Lauryn + Kevin
(October 5, 2019 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Todays blog post is about our real bride Lauryns wedding experience, where she originally wanted to elope. However, after discussions with her partner, they decided on a semi-traditional wedding that would be small, low-stress, and a fun party that everyone could enjoy. They chose to have a destination wedding at their favorite vacation spot in Cabo, where the resort's wedding coordinators took care of most of the planning details. They hired an outside photographer but had everything else provided by the resort. The wedding day was perfect, despite a few things that didn't go as planned. The author's #1 tip to future brides is to have a destination wedding because it takes away most of the stress of planning, and the experience of going on vacation with loved ones is unforgettable.
Lauryn looked absolutely breathtaking in our Laney gown by LAmour. This is a stunning sheath-fit gown with bold, thick sheet lace. The unlined bodice serves to accentuate the waistline. The bodice has a plunging v-neckline and thick straps and a gorgeous open back. This gown is simple yet so gorgeous.
By our real bride, Lauryn:
What was the vision for your wedding?
I originally wanted to elope because I am not a planner by any means. Thinking about planning a wedding with all the vendors and small details needed to coordinate a wedding stressed me out more than I can express. However, after talking about it with Kevin, we decided we really did want a semi-traditional wedding to celebrate us and those we love most.
A small, low-stress wedding where both the guests and Kevin and I had a blast was really what was most important to us. We really didn't care much about the small details and just wanted it to be more of a fun party that everyone could enjoy and remember. After a lot of back and forth, we decided the best way to do this was to get married at our favorite vacation spot: Cabo.
I didn't really have much of a Pinterest board or idea of what I wanted besides a beach wedding in Cabo but everything still turned out perfect. At most destination resorts, the wedding coordinators do all the small detail planning for you (unless you have other specific ideas, they are great at accommodating) and the decisions you need to make are much more limited. That's exactly how it was at Sandos too- the wedding coordinators that were included in our wedding package are incredible at their job and made the whole planning process extremely easy. The actual wedding day exceeded my expectations and it was so perfect.
The resort provided almost everything for the wedding. We just brought a few extra signs, guest book, and table numbers but they provided everything else. The only outside vendor we had was our photographer, Enrique Morales. We went to Cabo the year prior to our wedding and did some research to choose Enrique to do our engagement photos. We fell in love with his work and his warm personality so decided to have him do our wedding photography instead of the photographer at the resort.
How did it go the day-of?
The wedding day ended up being so perfect even though there were a few things that didn't go as planned.
We decided not to write our own vows and instead, we decided to write each other letters about how much we loved one another. The plan was to give the letters to each other the night before the wedding and stay with our friends that night instead of together. Our officiant, who was also one of Kevin's groomsmen and a close friend, used the letters in his officiant speech which made our ceremony even more personal. We ended up instead spending the night before the wedding together and giving each other the letters the morning of the wedding when we were getting ready but everything still worked out :)
Kevin spent the day of the wedding hanging by the pool with our friends and family (something I was super jealous of) while my bridesmaids and I got ready in our room. Side note my hair and makeup trial that I did a couple of days prior to the wedding from the beauty staff at the resort turned out terribly- so bad that I didn't even let anyone see it. On the day of the wedding my maid of honor ended up doing my makeup and I actually randomly met the sweetest girl who happened to be a professional hair stylist at our resort who had offered to do my hair at no cost. My hair and makeup ended up turning out just as I had hoped.
The ceremony was so incredible and simple at the same time. What made it most meaningful was our officiant who knew us both well and made the ceremony so personable.
The reception was one of our favorite parts. We had so much fun partying and celebrating with all our guests. I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.
What is your #1 tip to future brides?
My number one tip to future brides would be if at all possible to have a destination wedding! It was the best decision I ever made. Having a destination wedding took away 90% of the stress that comes along with planning a wedding because the resort does so much of the planning for you. Also, having the opportunity to go on a vacation with the people you are closest to may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it's so worth it. We had the best time during our whole trip and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.
