Aaron and Katy were close long before they got engaged and chose a destination wedding venue in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula. In fact, they were close because they were neighbors. The couple had been to many family members’ weddings all within a couple of years of each other, so they wanted their wedding to be set apart in a way that was uniquely tailored to them.

The pair had Mexico in mind for their wedding from all of their adventures on the coast of Baja. “I had been down to Baja for camping and surfing trips before and fallen in love with the wilderness and sense of freedom that comes with traveling through the region,” Katy says.

But, their wedding needed something their usual spots on Baja did not necessarily specialize in: food.

Katy and Aaron had been hearing about a place just a couple hours south of San Diego that was the prime destination for amazing cuisine and wine. When they visited they were blown away. The Valle de Guadalupe had quite a bit to offer the couple.

“There’s an incredible energy there, chefs doing totally new things, people are really focused on sustainability, vineyards are creating blends no one has ever even heard of,” Katy says.

So they booked with Bruma Wedding Venue in Valle de Guadalupe that provided a picturesque vineyard for the couple’s ceremony backdrop sure to spice up their taste for Mexico.

Now that the space was set, the next step was to find those who could make their Baja wedding vision come to life. Katy turned to the Internet and when she found something she liked, she would hunt down the vendors by contacting editors and bloggers who wrote about them. They also received tips from a bride who had a wedding in the Valle herself.

“Once I found someone whose vision I trusted, I trusted their referrals,” Katy said.

The bride found her trusted florist online, Tam Ashworth with Isari, whose floral table arrangements she fell in love with. It all came together piece-by-piece. The couple eventually found Chef Roberto Fernandez with Culinary Fusions: Catering & Bar who helped them select a menu based on regional specialties such as seafood and the bride’s favorite- chocolate.

The couple also knew they would want to spend more quality one-on-one time with their guests. Márquez Ulbrich Concierge & Lifestyle Management arranged wine tours for the couple, so if guests wished to arrive early, they would have something to do together.

On the day of the wedding, all of the hand-picked elements came together beautifully. The ceremony took place outside under a dramatic tree overlooking the vineyard. They exchanged vows and had them sealed in a regional wine’s box.

The reception featured their beloved food selections and a surprisingly amazing band.  

“We weren’t completely sure what we were getting when we signed with them”, Katy says, “We ended up with a 12-piece band that rocked! They had a woman who sounded like Whitney Houston and a Michael Jackson impersonator. At the end of the night the crowd was begging for more.”

The couple advises others that wish to have a destination wedding to Baja to make visits in person, if possible, because of language barriers and confusion that can potentially arise when communicating over email. 

Photographer: Alex Leon, Wedding Venue: Bruma, Floral Arrangement: Isari Flower Studio, Reception Music: Wine Band, Decor: The Folk Project, Paper Goods: JP Stationery, Groomsmen’s Ties: QP Collections, Catering & Bar: Culinary Fushions, Wedding Planner: Proboda, Bride Jewelry: Gypsetco & Jewelry by Design, Wine Tasting: Marquez Ulbrich, Dress Alterations: Alterations By Sandra, Hair & Makeup: Maquillista Profesional- Esmerelda Cervantes, Videography/Documentation: Sky Grounds & Bouquet Films, Rehearsal Dinner: Terra Noble, Hotel/Transport/Wedding Transportation: Veronica Ochoa-Hotel Coral, Rentals: Proboda