Red and Yellow Mexico Wedding Inspiration

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs

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.

Reception Music: Getting Started - TheKnot.com

Reception Music: Getting Started - TheKnot.com: If it’s done right, music will energize your celebration, heighten romance, and inspire guests to get down on the dance floor. "If music be the food of love, play on...." So said Shakespeare, and we echo his sentiment wholeheartedly. Here are eight notes to keep in mind.

Finding Your Muse

The best way to find the perfect band or DJ for your reception? Firsthand knowledge. Have you been to a wedding where the band kept the guests grooving all night long? Were you all smiles until the very last dance? Get the band's name and contact info. Alternatively, poll your recently married friends: Did they love their wedding band or DJ? Have they been to an event with great music? Word of mouth is still the best way to get the best musicians.

I've always loved putting together different color ideas, and looking at inspiration boards for combinations that I find...well, inspiring. One of my favorites is to use fall wedding ideas and rich dark colors for a destination wedding theme. Most people immediately think of bright and airy colors when planning for a beach wedding, but that doesn't have to be the case! Take a look at this gorgeous wedding inspiration board with red, peach and brown.

Picture from: Delightfully Engaged

The End Of The Vintage Wedding Trend

Huffington Post contributor Harmony Walton tells us that the vintage wedding trend is on its way out, and she couldn't be more thrilled. Personally, I actually like this trend (if done correctly and tastefully), but it's never a good idea to channel too much of your weddings style toward something that is trendy and could ever be viewed as kitschy. Take a look at what Harmony had to say!

Harmony Walton: The End Of The Vintage Wedding Trend: Sprawling fields of high grass, hillsides off in the distance, and ... a gorgeous bride and groom perched on a vintage velvet burgundy chaise. Oh, the memories of the vintage wedding and its somewhat silly staged photographs. The not-so timeless vintage theme is one that often incorporates elements such as 50's era luggage used as décor, mismatched chairs reminiscent of a casual backyard event, and floral vessels made from all types of throwback food canisters.

Thankfully, the vintage wedding trend that took the nation by storm (in no small part due to the relentless plugging by us bridal bloggers), is finally starting to see the shade of its own sunset. And not a moment too soon -- I say let the trend end!

Read more on the demise of the vintage wedding trend.

Fall Wedding Inspiration

Halloween is over, and with a chill in the air, it feels as though fall has finally arrived. Fall is hands down my favorite season, so I personally could not be more thrilled. And whether you're planning your nuptials stateside or below the border, there's no reason not to celebrate your fall wedding with deep autumn colors and food and decorations that are fit for the fall months. The Wedding Chicks seem to be on a roll. When hunting down fall wedding inspiration, I absolutely fell in love with their gorgeous ideas for a glamorous fall wedding. Cider? Caramel? Decorative gourds? Yes please! And might I add that I love me a decorative gourd display. Furthermore, the adorable "Fall in Love" wall display would make for a perfect backdrop for photos. Who needs a photo booth when you have this?!

Photo Credit: The Wedding Chicks

Wedding Money: Who's Footing the Bill? - Wedding Planning - Wedding Budget - TheKnot.com

Wedding Money: Who's Footing the Bill? - Wedding Planning - Wedding Budget - TheKnot.com: These days, the cost of a wedding makes a year at Harvard and Yale look affordable. How are you going to scrape together the bucks so you can have the bash you want? Put that idea about sticking up the Federal Reserve on hold. You have options -- legal, time-honored, respectable options. The kind of options that, unless you're in the habit of bouncing checks, won't land you behind bars. Here's a rundown of some of them, plus their pros and cons. Keep in mind that a combination of two or more may be how you end up getting your wedding paid for.

The Bride's Parents Pay
The traditional -- and still pretty popular -- way of paying for the wedding.

The Pros:
You don't have to dip into your nest egg to pay for the wedding, which means you'll probably be driving a better car, buying a better house and taking better vacations a year from now than your contemporaries who are paying -- in full or partially -- for their own wedding.

The Cons:"The person who pays ultimately gets what he or she wants," says JoAnn Gregoli, a wedding consultant and owner of Elegant Occasions in Denville, New Jersey. Which means that if you want 100 guests but your parents want 250, you'll probably end up with at least 175 to 200 people at your wedding. "Having your parents pay for the wedding doesn't hurt your wallet," notes Gregoli, "but you have to be willing to compromise on what the wedding will be like." Another downside: Having your parents pay for the wedding -- especially if they're retired, on a fixed income, or just not that well off to begin with -- could strap them down with some major debt.

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!

Wedding Destination: American Attends a Perfect Destination Wedding in Mexico

Mexico has become one of the foremost locations in the world for destination weddings. Take a look at this video from Mexico Today, highlighting one tourists wonderful experience at a destination wedding south of the border!

Fall Wedding Colors at Your Beach Wedding

As we move into fall, and the days turn colder, I love looking to rich warmer colors for wedding inspiration. Deep purples, golds and dark greens are a few of the colors that I love best for an earthy fall wedding. Planning a fall wedding on the beach and think that these same fall wedding colors don't apply? Think again! Don't shy from playing up the season back home at your beach wedding, check out this great inspiration board with a deep rich red -- perfect for a fall wedding on the beaches of Mexico!

Photo Credit: Project Bride

Is a Destination Wedding Right For You? A Few Pros and Cons

A destination wedding provides several components; an element of travel, a vacation for guests as well as the bride and groom, and generally a unique experience. There are many factors that make a destination wedding so special that should be considered when deciding if it is right for you specifically. Here are a few main motivators for many couples to choose a destination wedding:

R&R for the couple: Destination weddings are great for a couple that wants a more laid back experience. If you live in a busy urban city, you might enjoy getting married at the beach more than in the church down the street.

One-stop shop: Most destination wedding venues are one-stop shops and have everything that you need in one place. These types of resorts also often have planners who will take on all of the work with vendors. Furthermore, most have on-site caterers!

Creates a great home base: Here is one that really hits home. Coming from a family that moved around a lot, I never felt like I had a real home base for which to have my wedding. If you come from a similar situation, or perhaps you and your fiance are not from close to each other, a destination wedding can be a great way to create common ground.

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

Destination Wedding Inspiration, Coral with Turquoise and Red Palette

I've always been a fan of turquoise and red as a color combination -- I've decorated my room with these colors, themed parties, and always admired a beach wedding with this fun and festive color scheme.

Here's a great inspiration borad with nice touches for your beach wedding using coral with turquoise and red palette colors. 

A&A Photography - Mexico Day After Shoot

Andy and Angie Wood are the faces behind A&A Photography, a Denver-based husband and wife photography duo who have been voted Denvers Best Wedding Photographers, as well as one of the Top 350 Wedding Photographers in the World. I wanted to include a few shots from this "day after" shoot in Mexico. I love the pictures on the staircase, as well as the lush vegetation that serves as a gorgeous backdrop for many of the shots.

Be sure to check out the full gallery of pictures!

Cabo San Lucas Beach Wedding from Altura Studio | Style Me Pretty

Cabo San Lucas Beach Wedding from Altura Studio | Style Me Pretty: "Altura Studio always, always, always sends us some really swoon-inducing events. Today is absolutely no exception. They were lucky enough to “work” from the beach on Cabo San Lucas for this affair, and I’m pretty sure the ocean-adjacent, piñata-toting, s’more roasting affair was less work and much more swoon worthy play. The laid back and beautiful couple seems so in love, so relaxed, and oh-so-happy. All things you would hope a fantastic locale like Cabo San Lucas would warrant. Click here for more of this beach party on Altura’s blog!" ... Read More

Rustic Mexico Wedding

I put up a post not too long ago which featured a rustic wedding in Mexico, and have been in love with the idea ever since. I like the thought of straying from the standard beach wedding concept and creating a totally different feel and aesthetic than what most of are used to. Furthermore, something about the warm rustic touches and deep colors with the backdrop of the beach and ocean just works. 

So when I came across this inspiration board from Best Destination Wedding for a rustic Mexican wedding, I had to include it! I love everything about this board -- from the deep burgundy to the heavy wooden archway to the cast-iron accents. Take a look!

Steve & Anna's Destination Wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

In conjunction with the last post, I wanted to include a wedding video with some great footage of the natural beauty of Playa del Carmen as a wedding destination. I loved these pictures from one couples intimate wedding in Playa. From the ceremony (which took place in an open air cabana-like chapel), to the casual yet elegant reception right on the beach, these pictures really capture the essence of what a wedding in Mexico can really provide. Take a look!


Steve & Anna's Destination Wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico from Dave & Charlotte on Vimeo.

The Wedding Candy Bar - A Fun Touch For A Beach Wedding

Those of you that have read this blog in the past know that I am a big advocate of small touches that distinguish your beach wedding from a more formal affair stateside. There's a reason that you chose a destination wedding in Mexico or elsewhere -- you're looking for something fun, and often something more laid back and casual. Enter the candy bar idea. Having a monstrous sweet tooth myself, I'm naturally disposed to think it's a smashing idea. Personal preference aside, a candy bar is a fun and relatively inexpensive touch for a more laid back wedding.

When it comes to the details -- whether you want an old-fashioned candy bar or something more specific to your theme -- the sky is the limit! Pick your favorite sweets, as well as those that go with your general aesthetic and wedding colors, and go to town! 

Photo Credit: I'm An Okie Blog

Photo credit: Wedzilla Blog

Beaches Provide The Ideal Backdrop For Mexico Weddings | Tropical Honeymoons

Beaches Provide The Ideal Backdrop For Mexico Weddings | Tropical Honeymoons: "Picture yourself stating “I do” over a tropical beach hideaway amongst your closest friends as well as family. With countless beautiful beach locations to choose from, Mexico weddings have never been more desired. Whether you are appear to being as for an intimate beach ceremony or a luxurious affair a beach wedding in Mexico promises to be economical alternative to a wedding in your housetown. Mexico has several of the all of beautiful beaches over the planet, ancient ruins as well as old world cities. And goes along with affordable prices as well as friendly locals, it is an ideal place as for a destination wedding." ... Read More

Real Wedding Spotlight: Meghan & Nick in Sayulita, Mexico

Venue: Villa Amor, Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico

Photography: Stephanie WilliamsEvent Coordinator: Karen Ruezga, Amor Weddings
Florist: Mireya Quintero of Flor Mimo

Photographs taken from The Collection Event Studio