Isla Holbox Styled Wedding Shoot

Isla Holbox Styled Wedding Shoot

June 24, 2022
Words by Lauren Ertl
Photos courtesy of Molly+Co

On the Mexican island of Isla Holbox, sits a luxurious, family-owned respite, Hotel Punta Caliza. Perfect for full group buyouts, this 12-room boutique property boasts a private pool for each Palapas-style (thatched roof) room, quintessential Mexican cuisine and endless relaxation. Quieter than other popular destinations located on the Yucatan Peninsula, like Tulum and Cancún, Isla Holbox just might be the ideal place for your “I do’s.” To get a better feel for what a wedding celebration with Hotel Punta Caliza might look like, Molly McCauley of Molly+Co and Erika Bellitt of Array Creative Design led a team of local and California-based vendors in creating this editorial workshop. Read our interview with Molly and Erika to learn about how all the gorgeous details came together to form an undeniably breathtaking display!

Molly McCauley of Molly+Co and Erika Bellitt of Array Creative Design

Q: How did this styled shoot first get started?
A: Molly – “I (Molly) was first exposed to this hotel in 2019, and through my research saw that it had never really been used for a destination wedding. I connected with the Hotel Punta Caliza, and they were excited to host an editorial to showcase the property. With our original plan to shoot in Nov. 2020, Covid thwarted that, we rescheduled for Feb 2021, and again for Nov 2021 – FINALLY making it to the small island of Isla Holbox in Feb of 2022. It was well worth the wait!”

Fun fact about the property: they have a hotel dog named Astro (included in images).

Q: What was the inspiration for the theme/style of the shoot? How did the location of the shoot influence it?
A: Both – “The property of Hotel Punta Caliza, was the inspiration for our shoot. We wanted to make sure it was a texturally rich design and felt authentic to the island. In terms of fashion and the overall design, we wanted to capture a monochromatic palette while playing into the intentional design of the property.”

Q: Tell us about the ceremony and reception looks. What elements were included and why?
A: Erika – “When creating Make Pretty Workshop in Holbox, we knew we were up for some challenges being a small island with very little event production, but we wanted to show creatives and couples that, with the right team, you can make some magic. We started with the most perfect welcome bag filled with goodies for guests and a full weekend itinerary. Destination weddings are all about customizing to reflect your personality and highlighting the areas and things you love and why you chose this destination.

Stationery was a big part of the design as we knew custom rentals would be a hard find and really went in knowing we would be using what is already provided to us. That is the beauty of stationery though, it can really bring in the design, the texture, and the vibe we wanted to set while fitting in our luggage.

Nubo Studio created beautiful linen menus that reflected a menu you would receive at a high-end restaurant. They took elements from the venue and intentionally brought them into the tablescape like the red cedar wood.

Linen is another item that tends to be easier to bring in vs plates, glassware, etc. We partnered with Table Method to bring in two styles, as we always love options, and ended up using both because why not make two tablescapes. Our first table had elements of organic nature and an ode to the island we were on, Bre from Breanna Jane Botanicals and I foraged all floral elements so it could be a true reflection of the island. We wanted to make sure we were respecting the island, so we asked natives what was okay to forage and also paid for some already trimmed pieces.

A lot of people have the assumption that organic and raw elements can’t be luxury. But, with us leaning into the space and being intentional with what we brought in, the fashion and high-end details really stood out.”

Q: How did the team of vendors work together?
A: Both – “Isla Holbox is a very small community, so we did have to bring the majority of our vendors in, but we worked together wonderfully. The design and creative team came from California, while the hair and makeup team, By Sandy Mendez, and couple, Anakaren and James were locally based in Mexico.”

Q: What was your favorite part of the shoot and why?
A: Molly – “My favorite part of the day was seeing this vision that was two years old come to life. The property was so welcoming to us from the moment we arrived, and we really felt like family. For me, as the photographer, the unique texture and ability to play with light throughout the day was so fun and pushed the team to create a more diverse range of images.”