Chelsea and Casey’s destination wedding took place on the beach in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida at The Sirata Beach Resort. Their elegant photography is courtesy of Stephanie Smith Photography.

I absolutely love the floral arrangements and decorations used in this wedding! The strong purple and orange colors provide such a great background for the flowers, shells and driftwood on the tables.  Read on for the details…

How did the two of you meet?
It was meant to be…

Chelsea’s cousin, Joe, just got back from Iraq and had plans to go on a cruise. At the last minute, he invited her along and she packed her bags and went for it! What else was she doing, except job hunting, applying to graduate school and recovering from college expenses!

Casey’s family planned a trip which he wasn’t initially able to go on. Last minute, he decided to go and booked the flight and room.

Joe and Chelsea walked around checking out the boat and searching for fun places to hang out and ended up at the Wheel of Madness blackjack table. There was a very adorable man at the end of the table that looked up at Chelsea with these goofy tipsy eyes and introduced himself as Casey.

Since Joe and Chelsea were headed to the Princess Idol contest (where Chelsea would inevitably embarrass herself to Joe’s amusement), they made plans to meet back up throughout the trip. After the Princess Idol was a flop they headed back to the casino where Casey was still sitting.

The cruise was amazing and by the second night Casey & Chelsea found friendship and good conversation.  They were intrigued by each other and exchanged phone numbers. Slowly but surely they began talking and a close friendship began. Within months, they planned a date and found and immediate connection. They decided that no matter how hard by the distance that separated them, they would make it work.

Two years later, they were engaged, buying a house, raising a puppy, and beginning to start planning the wedding of their dreams! Now that they are married and settling into happily ever after, they are expecting their first child.

Tell us about the proposal!
Casey had to attend the Oracle conference in San Francisco in October and had plans to be gone for over a week. Chelsea got a call on Wednesday night and Casey informed her that she was leaving in the morning to come join him in San Fran! He had already taken care of the work and school schedule.  She flew out and met him at Hotel Frank, where they made plans to travel the city, visit the golden gate bridge, go on a catamaran, visit Alcatraz, etc. They spent the entire weekend reveling in the beautiful city. On the last night they were there, Casey drove Chelsea up to twin peaks, a spot that overlooked the entire city. It was breathtaking. As they were leaving, he pretended to drop the keys, and as Chelsea stood up after finding them, he stayed on one knee and asked her to make him the happiest man in the world. It was amazing!

What made you choose to have a destination wedding?
Casey and Chelsea met on a cruise, so they strongly believe that their love grew on the open ocean.  Having taken many trips to beaches, islands and lake homes, they find the most enjoyment and spirituality being on or near the water.  Therefore, it was only fitting to go back to Florida, where the met, and get married in the midst of their most favorite scenery.

How did you know your destination would be the perfect place to hold your wedding?
They did a lot a looking, research and exploring, but when they stumbled upon St. Pete Beach, it was too beautiful to pass up. The town was perfect, everyone they met there was delightful and accommodating, and the ocean view was breathtaking. It was love at first site.

What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day?
Chelsea’s most memorable moment about the big day was walking down the aisle, arm and arm with her father and seeing Casey for the first time that day.  He father had been the most supportive and amazing man in her life to that point and she realized at that moment that now, she had two fabulous, supportive and loving men in her life that would always be there for her. It was an incredible feeling. As her Dad handed her off to Casey, he whispered in her ear, “You will always be my shining star” and as Casey took her hand, told her how beautiful she was.  Could it get any better than that?!

Casey’s most memorable moment was as Chelsea walked down the sand aisle with her Dad, because of how beautiful she looked and how lucky he felt at that moment.

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
Of all the little things they put together, their most favorite detail was the guest time capsule. Since it was a smaller wedding, they wanted to do something different than a traditional guest book. This is what the sign said, when you walked up to the table with 3 large mason jars, 3 colors of index cards, pens and a Polaroid camera:

Guest Time Capsule
In front of you are 3 future anniversaries ahead of us – our 1st(blue), 10th(yellow), & 25th (red)…
On each of these important milestones, we would like to relive today, look back and remember all the special people who shared in our joy. Therefore, we would like you to take a moment and jot down something on one or all of the anniversary cards, and drop it into the corresponding capsule. On each date, we will open it up and see what you came up with – whether it be well wishes, advice, humorous predictions or something else all together unique. It’s up to you – let creativity guide you!!
We also included a Polaroid camera. Use this at your own discretion! Each anniversary, we will open the capsule so we will have new and exciting memories to enjoy!

This was a great addition to their wedding, and the guests loved the opportunity to be creative and silly. They can’t wait to open the first one in November.  They are displayed in their china cabinet in their dining room.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
The ENVIRONMENT! They couldn’t get over the gorgeous scenery, the cooperative weather and that unbelievable sunset. It was so organic and beautiful, which is how they feel about their love for one another.

Did you honeymoon at your wedding destination location, or go somewhere special afterward?
They decided to wait a year to travel to Europe for a 2 week honeymoon.  Therefore, they wanted to make the best of where they were and Casey’s parents planned a family vacation to Disney World. It was an exciting trip and made the wonderful weekend last even longer, in a place where (even more) dreams come true!!

Anything else you would like to share about your wedding? We would love to hear more!
When we first thought of having a destination wedding on a beach, it was the most beautiful idea, but when it all came together with the help of their parents, friends and family, wedding planner, and photographer – among others – somehow it exceeded all of their wedding dreams. It was truly an unforgettable weekend.

Ceremony Venue: The Sirata Beach Resort, on the beach
Reception Venue: The Sirata Beach Resort, hotel grotto
Photography: Stephanie Smith Photography
Florist: Apple Blossom in Tampa
Cake: It’s icing on the cake
Caterer: The Sirata Beach Resort,
Bride’s Dress: Martina Liana, purchased at Bridal Beginning
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Target
Groom’s / Groomsmen’s Attire:  Joseph A Bank
Stationery: Handmade by the Bride, Materials purchased at Paper Source
DJ / Band/ Lighting: Josh at Inspire Entertainment
Makeup Artist / Hairstylist: Allison, L’Bella Style Lounge
Jewelry – Necklace, Earrings, Tiara, Veil: Necklace was my grandmother’s engagement ring, transformed into a necklace. No veil, I wore a real gardenia in my hair – which smelled amazing!!
Shoes: Barefoot and fancy free!
Planner: Brooke Palmer from RSBP Events
Linens: Kerri with BBJ Linen

I want to thank Chelsea for being so sweet and answering all of our questions and to Stephanie at Stephanie Smith Photography for submitting these beautiful photographs.

Related posts:

1. Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia Destination Wedding – Natalie & Claudio
2. Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Destination Wedding – Kim & Sean
3. South Hampton, Bermuda Destination Wedding – Janelle & Dana

Kathleen and Scott’s destination wedding took place in Savannah, GA, with a reception at the Savannah Yacht Club. Kathleen did all of the planning from Hawaii.  She created stained glass candle holders for the reception tables as well as the floral design and decorations. She also designed an intricate nautical themed paisley print that was included on their programs, favors and the cake. Wait until you see that awesome cake! Way to Kathleen go on your creativity and DIY savvy skills!

Scott and Kathleen’s great photography was by Nashville Wedding Photographer | Jennifer Creed.

Thanks, Kathleen for sharing the details of your wedding with us!

How did the two of you meet?
We meet at a Bible Study in Savannah, Ga.

Tell us about the proposal!
He slipped the ring on my finger while I was sleeping, it was extremely early in the morning before he went to work.

What made you choose to have a destination wedding?
Savannah is where we meet. He grew up in Savannah and I went to college there.

How did you know your destination would be the perfect place to hold your wedding?
I had lived in Savannah, Ga for four years and I love the history and beauty of the city.

What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day?
Walking down the else looking at my future hubby.

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
The cake.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
It was great to have our special day in a city that was meaningful and close to our hearts.

Did you honeymoon at your wedding destination, or go somewhere special afterward?
No, we are going to Maui this summer.

Anything else you would like to share about your wedding?
Our Photographer was amazing!

Ceremony Venue: Trinity United Methodist Church
Reception Venue: Savannah Yacht Club
Photography: Nashville Wedding Photographer | Jennifer Creed
Florist: I did my self
Cake: Kerry O’Connor Cake Deign
Caterer: Savannah Yacht Club
Bride’s / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bridal and Formal – in Cincinnati OH
Groomsmen’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Stationary: I designed it myself
DJ: VIP Disc Jockey Entertainment, LLC
Hairstylist: JC Penny Salon
Jewelry – Necklace, Earrings, Tiara, Veil: Bridal and Formal – in Cincinnati OH
Shoes: Bridal and Formal – in Cincinnati OH
Linens: BJ Linens – 615/399-6900
Favors: the Knot.com

Thank you to Nashville Wedding Photographer | Jennifer Creed for sharing her wonderful photography.

Related posts:

1. Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Destination Wedding – Kim & Sean
2. Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia Destination Wedding – Natalie & Claudio
3. Barmouth, Wales Destination Wedding – Katrina & Paul

Natalie & Claudio’s stunning wedding (look at that view!) took place at the exotic Khayangan Estate in Uluwatu, Bali Indonesia. Their beautiful photography was by Darko Sikman Photography. This Australian couple, who first met as flat mates, share the details of their wedding day with us.

How did the two of you meet?
We met as flat mates. We shared a large house together with four other people in Bondi, Sydney Australia. We were friends for 6 months – our friendship simmering until it blossomed.

Tell us about the proposal!
We went on holiday to Thailand. We went on a day trip to the River Kwai. There was a large waterfall there with 8 different levels to climb to with ascending views and beauty. I convinced Natalie to conquer her fear and climb to the highest peak. When she got to the top I was already down on one knee with the diamond in a clump of leaves. It was a like a vision out of a dream. Waterfalls, butterflies, sunshine and her saying ‘yes”

What made you choose to have a destination wedding?
We have spent more time travelling in our lives than we have being in Sydney. Sydney didn’t quite feel like home yet…We wanted to be in an exotic location and feel totally expansive and free.

How did you know your destination would be the perfect place to hold your wedding?
We have done a lot of travelling to many places in the world. We are jewellery designers and have a manufacturing workshop in Bali so we travel there doing business quite frequently. When we went to Bali we felt automatically at home, warm and loved by everyone and the beauty of the people and the place is unrivalled. We knew the Khayangan Estate was perfect because it was majestic and pristine. The staff lead by “made” were incredible. The architecture was historically Javanese wood carving. It was a private playground for us, our family and friends!!

What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day?
When Natalie walked out of the palatial villa arm and arm with her Dad. She looked radiant walking through an aisle of rose petals to join me at the alter where we stared out a panorama of ocean and sky on the cliffs of Uluwatu. A moment that is impressed in our hearts for always!

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
The laughter and crying during the speeches. The exquisite organic local Balinese food from Karen at Bali Good Food. The Buddhist ceremony lead by our celebrant Miranda 081 138 9432 (a beautiful, beautiful person). The fire twirling and dancing all night long to the funky sounds of Erin and his crew with tropical transit…

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
50 family and friends got to have a holiday in paradise. Everyone was in holiday mode away from their responsibilities back home. The love in the air was intoxicating. Everyone was in love with life in such a perfect idyllic location.

Did you honeymoon at your wedding destination location, or go somewhere special afterwards?
We stayed 4 nights at The Khayangan Estate with special friends and then went to The Gilli Islands for a week to bask in the bliss of all the feelings and emotions of the wedding. It was definately the most sacred, special day of our lives.

Vendors:
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Khayangan Estate, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia. 087860079721
Photography: Darko Sikman Photography
Florist: Gloriosa herni  -081 338 002803
Cake: Ixora Almirfa – 087 877170592
Caterer: Bali Good Food – Karen Waddell 0811385583
Bride’s Dress: Wendy Maiken
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Hand Styled
Groom’s Attire: Tommy Bahama
Stationery: Hand Styled
DJ / Band: Tropical Transit – Erin 08123903621
Lighting: Provided by Gloriosa- Herni 081 338002803
Makeup Artist/Hairstylist: Bali Brides – Annie 0818356127
Jewelry: Kenyon Medel Jewellery + 61 424 069 659

We would like to thank Natalie & Claudio for sharing their beautiful wedding with us and also Darko Sikman Photography for sharing these photographs.

Related posts:

1. Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Destination Wedding – Kim & Sean
2. South Hampton, Bermuda Destination Wedding – Janelle & Dana
3. Barmouth, Wales Destination Wedding – Katrina & Paul

Katrina and Paul traveled from South London to get married on the West Coast of Wales in a beautiful boutique hotel high up on a cliff overlooking the bay of Barmouth and the mountains of Snowdonia. Their beautiful photography was done by Marie Lloyd Photography.

Katrina and Paul share some of the details of their wedding with us below.

How did the two of you meet?
We met at university.

Tell us about the proposal!
A surprise weekend away in the Lake District. The proposal was during a picnic with a spectacular view cross the lakes.

What made you choose to have a destination wedding?
We didn’t want to get married in London and Katrina grew up in Wales

How did you know your destination would be the perfect place to hold your wedding?
It just felt perfect.

What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day?
Paul said his most memorable moment was seeing Katrina walking up the aisle

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day?
It is hard to pick as there were so many beautiful details that brought it all together – view, flowers, cake…

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
Being able to pick a spectacular location

Did you honeymoon at your wedding destination, or go somewhere special afterwards?
No – we went Greek Island hopping

Anything else you would like to share about your wedding?
The combination of the beautiful place the wonderful people made it a very special day

Ceremony/Reception Venue: Bae Abermaw Hotel
Photography: Marie Lloyd Photography
Florist: Mother of the Bride
Cake: Aunt and Uncle of the Bride
Caterer: Bae Abermaw Hotel
Bride’s Dress: London Bride
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Debenhams
Groom’s/Groomsmen’s Attire: Debenhams
Hairstylist: Julia Nicholls
Shoes: Dune

Thanks to Katrina and Paul for sharing their day with us! We would also like to thank Jason Lloyd for submitting this wedding and to Marie Lloyd Photography for the gorgeous photographs.

Related posts:

1. Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Destination Wedding – Kim & Sean
2. Lea & Brian’s Costa Rica Destination Wedding
3. Notice Some Changes?

Kim & Sean’s intimate beach wedding was held at the gorgeous Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico.

Brian Kraft, the Wyoming couple’s wedding photographer shares details from Kim and Sean’s special day–

The couple came down from Wyoming and brought only their closest family for the wedding. They wanted to keep it nice and intimate and it was. We all stayed for 3 days and the lovely couple extended their stay up the road a bit at another resort for another week for their honeymoon. The big day was just beautiful and the ceremony was out on the beach under a small tent.

After the ceremony and some photos on the beach, I wanted to take the couple in to the resort more for some fun couples photos using some of the nice architecture in the resort. Knowing that all the folks at the resort had just witnessed their wedding– if we went in to the resort along the main path, they’d be the center of attention from the crowd. Thinking they
may want a more subtle approach, I asked if they wanted to enter in the more roundabout way for a little more privacy. Not quite understanding the response they would receive from the crowd, they said ‘no, we’ll just go the main way.’ Well you should have seen as they almost got knocked over with the roar and applause from this giant group of strangers all hanging around the resort. Even with my warning, they were completely taken by surprise and actually seemed to really enjoy the attention. After all– it was their wedding day!!

After more photos of the couple, everyone gathered at the bar for cocktails and then all enjoyed a fun private dinner surrounding the hibachi grill at a great Japanese restaurant– definitely the best restaurant around.

We always like to feature details from the couple and of course, we have some here direct from Kim & Sean–

How did the two of you meet? At the University of Wyoming in a course studying Shakespeare.

Tell us about the proposal! A long standing joke between us was that Sean wouldn’t have enough money to buy a fancy ring and would have to propose with a twist tie…which is exactly what he did on September 14, 2008. Later that day we went to Denver, CO to pick out something that would last longer than the tie.

What made you choose to have a destination wedding? While at a bridal fair with my soon to be sister-in-law and mother-in-law we saw a booth highlighting some of the destinations out there for a destination wedding. I had always wanted a beach wedding but living in Wyoming, it was out of the question.  After some discussion we realized that if we were going to
spend $10,000 on a “party”, we’d rather make it an event, on a beach, with all-inclusive drinks and someone else to fret about the details.

How did you know your destination would be the perfect place to hold your wedding? It had everything you’d expect from a destination resort and the views from the ceremony location made it extra special.  And it had activities on site, the people were fantastic and the price was right.

What was the most memorable moment about your wedding day? Sean: Getting ready for it; knowing the time had come.  Kim: After the ceremony, walking through the resort to take pictures with Brian and everyone would clap and cheer and
shout congratulations.

What was your favorite detail from your wedding day? Sean: The reception at the Hibachi/Sushi restaurant.  Kim: The after ceremony party.  Brian was taking pictures, everyone was having drinks and laughing, the music was playing, the breeze off the water was perfect.  It was so fantastic.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding? There was NO PRESSURE!  NONE!
Did you honeymoon at your wedding destination location, or go somewhere special afterwards? We left the next morning to travel to Cancun where we spent 5 days on our own celebrating at a couples-only resort.  Everyone else stayed at the wedding resort to have a vacation.




Anything else you would like to share about your wedding? We would love to hear more! We recommend this option to any and all.  Our friends and family who attended still talk about it as the best wedding they ever attended.  The families got to bond over food and drinks, laughs and fun instead of stress, details and schedules.  We spent about 1/3 of what we would have for a modest wedding celebration at home and the money was spent on US, not everyone else.  Our wedding pictures capture the entire experience, not just a few hours.  On our wedding day, we slept in, had an “anything your heart desires” breakfast, swam in the ocean, worked on our tans, chatted with the people we love, and then got married.  It was perfect.

Ceremony/Reception Venue: Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
Photography: Brian Kraft Photography
Florist/Cake/Caterer: Catalonia Riviera Maya Resort
Bride’s/Bridemaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom’s/Groomsmens’ Attire: Kohl’s
Stationery: All About The Honeymoons The entire event was planned, coordinated, scheduled, organized, stressed over, etc…by these ladies…NOT ME!  They were wonderful.
DJ / Band: Kim’s iPod
Lighting: The sun in the sky on a beautiful day.
Makeup Artist: Me
Hairstylist: My sister, Erin
Jewelry – Necklace, Earrings, Tiara, Veil: Homemade jewelry, David’s Bridal
Shoes: NONE!!!…flip-flops made for later by my Mother-in-Law, Kristy
Honeymoon:  Sun Palace in Cancun, Mexico

Thanks to Brian for submitting these beautiful photos and to Kim & Sean for sharing their destination wedding with us.

Related posts:

1. Lea & Brian’s Costa Rica Destination Wedding
2. Leslie & Juan – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
3. Cabo San Lucas – Dan & MacKensie’s Real Destination Wedding

We’re putting a lot of polish & shine on the blog, making lots of changes and updating all sorts of pages (be sure to check out our 2010 Advertising specials!) and gearing up with TONS of real destination weddings to share with you! Hang tight, Monday June 7, 2010 can’t get here fast enough! You’re going to LOVE the gorgeous weddings we have to share with you!

Have a real destination wedding or wedding related news you think we should feature here? Let us know!

No related posts.

When we put the call out for beautiful, colorful wedding shoes, we had NO idea how many incredible shoes would end up in our inbox. Even more amazing? Entire weddings planned around the colors found in the shoes! Just fabulous!

Amber Hughes, a wedding photographer in Vancouver, Canada sent in photos from Adrian & Dino’s Wedding, and we just couldn’t stop raving over them! How incredible are those blue Manolo Blahniks?

But even more stunning is seeing that blue repeated throughout all the details of their wedding day!

Adrian’s dress was custom made for her by Jill McKinnon, a dress maker of 25+ years, who lives on Westham Island in East Ladner. Adrian had fallen in love with a high end designer dress that was out of her budget, so she worked with Jill to create something similar but with her own unique twist. Having an experienced dress maker create your dress allows for the little details that make a dress special to be incorporated – her dress even included pockets, perfect for tissues!

All the bridesmaid dresses were custom made to each girl’s taste. What the couple did is purchase a huge bolt of fabric in the material they wanted and then sent each girl on their way to have a custom cocktail length dress made. The girls are from all over, so Adrian didn’t even see all of the dresses until the day before the wedding. I love how each dress so beautifully represents each girl, yet they all compliment each other so well!

They both got ready at their parent’s homes before the wedding.

The flowers were done by Michelle at Petals and Papery. She also handled the decor and wedding planning.

Their wedding ceremony was held at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Vancouver BC, and their reception was held at The Law Courts Inn, Vancouver BC.

Their wedding cake was made by Jill from The Uncommon Cake. Jill even made the cake dairy free for Adrian & Dino!

At the end of the night, Adrian and Dino did an amazing surprise salsa dance for their first trip around the dance floor as man and wife! Their DJ was John Mazzei. His father, Vick Mazzei, is a well known DJ in the local Italian community. When Vick was busy that night, John stepped in to help them out.

Be sure to check out Amber’s blog post about their wedding to see even more of the beautiful details from their day!

Did you have colorful wedding shoes? How did you incorporate them into your wedding? Let us know!

Related posts:

1. Tas & Diraj’s Wedding Celebration – Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
2. Blue Bridal Shoes!

Leslie always knew that she was meant to be with Juan. They met when they were teenagers in Mexico; they stayed in touch while attending school in the States; and they know split their time living in California and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The amazing photographs of their wedding have been provided by Lunaphoto.

So when they started to plan their wedding, Cabo’s Pedregal Beach was the perfect spot. Not only was it where they first fell in love, but it is also where Juan proposed. How perfect! Their wedding consisted of a four-day weekend, filled with a sunset cruise, fabulous meals, horseback rides, and of course – the wedding on the beach!

Leslie’s mermaid-style gown by Pronovias was covered in Spanish lace and had a stunning keyhole back. Her bouquet contained cymbidium orchids, freesia, and lady’s slipper orchids to pick up the lime green in the color palette. They wanted their beach wedding to have a casual vibe, so they laid down coconut mats in the sand. White canopies of fabric attached to bamboo poles helped to shield guests from the hot Mexican sun, and the couple recited their vows in Spanish underneath an arch covered in orchids.

The color palette of the wedding was showcased at the reception. Juan’s favorite blue and Leslie’s favorite green were highlighted by the deep blue glasses and dinnerware, while the centerpieces overflowed with green orchids, freesia and white roses.

Leslie performed a special dance with her flamenco teacher Susan Biali as a surprise for the guests – and for Juan! Afterwards, they had their first dance to the sounds of a mariachi band, the followed by a DJ from Mexico City who kept the party going until 2:30 a.m.! After a fireworks display, guests hit up the food stand set up for a midnight snack with churros and tamales.

Site: Pedregal Beach
Photography: Lunaphoto
Flowers: Elena Damy Contemporary Floral Design

Related posts:

1. Adrian & Dino’s Wedding in Vancouver BC, Canada
2. Winter Destination Wedding in a Historic New England Barn – Lea & Mark
3. Blue Bridal Shoes!

The 15 Minutes of Fame Returns! Anne-Marie & Chris were married at Zama Beach Club in Isla Mujeres, Mexico on April 30, 2007. The island is off the coast of Cancun, and they decided to leave their northern Washington home for a destination wedding because they wanted to elope and have only close family and friends at their wedding. Once they started their wedding planning, they decided that they wanted to go to a tropical location where they could scuba dive – making Isla Mujeres ideal!

Anne-Marie & Chris met on April 30, 2005, Chris proposed to Anne-Marie with an absolutely stunning ring designed by one of Tiffany’s former lead designers, Ritani, on April 30, 2006 – so picking April 30, 2007 as their wedding date was the perfect choice!

Chris’s brother is a monk, and he performed the ceremony for them. They had a cellist play for the ceremony on the beach.

Once they selected their destination, they planned a scouting trip to Mexico to check it out. While there, they met with Juliette of Papillion Weddings and hired her to be their wedding planner. This made the planning easier for Anne-Marie, who was planning from a distance while running a large successful business at the same time. The rest of the planning was done via email, making it a breeze!

Anne-Marie & Chris hired Wendy Kromer, Martha Stewart’s cake designer, to create 8 mini-cakes for them, designed to match the sash on Anne-Marie’s dress in the photo above. The cakes featured orchids that were simply stunning, and Chris carried them on the flight from Washington to Mexico! He actually made two trips to the airport before they left to make sure that they could make it onto the plane with him – once to make sure the would fit as a carry-on, and again to make sure that the wires in the cakes wouldn’t pose a problem with security. If planning something special like that that is that crucial to your wedding day plans, it is always wise to make sure that everything will work out well in advance!

Their fabulous wedding day photography is by Cecilia Dumas of Cancun and the Maya Riviera, and Anne-Marie and Chris truly loved working with her – they said that they can’t get enough of looking at their wedding photos!

Related posts:

1. Notice Some Changes?
2. Adrian & Dino’s Wedding in Vancouver BC, Canada

Karen & Scott were married in Makena, Maui, Hawaii and shared their wedding story with WM! Considering getting married in Maui? Share your story with us too!

Why have a destination wedding on Maui? Very simply, we decided on a destination wedding to avoid both the politics and the over inflated expenses that goes with hosting a nice wedding affair in California, and to bring the wedding to “neutral grounds” for all of our guests.

We knew we wanted something special; a private wedding in a beautiful location and to be surrounded by people we love the most. But we realized quickly that was going to be a challenge as neither of us have any family living in California, yet this is where our life and most all of our friends are. To host a wedding here meant a great deal of traveling for our relatives. In all likelihood, only a few would be able to attend due to the high cost of traveling to California. And the same issue would be true for our friends if we didn’t host a wedding locally. So we quickly realized no matter what location we picked we were not going to have everyone we care about the most attending.

We ruled out having a wedding in our area quickly. The Bay Area of California is rated as the second most expensive region in the world to marry, (New York being first), and we quickly discovered how true that was! And on top of that many places wanted to control your event, from the food, drink, decorations, music and more. At every location we looked at there were restrictions and rules that didn’t fit into our plans or budget. No thanks!!

This left us with one option and a very simple solution; take the wedding to neutral grounds (where we can have a wedding exactly the way we want), then host some celebrations when we return. My father was the first to suggest we forgo the formal affair and instead marry in Hawaii, and the idea really just clicked. We were fairly sure we were going to honeymoon on Maui, so why not just get married there too?? Dad said he would be there, and for me that was most important.

We did some checking and realized you can have a beautiful wedding in Maui, hire a coordinator to set everything up for you just the way you want, and for no more then a song compared to a wedding in California. And Maui is rated the number one island to visit in the world! This was our perfect solution. From that moment on we knew we were not only going to get married, we were going to get “Maui’ed”! We notified everyone, set the date, and on June 29th we exchanged our marriage vows ocean-side in Makena, Maui. (Visit their website.)

Related posts:

1. Belen & Alex’s Wedding in Spain
2. Natural Bridge, Virginia Destination Wedding – Kathy & Matt