Puebla, Mexico Makes It to The New York Times' Top Places to Go in 2012 (Via Mexico Today)

Deciding on where you'd like to travel for your destination wedding?

Every year The New York Times selects the top places readers should travel to. Puebla, Mexico, a city especially noted for its historical significance and culinary offerings, has earned the thirteenth spot on this famed travel list of places to go in 2012.

Located in East-Central Mexico, Puebla is about a two hour drive from Mexico’s capital, Mexico City. Puebla is a city overflowing with fascinating architecture and in-tact colonial relics that demonstrates the city’s pride in history and adds to its overall appeal. ... Keep Reading

Valentine Inspiration Board

I've always been a fan of muted colors and a delicate dainty feel for a wedding of any sort. This inspiration board is great for a February wedding on the beach -- or a wedding anywhere for that matter! Originally posted by Postcards and Pretties, the creator said she was inspired by the heart-shaped chocolate box that is quintessential to valentine's day but with more of a romantic feel with warm chocolate browns and soft rose and pearl accents.

Mexican Wedding Inspiration Shoot by Erin Kate Photography

I absolutely adored this Mexican wedding inspiration shoot by Erin Kate Photography, as posted on Style Me Pretty. Here are just a few of the gorgeous shots, take a look at the full spread of pictures from this great Mexican wedding shoot that includes wonderful touches such as paper seating flags tucked into pots of figs and florals wrapped up in burlap and lace!  

The Friendly World of Probiotics

I wanted to include a few pictures that I found today on Done Brilliantly Wedding Blog of this gorgeous destination wedding in Mexico. The wedding was captured by one of their featured photographers, Nathan Welton of Dreamtime Images. Nathan is not only a wedding photographer, but also an adventure photographer.

A Paradise Cove in Cabo San Lucas: Hotel Capella Pedregal

A Paradise Cove in Cabo San Lucas: Hotel Capella Pedregal: Hotel Capella Pedregal is brand spanking new and absolutely gorgeous. Think five star location, accommodations, food, and service all in one beautiful little package. Capella Pedregal is located just footsteps from the heart of Los Cabos. One could enjoy a walk to Cabo’s famed nightclubs and selection of amazing restaurants, but there’s no need given the fleet of SUV’s waiting to whisk you off to wherever your heart desires. But first you must travel through a mountain. That’s right, a mountain! Capella Pedregal drilled a tunnel so that it may have access to the city on one side and a blissful, private beach on the other.

Service and Accommodation
Capella Pedegral prides itself on its service and it is dedication to giving its guests the best possible experience. This includes lavish accommodations with your own infinity pool and butler. YES, a butler. Your “mayordomo” is there to greet you, unpack your bags, cook you breakfast, and do anything you need. Just to give you an idea, my favorite shoe broke on the way to the hotel (probably because it was a $10 sandal from Santee alley in Downtown LA) and my lovely mayordomo immediately called in the handy man who was able to fix my shoe in a matter of minutes. A couple of days later I fell victim to an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite during a mid-night party in a friends accommodation and not ten minutes later after I made a call, I had a package of Benadril brought in for me from town. The service at Capella Pedregal is absolutely priceless.

Honeymoon Travel: Mexico the Americas: Cozumel Honeymoons, Mexico from The Knot

Honeymoon Travel: Mexico the Americas: Cozumel Honeymoons, Mexico from The Knot: Unlike its bustling neighbor Cancun, Cozumel is relatively quiet -- only 3% of this 189-square-mile island has been developed. Located 12 miles off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and fringed by beautiful reefs, "the land of the swallows" offers clear turquoise waters and wide, white-sand beaches.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport
Language: Spanish
Currency: Peso
Flight time: 6 hours from NYC, 7 hours from LA, 6 hours from Chicago, 2 1/2 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, rental car

When To Go: Cozumel at its best
Best weather: November to April. Rainy season runs from May through October; hurricane season swirls from September to October.
Best prices: May to mid-December; exact dates vary from hotel to hotel so be sure to do adequate research! Try to book as early as possible to ensure the lowest prices.


What To Do
Go diving: With more than 30 charted reefs and a variety of dive tours -- including deep, drift, shore, wall, night, and theme dives that focus on ecology, archaeology, wrecks, and photography -- Cozumel is one of Mexico's premier diving destination. In fact, Columbia Shallows is one of the most electrifying shallow dives in the Caribbean. As an added bonus, peak diving season (June to August) coincides with off-peak hotel season.

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.

Aeromexico Airlines Expands New Flight Routes says MexicoToday

In planning a destination wedding, flights are a major consideration and priority. The cost and availability of flights and the can be a major factor when your wedding guests are making their plans and deciding if they can make the trip for the wedding.

MexicoToday has just reported some good news for those traveling to Mexico! Aeromexico Airlines, Mexico’s leading airline company, has expanded new flight routes within Mexico and between Mexico and the United States. This is anticipated to increase their capacity by 12 to 13 percent in 2012. Read more from MexicoToday!

Environmentally Sustainable Mexican Resort Isla Amaitlán Breaks Ground

Are you planning your destination wedding in Mexico, and looking for a venue that is environmentally sustainable? Look no further! The beginning stages of planning and building have begun for this gorgeous $120 million resort on Isla de la Piedra. Check out the full story on this gorgeous environmentally friendly resort, from Mexico Today.

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)

Wedding Inspiration: Sunny Yellow Wedding Cake

Yellow has always been one of my favorite colors, and I think that bright sunshine yellow is especially perfect for a beach wedding in Mexico. When I came across this gorgeous bright wedding cake I wanted to include it for a dose of inspiration!

Jamie Clayton Photography

Glass Escort Cards

Here's an idea that I came across on "Soundtrack To I Do," a blog which predominantly offers music advice for those soon to be married. The article discussed a wedding dilemma which I would imagine is relatively common for those tying the knot in larger two-story venues. The bride was telling Soundtrack I do that after the ceremony the guests would go upstairs, enjoy a signature cocktail, then return downstairs for the reception. There was one major problem: the guests would have to venture down the venue's small staircase holding drink, cocktail napkin, and escort card. But what if they read their table numbers upstairs and then forgot it before heading back downstairs? As usual, the wedding blogosphere came up with a great solution to this issue...what a fun and easy to implement idea, perfect for a beach wedding!

What fun to customize your wedding glasses with chalkboard paint glasses that double as escort cards, which provide a great component for a casual wedding on the beach. I love the idea above of using classic mason jars, from Emmaline Bride. If you're going for a more vintage feel at your wedding, consider the idea below-- using old coke bottles and adding stickers with the names! 

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

Top 13 Destination Wedding Tips: Day 2

Schedule A Test Drive


Remember that this is unique from having a wedding in your hometown, and that guests will be more or less dependent on you once they reach the destination. Go through a checklist to make sure all of your bases are covered -- be sure that you have transportation to and from the airport covered, and that you've mapped out some sort of itinerary for the weekend. Have bus drivers do a dry run of the route to be sure that they don't get lost between the ceremony and the reception. While small details like the last may seem like overkill, all it takes is one misstep to throw off your wedding day groove.

Source: The Knot

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!

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!

Destination Wedding in Playa del Carmen

I was talking to a recently engaged friend not long ago who is considering going to Mexico for her wedding; the guest list would be relatively short and the wedding would be intimate. When I asked if she knew where she would want to hold the nuptials she didn't give a moments pause before exclaiming that she would want it to be in Playa del Carmen, one of the most beautiful parts of Mexico.

Widely considered by this same sentiment, Playa del Carmen is a balneario (Latin American seaside resort) city just south of Cancun on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. Known for it's white sandy beaches and sparkling water, the pristine beauty of the area makes it a popular setting for destination weddings.

Originally a small fishing town, Playa del Carmen is said to have some of the best beaches in Mexico. Furthermore, the local community and government have tried hard to retain the area's reputation and setting as a small artists' colony and fishing village, and shied away from becoming a large tourist and metropolitan area like Cancun. This brings a unique charm to the area that would wonderfully complement a small, intimate destination wedding!

Here's a touch of whimsy to kickstart your Friday. I absolutely love these inspirational ideas for bohemian wedding dresses from Para ti Novia. The light gauzy fabric with sheer pieces look so gorgeous blowing in the wind, and the rolling beach makes a perfect backdrop for this look.

I can't think of anything more appropriate for a beach wedding than a cool, laid-back bohemian gown! Check out more pictures from Para ti Novia.

Photos courtesy of Jose Villa via La Partie Events

Photos courtesy of Jose Villa via La Partie Events

Photos courtesy of Jose Villa via La Partie Events

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

Coconut Cocktails!

I've talked about how much I love the idea of a fun signature cocktail for a destination wedding before on this blog. It's a great way to add a personal touch while incorporating a delicious (and visually appealing) treat!

Having spent the first 10 years of my life in the tropics -- the Philippines, specifically -- I became quite familiar with the trick of slicing off the top of a young green coconut (or buko as they are called in Tagalog) and popping in a straw to drink out the sweet juice inside. This has also been frequently used as a method for serving cocktails, whether or not the actual "buko juice" is even used. I love the idea of serving drinks out of coconuts for a beach wedding! 

Use your imagination! When it comes to signature cocktails and ways to serve them, the sky is the limit. Also, consider incorporating something that has personal significance. Are you a huge fan of literature? I've seen wedding photos of couples that have had snippets from classic novels papier-mâchés onto their stemware and then given them to guests as take-home gifts. Get creative!

Photo Credit: Jillian Mitchell Photography