Emily and Kyle knew they wanted their wedding to be a vacation, spending time with friends and family. Because they wanted an intimate and boutique resort style location, the couple decided to have a destination wedding in Tulum, Mexico.

Because the couple knew Tulum is known for smaller, more intimate weddings and venues, they opted to wed at the Cabanas La Luna, rather than a larger resort in Mexico. Friends and family were excited for a trip to Mexico, although some were a bit hesitant about all of the travel.

Despite the initial reservations about traveling, the newlyweds received a great amount of enthusiasm and excitement for their nuptials in Tulum.

Emily and Kyle are based in San Francisco and chose to have a wedding planner they could meet with in California, as well as a coordinator at their hotel.

“[Having a coordinator in Tulum] helped a lot when we were working through small details we could do locally, and utilizing our planner on site for local suggestions and organizing the day-of events,” says Emily.

The couple would send over their inspiration for flowers and decor to their planner, who in turn would send back the best options they had on hand to choose from.

About four months before it was time to say “I do”, Emily and Kyle flew to Tulum to visit their wedding location, meet their vendors and finalize a lot of details. They were able to menu testing for their reception and rehearsal dinners, ensuring everything tasted just as they wanted.

Other details secured before the wedding was traveling from the airport to their wedding venue. With a two-hour drive between the venue and airport it made sense to make arrangements well in advance.

 “We set up shuttle groups far in advance and had guests pay in full beforehand so all they had to do was board the shuttle when they got off the plane,” says Emily.

To show their appreciation for their guests, Emily and Kyle made their own gift bags, complete with little touches of Tulum.

“We planned out where we were going to put in them, including a bottle of tequila, local snacks and games and coloring books for the kids,” says Emily. “It was a fun way to explore the town and check out the local shopping and we didn’t have to pack any items from home to haul there.”

Their wedding weekend was intimate and time was well spent with loved ones. If they had chose a hometown wedding over their destination wedding, their day would have been more expensive and would have had more guests.

Because the size of their guests shrunk significantly by saying swapping vows in Tulum, they saved money by having a smaller wedding, as well as incorporating local products that may have been more expensive in the US.

Although the process of planning a destination wedding can be overwhelming with lots of options to choose from, Emily and Kyle advise not to be afraid to take recommendations on where to get married. “We got a lot of recommendations from friends and family who had traveled to Tulum and love it, and it turned out perfect!”

Vendors: Photographer: Angie Silvy Photography, Wedding Planner: Alicia Falango and Mindy Rosas, Ceremony/Reception Site: Cabanas La Luna, Stationery: Alicia K Designs, Hair & Makeup: Yucatan Hair, Gown Designer: BHLDN, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Nordstrom.