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LUKE AND ELISE - JANUARY 16TH, 2011
When my fiance and I started talking about where to have our wedding, we didn't have much debate about it - except for a short talk about getting legally wed on our motorcycles.
It was winter in Seattle and Baja was calling us to the sunshine.
I've traveled extensivley in Baja for the last 15 years and knew the perfect place just outside Todos Santos. Unspoiled, a perfect quiet beach away from the vendors, jello shots and booze cruises of Cabo.
The place was Pescadero Beach, Baja Sur.
We wanted a small wedding, and with a final total of 20 guests, it was the perfect size for our barefoot beach ceremony.
I planned everything, best I could from 2,000 miles away, with the help of my friend Mark whom I had met down there a year prior while cruising through from La Paz. Mark arranged the dinner and where the guests would stay. It made things a lot easier on me since I was all the way up in Seattle. Mark brought in tables, chairs and hired a local family to cook for us.
I took care of all the decorations, maps, booze, directions, favors, photos and flowers and brought everything with me or shopped in Cabo. Pescadero is out there, and really, who wants to keep going back in to town. Once you are there, you won't want to leave.
Most of our guests arrived Friday night, and we had a welcome reception at Rancho Pescadero - just a short walk along the beach. Their facilities are great for a private cocktail gathering, complete with our own bartender on the rooftop lounge.
Our rehearsal dinner was at Hotel California, which was lovely and they even had a jazz band that night.
The morning of the wedding - my fiance got up early and went surfing, how cool. Then the boys took the provided altar supplies and built the palm altar. It was beautiful.
I did my own hair and makeup, while my mom steamed my dress. The guests arrived at 4:00 and were greeted by Mark and had a welcome drink. We had an olive tree that some friends had picked up from a local nursery and instant mini fuji camera - guests took pictures and hung them on the branches, it was a big hit.
At 4:30, it was time to walk out to our self built altar on the beach and say our vows. We exchanged rings and we were husband and wife.
We Ran down the 'aisle' while our guests threw yellow flowers.
For the dinner and reception - Mark had arranged tables and chairs in the sand between Roberts Surf Hotel and Osprey suites. He also had coolers where guests could choose from Mexican beer or make themselves a margarita. Stuffed chilis and fresh fish caught that morning filled our bellies, it's still some of the best food I've ever had. We dined as the sun set over the pacific.
Then it was time to throw the boquet and sip tequila around the bonfire.
The whole thing was just perfect. Simple, barefoot, casual and with just the people we love.
sUMMARY OF THE DAY:
Surfing the morning of our wedding, barefoot beach ceremony, beer in cans, stuffed chiles by mamacita in our rented house,
poker, pool, bonfire, cigars, country dancing, and moto loves at the self built altar.
Wedding Dress: Mori Lee
Bridesmaids dress: Told her to show up wear a blue dress
Grooms suit: Tommy hilfiger from Macys, matching ties for the best man
Jewelry: Etsy
Favors: Shop rags for the boys, kerchiefs for the girls that I screenprinted myself
Photographer: A friend with a fancy DSLR camera
Wedding planner: Mark at the Osprey Suites
Invites: Designed myself and assembled with velum and twine and a heart tag
Maps: Designed myself with directions and maps and dos and donts for the trip (like how to get pesos, where to get
groceries, detailed map to the location)
Theme: A vw bus and surfboard on top with two hearts. So everything in the decor/maps etc all had two hearts above it. Which tied it all together.
NOTE: When getting married in Mexico, if you are not a citizen it takes a lot of work including blood tests. Please read up on it. We had a friend marry us legally on our motorcycles, just for the paperwork.
