The Dazzling Details

The Dazzling Details has a New Website

2011-09-12T19:24:00.003-05:00

We welcome all of you to check out our new website where you will find new information, new weddings, new photos and some exciting surprises! Thanks for following us here, and we hope you continue to follow us at our new location!

New Website Debut!

2011-06-23T12:37:00.005-05:00

For all of you wondering where all the new fantastic blog posts are from this spring's wedding season, you'll have to wait just a little longer! We're revamping our site and hope to debut a new and improved website in late July! But pleaaaase head over to our Facebook Page where you'll get sneak peeks at all of our spring weddings, inside info on what is happening with The Dazzling Details and previews of weddings to come!

Brittany and Kyle - Dreams PV

2011-04-19T23:37:00.013-05:00

Brittany and Kyle's rustic beach wedding was a beautiful blend of burlap (even hand-made burlap flowers that we incorporated into the bouquet!), white blooms, flowing fabrics and soft lighting. Hand-painted signs, refurbished market boxes and tin cans amazingly came together to create an ambiance of rustic elegance - so simple and pretty! (And any Princess Bride fanatics out there will notice hand-painted signs with love quotes from the famous film! Princess Bride was the first movie ever that the couple watched together - oh, so romantic!) Thanks Eva Sica and Pierre Morillon for the lovely photos!

Congratulations Brittany and Kyle!

Grace and Mike - Villa Guillermo

2011-04-19T22:30:00.009-05:00

Grace and Mike tied the knot at newly remodeled Villa Guillermo in early November. The very Bohemian-chic nuptials included a ceremony held on lovely Conchas Chinas Beach, cocktail hour split between the rocky beach terrain and the Guillermo palapa and then dinner beneath twinkle lights and the starry sky on the villa terrace.

While I usually allow the photos to speak for themselves and choose not to provide a long commentary on the wedding or design, I think the wedding tables at this particular event were such a work of creative accomplishment on our team's part that I just can't let it go unnoticed!

One of the biggest draws for couples to this particular wedding venue is also one of its biggest challenges - the vast flat terrace space. While its spacious, uninterrupted layout is wonderful for hosting large groups, that same spacious, flat, uninterrupted space tosses a curveball at lighting design as it provides no structure, hooks, walls, anything really! from which to suspend lighting. Our team literally tossed around dozens and dozens of ideas about how to provide romantic, overhead lighting without using a structure that would appear out of place on the organically-shaped terrace and without any structural walls from which to suspend cabling; essentially we wanted overhead lighting without any visible structure to take away from the natural beauty of the surroundings. We wanted them to merely float on air. What we eventually came up with was to string twinkle lights in manzanilla trees that would emerge from the center of dinner tables, thus avoiding the necessity for a bulky structure as well as noticeable cabling. We figured, however, that rental companies may not appreciate us drilling holes into the middle of their tables so that a tree could grow up through the middle, so what better to do than actually build the dinner tables ourselves - complete with a tree in the middle. And while the project seemed to take over our workshop, the end result was well worth it. See for yourself below!
Congratulations Grace and Mike! We loved working with you!

Phi-Van and Ricky - Villa Mandarinas

2011-04-19T06:32:00.014-05:00

Phi-Van and Ricky are one amazing couple. They invited 30 of their closest family and friends to Puerto Vallarta and threw the celebration of a lifetime! We were so incredibly privileged to be a part of the day and then so very lucky again to relive the moments through these beautiful photos by Pink Posh Photography. Congratulations Phi-Van and Ricky!

Candice and Kris - La Vida

2011-02-22T06:02:00.013-06:00

Candice and Kris tied the knot at La Vida in Bucerias this past November. The wedding celebration was so much fun to plan as the couple was completely open to alternative ideas! They opted for a cocktail-style/station reception as opposed to a formal seated dinner, and they kept the heart of the celebration close to their hearts - utilizing local products and food to give their guests a true taste of Mexico (where the bride's family owns a home)! A simply amazing day!

Photos by the always-amazing Elizabeth Lloyd!

The ladies spent the day relaxing and beautifying while the guys moved to their own beat!

Guests arrived to a sandy beach ceremony decorated with local adobe pots overflowing with florals, petals covering the aisle and a wispy and beautiful canopy awaiting the arrival of the bride and groom!

As the ceremony was about to begin, Candice peeked around the corner to watch her bridal party process! The trumpets and voices of mariachi sounded grandly as the bride made her way down the aisle to exchange vows with her future husband!

And when the ceremony was finished, the festivities began! Abundant appetizers and refreshing cold drinks were served as guests mingled on the beach in lounge areas designed with bright colors, florals and a touch of "amor."

As the sun went down, candles and lights were lit and the party moved from the beach to the terrace where a Mexican-style dinner awaited guests - fresh fruit waters, hand-made quesadillas, on-the-spot guacamole, fruit skewers and so much more was available as guests continued to mingle long into the night.

And following the couple's first dance and a stunning fireworks display, the dance floor heated up - keeping guests of all ages smiling and laughing all night long!

Congratulations Candice and Kris!

Monica and Jared - Quinta Laura

2011-02-16T22:17:00.014-06:00

Monica and Jared said their "I do's" mid-December at Quinta Laura (formerly Casa Carol Ann). They requested a palette of greens, pinks and silver with a squeeze of lime! Congratulations to this wonderful couple! And a huge thank you to Elizabeth Lloyd for sharing the lovely photos!

Guests arrived to the front courtyard and were greeted with self-serve fresh fruit waters and the amazing scent of rose petals floating in the fountain!

As ceremony was about to begin, guests were ushered to the lower terrace where the bride and groom exchanged vows beneath a beautiful canopy of flowing fabrics and fresh flowers.

Immediately following the ceremony, the bride and groom escaped to the street for some really fun photos!

Meanwhile, back at the villa, guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers poolside while enjoying the live music of a Latin trio! Throughout the cocktail area, silver-painted words that the couple had chosen to describe themselves were used as decor alongside floral arrangements and limes.

During cocktail hour, the courtyard area was converted (oh-so-quickly!) into a romantic and amazing dinner space! Guests mingling on the terrace below they had no idea that they would soon return to the pre-ceremony area for dinner!

And as a special surprise, we had a live artist on site painting the dinner reception while it was happening! Later on, we gifted the painting to the couple as a memory of their wedding reception!

Wedding cake and a beautiful dessert display were set up back on the lower terrace where guests mingled and danced the night away!

A fun favor was displayed for guests to take home with them - hand-made satchels held the recipe for a traditional margarita as well as the mixins' including a mini salt-shaker, lime squeezer and individual tequila shot!

Congratulations Monica and Jared - we spent a really lovely evening with you and wish you the best for the future!

Nicole and Ben - Casa Aventura

2011-01-17T17:47:00.006-06:00

This is very overdue, but I just got my hands on the professional photos - so better late than never! Nicole and Ben married last June at Casa Aventura. Their group was small and intimate and they really wanted to keep things simple and budget-friendly, so we did our best to utilize the spaces, furniture and some elements around the villa to create a budget-friendly but spectacular event! We loved working with this couple - congratulations you two! (The really pretty photos are by Paulina Ulloa, and the other not-so-professional shots by yours truly!)

Nicole and Charles - China Blanca

2010-12-03T13:11:00.008-06:00

Nicole and Charles were enamored with Casa China Blanca from the first moment they laid eyes on it. In order to make space in the budget for the grandiose venue (and an amazing fireworks display to surprise guests), the couple opted for a more modern and less traditional reception format - a cocktail-style reception - with passed appetizers throughout the night accompanied by a super yummy cupcake display that satisfied guests' sweet tooth later on into the dancing!

The couple chose a palette of Tiffany blue and white with shells and the ocean as primary design elements! The day turned out warm, lovely and so incredibly intimate and beautiful!

Thank you to Dara and Austin, their professional photographers, who are supplying the majority of the photos below!

The bride and groom took a few very romantic moments to have a "first look" prior to guest arrival! And despite the gorgeous backdrop, trust me when I say that the groom's eyes were on nothing but the beautiful bride!

The ceremony took place on the shaded outdoor terrace with the pool, ocean and bright blue sky in the background!

Following the kiss, guests mingled at cocktail tables and lounge areas spread throughout the venue, and as the evening progressed, the dance floor became the center of excitement!

A simple one-layer cake atop pyramids of cupcakes allowed for the respected tradition of the cake cutting - made all the better by fireworks exploding into the night sky!

Congratulations Nicole and Charles!

Mercy and Louis - Dreams PV

2010-12-02T15:58:00.007-06:00

Mercy and Louis married on the hottest day of the summer - aaah! - at beautiful Oceana Restaurant inside Dreams Resort in PV! The bride, groom and all the guests were troopers despite the heat and humidity, and the party was a blast! Thank you Eva Sica for the professional photos - they are absolutely lovely! (You will, of course, notice one or two of our own photos in the mix, however, it'll be quite obvious which are Eva's and which are our rough snapshots!)

Congratulations Mercy and Louis!

After dinner, a surprise cigar roller and lounge was opened up as a surprise from the bride to the groom!

The area was pretty popular as you can see in this, my final snapshot of the evening, (obviously NOT taken by the professional photographer)!

Sheree and Beat - Casa Garza Blanca

2010-11-30T15:42:00.010-06:00

I must admit, this is ridiculously late, but nevertheless it is a bright, happy, colorful and fun wedding - so as they say "better [really really] late than never!"

Sheree and Beat brought an intimate group of family and friends from all over the world to meet and mingle for their nuptials in Puerto Vallarta! From the very beginning, they wanted to incorporate the very literal flavors of Mexico - chiles, limes and the works - into their wedding as well as incorporating the things that Mexico is famous for around the world - sombreros, tequila, papel picado! A true Mexican-style celebration!

While the bride and groom shot romantic photos following ceremony, guests were invited to a cocktail area complete with celebration cigars, avocado-based cooking oil favors (to take a bit of Mexican flavor home with them!) and a photo station with props to send wishes to the bride and groom!

Escort cards were tucked into different fresh chiles corresponding to the table names!

Following dinner, the bride and groom cut into a delicious carrot cake covered with heavenly (and I do MEAN heavenly!) vanilla macaroons. Heavenly.

Dancing the night away continued. And continued. And continued. Into the wee morning hours!

Thank you Gino at Story by Photo for the lovely pics! We can't wait to work with you again soon! And a very belated congratulations (again) to Sheree and Beat!

The Dazzling Details - A Community Partner

2010-11-24T11:25:00.004-06:00

Thanks to all of our readers, Facebook fans, amazing past, present and future couples and their families, we were able to assist in providing economic and material support to the victims of the extreme flooding and rains here this past Summer. A peek at a newspaper article that featured The Dazzling Details and a couple other local businesses who helped these people get a foot forward after the disaster! Thank you to all who helped us make this effort a success!

Victorya and Jeremy - Sneak Peek

2010-11-22T13:50:00.006-06:00

Photographer Thomas Slack just featured a few Sneak Peeks on his blog of Vicky and Jeremy's wedding this November! This should keep you satisfied until we see the whole event through his professional eye!

Mercy and Louis - Sneak Peek!

2010-10-27T10:06:00.007-05:00

Mercy and Louis got married on the HOTTEST day of the summer this past October! They, along with their guests, were such troopers out in the sunshine! The day was lovely, the evening was even lovelier! The bride was the loveliest of all! Enjoy these sneak peek photos until we get a peek at the professional photos of Eva Sica!

This was an amazing moment! (And the umbrellas are for the heat - NOT rain!)

A foot-cleansing station was set up at the entrance of the ceremony for guests.

Then guests were invited into Oceana beachside restaurant for cocktails with maracas and a lively mariachi band (with a guest appearance by the bride's mom!)

Following cocktail hour, guests were seated at long family-style tables decorated with lanterns and bright arrangements, intertwining curly willow and tropical tangerines.

Following dinner, a live cigar roller took his place in a small cigar lounge created as a surprise gift from the bride to the groom. Hand-made signs, painted and distressed to resemble an old Cuban cigar bar hung in the area, and dominos were placed in the base of arrangements as a nod to the bride's comment that her "old school Cuban guests" would sit around playing dominos and smoking cigars!

The night ended with fireworks and dancing! A truly amazing evening! Watch for professional photos of this wedding to come! Congratulations Mercy and Louis!

Suzanne and Joe - Chapel and Villa Leonarda

2010-10-26T15:54:00.012-05:00

Aaah, memories of 5-10-10 when Suzanne and Joe tied the knot at the Hacienda San Angel Chapel and then partied the night away at nearby Villa Leonarda! We already showed you our own photos of this event, but Elizabeth Lloyd just blew us away with her amazing professional photos, so we wanted to make sure you got a glimpse! Enjoy!
(Oh, and seriously people, click on the grid images to see them in full, lively, large color! You don't want to miss the amazing shots of the wedding parade or villa details!)

A Dazzling Details Wedding in Martha Stewart!

2010-10-08T07:48:00.010-05:00

After nearly a year of anticipation . . . the 2010 Martha Stewart Weddings Destination issue featuring Abby and Jamey's October 2009 wedding has been released! Congratulations you two - you look absolutely fabulous in the photos and were such a pleasure to work with! If only we could do your wedding all over again - it was THAT much fun!

Enjoy!

And thank you to amazing photographer Kate Headley who sent us the following - just a few of her favorite photos of the day! (Click on images for a larger version!)

Thank you to all the vendors who took part in creating this amazing event! And thank you Kate, for capturing it in the photos! Congratulations Abby and Jamey as you come upon your first anniversary in a couple weeks - what a way to celebrate!

Jess and Mike - Sneak Peek!

2010-10-06T14:06:00.002-05:00

Jess and Mike tied the knot at Dreams PV this past weekend! A few peeks at our amateur photos to keep you satisfied until the professional photos come in! Congratulations Jess and Mike!

A Wonderful Welcome!

2010-09-28T08:58:00.005-05:00

Jess and Mike welcome their guests to Puerto Vallarta today with a festive Hurrah! We filled galvanized pails with a bottle of salsa (with a personalized label, of course!), a snack bag of tortilla chips and a wedding weekend agenda (just in case guests are having SO much fun that they forget why they are here!) As an "extra" to add some color, The Dazzling Details added a handpainted pottery shot glass to complete the look! So fun! Welcome to all of Jess and Mike's guests!

Puerto Vallarta - Helping Friends and Neighbors!

2010-09-09T15:55:00.007-05:00

Puerto Vallarta and particularly its northern neighboring towns of San Pancho, Sayulita and several smaller communities have been negatively affected by the tremendous amounts of rain and the resulting flooding and landslides these past couple weeks.

We are monitoring the situation very carefully and sincerely hope that soon everything will settle down and return to sunshine and clear skies, but in the meantime, there is a sincere cry for help in local communities.

The flooding of the rivers and extreme landslides have left many families with nothing. In San Pancho alone, more than 70 people are currently living at a local community center. In addition, the residents of these communities are currently unable to leave the towns as bridges at the entrance to both areas have been washed away. On a very positive note, friends, neighbors and complete strangers are responding with kindness, efficiency and maintaining hope that brighter skies are ahead!

We plan to respond and encourage you to do the same! Puerto Vallarta plays an important part in many of your lives – you were married here, will marry here or simply love our little corner of the world!

The items most needed right now include: food, propane gas, padded mats, blankets, toilet paper, bleach, clothing for adults and children, sugar, rice, pillows, pet food, diapers and baby formula.

The Dazzling Details will be making a donation of supplies to local residents next Wednesday, and we will gladly add $5 to the fund for each comment we receive on Facebook through Tuesday night. If anyone is interested in making a monetary donation, please send me an email at weddings@thedazzlingdetails.com.

We look forward to helping out our neighbors and thank any of you who choose to provide support!

(Just a peek at the local community efforts this week! This premature baby born in the town of San Pancho was ziplined out of the city by Canopy Tour employees in order to be transported to a hospital in Tepic!)

By the end of Tuesday evening, $1730 USD had been raised to help community members in need! A sincere thank you to all our couples, fans, families, vendors and those who left comments on Facebook. Your thoughtfulness can't even be measured! We feel so blessed to know and work with you!

Erin and Damien - Style Me Pretty!

2010-09-06T11:02:00.006-05:00

Oops! Forgot to post this last June . . . its been a busy summer! Erin and Damien's wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty this past June - check out the post here.

And just for those of you who don't plan to wander on over to SMP, here are a few photos by the lovely Michelle Turner! (Click to enlarge photo collages!)

Christine and Chad - Casa Salamandra

2010-09-02T15:08:00.007-05:00

Christine and Chad married four months ago at Casa Salamandra in Nuevo Vallarta. Due to a hard drive crash, I lost all the wedding photos I had taken and just now got my hands on their professional photos taken by Serendipity! Yippee! The story of their day in photographs!

The bride, her three-year-old-son and the entire bridal party started the day off getting beautified (and handsome-ized) at Dreams Resort in PV where they were staying with their guests.

At the villa later that afternoon, the bride and groom prepare to see each other for the first time - so romantic!

Then it was on to the ceremony set up on the beach at the foot of the villa. Guest chairs were set in four columns with arrangements of curly willow and bright orange birds of paradise emerging from sandy vases. The bride and groom stood beneath a bamboo canopy with flowing gold specked ivory chiffon at their sides.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a beach lounge area where clean white tufted couches and chairs awaited them. Additional bird-of-paradise arrangements surrounded the dance floor in the middle of the lounge, and more chiffon drifted at the edges of the dance floor to create a dreamy and exotic look!

Guests then climbed the stairs to the villa terrace for dinner at tables dressed with white linens and natural rattan overlays. Natural coconuts were filled with flowers and surrounded tall vases with bird-of-paradise and curly willow.

Following the cutting of the cake and a gorgeous fireworks display, guests were invited back down to the dance lounge for cocktails, lots of great music and a night full of dancing!

Congratulations Christine and Chad!

Destination I Do Magazine Feature!

2010-09-01T10:36:00.005-05:00

So excited to announce that Jessica + Paul’s destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta is published in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Destination I Do Magazine!! This issue hit newsstands on August 31 and is just chock full of lovely eye candy … you won’t want to miss it! (Click on each image for a better look!)
Congratulations Jess and Paul! We miss you!

Congratulations Jess and Paul!

Amanda and Micah - Slideshow!

2010-08-10T16:48:00.003-05:00

We've got a treat for you today! Photographer Elizabeth Lloyd has put together this amazing slideshow from Amanda and Micah's May wedding at Villa Celeste! Get ready for pops of amazing color, the couple's cowboy boots and an obviously fun celebration! Enjoy!

Alison and Curt - Quetzal/Serafines

2010-07-29T09:45:00.005-05:00

At long last . . . Alison and Curt's wedding photos have been blogged on the wonderful Dana Damewood's webpage! Here are a few peeks at the professional photos, but you can see more here! If you are interested in their day-after photos, check it out here!

Congratulations again Alison and Curt!

Sandy and Eddy - the Slideshow Debuts!

2010-07-16T15:05:00.003-05:00

You've seen photos of this wedding before, but now enjoy the full slideshow! (The music will put you in the mood for Mexico!) Thank you Joe Cogliandro, as always!

Meghan and Ben - Casa La Playita Estate

2010-06-24T12:17:00.016-05:00

Ooooh, I warn you. This post is very long. Mostly because this is the type of party I'd like to be invited to! Meghan and Ben exchanged vows on the beach in Bucerias and then partied cocktail-style late into the night with their guests! I'll stop and let the pictures do the talking! Congratulations you two!

Ashley and Miguel - Casa Carol Ann

2010-06-22T17:27:00.016-05:00

Ashley and Miguel were married at Casa Carol Ann (now known as Quinta Laura) last weekend! The weather was hot, rainclouds loomed overhead but there was a festive feeling in the air (and the decor)! Congratulations Ashley and Miguel!

Ashley wanted color, and by color I mean hot pink and orange! (The girl is not afraid to see color pop!) She also wanted to see fun "stuff" above eye level, so we combined boldly bright colors and fun overhead elements to create a whimsical wonderland wedding! Enjoy!

The bride and groom made a very smart decision on the morning of their wedding to move the cocktail reception and dancing inside due to rain in the forecast. We anticipated this happening and were prepared with lovely decor for the inside lounge area! (And what a great decision it was! As soon as the ceremony ended, the rain came down!)

Place cards rested on the rim of wine glasses.

Hundreds of strung roses danced above the dinner tables! Beautiful!

A beautiful wedding cake by Charme as well as a mini dessert buffet satisfied the sweet tooth following dinner!

A sweet night for a sweet couple!!!

To see the design board that inspired this wedding, go here.

To see how we helped the groom surprise the bride, go here!

That's it for this season! We'll be posting professional photos of this year's weddings and busy at work on planning for next season!

Don't forget to check out our new sister company for your Mexican wedding invitations - you could win a free set of invites!

Introducing . . . Sealed with Spice

2010-06-21T17:35:00.006-05:00

The Dazzling Details has a new sister company to make your Mexican destination wedding even better! Now you can truly get guests in the mood for your celebration from the first moment they peek in their mailbox and spot your invitation! And four lucky couples will receive one of our new invitation designs for FREE! For more information on how to enter the free invitation contest, check out Sealed with Spice!

Dazzling Wedding Featured in Magazine!

2010-06-17T11:05:00.005-05:00

Well folks, at long last, the magazine is out! We were so excited this morning as we downloaded our digital version (no, the paper version has not made its way south of the border quite yet)! So for those of you who haven't made it to your local newsstand quite yet, here is a peek!

We LOVED the fact that in the Table of Contents, the real weddings were described at Dazzling!

And here is what we've all been waiting for - Kathy and Rob's feature - Congratulations you two!!!
Have you noticed we're excited about this? Yippee!

Danielle and Ben - Estrella Mar Slideshow!

2010-06-14T22:15:00.002-05:00

Every now and again something absolutely amazing lands on our laps and brings us right back to the moments of a wedding. The love, the laughter, the details, the moments that truly matter. All brought to life again. Today, we received that gift from Kristi Klemens (of course) as we viewed Danielle and Ben's slideshow. Breathtaking! I dare you not to get a little teary or to smile or to actually feel like you are part of this amazing celebration. We were so blessed to actually have been there from start to finish. From the first planning email to the final minute of the celebration. Aaah, the memories.

Amanda and Micah - Villa Celeste

2010-06-12T11:35:00.009-05:00

Amanda and Micah tied the knot at Villa Celeste in mid-May. The celebration was bright and colorful - with hand-painted talavera tiles as a highlight throughout the decor!

The bride's bouquet included gerber daisies, ranunculus, queen anne's lace, freesia and succulents all wrapped up in a deep blue ribbon with a hand-cut tile piece on the front!

Guests entered hacienda-style Villa Celeste to find blackboard signs directing them to a pre-ceremony cocktail reception in the back courtyard!

The ceremony area was draped with colorful chiffon draped above the seating area (providing some shade from the May sun and a touch of color to the terrace)!

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a post-ceremony cocktail around the poolside terrace.

Escort cards in the style of talavera tiles were displayed near dinner tables. Guests were seated at tables dressed in blue and white linens with traditional Mexican wine glasses,colorful florals and tile numbers. Truly beautiful!

In leiu of a traditional wedding cake, Amanda and Micah decided on a Cheesecake Buffet - very popular!

And as favors, sets of talavera tiles were converted into coasters (with cork pads on the bottom to protect furniture) and tied together for their guests to take home!

Later in the evening, dinner tables were abandoned and guests took to the poolside terrace and dance floor - surviving the heat and celebrating late into the night!

(Even the abandoned dinner tables look pretty!)

Video Trailer - Erin and Damien's Wedding

2010-06-09T16:06:00.002-05:00

A real treat, folks! Eddy from Sandpiper Films sent us this video trailer of Erin and Damien's wedding which took place at Villa Celeste this past April! Enjoy!

Erin + Damien from Sandpiper Films on Vimeo.

Suzanne and Joe - The Biggest Peek Ever!

2010-05-19T12:40:00.014-05:00

My intention was to give you a sneak peek at Suzanne and Joe's wedding this past May 10th, but as I began sorting through the snapshots we took of the setup and celebration, I realized that there were just so many things I loved about this wedding, I couldn't narrow it down! So here is the biggest peek ever at their wedding - the ceremony at Hacienda San Angel chapel and the reception at nearby Villa Leonarda!

Congratulations Suzanne and Joe!

We created ceremony programs modelled after the couple's invitations and added a flaming heart milagro charm inside each one! I LOVE how these turned out!

Suzanne really wanted her guests to walk the three blocks from the chapel to the villa, so we spiced it up with a festive parade! Guests really got into it - carrying pinatas above their heads and signs in their hands, shaking maracas and tambourines, donning paper flower crowns and brightly colored sombreros!

Upon arrival at the villa, the instruments and props were left at the door and guests were greeted with a red rose petal aisle converting the celebration from festive street fun to traditional Mexican elegance!

Suzanne and Joe opted for a cocktail-style reception with passed appetizers and various food stations as opposed to a formal seated dinner. This was a perfect choice for their mingling group, and the food not only looked great but was scrumptious! Thanks Plush!

And a Mexican wedding isn't complete without tequila! A small tequila tasting station was set up on the far side of the pool with adobe shot glasses. This turned into great fun as guests actually closed their eyes and taste-tested trying to guess which tequila was which!

Various seating areas and tables were set up on the terrace overlooking the river; deep red roses burst from adobe pitchers, Mexican shawls added a touch of authenticity to the decor, and of course, flaming hearts peeked out from the arrangements.

And check out the custom-made cake topper Suzanne created for her cake! So unique!

Elan and Matt - Villa Encanto

2010-05-17T21:27:00.006-05:00

Elan and Matt married at Villa Encanto in early May at an all-white wedding! Elan chose a palette of white, white and more white and simply wanted to incorporate texture (in white) as well as lace and eyelets! The ceremony took place in the villa garden followed by cocktails on the beachside terrace! During cocktail hour, the garden was transformed into a beautiful white dinner reception, and guests ended the evening dancing the night away on the sandy beach below! An unforgettable celebration!

Congratulations Elan and Matt!

Janice and Anthony - Video Trailer

2010-05-16T12:43:00.005-05:00

Janice and Anthony were married the first of May at Dreams Nuevo Vallarta! We've posted their sneak peek photos and given you a glimpse at some of the decor in the Dazzling Details video put together for us by videographer Eduardo Caldarelli, now here is a peek at the trailer of their wedding video - also filmed by Eddy!

Janice & Anthony - Wedding Trailer from Sandpiper Films on Vimeo.

If this doesn't make you want to get married all over again, I don't know what will!

Congratulations Janice and Anthony!

A Glimpse . . .

2010-05-13T22:55:00.009-05:00

We received such an amazing gift today from Eddy Caldarelli - not only a former groom of ours but now also a fellow wedding professional! We had the opportunity to work with Eddy at three of our spring weddings - in fact, we got to work together three times in eight days! So here is a glimpse he put together from those three weddings beginning with Erin's arrival at the villa with her ladies on wedding day afternoon and having her first peek at the setup! (I think she looks happy!) And best of all, you also get to see what a really amazing videographer he is! Thanks Eddy! (Anyone interested in Eddy's work, feel free to shoot me an email!)

The Dazzling Details from Sandpiper Films on Vimeo.

">Glimpse

Meghan and Ben - Sneak Peek!

2010-05-05T00:01:00.005-05:00

Meghan and Ben's wedding day could not have been more amazing - perfect blue skies, a lovely breeze, an oh-so-in-love bride and groom! A few peeks to keep you satisfied until we see some pro photos by our ever-beloved Elizabeth Lloyd!

Congratulations Meghan and Ben! You were lovely!

Janice and Anthony - Sneak Peek!

2010-05-02T22:12:00.005-05:00

Janice and Anthony married at Dreams Villamagna the first day of May! Their palette of violet, gray and white was stunning against the backdrop of the garden and ocean. Literally, it felt like a small heaven - so serene and peaceful (well, with the exception of the tequila shots being thrown back!) Congratulations Janice and Anthony! And here is a sneak peek of their wedding just until we get our hands on some professional shots!

Sheree and Beat - Sneak Peek!

2010-05-01T22:55:00.003-05:00

Sheree and Beat said their "I do's" in a very festive and Mexican wedding on Wednesday! They requested many typical items from Mexico - pinatas, serapes, sombreros and the list goes on - BUT wanted it in their favorite colors - turquoise, lime green and purple (with just a hint of orange). Whew! Here are a couple peeks of their wedding! More photos to come by one of my faves - Story by Photo!

Congratulations Sheree and Beat!!!

Erin and Damien - Sneak Peek!

2010-04-25T11:14:00.004-05:00

Erin and Damien tied the knot yesterday on Conchas Chinas Beach and then celebrated late into the night at beautiful Villa Celeste! A few photos to give you a peek until we see the professional shots by the amazing Michelle Turner! Enjoy!

Congratulations Erin and Damien!

And here's a peek of the inspiration board that drove this design!

Christine and Chad - Sneak Peek!

2010-04-22T21:23:00.005-05:00

Christine and Chad married this past weekend at Casa Salamandra in Nuevo Vallarta! I'm posting peek pictures, not by will, but because they are all I've got! Earlier this week, we suffered from a major hard drive crash resulting in the loss of our own wedding-day snapshots of recent weddings! The good news is that there are still professional photos of this wedding to come from Serendipity Photography, so stay tuned! In the meantime, here are a few photos to tide you over!

Congratulations Christine and Chad!

Alison and Curt - Quetzal & Serafines

2010-03-25T14:32:00.013-06:00

Alison and Curt said their I Do's in early March at gorgeous Casa Serafines! The couple really wanted something simple, elegant and natural, and we loved the opportunity to create their wedding day! Alison and Curt's love of plants as opposed to flowers, linen as opposed to silk and their overall love of all-things-natural became evident throughout the planning, so we really focused on an earth/wind/water/fire concept (with many nods to their love of red wine in the mix)!

Here is a glimpse at their day until the professional photos come through from Dana Damewood!

Congratulations Alison and Curt!!! We LOVED working with you on your wedding!

For the night-before sneak peeks, go here!

For Behind-the-Scenes moments from this wedding, go here!

For a Tale-of-a-Table, go here!

Natalie and Armen - Dreams Villamagna

2010-02-22T15:25:00.007-06:00

We literally bounced from one Dreams to the other this February, starting with Ali and Robin's pretty-in-pink wedding at Dreams PV and then over to Dreams Villamagna for our first wedding with them for Natalie and Armen's tropical chic beach wedding. We loved this couple! Natalie and Armen planned this wedding long distance - not just from us, but from each other as well! We loved the fact that their Armenian (and just-a-little-Polish) roots played a role in their wedding and that the brother of the groom was the half-coordinator, playing so much of a planning role he could practically become a PV wedding planner! There were all kinds of fun factors that played into this wedding's development and execution . . . and we loved the result!

Natalie and Armen wanted beachy, sexy and chic but also wanted tropical touches to really reflect what Puerto Vallarta is all about! So this is what we came up with:

Everyone at the hotel thought I was a little nuts when I said I was placing the ceremony beneath the palapas on the beach area. In fact, all day long while setting up, random employees kept telling me I was in the wrong place for the ceremony. I think they were trying to help us out, but as it was our first wedding at the hotel, they just didn't quite understand that we hadn't misunderstood the space, we actually wanted the ceremony beneath the palapas and trees! I love that it provided a little shade for the guests, felt very organic and also added a private and intimate vibe as it was far-removed from the main areas of the hotel. We scattered limes along the side of the aisle for a taste of the tropics and then added petals right before the bridal party entered. Flowers were strung to hang above the couple inside the ceremony canopy, and maracas added that lively Mexican flare as the couple kissed!

A nearby cocktail lounge awaited guests following the ceremony beneath a rooftop-style iron structure with flowing fabric galore! We surprised the couple by customizing pillows with the Armenian wedding blessing - which was so beautiful and appropriate!

The bride and groom took photos on the beach and then entered as their guests practiced a traditional Armenian welcome!

As cocktail hour came to a close, guests found their table assignments - not with numbers - but with words in Armenian (and their English translation) - much thanks to the groom's father and brother for providing help with this! Thank you!

Tables were set with clean round vases filled with circus roses, limes and cymbidium orchids - all drawn from the design of the bride's bouquet and cake!

My favorite part of the evening is when the sun goes down and the candles are lit! The transformation from day to evening to night is so much fun to watch!

If you happen to be our fan on Facebook, you've already seen images and heard all about this - but I'll repeat for those of you who aren't! This group was the first I've ever seen in which every single guest hopped up following dinner and stayed on the dance floor all. night. long. Amazing. I love this photo (it is just one of many) that show completely abandoned dinner tables and just a whole-lotta-shakin' on the dance floor! A celebration indeed!

Congratulations Natalie and Armen! You were truly one-of-a-kind and we were so blessed to work with you!

To see the design board that inspired this wedding, go here!

Dana and Sam - Dreams PV

2010-02-11T20:56:00.006-06:00

Back in October, when rainy season was supposed to be coming to a close, Dana and Sam tied the knot at Dreams Resort. The day began ideally - sun shining, palm trees swaying, the wedding setup coming together beautifully.

But as the day progressed, storm clouds rolled in and rain began to fall. The bride and groom decided to move forward with ceremony on the beach but move their reception indoors. And so the day went. The professional photos from Kirsten Lewis are in, and they are such a perfect reflection of the day. And one of my very favorite and romantic photos EVER was taken with pouring down rain the background (see below!) So, without further adieu, Dana and Sam's wedding day!

This is it . . . the one I love!!!

For more details on this rain day, go here!

Congratulations (again) Dana and Sam!

Ali and Robin - Dreams PV

2010-02-10T16:44:00.012-06:00

After a week of rain, the sun shone bright for Alison and Robin's early February celebration! Ali described her vision as "elegant, sparkly, chic, romantic and dreamy," and she is a self-proclaimed fan of anything and everything girlie - pink, lace, more pink, crystals, even more pink. (Any groom who agrees to this much pink is completely and utterly in love! Too sweet!)

The couple had a beautiful monogram on their invite that helped set the tone for the celebration:

In lieu of traditional ceremony programs, we took some quotes from the bride and groom that they wrote about each other and printed them - the words were so touching when we read them, that we knew family and friends would just swoon!

The bride's bouquet was a beautiful blend of roses in tones ranging from a silky cream to a pale pink with touches of white casablancas to add a sweet aroma! We surprised Ali with a beautiful monogram wrap for her flowers!

The bride and groom, midwest natives, inspired us to do a very natural backdrop to really take in the scenery of the beach but bring a bit of the natural beauty of the northern states to their ceremony. Of course we added touches of crystals and lots and lots of rose petals to the aisle for Ali and of course a touch of pink to the chairs!

The pink palette carried over into the cocktail lounge and reception where a few sparkly details caused quite a Wow!

Table runners were also personalized with the couple's monogram, and twinkle lights throughout the area made the reception absolutely glow!

To see the design board that inspired this wedding, go here!

Congratulations Ali and Robin!!!

Sandra and Edward - China Blanca

2010-02-01T09:34:00.018-06:00

Sandy and Eddy's wedding was a true day of paradise - 84 degrees, sun shining, a perfect breeze. We knew this wedding had to be picture perfect as Sandy, one of our most active Facebook fans and a wonderful bride, wrote us after nearly every wedding this past fall stating, "This is my NEW favorite! I love it!" After about four new favorite weddings, all of which were entirely different, she had us really pondering her wedding and design for hours and hours on end. She wanted a palette of blush colors - creams, whites, pale pinks but also loves a pop of color! She loves flowers - and really wanted bougainvillea incorporated; She wanted a touch of something tropical, and she wanted to surprise Eddy with a special mojito-related something in honor of his favorite drink! So.... without further adieu, this is what we came up with for Sandy's wedding (oh yeah, Eddy's wedding too!)

Until we have professional photos back from Joe Cogliandro, these will have to do!

The ceremony took place on the garden overlooking the ocean. Pomanders hung from wrought iron hooks along the sides of the ceremony, and bougainvillea covered the top of the ceremony gazebo where the bride and groom stood to exchange vows! I always love the guest gasps and comments as rose petals are being sprinkled on an aisle. I think the intoxication of the lovely aroma makes them giddy!

Following the ceremony, the ninety-plus guests enjoyed cocktails in several different poolside settings: a chic umbrella-shaded lounge, a luxurious beach bed area in the nearby garden and a cute cafe-style cocktail area on the terrace.

A couple very special areas were tucked into the corners of the villa grounds as well! On the opposite side of the pool, a special mojito bar - known as Eddy's Mojito Shack - was set up with a bartender exclusively dedicated to muddling and mixing the minty concoction!

As ten little ones attended the wedding as well, we knew it was imperative to have some sort of activities to keep them busy as well . . . so a children's play area was set up beneath the villa gazebo with hanging pinatas, kiddie table and chairs and lots of fun surprises for the tots!

Sandy and Eddy share a passion for art, and Eddy himself is an artist! In honor of this, we set up a special paint station at which their guests created a work of art for the newlyweds throughout the night! We saw the idea a loooong time ago and weren't completely sure how it would turn out, but we were really pleased as it was super popular and the end result a true work of art accomplished by their guests - everyone participated, from the youngest to the oldest!

Following a cocktail hour filled with fun and mariachi music, guests sat down at tables inside the vast villa living space and enjoyed toasts, each other and dinner!

The tables glowed as candles were lit and the sun set in the background!

After dinner, everyone gathered back outside on the terrace for dancing, lounging, more mojitos and tons of fun!

To see the design board we created as an inspiration for this wedding, go here!

For a cute idea to keep young guests busy at dinner tables, go here.

Congratulations Sandy and Eddy!

The Dazzling Details GiveAway - II

2010-01-31T22:23:00.003-06:00

The post about Jess and Paul's lovebird wedding brought us so many emails asking where we found the adorable hand-painted bird ornaments that we have decided we have to address the question right here on our blog! So here goes . . .

There is a tiny little corner shop that opens from November through the beginning of every year for the Christmas season only. It is located on a side street off of Insurgentes St. across from the Rio Cuale Mercado. Find the HSBC bank across from the Mercado and follow the side street up to the corner; the Christmas shop is on the right hand side!

Now..... I loved the ornaments myself so much that I bought enough for Jess and Paul's wedding and then gobs of them for myself as well! And when I say gobs, I mean GOBS! And now, as the Christmas season has passed, I realize that I truly don't need gobs of these ornaments no matter how absolutely adorable they are. Sooo . . . we announce our next Dazzling Details Giveaway! Details here!

Best of luck to all who enter!

Danielle and Justin - Dreams PV

2010-01-29T13:13:00.008-06:00

October 2009 brought with it some rainy weather - more than usual - and several of our weddings had to be relocated to indoors to accommodate the falling drops! Danielle and Justin had their hearts set on an outdoor ceremony, and despite a near downpour, they moved forward (in part thanks to Dreams blue and white umbrellas and in part to their very good-spirited guests) and said their "I dos" on the beach!

They did, however, make the very difficult decision early in the morning to relocate their reception to an indoor ballroom in order to preserve the setup and decor without the risk of everything becoming soaked in an afternoon shower! And while it was a really tough decision for them to make, it was a smart one; it rained for hours in the afternoon, drenching just about everything not under cover! So while we aren't necessarily used to working indoors, the room converted beautifully into a reception space that glowed late into the night!

Oddly enough, despite the rain being completely against us, it also showed a bit of compassion - letting up slightly just after the ceremony for a few formal photos on the beach and then again at the end of the reception in order to pull off the fire dancers and fireworks on the beach to end the evening!

Thank you Amanda Kraft for the photos!

For an explanation of the charms on the bouquet and boutonniere as well as the placement of the fountain in the ceremony, go here! It was actually a really special touch to this wedding!

For a very memorable photo of their rainy wedding ceremony, go here! It's definitely one-of-a-kind!

Congratulations Danielle and Justin!

Jess and Paul - Dreams PV - Part II

2010-01-27T22:51:00.011-06:00

Professional photos from Jess and Paul's November nuptials are in from Photographer Stephanie Williams! (Those of you who check us out on Facebook have already peeked at these photos!)

For our amateur photos of the event accompanied by our comments on the decor, go here.

For the Before and After pics of the details, go here!

To see the design board behind this wedding, go here!

And if you aren't our fan on Facebook yet, click the button on the right side of our blog! You'll get peeks at ongoing projects, inspiration boards, "befores and afters" and much more every day!

Congratulations (again) Jess and Paul!

Aly and Jake - Villa Encanto

2010-01-18T22:21:00.009-06:00

Aly and Jake's January wedding at Villa Encanto was truly one of a kind! So many personal elements of the couple's life and relationship were integrated into this event, and the result was a wedding that entirely reflected the couple standing under the chuppah!

A little bit about the couple before revealing the photos of their nuptials: they wanted to incorporate fruit in a big way; they chose a color palette of earthy brown and greens with pops of red and yellow. They wanted a completely relaxed ambiance in which guests could really kick back and enjoy the beach air; they wanted to incorporate their love of travel (both past and future endeavors) into the celebration. Their love of crossword puzzles had to be represented, and their two "kids" - a stuffed monkey and alligator - were absolutely essential as guests to the wedding! All these elements wrapped up into a cocktail-style reception and voila! A wedding to be remembered!

The lovely Jewish wedding ceremony took place in the villa garden where guests wrapped around three sides of the chuppah encircling the bride and groom as they exchanged vows.

Following the kiss, guests gathered on the outdoor terrace for appetizers, drinks and lots of fun interactive stations!

Following a few cocktails and tasty quesadillas prepared at a live cooking station, guests were invited to the beach for dancing, desserts and a surprise Churros station (the bride's very favorite!)

To see the design board that inspired this wedding, go here!

To see the wedding projects in progress (otherwise known as the "befores," go here!

And for more on the adorable furry creatures featured in the photo station, go here.

Congratulations Jake and Aly! You were sooo amazing to plan with! Happy Marriage!

A Christmas Giveaway!

2009-12-07T11:52:00.002-06:00

If you are interested in free stuff (and who isn't!?!), check out our facebook page before Wednesday! Something from this table is being given away!