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

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

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

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

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Post tags: Adan Mijares, Alisse Galde, Ana Fernandez, Bandolino, Brooke Beasley Photography, Cafe El Triunfo, Casablanca Bridal, Daredevils & Queens Salon, Destination Wedding, DJ Mijares, Glamour Closet, La Concha Beach Resort, La Paz, Luna Bazaar, Marc Spahr, Mexico, Orange White, Pink, Zappos, Zazzle
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings

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

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

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

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

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Post tags: Badgley Mischka, David Fielden, Eduardo Reyes, FlorArt Vallarta, Kelly's Closet, Mexico, Michelle Turner, Playa Fiesta, Puerto Vallarta, Stephens Exclusives, Turquoise
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings

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

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

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

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

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

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Post tags: BCBG, Ben Potter, Cana Video Productions, Charme Reposteria, Dreams Resort Puerto Vallarta, Drew Barefoot, Gray, Green, Jeff Newsom, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Purple, Sonido Extasis, Sonora, The Dazzling Details, Trio Montecarlo, Watters
Post categories: The Blog

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

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

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

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

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Post tags: Alicia Villar, Amsale, Angel G, Hugo Boss, Instituto Allende, Mexico, Naturally Aspen, Peach, Pink, Presumptuous Me, Red, Romona Keveza, San Miguel de Allende, San Miguel Weddings, Sheri Whitko Photography, The Handmade Boutique, Twisted Crystals, Yellow
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings

Their Yours Truly signature wedding includes super detail oriented Celebration Specialists who will be there each step of the way to ensure that everything is just as you have imagined. From planning your pre-wedding activities like spa treatments or a round of golf to helping you find just the right traditional Mexican wedding tradition like mariachi music, the Celebration Specialists make your wedding their top priority. From flowers to photography, reception to honeymoon, they have it all figured out!

Oh, and the best part is that you and your hubby will always have a place to celebrate your anniversary with a complimentary one-night stay each year for the rest of your lives. Pretty sweet, right? Click here for more details and to get planning! xoxo

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Post tags: Cabo San Lucas, Capella Pedregal, Mexico, Mexico Wedding
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings, Sponsored Posts

With a passion for creativity and design, and a strict attention to detail, you can rest assured that Karla Casillas will go above and beyond to create a magical day that fits you and your hubby-to-be to a T. From selecting your location to choosing just the right florals, she’ll be by your side, ensuring nothing but perfection.

And for all our readers, Karla Casillas is offering a 10% discount off the wedding investment fee. Click here for more information and happy planning!

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Post tags: Cabo San Lucas, Destination Weddings, Karla Casilla Weddings and Events, Mexico, Mexico Wedding
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings, Sponsored Posts

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

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

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

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

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

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Post tags: Catherine Maladrino, Destination Wedding, Erin Kate Photography, Inspiration Shoot, Mexico
Post categories: Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings

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

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

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

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Post tags: Azul Beach Hotel, Cancun, Christian Louboutin, Destination Wedding, Elan Artists, Express, J. Crew, Kate's Paperie, Mexico, Monnalisa, Naeem Khan, Paulia Perzynska, Ranjana Khan, Roey Yohai, Thomas Pink
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings, Mexico Weddings