Erin and Jeremy tied the knot at their destination wedding in Bucerias, Mexico (near Nuevo Vallarta), at a beautiful beach garden called Martoca. The couple’s wedding planner, The Dazzling Details, dished with us about this colorful, fiesta-inspired big day.
Erin and Jeremy weren’t able to make a pre-wedding trip down to Vallarta, so all communication was done via email and phone calls. We began with a list of nine venues that were appropriate in terms of group size and narrowed down from there!
Priorities in their venue selection were price, finding a venue with a significant degree of privacy (no hotel guests wandering nearby), a location that offered opportunities for movement and flow of the group throughout the evening and a space with some natural charm! In the end, Martoca beachfront garden ended up being the perfect balance of those priorities!
Erin and Jeremy had a clear vision of their wedding celebration from day one – they wanted a bright celebration of their love, and they wanted the event to pay homage to the locale incorporating the natural beauty and vibrancy of Mexico into the day. Both the bride and groom are so easy-going yet uber-organized, so the process was perfectly simple – they kept on task with the planning, sharing their creative ideas along the way and then allowed The Dazzling Details to really bring together all the pieces – keeping everything local and really playing off the venue’s natural beauty and simply highlighting it with pieces that brought beautiful accents to the Mexican-styled celebration!
A hand-painted chalkboard sign shouted, “Ay Chihuahua! Erin and Jeremy tie the knot!” as guests entered the venue for the celebration and set the tone for the event! These couple details really took the event a step further by reflecting the playful personalities of the bride and groom.
Mexico as a destination is so rich in history, culture and natural beauty that infusing elements of the locale into the celebration was simple! Erin and Jeremy really did a great job of giving guests an opportunity to experience those elements in both their catering and entertainment choices. Guests were greeted with fresh hot churros and traditional Horchata water set beneath a gazebo adorned with bougainvillea and papel picado paper garlands. Erin and Jeremy opted for a cocktail-style reception in lieu of a formal seated dinner to promote a laid-back party vibe. A Latin-trio played lively classic tunes while appetizers were passed for the first two hours of the reception allowing guests to mingle and try authentic Mexican cuisine including Mahi Mahi ceviche, ropa vieja and panela cheese in epazote pesto as just a few of the items in the cocktail menu lineup. As the dancing began, a taco station opened with hand-made tortillas and a salsa bar, and a nearby tequila station offered an insight into the history of tequila with the opportunity to taste the differences between blanco, reposado, anejo andmezcal. A photo station with a serape backdrop and Mexican-style props was set nearby for those who needed a rest from the dance floor, and to end the night, an elaborate dessert bar was set as a tribute to traditional Mexican sweets and featured over fifteen different desserts including amaranth popsicles and chocolate cinnamon cake with chile powder.
Smaller tables were intermingled with cozy lounging areas to provide guests with ample opportunity to relax and relocate throughout the night and to encourage an atmosphere of mingling and socializing. Vibrant blooms with touches of bougainvillea were set in terracotta vessels on the tabletops alongside local cactus plants, and the lounge pillows created from embroidered and otomi textiles added to the authenticity of the event. Customized adobe standing fireplaces were filled with cascading florals in each lounge area.
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Destination Wedding Photographer: Elizabeth Lloyd
Wedding Vendors: Wedding Venue: Martoca, Event Planning + Design: The Dazzling Details, Boutique Rental Items + Lighting: Unique Rentals, Florals: Maythe Romero, Dinner Chair Rental: Eventos Elegantes, Ceremony Chair Rental: Mac Events, DJ: Sonido Extassis, Catering: Plush Catering, Latin Trio: Lenin Beymar Lopez, Hot Churro Stand: Julio Churros, Wedding Day Transportation: Tau + TTUR + VIP, Wedding Cake: Charme Reposteria, Mini Desserts: Timbal de Azucar, Other: Vallarta Tequila Tastings, Bridesmaids Beach Sarongs: Swim ‘n Sport Happy Long Sarong, Hot Pink Bridesmaid Dress: T-Bags Los Angeles, Fuschia Bridesmaid Dress: Nicole Miller, Bright Orange Bridesmaid Dress: Rachel Zoe, Groom’s Custom Suit: Oliver Wicks, Groom Shoes: Cole Haan, Bridal Gown: Nicole Miller, Georgina Dress, 2015, Bridal Headpiece: Haute Bride, Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka
