Charles and Jenna knew from the beginning they wanted to host a destination wedding, but that does not mean their journey wasn’t without a few speed bumps. “Cabo San Lucas was actually the second wedding location,” says the bride. “We originally had a wedding planned for Negril, Jamaica, but the hotel was sold and our wedding got cancelled. This was very difficult to deal with, but we were able to make an adjustment and it worked out great in Mexico.” The couple’s ability to regroup after a pretty major setback is a credit to their flexibility. 

Thankfully, Cabo San Lucas, like Jamaica, met Charles and Jenna’s destination wedding vision. “We wanted a small, intimate wedding on the beach,” says the couple. Their guests were also on board with traveling south of the border. “They were all very positive about the decision,” says the bride. “With our friends and family spread across the United States, the travel was not an issue anyway.” Unfortunately, when it came to traveling for W-Day, the only people who had difficulty were the bride and groom. 

“The only people that had travel issues getting to the wedding were us,” reflects the couple. “We missed our connection due to snow and arrived a day later than planned. However, we were supposed to get there a few days early, so it ended up just meaning less pool time.” Despite these hiccups, the couple still looks back on their wedding planning journey with fondness. “It was a lot of work, particularly since we had to plan two weddings, but it was absolutely perfect,” says Jenna. “Sharing an entire weekend with a small group of people meant everything to us.”

The couple further proved their patient, organizational abilities by pulling-off their dream wedding without the help of a wedding planner. “We did not have a planner and relied on referrals and traveling to the specific locations,” says the bride. “Our wedding coordinator at Cabo Surf Hotel was wonderful. She handled all the vendor conversations and made payment super easy.”

Charles and Jenna understandably wanted to keep their packing and travel simple, so they kept the DIY projects to a minimum. “We made the glitter table numbers in Spanish. Paper was the easiest thing for us to transport, so those were our homemade touches.” In the end, the couple had exactly the wedding they wanted and deserved – even if it wasn’t in their original chosen destination. Out of curiosity, we asked the couple how their decision to have a wedding away affected their budget.

“We probably spent the same amount of money,” explains the bride. “We spent more per person for the destination wedding, but there would have been more attendees locally. [A hometown wedding would have been] nowhere near as special!” We also asked Jenna what advice she would give other couples currently considering a destination wedding.

“First off, absolutely do a destination wedding! It was the greatest weekend of our lives and we talk about it with our friends every time we see them.” Encouraging words from a successful destination wedding bride!

Vendors: Photographer: Henry Photography, Wedding Coordinator: Martha Lomeli with Cabo Surf Hotel, Ceremony/Reception Site: Cabo Surf Hotel, Florist: Florenta Flower Design, Cake, Hair & Makeup: Cabo Surf Hotel, Gown Designer: Legends by Ramona Kaveza purchased at La Jeune Mariee Bridal, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Pronto Uomo, Bridesmaids’ Clothing Designer: Jenny Yoo