Jai and Alex felt an instant connection beneath the blazing desert sun at a music festival, and from that moment on, their story began! The San Diego natives exchanged vows not too far from home in Sayulita, Mexico, a place that holds a special spot in their hearts.

Having explored the area on several day trips, the couple was well-acquainted with Sayulita and its charming surroundings. Jai expresses, “Sayulita is a special place where the streets are lined with golf carts, surfers, no large resorts, artesian markets, and so much more. It seemed like none of our guests had explored this beautiful little beach town, so we thought why not share it with them?” The couple made it a priority for their guests to have a smooth travel experience, as Sayulita is just a short drive from Puerto Vallarta, which has direct flights from many major cities.

As experienced travelers, Jai and Alex decided early on a destination wedding, realizing that the budget for a two-day celebration at home could instead fund a four-day fun-filled getaway.

“With the same budget we were able to take all our loved ones on a boat day (this was a highlight for everyone!), invite everyone to the welcome party, host our wedding, and have a pool day/brunch following the wedding. This made us feel like we had enough time to spend with all of our loved ones during the celebrations,” Jai says.

Given Sayulita’s quaint charm, the couple found that the pool of venues with enough space to host 150 guests was small. Villa Del Oso quickly rose to the top of their list.

“It was directly across the street from the Airbnb we stayed at during our first trip to the area,” the couple says. The idea of lodging in the same place for their wedding and being able to go back with their future children one day solidified the decision. 

Planning a wedding from a distance can be challenging, but with help from their planner Andrea from Sayulita Dream Weddings, they were able to choose vendors swiftly and plan a successful first—and only—visit to Sayulita before the wedding weekend arrived!

The ceremony, situated along the beach with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, wowed all who participated. Filled with love and family presence, Jai walked down the aisle with her mother, and her late father’s best friend, Bill, officiated the event. The couple exchanged vows while wearing traditional floral lassos around their necks, honoring Mexico and representing their everlasting love.

As dusk fell, the reception came alive with tables dressed in white linens, wicker lanterns, and vibrant tropical flowers accented with fuchsia. A large disco ball sparkled above the dance floor, setting the stage for a lively evening of celebration, complete with fire dancers and handmade maracas for guests to dance with, which also served as party favors.

“Our guests,” Jai says, “to this day still rave about our wedding from the fire dancers to the tropical floral disco ball above our dance floor, to the JLO tribute and the boat day we had a few days before the wedding.”

The couple shared a valuable piece of advice for those planning a destination wedding:

“On your departure flight to your honeymoon, mini-moon, or home, keep a journal and jot down as a couple everything you remember from the weekend. This was so special for us as a couple to look back on during our first anniversary. It is amazing how many little details we can forget with time, no matter how good your memory is!” 

Vendors: Photographer: Ximena Zermeño; Wedding Planner: Sayulita Dream Weddings; Venue: Villa Del Oso; Florist: Flora Amor; Stationery: Minted; Cake: Don Pedros; Hair & Makeup: Amanda Shackleton; Gown Designer: LOHO Bride; Men’s Attire: Friar Tux; Veil: Grace Loves Lace; Choreography: The First Dance Place; Dance Floor: Curiel Producciones; Decor & Furniture: Mobva Event Rentals, Emotions Deco, Festive Event Rentals; Guitar: Esaú Galván