with a big smile. Douglas is Swedish, I’m from Chicago and we have family and friends spread over 17 countries. We loved the idea of all our friends and family being in the same country (let alone the same hotel) for five days to celebrate with us. And the added bonus of sun and sand for the albeit beautiful but rather pale Swedes made for an easy decision.

We began the festivities on Wednesday evening with a fabulous salsa beach party and ended with a barely able to stand Sunday brunch. It was important to us that everyone have the holiday of a lifetime, endless margaritas, late night tacos, sketchy “high-school spring-break” clubbing, and epic salsa dancing from my mother made the weekend just that – absolutely unforgettable.

Our wedding had a neutral palette with a European vibe and was held at The Resort at Pedregal with the reception held at a private villa in the cliffs of Pedregal. The day was everything we could have hoped for – surrounded by family and friends in a gorgeous place to exchange our vows and celebrate our marriage.

From Elena Damy Destination Weddings… As you can see from the breathtaking photos from Ashley Bosnick, Nina and Douglas’ wedding was the perfect blend of European elegance and modern Mexico. The bride and groom worked closely with our wedding planner, Claudia Morales, to carefully plan each aspect of the wedding weekend.

When it came time to create the event design, Elena Damy, our Creative Director and Lead Floral Designer, was inspired by the couple’s worldly, sophisticated style and playful, down-to-earth charm. Without a doubt, it was easy to bring their graceful tone into the already warm, rustic refinement of Pedregal. For the ceremony, Elena designed a natural wooden structure with an abstract display of cream and white flowers blended with twirling vines and greens. Lining the aisle were tall contemporary glass hurricanes, each holding a single open rose.

The bride’s bouquet mirrored the ceremony flowers, with open garden roses mixed with organic greens loosely cascading for a natural Baja feel. For the reception at Casa Turquesa, Elena layered classic table settings with neutral linens, natural woods, weathered metallic candles, and low, lush flowers for an intimate, family dinner. Subtle wooden Bride and Groom signs were hung on the back of the bride and groom’s chairs, and loosely strung flowers, crystal drops and organic vines hung from the chandeliers overhead.

Nina changed into another gorgeous wedding gown for their cake cutting and dancing into the wee hours! Bright, rich reds and sexy dance tunes put the finishing touches on Nina and Douglas’ amazing wedding weekend!

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Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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The travel bug bit these two sweeties a long, long time ago, so when it came time to plan their Big Day, a destination wedding was a total must. Their locale of choice? Secrets The Vine Cancun, a sweet little piece of paradise perfect for saying “I do” seaside, dining under the stars and dipping in the pool post-nuptials (it happened). See every fun-filled moment captured by Melissa Mercado in THE VAULT.

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Al Fresco Modern

From the Bride… I’d never been to the Caribbean until I met my fiancé Matt six years ago and only after a few months of dating, he took me to Cancun for my first time and we had so much fun together. Ever since then, we’ve been traveling all over the Caribbean! He is my favorite vacation partner and we’ve been to Bermuda, the Florida Keys, St Martin, St Barths, Jamaica, Cancun, Riviera Maya and Aruba. I’m happiest when we can both be fun and silly and that is why we like to travel because our lives in New York City can become pretty stressful!

He proposed at a rooftop bar in the Meatpacking district of NYC where we first met. We love going out to nice dinners and enjoying delicious food and wine. We also love staying in and watching movie after movie. We decided to get married in Cancun because we have friends and family that live all over the world and they might as well travel to somewhere warm and fun so we can all be on vacation together! Never in our lives will we have everyone we love on vacation with us so we are very excited!

If I were to describe our style, I would say we are classy and elegant but can have a lot of fun and get crazy! Our families are very traditional but we stayed true to our personalities and decided to have a destination wedding. It is very important to us that we have beautiful pictures to capture the memories. We love taking pictures when we go on vacations and we make photo books for each trip we take.

We are getting married at Secrets the Vine and we are planning to have the ceremony on a terrace overlooking the lagoon and the reception by the pool.

From Melissa Mercado Photography… I couldn’t have been more excited to meet Matt + Clara before their wedding day. It’s not always easy to do with destination couples, because of schedules and resort restrictions. But Matt + Clara decided to start their vacation with a Catamaran Tour around Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) just north of Cancun. The day was amazing with the backdrop of the Turquoise waters. Everyone mingled and got to catch up, enjoy a few adult beverages and really just get into their vacation. The group definitely knows how to have a great time and were easily comfortable in front of the camera!

By the time we got to the wedding day, my job was easy – document the moments as they happened and help keep everyone plugged into the moment. Clara had all kinds of great ideas of what she want covered and was helped by a great group of girls that helped her be not only prepared, but relaxed and enjoy her day.

I think the only thing we had working against us on this otherwise perfect day, was just the sheer heat of an August wedding in the Caribbean. Everyone took it in stride though, we adjusted our portrait time to not let anyone get to uncomfortable and by the end of the night, all cares were thrown to the wind and everyone ended up in the pool.

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Maggie Sottero

Savannah Collection

Serencia Collection

Amarosa Collection

Lisette Collection

Aracella Collection

Avery Collection

Cordelia Collection

Emerald Collection

Alistaire Collection

Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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Glamorous Fuchsia Wedding at Secrets Playa Mujeres

Take an awe-inspiring locale like Secrets Playa Mujeres and add in a darling duo with a love of all things fuchsia and the results are amazing. I’m talking breathtaking blooms, a stunning seaside ceremony and a dance ’til you drop celebration in a ballroom that was simply made for partying. It’s total glamour meets classic beauty and you can see it all captured by Melissa Mercado in THE VAULT.

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Colorful Destination Wedding at Secrets Silversands, Riviera Cancun

From Melissa Mercado Photography… After Ben proposed at sunset on an island off of Key West, Florida, Rori knew she wanted a destination wedding to celebrate their special day on the beach with their closest family and friends. Rori is a hotel interior designer so color and details were very important parts of the wedding planning. Ben is a lawyer so he went along with all of Rori’s choices saying, “Yes, I think that looks fantastic!” They planned their dream destination wedding at Secrets Playa Mujeres, off the coast of the Caribbean Sea. They chose the gorgeous Secrets Playa Mujeres Resort, an all-inclusive, adults-only resort overlooking white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

On the day of the wedding, Rori looked absolutely stunning in her white, sweetheart neckline and scalloped wedding gown. Her bridesmaids wore floor-length lilac gowns holding large bouquets of white orchids and pink accent flowers. Ben looked just as handsome in a sleek gray suit while his groomsmen sported navy suits.

Their intimate ceremony was held beachside, with stunning views of the sea. A wooden sign that read, “Welcome to Our Wedding” led the way for them to say, “I do!” Tiffany white chairs, a white ethereal canopy and a delicate hanging chandelier set the perfect backdrop along with the blue waters. Following the ceremony, their guests were greeted at a tropical-glamour themed reception with metallic gold and colorful accents. White table cloths, mercury glass candle holder and fuchsia floral arrangements adorned the tables. Their unique table signs were names of symbolic places to their relationship like their hometowns and the place they got engaged… such a personable touch!

It was an absolute pleasure to capture Rori and Ben’s magical day… here’s to an exciting new chapter in their lives!

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Moonlight Bridal

Spring 2015 Couture

Spring 2015

Spring 2015 Tango

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Couture Fall 2015

Tango Fall 2015

Spring 2016

Spring 2016 Couture

Spring 2016 Tango

Spring 2018 Couture

Spring 2018 Tango

Spring 2018 Moonlight Collection

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This is a duo that knows how to have a good time. A jet off to paradise with your nearest and dearest and celebrate seaside good time. Think a breathtaking ceremony over the ocean (literally) meets vibrant teal hues meets an ah-mazing vacation at Secrets Silversands, Riviera Cancun. Fall in love with every stunning moment captured by Jonathan Cossu in THE VAULT right here.

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Romantic, Boho Chic Cabo Destination Wedding

From the Bride… We met in the spring of 2006. I was in my junior year and studying for the medical school entrance exam. I enrolled in a prep course and Eddie was my teacher. I immediately thought he was cute and wanted to get to know him more. It wasn’t until after the class ended that I made my move. We met up at a coffee house in Chicago and immediately hit it off. Shortly after we started dating, Eddie moved down to Florida for Med School and I finished my undergrad degree in Illinois.  Eddie is funny, kind, ridiculously smart, and oh-so-handsome. He’s the kind of guy you don’t give up because there’s 1,300 miles between you. We were long distance for the first two years of our relationship. Those two years were amazing, but they weren’t always easy. The glue that held us together through the difficult times was our dog, Mac. We adopted him shortly after Eddie moved to Florida which was the best decision we ever made. Mac helped us become a family and thanks to him, nine years later, we tied the knot with our closest friends and family by our side.

Our wedding day was filled with love, happiness, lots of dancing, and a donkey named Pancho Tequila. Eddie had only two requests for the wedding. It must have a taco bar and a there must be a donkey. I wanted our wedding to be fun, lighthearted and something that our guests would remember from start to finish.

I had a very clear vision for the wedding, which was brought to life by my awesome wedding coordinator at the hotel. I was able source amazing handmade pieces on Etsy. Thanks to the help of friends and family, I coordinated transporting 10 suitcases filled with decorations, favors, and welcome bags down to Mexico.

As a token of our gratitude, we put together welcome bags for each guest. I found the cutest muslin bags on Etsy with “Hola” stamped on them. I filled them with a welcome note, itinerary, deck of playing cards, koozie, bottle opener, and a mini first aid kit filled with hangover relievers and sun essentials. My favorite part of the welcome bag was Mac’s “gift”. I got the idea from Minted’s blog, Julep. I printed his picture with a message on business cards and attached them to bags of mini tennis gumballs. Mac’s favorite toy was his tennis ball so it was the perfect way to include him in our special day.

I had decided on my dress well before he even popped the question. It had to be Monique Lhuillier’s Scarlet. I fell in love with the delicate Alencon Lace and the open back was perfect in the warm weather. I wanted my bridesmaids to look beautiful and feel comfortable. Their dresses were purchased during a rent the runway clearance sale for a fraction of the price. This was especially nice given the high cost of travel. As part of their gift, I included their necklaces and robes, which they still use today. The groomsmen’s suits were purchased online for under 150 dollars and we bought their accessories as part of their gift.

For the flowers, I wanted something bright that included succulents. I loved the orange and the pink together, which popped next to my ivory gown. Since the bridesmaids were already in a bright teal, I bought simple high quality faux white calla lilies on Etsy. This kept us under budget and no one noticed they weren’t the real deal.

For our ceremony, we chose a private pier overlooking the ocean. We said our vows with the waves crashing in the background, which is something we will never forget. It was followed by cocktail hour where our guests were serenaded by a Mexican Trio. Pancho Tequila, the donkey, made his appearance and our guests had fun taking selfies with him.

For the reception, I got my inspiration for the centerpieces from my love of vintage milk glass. I found the most gorgeous gold dipped milk glass vases on Etsy, in which I put a simple pink dahlia. I paired that with a floating candle and a large succulent. Since we only had three tables, I wanted something more creative than table numbers. I used different color dia de los muertos skulls to differentiate each table and stamped the escort cards with the corresponding skull color. I wanted something fun to give as a favor and the mini pinatas from Lulaflora were absolutely perfect. I filled them with our favorite candy so everyone had a sweet treat to savor at the end of the reception.

Our Photographer, Jonathan Cossu, was the best money we spent. He was fun to work with and caught the most amazing candid moments. Having my mother at my wedding was especially important to me as she was diagnosed with breast cancer the year before. We almost cancelled the wedding due to the uncertain nature of her health, but her doctors were hopeful she would be able to attend. Thankfully, she was able to travel to Mexico to be with us on our special day. Jonathan captured many beautiful moments between me and my mom that I will be able to cherish forever. Jonathan did a great job capturing all the happiness and love we felt that day. We can’t help but smile when we look back at our photos.

My final word of advice to brides considering a destination wedding. Make sure you work with a good travel agent! The last thing you want to worry about is coordinating flights and hotels. We worked with Nanda van Zwam from Beach Bum Vacations. She provided my guests with a packet that included hotel information, room descriptions, and prices. She coordinated everything via email and phone and booked every flight, hotel room, and airport transfer for all of my guests.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our wedding with other brides. I had a blast planning it from start to finish and I hope it inspires other brides to have their own fun filled fiesta!

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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If you’re in need for a little Monday pick-me-up, look no further than Erin and Shawn’s bohemian chic destination wedding in Cabo. With pretty white lace details, gorgeous flowers accented with lush greenery, gold accents throughout and rustic wood elements, this day was meant to be pinned. See all the gorgeous details from Ana & Jerome, Del Cabo Event Design and Amy Abbott Events in The Vault!

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