Sayulita Destination Wedding with Sunset Soiree

Where did you have your wedding and what was your wedding day like?

We had our ceremony at the North end of the Beach by the rocks. The reception was on the sand outside of the two houses we rented, Flor de la Playa.  My wedding day was beautiful.  It was a hot day and we spent the day hanging out and setting up the whole thing. I’m very hands on and DIY so I was out there as much as I could be with Courtney getting things set up. Christian and all the guys got the driftwood alter set up in the afternoon while I started getting ready. The wedding itself was exactly what I wanted.  I walked down the beach with my dad. The ceremony started in the early evening with my friends singing “Such Great Heights” by Iron & Wine. As I said, my girlfriend Kathy Jo, whom I was with in Nicaragua, officiated the wedding.  After the ceremony we drank beers from what we lovingly call “The Beer Donkey,” which was my husband’s only request for the wedding.  Then we celebrated into the night, barefoot in the sand, eating Don Pedro’s and homemade ice cream sandwiches- we didn’t have a cake. We ended the night with a Bon Fire and S’mores. Well, that’s where my night ended. My friends went skinny dipping right in front of the reception and all swear dolphins were swimming and splashing around them!

How big was your wedding? Where did your guests travel from?

The wedding was quite small, about 32 guests.  We had guests from all over the world.  Christian is from Switzerland, so we had a few whose first time out of Europe was coming to Sayulita. The rest came from California, Arizona, Utah, and one all the way from Belgrade Serbia.

What is your most memorable moment from your wedding?

It’s really hard to pinpoint one moment. Of course marrying my husband during our ceremony was my most special moment, However,  I think there was a moment where we looked around at all of our friends and families laughing, drinking and running around barefoot enjoying themselves, and it just felt really good to know that we brought them together in such a cool way and in such a great place.

What did you like about having a destination wedding in Sayulita?

I liked the experience that we made out of it. Our wedding was more than just the ceremony and reception. We spent a week with our friends and family tearing it up all over town.  Our families are from different parts of the world, so having this week with them all together was a great way to bring them together to get to know one another. Sayulita was a great place for that to happen.

Courtney was exactly what I wanted in a wedding planner. She is really laid back and easy to talk to, but so organized and on top of everything. She has great taste and interpreted what I wanted and took it even further.  I always felt like I was her first priority even though I knew she was planning other events simultaneously.

What did you enjoy most about your stay in Sayulita?

I like Sayulita because you spend time there and get to know everyone. It’s such a small town that you end up seeing the same people everywhere you go, and it’s awesome because they become your buddies for the week.

Some people have a preconceived notion that Mexico is unsafe? How did you and your guests feel about your safety in Sayulita?

I never felt unsafe. We all felt safe at all times day and night. We had some guests that arrived with that notion, but it quickly dissipated once they settled into the vibe of Sayulita.

How did the cost of your destination wedding to Sayulita compare to the cost of friends’ wedding in your home of origin?

I think I probably spent less. When you have a destination wedding, less people come, so you have a smaller, more intimate wedding. I think because I was limited to what I could fit in a suitcase, I didn’t buy anything I didn’t really need at the wedding, so everything that was there had a meaningful purpose…no fru fru anything. And my wedding planner provided a lot of great items as well.

What advice would you give others considering a destination wedding in Sayulita?

If you do a summer wedding, be sure you’re comfortable with the heat. It was very, very hot on our wedding day. If you do it outside during rainy season, get the tent. I spent a year worrying it would rain on my wedding day and it did! If we hadn’t had the tent it would have been a major bummer, but since we were covered, it ended up being a really cool bonus. Lastly, definitely use a wedding planner. Having a planner will take all the stress out of it and make your wedding day a relaxed day that you can just sit back and enjoy.

Any final words or thoughts?

Can I do it all again?  It really does go by in the blink of an eye!!