A Tropical Romantic Destination Wedding in Mexico
Liz and Mitchel had the most beautiful destination wedding in Akumal, Mexico and I was so lucky they decided to take me with them. This was my first international destination wedding, and it honestly could not have been better! Liz and Mitch are the best! And their friends and family that came along for the adventure were SO much fun! We really bonded over those days and I’m happy to call them friends.
Where to begin… they got married at Akumal Beach Resort, an all inclusive family owned resort. It was a relatively small resort, compared to major branded ones, and the food was actually great (which is, in my opinion, rare in all inclusive places). This resort also had its own separate beach for the ceremony, which made things so intimate. No random people standing on the background with their bathing suits staring at the bride and groom and taking photos on their ipads.
I had so many favorite moments throughout the day…I loved how quiet and intimate the moment of Liz putting her dress on was. I loved photographing the bridesmaids. The fact that I got to spend extra time with them, helped me bond with all of these ladies that besides being babes, are all badass strong women! Another special moment was when I got into the reception room. It was magicland all over. Everything was lit by candle light. Very tasteful, romantic and intimate. They brought personalized shot glasses made of Himalayan salt for everyone, and that was a hit! Of course! Who doesn’t want to drink Tequila out of Himalayan salt glasses in the paradise?!?
Check out these photos and what Liz and Mitch had to say about having a Destination Wedding. They shared with us why they decided to get married in Mexico, and all the tips, pluses and minuses of doing a wedding away from home.
Also, scroll all the way down to find out who the vendors were.
Mitchell and I met in our second year of college at the University of Northern Iowa. We were both political science majors, and unlike most college love stories - we met in class, sitting next to each other. Mitchell then transferred to another state college, but we remained in touch as friends. Mitchell had been interested in me from the day we met, but I took some convincing. We went on a few dates, but nothing more would become of it. It wasn't until after graduating from college that I met up with Mitchell again and gave him a real chance. Once giving him a chance, I fell madly in love with him and we started dating seriously. We got engaged in Iowa on January 3rd, 2018.
Why did you decide on having a destination wedding? And why Mexico?
I always wanted a destination wedding because of the intimacy. I loved the idea of spending several days with close friends and family, rather than a few hours! Mitchell and I also have very small families which worked to our advantage. Honestly, we chose Mexico because it was nearby so our grandmothers didn't have to travel far, and affordable for guests.
My best friend and bridesmaid, Kara, helped create the mood and inspirations for our wedding. It took a lot of inspiration boards and discussion, but we finally landed on moody, romantic, tropical. This embodied how I felt about the entire occasion! Very intimate, romantic, but of course an element of tropical fun ambiance, given the location. There was a lot of emotion tied into our wedding, every piece was decided with great intention and personal touch. The dark, romantic hues and candle light embodied this.
Did you have a favorite moment of the day?
- Our favorite moment of the day had to be exiting our ceremony. Walking by all of our closest friends and family, who had traveled to support us on this day and beyond meant the world to us. Seeing everyone there, in that moment, truly took my breath away!
What were the easiest and toughest things about planning a wedding from far away?
The easiest part was using one vendor, I didn't have to navigate someone for food and someone for flowers - it was one point of contact. The most difficult part was trust. Trusting that this group in another country would handle all of my directions and inspirations properly was stressful! It is hard to not be hands on. But luckily, we were fairly organized with our instructions and most everything went as expected.
Do you have any advice for the couples that just got engaged and are considering having a destination wedding?
My most important advice - BRING YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHER!!!! Finding a photographer who matches your personality and style is so important. Many resorts/destination locations will recommend a local photographer, which makes it easy - but I would not have met this person prior to the big day! Taking time to find a photographer who's style matched mine, having an engagement session with Barbara before, all made the big day such an amazing experience! Barbara is truly one of my favorite parts from our wedding. She was able to capture so much emotion and cultivate so much love for us. I cannot imagine not bringing her along, it was like she had known us for years and who / what was so important to us. I am forever grateful for her.
Would you have done anything different?
There are a few little things I would have done differently, but big picture- I wouldn't change a thing!
All photos by Barbara O Photography
Thanks to all the incredible vendors that made this happen!!
Planner / Coordinator: Kara Keigan, NYC freelancer & Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Dress: Fame and Partners
Bridesmaids dresses: Reformation, Lulus, Jenny Yoo
Suit: Reformation Tailors (based in Chicago)
Florist: Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Hair/make up: Friends
Wedding and Engagement Rings: Heirlooms
Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses: Caitlin Tuttle based in Washington DC
DJ: Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Stationery: Raquel Castro, NYC Graphic Designer / Minted printed
Cinemtographer: Timeless Photography, based in Cancun
And this is us with the biggest smile on our faces! Liz and Mitch, I’ll be forever thankful for this amazing experience. Thank you so much for flying me all the way to Akumal to document such a fun intimate wedding. I love you guys!
