Dasha and Jimmy never waivered when it came to their decision to host a destination wedding. In fact, they quickly chose their destination and never looked back. “[Sayulita] was the first town that popped in my mind when we began planning the wedding,” says Dasha “Sayulita was the first place we went on vacation together. As soon as we arrived, I knew this place was special. Sayulita is such a great representation of who we are. It is such a beautiful town with an undeniable spirit.” Aside from the undeniable charm of their chosen destination, hosting a wedding away also allowed the couple to spend more than just one day with their guests – leading to lifelong bonds.

In addition to exchanging vows in front of their loved ones, the couple was also able to share one of their favorite places on earth with those they love most. Not surprisingly, the “yes” RSVPs quickly began to flood in. While Dasha and Jimmy were confident in their decision to get married in Mexico, they understood it came with a few added complications. “If you decide to have your wedding in a foreign country, remember that it’s just that,” explains the bride. “There might be a communication or language barrier, so keep that in mind when picking a location. Patience and respect is key.” Another key to the couple’s success was hiring a local, professional wedding planner. 

“The thing about having a destination wedding is that you can only control so much from far away,” says Dasha. “I am very particular, so it is difficult for me to let go, but the fact that [our wedding planner] had a list of vendors that she trusts and uses, made my life so much easier. I think it’s so important to ENJOY planning your wedding. The entire experience should be fun and exciting. If you are left doing everything on your own, you will without a doubt be stressed out.

“You don’t realize how much work and how many details go into this one big day and since it’s your big day, you will want it to be perfect. Remember one thing, it will never be 100% perfect. Something will almost always not go exactly as planned or look how you imagined, but guess what? Nobody will notice or care and neither should you.” While the bride kept her workload in check, she did go the extra mile in terms of some personalized, DIY details like the guest place cards, welcome bags and her bridesmaids’ gifts.

In an attempt to simplify their guests’ travel experience, the couple prearranged transportation from the airport to the resort. “We made sure to arrange proper transportation from the airport to Sayulita,” explains the bride. “The drive takes about 45 minutes because it is such a small, windy road through the jungle. We helped connect guests with the similar arrival times so they can carpool up together. Once everyone was in Sayulita, we strongly recommended that they rent a golf cart. The town is so small, you don’t need a car, but golf carts were a fun and easy way of getting around. It’s important to give your guests an idea of what the destination is like. Had we not mentioned any of this information, I bet many would have shown up with rented cars or not reserved golf carts.”

Aside from the obvious perks of their cool, surfer town location, saying “I do” in Mexico rather than their hometown of L.A. came with other bonuses. “Our destination wedding definitely cost less than had we had our wedding in Los Angeles,” exclaims Dasha. “Since the pricing was so much less, we were able to do so much more. We had a cigar roller, a churro stand, fire dancers, sparklers, a three-course meal, an open bar, a Cuban band and Spanish guitar players. When having a destination wedding it is so important to embrace the destination. Don’t force anything on the location that doesn’t belong there.” 

We asked this savvy bride what final words of advice she would offer other couples currently planning a destination wedding. “Give yourself a year if you can and break down tasks for each month. There are so many online tools and phone apps right now that guide you and help you do this. They can even send you reminders so you are up to date with your tasks. Stay calm and if you need help, ask for it! Don’t bite off more than you can chew and try to overdo it with DIY tasks.

“Remember to smile, breath and enjoy these moments with your loved ones. You’ve worked hard all year, but this is the day you [can] relax and have fun. Don’t go running around the venue doing any last minute changes or organizations. Have a glass of Champagne, treat it like a big party and dance!”

Vendors: Photographer: Nuñez Photography, Wedding Planner: Karen Ruezga with Villa Amor, Ceremony/Reception Site: Villa Amor, Florist: Flor Mimo, Stationery: Chloe Pate Deamer, LetterPress Printer: Mercurio Brothers, Hair, Makeup & Churro Stand: Villa Amor, Gown Designer: Theia Couture from Lovely Bride LA, Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu, Groom’s Suit: Groom Studio Weddings, Groom’s Shoes: Alfani, Pocket Squares: Bows-N-Ties, Bridesmaids’ Dress Designer: Reformation, Jewelry & Rings: Dasha Hayward, Minister: Tunde Whitten