Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Subscribe
Save Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 35 One-Pan Meals Just Right for Dinner Tonight

      One pan, pot, skillet, or Instant Pot is all you need to for these no-fuss family dinners, including salmon, pasta, pot roast, chili, and so much more. Read More Next
    • The Best 2021 Bedroom Paint Colors

      Explore the best 2021 bedroom paint colors, according to paint experts. Read More Next
    • The Ultimate Guide to Household Cleaning: What You Should Be Cleaning When

      Our printable checklists will tell you what you should be doing every day, week, month, season—or every once in a while—to keep your home in ship-shape year round. Read More Next
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See all FOOD

    Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pasta Recipes Ideal for Weeknight Dinners

    When you need a comforting meal but don't have a lot of time, whip up one of these fast pasta recipes. All can be made in 45 minutes or less.
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See all HOLIDAYS

    25 Heart-Shaped Treats to Send to Your Valentine

    Sure, flowers are nice, but homemade food gifts are the sweetest tokens of affection—especially when they're heart-shaped.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See all ENTERTAINING

    The Best Front Porch Decorating Ideas for Every Month of the Year

    Get inspired to make your porch your new favorite living space with these ideas designed to add a refined look to any outdoor space.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See all HOME

    How to Disinfect Your Kitchen and Your Food During the Coronavirus Outbreak, According to Experts

    Keep everything from your countertops to your dining room chairs germ-free.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See all GARDENING

    How to Keep Your Houseplants Happy in the Winter

    Help them thrive even when the temperature drops.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Wash Your Hands Properly, According to a Doctor

    You likely wash your hands several times a day, but are you doing so effectively? Learn how to minimize the spread of germs with an extra few seconds of scrubbing.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See all WEDDINGS

    How to Plan a Beautiful, Meaningful Micro Wedding So That You Can Celebrate Your Postponed Nuptials Right Now

    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See all DIY

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Six Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health While You Work from Home

    Start by carving out a designated work area in your space.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See all LIFE

    How to Start a Virtual Book Club

    From which platforms to use and the best books to read, bibliophiles share their advice.
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Real Weddings
  4. Wedding Styles
  5. Love Is Love
  6. Fall Weddings
  7. Just 40 Guests Traveled to Cancún for This Couple's Intimate Wedding Weekend
Martha Stewart Weddings

Just 40 Guests Traveled to Cancún for This Couple's Intimate Wedding Weekend

By Erica Sloan
July 13, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

This DC-based couple escaped to Mexico for a destination celebration that was packed with chic details.

Start Slideshow

1 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky and James were practically smitten from the moment they laid eyes on each other at a gym in Cincinnati. "I took one look at his pretty face and couldn't resist the opportunity to chat him up!" Vicky says. The only hitch? She was just in Ohio for a work trip. Although she returned to her home in D.C. soon after, the two grew closer in the following weeks, proving that the distance was no match for the instant chemistry they'd shared. Six months later, James gave his notice at work, packed his car, and drove to the nation's capital.

In the spring of 2017, Vicky, James, and their infant son, Maddox, embarked on their first vacation as a family. As they mapped out their trip to Seattle, James realized the time away from home would allow for a perfect surprise proposal. "I knew I couldn't do it in our home city without her catching on," he says. "She's too intuitive!" On the second-to-last day of their trip, James suggested a ride on the Great Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel overlooking Elliott Bay. When Vicky carried Maddox to the window of their gondola to get a view of the mountains in the distance, James got down on one knee behind her.  

Once Vicky gave James an enthusiastic "Yes!", the couple launched into a seven-month planning whirlwind, which lead them to their beachside nuptials on October 28, 2017, at Cancún's Nizuc Resort & Spa. A veteran of the wedding industry (she owns Heirloom Catering & Event Design), Vicky put her years of event-planning experience to good work to develop each element of their day. A Carrara marble motif called to mind her former home in Italy, while rose-gold accents and bold color contrasts—think neutrals and sage green with a pop of black—showed off her totally mod style. Design aside, it was important to Vicky and James that they showed their loved ones an amazing time. And so, they turned their wedding into a full-fledged getaway, inviting 40 of their closest friends and family members to a night-before fiesta, a full day of wedding festivities, and a day-after Catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres—all of it fueled by customized margaritas and the best of the local Mexican fare.

1 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pack Your Bags

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
37 Destination Wedding Invitations from Real Weddings

As a reflection of Vicky's time spent working at a marble stonemasonry in Italy, the invitation suite featured a hybrid Carrara marble and brushstroke background. Designed by Lauren Noll, the marble motif reappeared throughout the wedding on the dance floor, tables, and more.

The main invite popped against a matte black pocket mount, which housed three inserts lined in rose-gold foil: an accommodations card, response card, and invite to the welcome party with the Spanish words, "Más Tequila Por Favor" (More Tequila, Please), on the top to prepare guests for the weekend's margarita-fueled festivities. Rounding out the invite suite was a black tag printed with "Pack Your Bags," driving home the wedding's light-hearted, adventurous vibe. 

2 of 29

3 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Location

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

An oceanside destination fit for a weekend-long bash, Nizuc Resort & Spa in Cancún, Mexico, easily checked off all the boxes for Vicky and James. "It was the perfect getaway from our everyday lives that seemed a million miles away—but was also close enough for easy access," Vicky says. The couple used the resort's multiple event spaces and private beach for their various festivities, and guests stayed on-site as well. "Nizuc had this incredible balance of calm and beauty that was the perfect lead-up to our wedding day," says James.

3 of 29

Advertisement

4 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Caribbean Welcome

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
102 Welcome Bags from Real Weddings

Boxes created by Lux Bindery, which were printed with the same marble-watercolor pattern as the invites, greeted guests upon their arrival in Cancún. They were stocked with everything attendees would need to party all weekend long. Goodies included Caribbean snacks like Tortuga rum cake, Sun Bum sunscreen and lip balm, and a Turkish beach towel.

The true pièce de résistance of the box, though, had to be the totally on-brand margarita kit, complete with tequila, Bai pineapple drink, Himalayan sea salt, and agave (a nod to Vicky's time spent on agave farms), plus rose-gold pineapple shot glasses. Also included, for an easier morning-after: a "Detox to Retox" hangover kit. 

4 of 29

5 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Soaking Up the Sun

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

The day before they tied the knot, Vicky and James explored Nizuc's quiet beach. "We tried to relax as much as possible," James says, "and get our son ready for his big appearance." Vicky's hat reflected the total serenity of their day: "Bride-chilla," as in, the exact opposite of "Bridezilla."

5 of 29

6 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Family Time

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Just before guests arrived, the couple savored the first few moments of sunset with their then 15-month-old son, Maddox. "We just hung out and played on the beach," Vicky says, "and we were present and enjoying one another in that moment in time."

6 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Welcome to Cancún

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
12 Expert-Approved Ideas for Your Wedding Welcome Party

On Friday, October 27, 2017, Vicky and James welcomed their family and friends to Cancún with a beachside party (which doubled as a rehearsal dinner) that was equal parts tranquil and fun in a modern, Mayan aesthetic. Lights strung on bamboo posts lit up the shore, and an assortment of lounge seating and custom-wood tables invited guests to relax and mingle.

7 of 29

8 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Something Green

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
33 Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love

Centerpieces made with tropical leaves arranged in clear vases added a touch of color to the otherwise neutral beige-and-white color palette.

8 of 29

9 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Margaritas, Anyone?

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
Trending Now: Drink Stations to Elevate Your Reception

In keeping with the invite's promise, a custom-built tequila bar from Canteiro served up libations for the evening. Margaritas in five flavors—including a mango-and-mint version and one with a chili- and sugar-dusted rim—took center stage, and beer and wine were available, too.  

9 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mexican Feast

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
23 Delicious Food Bars for Your Wedding

Guests built their own tacos using a selection of ingredients developed by Vicky's team at Heirloom Catering & Event Design and the catering crew at Nizuc. In addition to flour and corn tortillas and three proteins, the taco bar featured a wide array of toppings made with local produce, including pineapple-cilantro salsa, charred corn, and Mexican slaw.

10 of 29

11 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Dancing the Night Away

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

A traditional mariachi band played songs by the Gypsy Kings—a band Vicky used to listen to with her parents as a kid. "This was a fun treat for my midwestern family," James says. "I loved being able to give them such a unique life experience."

After an hour, a DJ took over, and everyone kicked off their shoes to dance barefoot in the sand. "A sprinkle of rain would occur every 30 or 40 minutes," Vicky says, "but it was honestly the perfect thing to give people another boost of the synergistic energy all around."

11 of 29

12 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Evening Sweets

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
How to Create a Lounge Area at Your Reception

As the evening progressed and the weather cooled, guests cozied up on pillows and mats stationed near a fire pit. "Everyone gathered around and ate fresh churros with yummy toppings," Vicky says, "while sharing their personal memories of me and James. Then, we ended the night with a game of truth or dare!"

12 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Intricate Beauty

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky was skeptical of brides-to-be who cry once they find the wedding dress of their dreams—until she did just that after slipping on this Berta Bridal gown at Carine's Bridal Atelier. She'd already looked for dresses at two other bridal boutiques, focusing on gowns with lace and intricate detailing, but she wasn't close to sold until she discovered this one. "I felt beautiful," Vicky says, "and I hadn't really felt pretty since having my son, who was about seven months old at the time."

It was the intricacy of the dress's top half that made Vicky swoon, with its hand-sewn details and plunging (yet modest) neckline, a delicate lace-and-pearl pattern throughout. She paired it with Jimmy Choo shoes, vintage earrings, and family baubles—her late maternal grandmother's rings (on her right hand) and her mother's diamond tennis bracelet.

13 of 29

14 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

All Dressed Up

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Once Vicky found the dress of her dreams, it was time for James to pick out a complementary suit. "I've always loved blue," he says, "and when my fashion-forward wife-to-be gave me the go ahead, I knew I wanted something in between navy and cobalt—not so dark, not so vivid, and a good fit for the vibe we were going for." He found just that in a suit from Tom Ford and paired it with a tie from The Tie Bar and Allen Edmonds shoes.

14 of 29

15 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Maid of Honor

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

In keeping with the intimate celebration they'd envisioned, Vicky and James each chose one close friend to be in their wedding party. Vicky's maid of honor was her college best friend—whom she calls "my most loyal and true southern half." Her sand-colored dress by Nookie matched the beachside party vibes.

Both women's bouquets featured a variety of white blooms—David Austen garden roses, ranunculus, and anemones—accented by greenery.

15 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Ceremony

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
47 Hanging Wedding Décor Ideas

Vicky and James tied the knot at Nizuc's Akan Terrace, a reflecting pool dotted with trees in the background. Just behind them was a minimalist hanging floral arrangement that Vicky says she intended to be "wispy and breezy, to enhance but not take away from the natural beauty around us."

Vicky's father walked her down the aisle as a string quartet played Pachelbel's Canon in D Major—a melody both Vicky and James have loved for years. A close friend of the couple (who also served as James's best man) officiated the ceremony. "He crafted a beautiful presentation on how we met, what we love about each other, and how we both individually view marriage and the commitment we are making," Vicky says. "I think I had a smile plastered on my face the entire ceremony."

16 of 29

17 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Ring Pass

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky had James's wedding band custom-made in a brushed rose gold with "Forever Past Time" inscribed on the inside—a phrase James often says after telling Vicky, "I love you." He had Vicky's band made to match her engagement ring, also in rose gold and encrusted with diamonds. Before exchanging traditional vows at their ceremony, the couple passed their rings around to each of their guests in a geometric box filled with sand taken from Nizuc Beach the night before. 

17 of 29

18 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Ready to Party

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
Everything You Need to Know About Picking Recessional Music

The newlyweds recessed down the aisle to a string quartet rendition of "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga—"A fun, upbeat, and timeless song to kick off the party!" Vicky says.  

18 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Coastal Kiss

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

After tying the knot, Vicky and James escaped for a quick moment alone on the beach. They didn't stray too far from their guests, though, as Vicky says they wanted to be "in the mix of it all" and get a chance to enjoy their cocktail hour, too.

19 of 29

20 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Special Guest

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
Dapper Ring Bearers Who Completely Stole Our Hearts

Vicky and James's son, Maddox—who'd served as their super-cute ring bearer—joined the newlyweds for their first pictures as husband and wife. He wore a custom-made seersucker suit and a velvet navy bow tie.

20 of 29

21 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

A Fresh Greeting

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

After enjoying a made-to-order guacamole station, margaritas, and the sounds of a guitarist at cocktail hour, guests rode in golf carts over to the reception. Upon arrival, they were greeted by a display of suspended cactus paddles calligraphed by Meant to Be Calligraphy with guests' names and table numbers. Fresh flowers surrounded the display, making for an impactful installation.

21 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Reception

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
A Guide to Wedding Reception Tables

A king's table was framed by a mango-wood cabana adorned with silk draping, and the display stole the show at Vicky and James's reception. Marble tables—custom-made with marble imported from the Italian stonemasonry where Vicky once worked—were dressed up with a gold base. Black acrylic chairs added a pop of color contrast and contemporized the look.  

22 of 29

23 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Florals Galore

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky and her team developed the design and picked out the florals and greens for the canopy arrangement above the dinner tables. The final picks included white wisteria, clustered baby silver dollar eucalyptus, lemon leaf, lamb's ear, and cavalinha horsetail.   

More blooms and greens arranged in matte black, gold, and stone-gray geometric vases lined the center of each table, including the lemon leaf and silver dollar eucalyptus of the arrangement above, along with Silverstone and white garden roses, white dahlia and ranunculus, anemones, and dusty mauve pampas grass. In between vases were tall white candles in glass and acrylic candlesticks.

23 of 29

24 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

All About the Details

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
The Prettiest Place Settings from Real Celebrations

Place settings were Vicky's own creation. Each included a black matte charger, a white dinner plate, matte gold flatware, and a silk gray napkin bundled with sprigs of baby eucalyptus. The final touches mirrored other wedding details: Mini cactus-paddle place cards matched the escort cards, and menus were printed with the same marbled watercolor design of the invites.

The four-course dinner began with a cream of watercress soup topped with wild-caught lobster and a savory ginger foam, followed by a roasted vegetable terrine with goat cheese, grissini, fresh sprouts, and saffron dressing. A duet entrée of Chilean sea bass in a lemon beurre blanc sauce with seasonal vegetables and beef tenderloin in a macerated fig reduction with truffle mashed potatoes finished off the meal.

24 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

An Extra-Special Touch

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky and James's table settings, while similar to their guests', included additional details that pushed the lux factor up a notch. Beneath the matte black chargers were custom-made geometric floral baseplates created by Brightly Ever After with anemones, Silverstone and white David Austen roses, and silver dollar eucalyptus. The newlyweds' cactus-paddle name cards sat inside glass geometric rose-gold-lined boxes—matching the one used for their ring pass—which were filled with sand gathered from the beach the night before. 

25 of 29

26 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Time to Party

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography
22 Unique Ideas for Your Wedding Dance Floor

Once dinner wrapped up, guests congregated on the dance floor, which boasted the same custom Carrara marble and watercolor design used for the invites and welcome boxes. Black- and stone-colored lounge furniture surrounding the floor offered a cozy alternative for those looking to kick back and relax. Though when the reception kicked into full party mode, people danced on the furniture until the very last song.

26 of 29

27 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The First Dance

Credit: Jodi & Kurt Photography

Vicky and James swirled across the dance floor for their first dance to Adele's "Make You Feel My Love."

Later in the evening, when the DJ played Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," Vicky shared a special dance with Maddox. "I held him in my arms as I whisked him around," she says, "like I do nightly in our kitchen at home—our own very special moment."

27 of 29

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 29

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Cake