Audrey and Allen had never attended a destination wedding and decided they might as well plan their own. They wanted a tropical and warm setting and determined that Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was the perfect place to tie the knot. “We wanted the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends over the course of a weekend, rather than rushing through an eight-hour affair,” says the couple.

The couple had a lot to consider when deciding on the location of their destination wedding and wanted to prioritize the needs of their guests. “We wanted it to be an easily accessible location where our guests wouldn’t have too much trouble flying to and from,” says the newlyweds. “Specifically, we wanted our grandmother, who hadn’t been on a plane in over 20 years, to be able to attend our destination wedding.”

Thankfully, breaking the news to family and friends came easily. “Our family and friends were more excited than we were because they could use our wedding as an excuse for a vacation,” says the couple. “Honestly, we were delighted when people responded back with enthusiasm.” With no delays or cancellations, travel was nearly seamless for the couple and their guests, despite the hour-long drive from the airport to the resort.

The planning stage had its ups and downs for the couple. They received a lot of help and tips from friends, resort reviews and YouTube videos, all of which helped them envision their special day. They faced some difficulties and frustrations with contacting the on-site coordinator. “Planning an event from several thousand miles away can be hectic, uncertain and scary,” says the bride. “For us, the top three things we desired were an open bar, good food and great dancing music for the reception.” After the couple decided to rely heavily on Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort reviews, they found that the resort’s all-inclusive accommodations would “fit the bill” for them and their guests.

The resort took care of everything from table settings to food and drinks, which made it so the couple would just be responsible for providing their own flowers. Friends of the bride and groom helped arrange flowers that they bought from Costco for the bouquets and table arrangements.

Audrey and Allen also wanted to include various do-it-yourself projects for their big day. The bride’s cousin put together the signage for the ceremony and guest tables and the bride put together childhood photos of her and her husband that were placed at each table.

The newlyweds feel they absolutely spent less on their Cabo San Lucas wedding than what they would have on a wedding in their hometown of San Francisco, California.

“I don’t think we would have collected as many wonderful memories without having been able to spend some time before and after the wedding with our guests,” says the couple. “The day-of [flies] by all too quickly and we were fortunate enough to celebrate the evening before the wedding with a giant beach bonfire and matching jumbo marshmallows to roast.”

The bride advises that couples considering a destination wedding shouldn’t waste their time worrying about things out of their control, such as travel delays and weather. “Create a spreadsheet of all the logistics that are in your control and keep track of the big-ticket items,” says Audrey. “You may not be able to choose the flavor of your cake or the type of silverware on the tables, but who cares? At the end of the day, no one remembers the tiniest details, they only remember how they felt and how much fun they had, so make sure you also have fun on your wedding day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Sonya Yruel, Ceremony/Reception Site: Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort, Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas, Cake: Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort, Gown Designer: La Sposa, Groom’s Clothing Designer: The Black Tux, Bridesmaid’s Clothing Designer: Union Station, Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Men’s Wearhouse