Costa d’Este Wedding by Vitalic Photo

There’s so much to love about this sweet, beach side affair but I think my favorite part has got to be the relaxed and fun loving spirit of the bride and groom. They rehearsed nothing and just let their wedding day unfold organically and for that, I give them major props! Lucky for them they have talented family members who helped out with everything from the centerpieces to the bride’s accessories. Vitalic Photo captured all the special moments and details and there’s so much more in the full gallery.

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From the Bride…From the beginning we knew we wanted our wedding to be very intimate and stress-free. I promised I wouldn’t allow myself to obsess over every detail, instead I decided to focus on the meaning of that day. At the end, everything turned out perfect! Our venue, Costa d’Este Beach Resort, was wonderful and their staff was so attentive.

Luckily for us, our families were excited to get involved and help with all of our ideas. My creative sister designed and handmade our invitations, guestbook and seating chart. She also made my accessories for that day— three Swarovski crystal hairpins and earrings made out of rose quartz, a known symbol for love. The night before the wedding, my mom, my sister and I worked together on the centerpieces, bouquets, and boutonnieres, which had the natural look that I wanted. My mother-in-law, Donald’s aunt, and my cousin baked and prepared traditional Peruvian and Chilean cakes and sweets for our dessert table. We thought it would be fun to bring our backgrounds together through the “sweet” part of the meal plus, we knew it would add a cozy homemade feel to our celebration. The sky cooperated too, and it held off the rain, allowing us to have a brief but emotional beach ceremony.

I walked down the aisle barefoot to one of my favorite Dave Matthews Band tunes played on an acoustic guitar by one of the groomsmen, who’s our best friend and my dear sister’s other half. I felt so lucky that day! I was marrying the love of my life and best friend for eleven years, while surrounded by people who were truly glad to be there—many of whom traveled from overseas and other states to join us on our special day. Happiness and love were in the air; we had fun, spent time with all of our guests, and most importantly: we did things our way. We didn’t rehearse a thing, neither did we follow traditional wedding protocol; we simply enjoyed the moment and it rocked!

Venue + Catering: Costa d’Este Beach Resort / Wedding Photography: Vitalic Photo / Flowers: DIY / Accessories: DIY by Bride’s Sister (Dani Makes) / Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal / Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom Made / Groom’s Attire: Michael Kors / Hair: Lindsay Naffziger Hairstylist / Make-up: Cindy Goetz