by riley | Jun 24, 2021 | Wedding
With a shared love of travel, Jessica and Jonathan knew they would say “I do” in one of their favorite countries–Mexico. After settling on Hacienda Yaxcopoil–without ever seeing it in person–the couple’s dreamy glamorous old-Hollywood day came to fruition thanks to planner Tailor Made Dreams. With simple rattan decor and orchids and Calla Lilies arranged by Pure Love Floral, the focus remained on the beauty of the venue’s lush palm trees and old-world facade.
Along with the natural decor, we can’t stop dreaming about Jessica’s Pronovias gown, which she fell in love with because “the subtle beading reminded [her] of palm fronds,” which matched the hacienda’s greenery beautifully. Not to mention Jonathan looked Rico Suave in his cream linen Suit Supply tux, perfect for the warm Mexican sunshine.
So get those bags packed (and don’t forget the sunscreen) because this wedding–beautifully captured by Ana Hinojosa–will transport you right into the heart of the jungle.
The Couple:
Jessica and Jonathan
The Wedding:
Hacienda Yaxcopoil, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Wedding Advice From The Bride
Destination wedding or not, don’t compromise on your vision before finding out if it’s possible! I wasn’t sure my vision would work out, but after exploring and talking to a few local wedding planners, I realized it might be. Of course, it requires taking a leap of faith, and you definitely need to do your research and find the right people to help, but we were 100% happy with our wedding and the entire experience around the wedding day.
Why A Merida Destination Wedding
We settled on Merida because we were in awe of its layered history, opulent architecture, and lush landscape. Although we’d traveled to other cities in Mexico, we’d never been to Merida. We had the great fortune of engaging wonderful local wedding planners, Fernanda Sánchez and Yonatan Lara of Tailor Made Dreams. They made the entire process seamless and assuaged our fears about getting married in a foreign city we’d never even been to. Fernanda helped us virtually navigate the myriad of breathtaking haciendas in the region, even making the three hour trip from Playa del Carmen to send us videos of the haciendas. While there are several amazing haciendas in the greater Merida region, each with its own appeal, Hacienda Yaxcopoil was the one that best melded the glamour of old Merida and the natural vibrancy of the Yucatan.
Embracing The Mexican Culture
We loved hearing from so many of our guests how much they loved Merida and what a great time they had. As we had hoped, many of our guests made a short vacation out of our wedding and stayed a few extra days to explore the city, nearby ruins, cenotes, and even nearby towns. It warmed our hearts to see so many of our guests see what we see in Mexico – the wonderful people, amazing food, and endless beauty.
Congratulations again to Jessica and Jonathan on their elegant Merida destination wedding! Big thank you to Ana Hinojosa for capturing the beauty of the day. We know that planning destination weddings can be confusing, which is why we’ve gathered destination wedding etiquette tips you need to know!
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by riley | May 3, 2021 | Wedding
After getting engaged, Evony and Miguel knew they wanted a unique elopement in a one-of-a-kind destination. Once they figured out those two details, the two fell in love with photographer and Junebug member Donna Irene Weddings’ work and let her take the reins on planning. They ended up with a stunning Playa Balandra elopement featuring sunset vows, portraits amidst the saguaros, and a boat ride photo session that has us dreaming of sunny days at the beach.
There’s no better way to celebrate being newlyweds than to enjoy a luxury picnic–put together by MFC Events–complete with tequila shots and pizza under fairy lights and the night sky. If you’re searching for ways to make your intimate elopement special, keep scrolling because Evony and Miguel nailed it.
The Couple:
Evony and Miguel
The Wedding:
Playa Balandra, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Shop similar hair combs: Floral Bridal Hair Comb ($59); Hand-Crafted Floral Bridal Hair Comb ($39.99); Gold Clay Floral Hair Comb ($86)
Whimsical Boho Vibes At The Playa Balandra Elopement
Our style was heavily inspired by our photographer Donna, who was living in Mexico at the time. She was very familiar with destination weddings and capturing beautiful backdrops. She recommended that we travel to La Paz, Mexico, home to one of the most beautiful and untouched beaches in the world–Playa Balandra. Surrounding the beach were cliffs that overlooked the entire body of water, and we decided to climb up and exchange our vows at the top of the cliff. The vibe was earthy, boho, and whimsical. Using neutral colors and simple accents, we were able to highlight the scenery of Playa Balandra.
Wedding Advice From The Bride
Take the time to map out what you really want on your big day, not what you think others would like or want. Understand that although there are so many details that go into planning, a lot of it is unnecessary. Looking back, some small things won’t matter as much as you thought. However, do not cut corners on hiring your photographer, because it will make or break the experience.
Soaking Up Mexican Culture
Tacos, Tequila, hospitable people, and jaw-dropping views—what’s not to love about Mexico? It was a quick sell for me. Especially since our photographers were living in the area and knew it was such an all-inclusive experience. We not only got to enjoy the views on our wedding day, but there were so many fun excursions to do afterward–like swimming with whale sharks!
Congratulations again to Evony and Miguel on their Playa Balandra elopement! Junebug member Donna Irene Weddings truly put together magic and captured it beautifully–that’s right, she’s a double threat when it comes to weddings. To see more of her work, visit her profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!
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by International Associations | Apr 29, 2021 | Wedding
Mini mezcals, Mexican wedding cookies, and lush tropical backdrops? Count us in. Chiara and Eric’s lush Tulum jungle wedding at Espacio Chechen is the perfect combination of killer style, neutral tones, and a whole lot of fun. We’re utterly obsessed with the décor put together by Arlenis Ruiz and we’re so glad that Conie Suarez Bravo was there to capture it all. We love what Chiara had to say about her special day:
“I found all my vendors through Instagram, it is such a great tool when planning a destination wedding. Originally, our venue was supposed to be beachside but that fell through a month before the wedding. Fortunately, our amazing wedding planner already had backups. I was unsure about it having to be in the jungle and then also having to change the decor and floral that I already ordered. But all the vendors were flexible and I was able to change it right away.
I wanted to feature the lush greenery of the venue so I decided to keep the florals and decor minimal. Our caterer served a delicious taco bar and tres leches cake with a figurine of our puppy on top. I surprised my husband with a churro cart at the end of the night and unbeknownst to me, he also had a surprise lined up. He asked one of our guests to sing our first dance, River by Leon Bridges and it was so beautiful. By the end of the song, all of our guests who have never heard it before were singing along. Truly the best day.”
Despite the hiccups the couple endured, the day turned out beautifully. Get your inspiration boards pulled up because you’re going to want to save this one!
The Couple:
Chiara and Eric
The Wedding:
Espacio Chechen, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Grace Loves Lace Dress and Pearl Necklace
I have always loved Caroline Bessette-Kennedy’s wedding dress. It was simple, elegant, and timeless. Grace Loves Lace’s “Loyola” dress was the third dress I tried on and it instantly reminded me of her dress. I tried on around 20 dresses after that just to shop around but I could not stop thinking about the Loyola dress. I also loved the fact that she kept her hair and accessories minimal. I only wore my wedding ring and a pearl necklace from Mejuri. The pearls were a tribute to my late grandmother, Cornelia, who helped raise my siblings and me in the Philippines. She would take my sister, Kristine, and me to the flea market on the weekends, and even though money was tight, she made it a point to buy us little pearls. The necklace was my homage to her.
Shop similar custom stamps: Custom Wedding Stamp ($16.99); Custom Rubber Wedding Stamp ($18.74); Wedding Logo Stamp ($12.79); Wedding Monogram Stamp ($21)
Why the Espacio Chechen
At first, we had a beach-side venue but that fell through two months before our wedding(!!). That ended up being the best thing that could have happened to us. While we enjoy the beaches, we find ourselves more drawn to the people, food, music, and cenotes in the downtown area and the jungles just outside Tulum. Our affection for this side of Tulum combined with the improvisation and scramble to find a new venue to yield a beautiful organic and bohemian vibe that we feel is far more authentically “us.” The final result was a complete collaboration amongst us, our amazing wedding planner Arlenis, and all of our vendors.
Soaking Up Time With One Another
One of our dear friends who couldn’t make it (due to a new baby on the way!) gave Eric amazing advice to take a moment with just the two of us and look around at all of the people who came so far to celebrate with us. After all, this will be the only time in our lives where this exact group of people will be at the same place together creating this exact energy. We did this after the recessional, and our photographer Conie actually caught us basking in the moment! Think of how surreal it is to have a destination wedding all the way in Mexico and 100 people ventured all that way to witness our union.
Adding Personalized Touches
I added a lot of personal touches to our wedding, Etsy really became my savior throughout the whole process. We used it for everything from ordering a customized stamp with our initials and our wedding date (then stamping it on 200 linen bags used for flower tossing and favors) to ordering our wedding cake topper in the likeness of our adopted dog, Parker. Also, having known Eric for almost 20 years, we did a yearbook of all of our pictures together through the years as our wedding guestbook. I had so much fun thinking of different ways to personalize every detail.
Shop similar cake toppers: Custom Pet Cake Topper ($66); Personalized Pet Cake Topper($41.99); I Do Too Clay Dog Cake Topper ($90)
Congratulations to Chiara and Eric for their special day at Espacio Chechen—and a huge thank you to Conie Suarez Bravo for capturing it! To see more Tulum inspo, check out Diana and Zach’s Chic Oceanfront Wedding at Akiin Beach Tulum.
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by kailey | Apr 1, 2021 | Wedding
A three day long wedding in Yucatán, México starting with a ceremony and ending with a party. Count us in. Arturo and Robert’s intimate jungle chic wedding at Chablé Resort & Spa was the perfect combination of elegance and a good time. The couple, with the help of wedding planner Yucatán Love, created a day full of local Yucatán cultural influences. From the authentic Yucatán foods and cocktails to dancers welcoming guests entering the hacienda, no detail was left untouched.
The grooms contrasting black and navy suits perfectly complemented the lush jungle greenery from the day-time ceremony through the night-time reception, turned party. We are beyond grateful photographer and videographer Meraki Weddings captured the intentionality—from the grooms matching iridescent bow ties to the light-up transparent jungle dance floor—that made this day special and unique.
The Couple:
Arturo and Roberto
The Wedding:
Mérida, Yucatán, México
Shop similar bow ties: Men’s High-end Feather Bow Tie ($22); The Westchester ($85); Goosetie Dark Green Bow Tie ($29)
Congratulations to Arturo and Robert for their intimate jungle chic wedding at Chablé Resort & Spa. Big thanks to photographer and videographer Meraki Weddings for sharing these jaw-dropping photos that captured the bold colors—a 2021 wedding trend—and cherished details celebrating these grooms.
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by riley | Mar 11, 2021 | Wedding
When world travelers plan a destination wedding, it’s going to be a good one. Charlotte and Tom have been all over the world together and chose Mexico for their summer Costa Careyes destination wedding. The couple tied the knot at Tigre Del Mar–a literal tower with sweeping ocean views–before partying the night away during sunset under cafe lights.
With the help of planner House of Kirschner, the couple’s over-the-top nuptials were full of bright colors, simple florals from Diego Figueroa, and live music from Harlem Gospel Choir–who they flew in from New York. Not to mention Charlotte wore a one-of-a-kind Danielle Frankel long sleeve ceremony gown and high-low Alex Perry party dress that she changed into later in the evening.
These two proved that they know how to throw an extravagant event, and thankfully Junebug member Meraki Weddings was there to capture every well-thought-out detail. Keep scrolling to see the glamorous destination “I dos” and be prepared to feel some serious wanderlust.
The Couple:
Charlotte and Tom
The Wedding:
Tigre Del Mar, Costa Careyes, Jalisco
Shop similar robes: Satin Silk Bridal Robe With Ostrich Feathers ($206); Bridal Robe With Feather Sleeves ($94); Feathered Satin Robe ($36)
Unique Bridal Fashion
I wanted my wedding dress to be chic, modern, and a little different—I enjoy taking risks in fashion. Danielle Frankel is the definition of risky for weddings! Danielle and I worked alongside each other for an entire year so I saw this risk up close. I love what she’s about. I saw her gown was the runner up of CFDA Awards and fell in love. The dress was called Charlotte and I like to think it was after me! I was the first bride to wear this dress, and it made me feel special. I changed into an Alex Perry dress after I cut the cake. It was short enough to scream “party time”—one of the coolest dresses I’ve owned. Many people told me not to change, but to me, this dress still felt bridal and allowed me to feel more relaxed. I got to enjoy myself.
The Importance of Music
Much of the wedding was about providing good music. We flew in the Harlem Gospel Choir from NYC, who sang at our ceremony and cocktail hour before dinner. We wanted to recreate the experience of Kanye West’s Sunday Service.
A Memorable Musical Surprise
The most memorable moment, by far, was the song my husband wrote for me as a surprise during the ceremony. Much of the wedding was about providing good music, and the Harlem gospel choir absolutely killed the song my husband wrote. It was so emotional and touching–the most romantic thing he has ever done for me.
Why A Costa Careyes Destination Wedding
We knew we wanted to have a destination wedding. We’ve been out of Australia for eight years, lived in many different countries, and explored the world together. It just made sense. Mexico was perfect since it’s a summer destination and a very diverse country. Tom and I made many scouting trips and traversed the east and west coast until we landed on Costa Careyes. Not one of our guests had been there before & it had a cool vibe–very unique. It has 10km of beautiful coastline and is colorful and luxurious.
Over The Top Wedding Favors
When our guests arrived at their rooms in Costa Careyes, they were welcomed with custom beach bags, which were filled with branded hats for the men/visors for the ladies, personalized M&M’s with my and Tom’s face on them, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, Advil, and more. On the wedding night, our guests got personalized plates to eat, which were then packaged up at the end of the night and sent to their rooms. We had an artisan in Guadalajara design and make them.
Congratulations again to Charlotte and Tom on their Mexico destination wedding at Costa Careyes! We can’t get enough of the photos captured by Junebug member Meraki Weddings. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world.
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