Deanna and Zach got off to a rough start. While members of the same professional Fraternity in college, the pair butted heads. It wasn’t until they went their separate ways and found themselves in the same bar during a night out on the town. One thing led to another and in simple terms, the two squashed the beef and gave the relationship a try… the rest is history!

The couple always enjoyed attending their friends’ destination weddings and loved the idea of bringing friends and family together for a big celebration while reaping the benefits of a vacation.

“When we got engaged, we both had a lot going on at work and there was no way we could find time to plan a full wedding here in the US, the idea of a low-stress vacation to celebrate our wedding sounded perfect for us!” the couple says.

While choosing the ideal wedding destination, the couple knew they wanted somewhere warm and easy for their Colorado guests to travel to. They both loved the beach but didn’t want to get married in the sand so they filtered their search and looked for resorts that were affordable, and overall a beautiful setting for the ceremony.

“Sandos Finisterra was actually the first resort I found and ended up being the perfect resort for us and our guests,” says Deanna.

It was time for the planning to begin! To stay on task, Deanna built her own budget, to-do lists, and timeline to help her stay organized in the process. To coordinate all the other details, the couple hired a wedding planner.

“Yhali was fantastic, keeping us in the loop on deadlines and helping us personalize our wedding in ways that were very meaningful. Our process felt easy and stress-free because of Yhali and how helpful she was,” the pair says.

The couple added a few creative DIY projects to the ceremony for guests to enjoy. One of their favorites was a custom logo for tumblers that the bridal party used while at the resort.

“We put together personalized welcome bags, notes and itineraries for all of our guests when they arrived including personalized sunglasses, tattoos of our faces to wear throughout the week, and a bunch of Tylenol, Liquid IVs, snacks and other goodies,” Zach says.

The couple was thrilled they got to host their wedding in such a lovely location. Another benefit: saving more money than they would’ve if they hosted a wedding at home. The resort offered affordable dining and travel options, making it the most memorable celebration that didn’t cost a fortune!

“It was so special to have all of our family and friends together for multiple days in a fun new place to celebrate,” the couple says.

After their successful celebration, the newlyweds would like to offer some advice for future couples:

“The most important part of a wedding is the marriage that follows it. We made sure to focus on making our day focused on celebrating our love and all of the people that have contributed to our lives together. Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Vendors: Photography: John Moler Photography; Venue: Sandos Finisterra; Planner: Yhali Velez Carrera of Sandos Finisterra; Dress Store: Emma & Grace Bridal; Dress Designer: Alyssa Kristin; Bride’s Ring: Brilliant Earth; Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply; Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux; Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Birdy Grey; Wedding Submission Services: Published + Pretty