JW Marriott Cancun Resort Announces 2012 Weddings in Cancun Packages

In a recent press release, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa announced its Cancun destination wedding packages for 2012 -- and they sure do look enticing!

According to the press release, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort offers three different Cancun destination wedding packages in 2012, along with elegant additions like flower decorations, ministers and even a Mayan Shaman (for those who truly wish to get into the Cancun spirit).

The Caribbean Pearl Cancun destination wedding package is the first of the 2012 JW Marriott Cancun Weddings. Guests of the wedding arrive at either the gazebo or beach setting at the JW Marriott Cancun resort. The ceremony site features an elegant setup of white chairs and colored bows, selected from the wedding catalog. The Caribbean Pearl package also includes an hour of standard open bar cocktail service, in addition to a beautiful reception area with delicious meals at the JW Marriott Resort. After the ceremony, the bride and groom can enjoy a room upgrade and a romantic turndown service, plus 20% off spa treatments at the Beauty Salon for bride, groom and their guests.

Winter Wedding Palette!

For someone that loves the warmth and sunny beaches of Mexico as much as I do, I certainly love the cold months and winter season as well. That's why I always advocate going for a fall or winter wedding theme...even if you're getting married at the beach. Take a look at this gorgeous winter wedding palette from The Perfect Palette, that would look great in the cold OR on the beach!

Via The Perfect Palette 

Turquoise, Bronze & Ivory Mexico Inspiration Collage

Photo Credit: La Fleur Weddings

Turquoise Dream: Destination Wedding in Mexico

I just came across some absolutely stunning destination wedding pictures from Bridal Musings. Turquoise has always been one of my favorite colors, and I think it's absolutely stunning for a destination wedding -- the contrast against the white sand, the way it melds in with the color of the sky and ocean -- I just love it. Check out these pictures from Bridal Musing's feature on this stunning wedding on the Gulf of Mexico!

Photos from: Bridal Musings

A Touch of Wedding Whimsy - Pinwheels!

As mentioned again and again, I'm a big fan of small touches that make a wedding unique, that add a touch of whimsy, and provide a little fun (perhaps serve as a prop?) for a wedding. Of course, this specifically applies to destination weddings for me, but the same goes for all sorts. I love drawing inspiration from stateside weddings and adding a fiesta twist to make them ideal for a wedding south of the border. The second that I came across this couples wedding photos on The Wedding Chicks, incorporating pinwheels as a fun decoration, I knew that I wanted to include the idea. This would be a perfect touch for a casual beach wedding. Pinwheels are fun, inexpensive, and would look great sticking out from the sand and whirling in the beach air. Furthermore, there are all sorts of ways to customize your pinwheels for a Mexican ceremony. Mexico colored or themed pinwheels would look great with your fiesta wedding on the beach, not to mention you can give them to your guests as a fun souvenir!

Planning the Perfect Beach Wedding: The Ceremony!

Yesterday, I featured tips from Destination Wedding Magazine on how to dress accordingly for the perfect beach wedding. Today I wanted to include some great guidelines for ways to make the most of your destination wedding: At the Ceremony!

Photo Credit: Tim Otto Photography

Stay natural. A gorgeous ocean backdrop doesn’t need to be too dressed up. Instead, highlight the natural beauty of the setting. “A beach wedding can be about shells and starfish, but it can also take inspiration from the harmonious color palette of sand, dune grasses, stones and water,” says Karen Bussen of Simple Stunning in New York. “Decor should be simple; avoid going over the top with fussy flowers.”

Add color. To make your setup really pop, Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events suggests, “Choose colors that contrast the sand and the surf rather than blend in, like corals, greens and other vibrant tones.”

Go local. Celebrity-wedding planner Colin Cowie recommends hiring local vendors as much as possible. “Otherwise you might find your favors or chair covers stuck in customs.” Tracey Kumer-Moore of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge adds, “When it comes to food, look for caterers who are conscientious of local markets and respectful of the beach environment.”

3-D Save-the-Dates - Destination Wedding Save-the-Dates - Destination Weddings - MarthaStewartWeddings.com

Destination Wedding Save-the-Dates - MarthaStewartWeddings.com: Destination Wedding Save-the-Dates are a great chance to be creative and have fun with planning your destination wedding. Here are some great ideas for fun save-the-dates for your Mexico wedding!

3-D Save-the-Dates
Sure, you could hire a plane to trail an aerial banner broadcasting your wedding date, and invite your friends and family over to watch it fly by. But posting these 3-D announcements is far more practical (and just as creative). Plus, your invitees will love opening the tiny envelope to reveal your happy news. While the airplane motif is apt for a destination wedding, these cards are also suited for local celebrations. The Details: Bird & Banner save-the-dates. Postage from Champion Stamp Co.


Postcard Save-the-Dates
For a destination event, this is one of the first steps in the process. After all, your guests have a trip to book! Inform them of your plans about six months before the big day. Choose a card that captures the spirit of your location and also provides plenty of space for important travel information. One of these colorful retro-inspired announcements is just the ticket. Lab Partners for Hello!Lucky save-the-date cards.

Check out more details on this and other interesting ideas for destination wedding save-the-dates from Martha Stewart Weddings].

'via Blog this'

Mexico Wedding | Des and Cary

Love these stunning photos from this couples destination wedding. Des and Cary exchanged vows south of the border, with photography by Lise & Eirik. Here are some pictures of their wedding in Mexico for inspiration!

Photo Credit: December Photography

Mexico Wedding Inspiration - Purple!

Purple has always been one of my favorite colors. My room was purple as a kid, and I frequently have shades of lavender or purple incorporated into my wardrobe for the day. It also happens to be one of my favorite wedding colors. I specifically love purple for a destination wedding in the fall or winter months. It's a warm fall appropriate color, but still manages to tie in a sunny tropical feel. Check out this inspiration board with some great ideas for a purple accented wedding!

Destination Wedding Etiquette: Creating the Guest List

Your wedding is all about you, so invite as many or as few people as you want to your destination wedding, but you can't expect all guests to be able to afford the trip south of the border. Furthermore, because it is an especially large time commitment, this will likely cross people off the list as well. Be realistic -- consider whether you want a large amount of extended family and friends at your destination wedding, or if you would rather have an intimate gathering with immediate family and cose friends. Don't forget the last etiquette advice I gave, suggesting a second reception or party back home to bring in those that weren't invited or couldn't make the trip.

When creating the list, include close friends and family that you would want there even if they have specifically told you they can't make it. It's still nice to be included, and furthermore, plans sometimes change and allow people to go that didn't initially think they would be able to. For most non destination weddings, you would likely skip invitations for colleagues or casual acquaintances who've said they can't come—or you might look like you are just pushing for presents. You could send them wedding announcements or second reception invitations instead, which don t require the recipient to buy a gift. Destination weddings, on the other hand, are  generally small affairs for close friends and relatives in the first place, so do send invitations to the whole save-the-date list.

Bobby Flay's Registry Picks

One of the most popular categories for wedding registries is kitchenware. Because great it can last a lifetime, it's important to put thought and consideration into what items to select when creating your registry. When factoring in kitchen items, it only makes sense to take the opinion of a true expert -- celebrity chef and restauranteur Bobby Flay gives his opinion on the top items to stock your registry with for grilling and more. Here's he had to say:

1. Grilling Kit: It only makes sense that first and foremost would be a great grilling kit, Flay suggests the 5-piece Griller's Kit, $80, Kohls.com


2. Large Serving Dish: serve hot items straight off the gril on a large stoneware platter -- consider Le Creuset Fennel rectangular serving platter, $50, SurLaTable.com

A Romantic Mexico Wedding, by Holly Wilmeth Photography

I love the inspiration from this gorgeous Mexico wedding

photography from weddingnouveau.com. The wedding, which

 was shot by Holly Wilmeth Photography, does a great job 

capturing authentic Mexican traditions, such as mariachi

music, donkey processions, and delicious Mexican recipes. 

Furthermore, it adds its own unique look and feel making this 

wedding all the couple's own! Take a look at the full gallery 

of pictures from this great Mexican wedding!

http://www.hollywilmeth.com/

USATODAY.com - Marrying in Mexico: Destination Weddings Double as Vacations

USATODAY.com - Marrying in Mexico: Destination weddings double as vacations: TULUM, Mexico — I was never someone who dreamed of a big wedding — or any wedding, for that matter. My motto: Give me the honeymoon, and spare me the frothy, white dress.

So when my husband proposed, I said yes — on the condition that we spend an afternoon with a judge and just a few close friends, then run off for a week at the beach. He wanted something a little more formal. In the end we compromised. We got married at the beach, with 70 or so guests, in an event that ended up being cheaper and easier than a traditional wedding, but still unforgettable — with fireworks, mariachis, even a cake fight.

Two years later — as my husband and I traveled to Tulum, south of Cancun, to witness two friends tie the knot on a secluded strip of white sand — I realized I was attending more and more weddings that felt like vacations.

In fact, 10% of the 2 million American couples who marry each year plan so-called "destination weddings" — a 200% increase in the past decade — according to Conde Nast's Bridal Group Infobank and Modern Bride magazine. (Related story: Couples exchanging vows on Alaskan glaciers)

Top 13 Destination Wedding Tips: Day 4

Vendor Checkups
This step is very important for destination brides because you have frequently had to make decisions on vendors sight unseen. Ask for a portfolio of pictures and at least three references. Be sure the references are people for whom the vendor did an event similar to yours. Also ask for the names of other vendors who worked those events and use them as further references regarding the company in question. Make sure you've done your research!

Source: The Knot

Top 13 Destination Wedding Tips: Day 3

Take a Trip 

It's important to scout out and secure all of your key venues; consider taking a trip with your fiance down to your wedding destination a few months before the wedding. This will give you the opportunity to scout out venues such as the church, reception, hotels for your guests, rehearsal dinner venue, etc. Other less obvious items that fall into this category include local suppliers such as caterers, florists, photographers and musicians. Next (or during a second trip if you can swing it) you'll want to schedule "tastings" with your caterer, look at potential bouquet schemes from your florist, plan a hair and makeup session with a  salon and organize activities (golf, tennis, walking tours, museums, etc.) for your guests.

Source: The Knot

Resort Spotlight: The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya

If you're looking for a "retreat resort" with a decadent and luxurious vibe for your Mexican wedding or honeymoon, you may just have found it in the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya. Located on Mexico's Caribbean coast, The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya wows its guests with an atmosphere that is both relaxing and laid back, yet the epitomy of class and luxury. "You just walk in and you feel relaxed," Weiman Nelson says of this lush tropical resort, with huge spa offering treatments inspired by Asian and Mayan traditions. The Villa Presidencial is a private beachfront hideaway for newlyweds.

"It has 128 rooms but doesn't feel like a big hotel," says Weiman-Nelson. "It's for couples who want their guests to be together but also want some privacy." The lagoons on the property provide a wonderful backdrop for rehearsal dinners; a beach wedding is a "must-do." A large ballroom accommodates weddings of up to 200 guests. All in all, the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya seems like the perfect spot for a lavish destination wedding in Mexico.