Lesley and Joseph wanted a destination wedding because they love to travel together and experience other parts of the world besides their home state of Alaska. The couple knew their friends and family would like to have a mini tropical vacation to escape an Alaskan winter. Having a tropical wedding allowed the couple to have a smaller more intimate wedding.

The newlyweds say most of their friends were very enthusiastic for a tropical destination during the winter. They did have a few negative reactions and the couple explained that if guests were uncomfortable traveling or not financially reasonable for guests then they would not hold it against anyone. They understood that not everyone was going to be able to make the trip for various reasons.

The pair chose Troncones after they visited in 2016 once they were engaged. They happened to have a vacation planned to visit Zihuatanejo and Troncones and decided to look at options while they were there. During their visit, they fell in love with the low-key vibe of Troncones. They knew they didn’t want a large resort or anywhere that felt too touristy. Troncones fit the bill and they booked the venue for February 2018.

The couple had a lot of time to plan their wedding. They were able to give our guests a heads up on travel dates very early on. The newlyweds did have a wedding planner lined up several months in advance and say she did most of the heavy lifting.

Lesley used “A Practical Wedding” website to read about other bride’s experiences who planned their own destination wedding, and advice on how to plan a wedding that was culturally sensitive and how to be cognizant of cultural appropriation.

Joseph and Lesley had guest fly from all over the country into Mexico. They asked all of our guests to arrive on the same day and suggested certain flights for our Alaskan guests and most were on the same flight. They arranged a tour bus to wait at the airport to transport them to the wedding destination. “We decided to provide bus transportation because we thought it would ease nerves rather than having guests take a 30-minute taxi to a place they’ve never been to,” Joseph says.  

Because the couple had visited their wedding destination prior to planning the wedding they had made a few connections and followed businesses on Facebook and Instagram.  During their first visit, they met a couple that owned a beachside bar and wanted them to host the cocktail party the night before the wedding. They were able to contact them through Facebook. “We absolutely loved our cocktail party at Amor Tropical Cocktail Bar and it was such a fun atmosphere,” the newlyweds say. “We felt good supporting local business owners.” An issue the couple ran into was making payments for vendors. They made payments via bank transfers, via checks, through wiring money and others we had to pay cash when we arrived.

The pair feels they spent less money by choosing to have a destination wedding and they got to share Troncones, Mexico, with the people they love. “We both loved having more than just one day with our nearest and dearest family and friends,” the pair says. “We wouldn’t have got that with a wedding in our hometowns.”

Lesley’s advice would be know that not everyone is going to be able to attend and if this is going to break your heart, then a destination wedding isn’t for you. She highly suggests following local Facebook pages and Instagram feeds of the community you are planning to have your wedding at.  She informs future brides to find a wedding planner, send a lot of examples of what you would like your day to look like, and if you can don’t get stuck on certain details like specific types of flowers. Find cheaper alternatives that get you the feel you are looking for but won’t cost an arm and a leg.  

Vendors: Photographer:  Natural Intuition Photography, Wedding Planner: Mercy Yamily Mijanjos Torres, Ceremony/Reception Site: Casa Dos Peces, Stationery: Luisa González, Cake: El Arrayan Restaurant in Zihuatanejo, Gown Designer: Lillian West, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Calvin Kline and Haggar, Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Van Heusen and Haggar, Other Vendors: Amor Tropical Cocktail Bar