In case you missed Part 1 of this super yummy destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- stop now and go here. If you don’t, you will seriously regret it (and I might cry).
I think this has to be my most favorite “nature shot” from a wedding feature EVER!
And I’m really diggin’ this photo…I want to throw my arms up and dance in the rain too!
When I contacted Maura to find out if she’d share some details about their big day with us, I was so excited to learn that she had actually visited The Oceanside Bride during her own wedding planning for inspiration among other wedding blogs out there. I think most would agree after seeing the gorgeousness from this wedding weekend- Maura and Vikas have truly become an inspiration for us all still planning our own weddings, destination or not.
Seeing weddings like this get me all giddy with anticipation and excitement for my big day! I love how Maura and Vika found ways to infuse their own cultures and traditions with those of the local Mexican vibe, ultimately creating one unforgettable wedding weekend for them and their guests!
And ladies, it would be a shame if you didn’t read Maura’s details and advice below. It seriously has to be some of the best out there!!
From our Oceanside Bride, Maura:
Please tell us a little more about you two and if you wish, share your personal love story:
My husband and I first met during our surgical residency training in New York City. Always good friends, we didn’t start dating until a few years later when I began a fellowship at a neaby hospital. Somehow, admist stressful (and frequently sleepless) days of surgical training, we managed to find time to fall in love. With late night pizza and early morning coffee, our initial relationship was low on nutrition and relaxtion, but high on laughter and fun.
We had always loved the idea of a destination wedding. With family and friends spread across the US and beyond (and only us in NYC), a few, relaxed and fun-filled days together on vacation seemed like the perfect way to begin our life together. We rented a large villa along the pacific coast of Mexico, just south of Puerto Vallarta, which served as the accomodations, meals and home-base for activities (such as surfing lessons and massages) for all guests during the long-weekend. For the wedding ceremony and reception, we chose Las Caletas, a secluded beach venue accessible only by boat.
How and why did you choose your destination?
My husband and I live in a tiny studio apartment in the East Village and planned our entire wedding weekend over the Internet. We wanted to create a “vacation” feeling to contrast with our hectic, urban lifestyle. After extensive online research using a variety of trusted internet sites (trip advisor, wedding blogs), we decided on Puerto Vallarta for its beauty, price and accessibility. It was tropical, yet easy to get to with inexpenive, direct flights from many US cities. We did not have the opportunity to fly to Mexico to check out the venue ahead of time, so we relied entirely on communication with the people at the venue. For the ceremony and reception, we ultimately chose Las Caletas because of our extremly positive relationship with their wedding planner, Kelly Kahrhoff. In the planning stages, she was quick to return emails and made destination wedding planning seem easy and unstressful. Through phone conversations and emails, it was clear that our wedding was being handled by an experienced, organized professional.
What unique elements or DIY projects did you incorporate into your big day to help make it extra special?
Overall, I wanted a modern, graphic yet beachy vibe with lots of opportunity for DIY items. Thankfully, I came across Megan Gonzalez at MaeMae Paperie, an amazingly talented graphic designer who transformed my ideas and style into a cohesive, contemporary event that was completely representative of both of us. We absolutely adored everything she created! In addition to our invitation booklet, she made favor-tags, menu cards, mexican-like banners, water bottle labels and door hang tags to identify each guest’s room at the villa. Megan is every bride’s dream, not only because of her boundless creativity, but she totally understands our inner DIY! All of the items except the invitation booklet were offered as part of her “print at home” program– a cheaper alternative in which she provides the images and you do the rest! Additionally, all of these were perfect DIY items for transport to a destination wedding.
For place cards, table numbers, drink-of-the-day cards and a guest book (all of which I decided I wanted at the last minute), I found DIY inspiration on various wedding blogs (like Oceanside Bride)! For the guest book, I made a sign and combined post-cards I brought from New York with ones I purchased in Mexico and had guests write these to us. It worked out perfectly (and was easy to transport to Mexico!) A few other ceremony/decor items were DIY projects that were amenable to international transport- a ribbon curtain, ribbon stakes and orange paper lanterns from Etsy that we put together in Mexico.
What challenges (if any) did you face while planning your destination wedding?
We actually found the planning process to be relatively easy and stress free! Some DIY ideas had to be modified for international transport, but that was just part of the creative process!
What was the best thing about having a destination wedding? Share your best wedding weekend moment!
There are just two items that deserve special mention– the first is my dress. It was designed by a close friend and amazingly talented designer, Cristina Bedwell, previously a fellow New Yorker and now in Washington, DC. Not a fashion maven, having a dress designed and made for me was a uniquely personal, and surprisingly budget-friendly, experience. I wanted a simple, but beautiful and beach-y dress that could be easily transported to an international, destination wedding– Cristina took these broad instructions and came up with something more gorgeous than I could have imagined. And it was totally unique! Cristina traveled to NYC for each and every fitting, made a drawing of the dress (a wonderful keepsake in itself) and had matching fabric flowers made for my hair. She is both a stunning designer and an incredible friend!
Secondly, our ceremony was performed by my brother-in-law using a outline we created. As in other parts of the weekend, we tried to infuse a relaxed, causal vibe as well as humor into the ceremony. In writing our own vows, we included a few humorous items (“I promise to objectify you when appropriate”) among the other heart-felt sentiments. Although a secular ceremony, I wanted to include a small version of a Quaker tradition in which the “community” (ie the friends and family or wedding guests) welcome the couple by sharing their thoughts, advice or feelings about marriage, family and friendship. My brother-in-law navigated this tricky task perfectly and had us join in a circle immediately following the ceremony. Rather than being sappy or over-romantic, it was actually a fun, occasionally hilarious and uniquely personal way to conclude our ceremony. It was one of the most memorable parts of our day.
The reception immediately followed the beach ceremony in an open-air restaurant overlooking the beach. Having our wedding at Las Caletas was one of the best decisions we made. Not only did it have unsurpassed views, delicious food and an all-around gorgeous venue, but it was remarkably budget-friendly with many unexpected inclusions, like all the candles, bonfire, dance floor, linens, iPod enable sound system (we used playlists we had made for the music), etc. Everything about that night was beyond our wildest expectations. Even the rain, when it came late in the reception, was handled well: the dance floor was moved inside in minutes and large umbrellas were given to every guest for the end of the night walk back to the boat. A staff member even maintained the large bonfire despite the rain! As the pictures suggest, the rain did not dampen the party and many guests (including my husband) managed to bring “dancing in the rain” to another level.
Lastly, none of this would be documented in such detail without our brilliant, dedicated, hard-working and fun photographer, Claire Barrett. I think her photos speak for themselves (and yes, she was out in the rain with an umbrella taking photos!)
What is your best advice for other couples considering a destination wedding?
Vendor selection is important in all weddings, however, it seems to take on a specifically important role when the bride and groom (or other family member) does not live in the destination location. While a wedding planner may or may not be necessary, it is important to have a reliable, knowledgeable contact at the venue. In our case, Kelly was able to navigate local vendors and options for us, always quick to reference and stay without our budget. We also found it helpful to speak with prior brides who utilized similar venues and vendors. Don’t hesitate to contact them- in general, they were enthusiastic about talking about their wedding and experience. Ideally, it would help to visit the location ahead of time. However, if impossible, rest assured that you can still have the wedding you imagine! Lastly, one of the best things about having a destination wedding is the opportunity to spend time with friends and family “on vacation” in the days surrounding the ceremony and reception. We planned some fun, low-key activities for anyone interested (surfing lessons, etc) that were a huge hit. However, planning extra events may not be necessary—just relaxing on the beach with your closet friends and family can make all the difference.
Bride and Groom: Maura and Vikas
Wedding Date: September 4, 2010
Destination Wedding Location: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Approximate Guest Size: 47
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
The Creative Team Behind the Scenes:
Photography: Claire Barrett /Stationery: MaeMae Paperie (Megan Gonzalez), Dress: Cristina Bedwell, Event Planning: Adventure Weddings (Kelley Kahrhoff) /Jewelry: Veronica Riley Martens (Etsy) Paper Lanterns: PrudenceOctavia (Etsy)
This wedding was submitted via Two Bright Lights!
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