When Southern California residents Elisa and Billy got engaged, they knew it would be hard to top the gorgeous, local California weddings they were accustomed to seeing.  Searching for that extra wow factor, they decided on a destination wedding in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Cabo fit the bill– close enough for a vacation, but far enough away to feel like the perfect, beach destination.

Billy and Elisa are all too familiar with how easy it is to postpone or a push back a vacation, so they opted to turn their wedding celebration into a vacation with loved ones. “We loved the idea of getting together our closest friends and family and celebrating our wedding with a vacation,” says Elisa. “We thought it was the best way to extend the celebration beyond just the day of the wedding.”

Family and friends were supportive and thrilled for a wonderful reason for a vacation. “We’re all busy so it’s easy to find reasons to push off a vacation when you need it,” says Elisa. “But it’s harder to skip a wedding!”

Since most destination weddings typically have a smaller guest list, Elisa and Billy were thrilled to celebrate in a beautiful location with their closest loved ones. Intimate and small was exactly the feel they were going for.

After selecting their location, Elisa and Billy hired a wedding planner. “This was the best thing we could have done for minimizing the stress of planning,” says Elisa. “Everything fell nicely into place soon after that.”

Having a wedding planner made coordination with vendors a breeze. When Elisa and Billy found an idea they liked, they would send it back to the planner who would coordinate with the vendors to make their vision a reality.

Elisa and Billy were so happy with their decision to hire a planner, and deemed it an essential aspect of a destination wedding. With both the bride and groom-to-be having busy work schedules, having assistance was a huge stress reliever.

“If a wedding planner is not in the budget, you might consider recruiting an eager family member or friend with a knack for event coordination,” advises Elisa. Elisa’s mother was a big help with their planning, being in contact with the planner nearly as much as Elisa was.

“My mother and my wedding planner were really the masterminds behind my wedding,” says Elisa. “My husband and I just showed up for the party.”

Since Elisa and Billy knew they would be traveling and packing all of their wedding items, they opted out of including too many DIY projects. However, Elisa was the brains and hands behind their framed seating chart.

With a knack for sewing, Elisa’s mother made her a French lace and tulle hand-stitched, chapel length veil. “The finished product was absolutely breathtaking, especially because I knew how much time and love was put into it,” says Elisa. “My veil was my absolute favorite part of my wedding wear.”

Another interesting aspect of Billy and Elisa’s wedding was their decision to not have a cake. Because dessert was included in their wedding diner, they decided to spend that money on a cigar and tequila-tasting bar instead.

Once it came time to make hotel and travel accommodations, Elisa and Billy didn’t want their guests to feel obligated to stay at the same resort they did. In lieu of requesting everyone stay together, the couple researched resorts located near the wedding site and each other, encouraging guests to stay at a place they recommended.

After all of Billy and Elisa’s friends and family arrived in Mexico, they were ready to celebrate. “When I think back to my wedding, my memories include more than just the day we said ‘I do’,” says Elisa. The days leading up to their wedding were filled with love and lasting memories.

The couple says that having a destination wedding was comparable in price to what they would have paid if they had a local wedding. Having a destination wedding minimized their guest list, allowing them to do more within their budget.

They achieved a small, intimate wedding with a week’s worth of celebration and memories.

For those couples planning their own destination wedding, Billy and Elisa advise, “You’ve successfully gathered all your favorite people into one beautiful vacation locale where nobody has to work the next day. Now enjoy it!” 

Vendors: Photographer: Ana and Jerome, Wedding Planner: Candela with Be That Bride Events, Ceremony/Reception Site: Cabo del Sol, Florist: Cabo Flowers, Hair & Makeup: Blanc Bridal Salon, Gown Designer: Marisa, Bridesmaids Clothing Designer: The Dessy Group.