Destination wedding Archives - Page 2 of 2

Why do you want to hire pros Destination Wedding Planners

June 10, 2020May 22, 2020

Destination weddings have become trendy and posh. We started working in 2001, almost 20 years ago and the number of couples choosing Mexico as their final I DO destination has been increasingly growing. The market is full of planners, all ready to swear by their effectiveness.

Why do you want to hire pros that have been proficiently and longer on the market?

Find out 5 reasons why.

We have mastered the experience of planning

Over 19 years, we have organized more than 500 weddings. Small, large, beach, cenote, interracial, inter religious, gender fluid, complex family dynamics… Stress can be felt. Yet we are open minded, understanding and resilient. We know the who and where. We possess a combination of skills and experience that will make your life easier and will make you look smart.

2. We have built strong relationships with reliable local vendors

Your wedding is a very serious matter to us: we are extremely particular about the vendors we work with: over the years they have proven to us that they are not only excellent at what they do, they are also reliable and genuinely care about our couples. We treat them very well and look out for each other. This results in an awesome wedding.

3. We will be respectful of your budget

Over the years, we have learned many tricks for saving our couples money and we love to share them. Plus we will help you with understanding how to choose a location, what is really important and how to get the best deals in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya.

4. We will be there for you and your guests

Our planner attends to every wedding , so you can celebrate and enjoy your fab day. You can let us know of any allergies, any whims or any needs: we will help creating the best space for you both and your guests.

5. We know what we are doing and how to control different situations

Getting married is an important emotional milestone in your life.

We are here to make it a stress-free experience, so you can enjoy every minute.

Perfection is not about following written steps or a schedule. A wedding is a living entity shaped by each person and their wishes. If you need more or less time for your photo session or your speeches, or simply take a little time alone with your new spouse, we will make it happen.

Flexibility is key in the smallest of details and sometimes even big ones if you decide to make some mayor changes…… (except the partner!!!)

You can rest assured we will treat your wedding as our own.

Thanks to all of our fab photographer for their contributions: Del Sol, Quetzal photography, AB photostudio, Lili Breton photography and Marina Pochepkina.

Ten years later… what happens after they say I do?

February 14, 2020

What happens after the princess marries her prince?

A few success stories after we say good bye…. Happy Val DAY!

Today is February 14th, Saint Valentine.

I am in love with love, not for nothing i do this job.

It is so amazing to get to meet our clients before they get married and start their life together, but what happens after it?

I often remind to my brides that if they put the same effort in the marriage as in the wedding… it will go always incredibly well! Something must stick, because on 600 couples only 5 divorced, so we must bring some luck… or they are quite amazing themselves…

The fact that we say good bye at the beginning of the adventure is not a motive to let years go by without any news. We keep in touch with our ex clients, send them love and also see some of them in Playa, like Erica in this photo!!

We often hear from them, some come to Playa and remarry after 5 or 10 years… we meet the children and i cannot wait to see what else they are going to experience.

Not all have kids, some party like rockstars, like Maryann and Cesar, below, that got married with me in Tulum over 10 years ago….

We love all of their choices, because life is made of real people and real adventure. Here 3 of my fav, Jaimie and Denee, married at Grand Coral 11 years ago.

All of our clients are dear to our hearts, yet time goes by and some of them we never see.

Yet we have fond memories of all of them and wish them a life that is amazing, long and full of love .

Love from New York!

December 8, 2019

Jonathan and Tom contacted me over the summer of 2018. It was a hot August and i was in Venice, visiting my family. We had a phone call and I fell in love with them.

Vibrant, artistic and down to earth, they were MY kind of clients!

They were desperate, because, as often happens, they could not receive a straight answer from their AI hotel, where they wanted to host their wedding.

I love a challenge, so jumped right in after our preliminary interview, when I discovered that they were two magnificent (and stressed out) young men with a big heart.

I was so happy to work at this wedding because they are both artists and the details show. Tom made all the covers for the party and planned the suits, Jonathan with his artistic vision organized the 2 days party with incredible flaire and absolute sense of timing.

I went twice to Merida to buy all pillows and covers made of local material, that all guests took home!

The ceremony was held on the astonishing and bewilding (just coined this term) Island of Holbox, a gem of sand near Chiquila’. Your truly has a lovely home near that jungle.

Planning was complex but with their guidance it was easy to understand what they wanted and how to do it. Plus 20 years of wedding planning are making our job way breezier. On day May 2nd 101 artistic people from all over the World arrived to Isla Holbox. WE were ready to take this place!!

The first night was the ice breaker. Everyone showed their best wit improvising shows, dressing up, making up speeches, dances, choreographies and songs. It was incredible!

A huge bonfire on the beach, compliments of HM hotel, was enjoyed by all.

And wedding day, next day, was a dream come true.
The perfect set up, the amazing blue sky, the stunning palm trees near the sea, the tenderness of the love that all guests shared made this wedding a bit more stunning than others…. Look at their flare, holding the smoke bombs…. True talent.

During the ceremony a red string long several yards was passed to all and we all had a bracelet made. At the moment of cutting all of these strings, someone had taken my 40 scissors! PANIC!!

Finally a waiter brought them, he had taken them to the table, while i was Aaarghhh!

Those red strings were to join us all in a mutual embrace of Love and Blessing.

And after a woundrous beach wedding, the night party started with our drummer leading all on the terrace for hours of dance and fun.

Various DJ’s played and the party was to die for!!

Thanks to Marina Pochepkina and Team for photos and video, to HM hotel for the location and Tom Smith for the classy covers. GREAT thanks to Wilfrido Sanchez Arriaga for his incredible work! Thanks Jon & Tom for trusting me and being such great humans. See you in Italy, for sure!!

Our paths will cross again and i am sure there will be many more occasion to celebrate Life, Love and Now!!!

love you both to bits, Jon and Tom.

It was a magic night…. with lots of Wrestlers as you can see!

Kudos to all,

Maria

Holly and Matt

August 19, 2019

Holly just before walking to the altar….

Love that!

June 9, 2019

Forgive me if I will be a little emotional in this post, i just watched A star is born twice…. Shallow is now my fav song! yes I know I am a bit late, but FOMO has never been a thing for me…

These 2 beautiful people below are not only clients. They are friends. I have been a part of their life for 11 years.

I met Denee’ and Jamie over 11 years ago, when they started planning their wedding at the superb Grand Coral Beach club in Playa del Carmen.

She is a vibrant, vivacious, open minded and supremely beautiful woman that wanted to have her Mayan wedding in the Riviera Maya. Her husband to be, Jaimie, is a clever, dynamic, committed man that had the same life purpose as her: to build a great life together.

When they married in May 2009 I was the lucky planner of a superb wedding for 115 people.

Every 2 years i saw them come back to Playa del Carmen and always had to visit with them.

Offering to the Gods *it’s only flowers, easy eco lovers!

Life has had its great moments and tragic turns but they went on with love and strength and I was not surprised when Denee’ contacted me in March to celebrate their 10th Anniversary renewal ceremony, the Mayan way, on the beautiful bay of Paamul that is super secluded for a legendary 2 people only Mayan Ceremony.

Now the ones who know me, know that i am a bit of a mystical, spiritual cynic. But in this case, tears of joy were shed by all.

Marriage is the promise of love, but coming back after 10 years to reinforce your vows is the promise kept.

That takes my job way beyond the ordinary.

See you for the 20th anniversary> Italy this time?

I am the witness of the Eternity and Infinity of Love.
Love transforms and they are not the same people i met over 11 years ago but they have taken every step in their life and moved forward. They have undergone change and not only physical, but spiritual and mental . And yet they are always the same bright spirits ….

They shine a light and that light is the love and care they feel for one another. I am misty eyed talking about it, because love is what this world needs. And love is only a space of no judgement, HOME, a moment in time where you can be you in all of your full and whole imperfection.

Because Jaimie told it so beautifully: That is the place I’m from: You.

Denee’ and Jamie! I wish you both a happy and long amazing life, filled with new adventures and so much beauty. Words cannot describe the feelings. We are all so lucky to be alive, enjoy this moment as it is yours.

Now, listen, for the 20th anniversary….how about Venice?