Some couples dream of one perfect wedding day; Julia and Christopher dreamed of three. Their journey to “I do” was a celebration anchored in creativity, family ties, and the places that shaped their love story. “We wanted to get married and take people away for a weekend in Mexico, specifically at Banyan Tree,” Julia explains. “But we knew some family would be unable to travel, so a compromise was suggested: have a ‘stateside’ wedding for just the inner circle and then have the ‘jungle disco’ wedding of our dreams in Mexico.”

That compromise would become a year-long adventure: a lakeside celebration in Skaneateles, a 5-minute paperwork ceremony in Jersey City, and finally, a tropical fiesta at Banyan Tree Mayakoba.

Wedding #1 – Nautical Beginnings in Skaneateles, NY

Chris’s parents reside in Skaneateles, so their first ceremony at the Clift Park gazebo was designed to honor roots and family. Instead of re-creating the bells and whistles of a destination wedding, Julia and Chris focused on meaning.

“We wanted to create a meaningful dedication that speaks to the engagement and the union,” Julia says. To mark the moment, they exchanged watches rather than rings, “to symbolize this moment and commitment in time.”

Their grandparents each shared words of advice, a reflection of two families formally coming together. Guests who couldn’t attend Mexico were invited to write notes, folded into origami paper airplanes, a nod to Chris, who is a private pilot. Those planes would later hang from the chuppah in Mayakoba.

Julia wore a short wedding dress, crafted DIY florals and favors, and topped the day off with what she describes as “a halfway hitched wedding cake.” A nautical watercolor ketubah anchored the aesthetic: navy accents, lake breezes, and the feeling of something quietly profound.

Wedding #2 – A Post-Marathon “I Do” in Jersey City

The second ceremony was all about the couple’s shared grit. The morning after finishing the New York City Marathon, an entire year of joint training, they met the officiant who had been their running coach. “In our NY Marathon sweats, with creaky legs and a cup of coffee, we said ‘I do’ at the Hamilton Park Gazebo,” Julia shares.

No crowd, no décor, just a quiet, perfect moment. Two weeks later, with their legs recovered, they would board a flight to Mexico, ready for the celebration they’d always envisioned.

Wedding #3 – A Jungle Disco at Banyan Tree Mayakoba

For years, Julia’s family celebrated holidays at Banyan Tree, each trip complete with its own theme. The resort became more than a venue; it was part of their story. “We love Mexico and the venue is very special because of its tropical, jungle aesthetic and exemplary service,” Julia says.

They hired planner Michelle Salazar of My Perfect Wedding to bring their 160-guest fiesta to life. DIY details and personal touches became the heartbeat of the day:

• Purse-size mini piñatas acted as welcome bags with a DIY candy bar.
• A custom newspaper that doubled as a seating chart, complete with a crossword puzzle telling the story of Wedding #1.
• A towering cake piñata was revealed just before the after-party.
• Personalized tambourines marked each guest’s seat.

“We wanted a very high-energy ceremony,” Julia says. They replaced the traditional wedding party with “Flower Girls,” their closest friends who scattered petals down the aisle, while the groomsmen passed tequila shots. The ring bearer rolled in via a rustic wagon. Their friends walked to “Love You Madly,” a nod to concerts they’d attended together.

The airplane theme returned: the paper planes from Skaneateles decorated the chuppah, and a neon sign glowed, Love Is in the Air. Their first dance? “Blue Skies.”

The moment the ceremony ended, something bold: a parade of musicians marched guests down a half-mile jungle path, drinks in hand. “They said they had never done it but loved the idea,” Julia recalls. “It was a very special scene and experience for the guests.” The couple peeled off for portraits, then arrived by boat to a palapa reception washed in tropical color.

Planning From Afar

Flying décor to Mexico proved their biggest challenge. “Shipping was our only issue. It was hard to get stuff there, so we packed large suitcases and had friends and family carry them down.” They sourced piñata favors, candy, and paper locally to reduce logistics.

Julia recommends site visits. “They baked us mini wedding cakes and we got to see all the locations,” she says. With hurricane season looming, Banyan Tree walked them through backup plan after backup plan. “Even this changed at the last minute, but at least we were comfortable with all options.” Their advice to other couples: trust your venue, especially one accustomed to destination weddings.

Written in Many Chapters, Remembered as One

Though each event had its own personality (nautical, athletic, tropical), a single thread ran through every celebration: design with purpose, honor the people who shaped you, and let your love story dictate the rules.

As Julia reflects on their marathon year of ceremonies and confetti, she sums it up simply: “We wanted each wedding to represent a different piece of us, and together they told the full story.”

Vendors: Photographers: Alaina Davis Photography (New York Wedding) & Kape Photography (Mexico Wedding); Planner: My Perfect Wedding; Venue: Banyan Tree Mayakoba; Florist: Vanessa Jaimes; Hair & Makeup: Zoe Elizabeth; Grooms’ Attire: Enzo Customs; Groomsmen’s Attire: Studio Suits; Music: Frank Contreras, Chui, Drums in Paradise & Dulce Rullan with Big Bang Productions; Videography: Frame; Wedding Dress: Natalya Valentine; After Party Dress: Salvage Lifestyle; Printing: Newspaper Club; AV & Lighting: Inspire; Stationery: David by Invitation Only Ink, Cartalia, & Lucca Studio; Personalized Tambourine Favors: All Wooden Elements; Origami Paper Planes: Flying Crane Origami; Ketubah: Foreverie Paper