WEDDING
Sarah & Peter
March 9, 2019
Picture this. My older sister (and best friend) is getting married. I might be the maid on honor, but I was also the wedding planner…
Having lived on and off in Mexico City for 15+ years, she chose the dreamy Tulum as the location for this intimate wedding of 53 guests.
“My husband and I come from advertising and design backgrounds and have very high expectations. It was important that our wedding in Tulum, Mexico, be a reflection of our personalities and our shared acute attention to detail. Thankfully, Anne quickly understood our needs and communication style and made the planning process extremely easy, even with our busy schedules. She made sure everything from the guest experience to the menu, to the intricate and complicated floral design was perfectly executed (including having to deal with a last-minute rainstorm!). She also proved extraordinary at communicating with the local Mexican support staff responsible for the welcome cocktail party and wedding day logistics. If you want someone who is creative, organized, a great communicator, and will make sure your event is perfect, Anne is that person!”
— SARAH & PETER WRIGHT
Planning a wedding from another country in just under 6 months has its set of challenges but also its advantages. Our ‘venue’ was literally a beach and we needed to provide the rest.
Sourcing trusted vendors who knew the location and the operations was at the top of the list of importance for me. Once we were comfortable with our vendor team, it was comforting to know they were in close proximity and could provide guidance as needed.
Sarah and Peter are both entrepreneurs who have specific aesthetics and were very clear on how they wanted their wedding to look and feel.
Given the setting in Mexico and much of my sister’s adult life spent there, it was important to incorporate cultural touches for guests traveling to Mexico from all over the world as well as the local guests from Mexico. We sourced local items from the tremendously talented artisan community, including handwoven bags, silk scarves, hand-painted folk art sculptures and of course some sweets and spices made from locally sourced ingredients at the markets.
I worked closely with both Sarah and Peter to drill down on the most important things for them to have present during their wedding day. A carefree flow, the opportunity to connect with each of their guests, delicious local food and ample quality libations, and of course an incredible band that would bring the energy to the dance floor. They wanted all 53 guests dancing at once!
(Spoiler alert: it happened! A few times!)
THIS EVENT WAS SIGNIFICANT IN ONE PARTICULAR WAY FOR SARAH, AND FOR ME.
A few months prior to my sister’s engagement our mother passed away very suddenly. It made the experience all the more emotional for my sister and my role as Maid of Honor and planner all the more essential as a support for her.
To honor our mother and weave in those special intimate moments, I worked with the caterer to design a wedding cake that was our mother’s famous carrot cake recipe with a special note included to tell the story of her incredible baking goods. We also planned a brief memorial to our mother where our immediate family gathered at the water to watch as my sister put her bouquet into the water; it allowed us to honor our mom’s presence with us all at her daughter’s wedding.
Guests raved that it was the most fun and exhausting wedding they had ever attended!
(Since most of their time was spent on the dance floor!
Sarah and Peter’s wedding was one of the most unique, intimate weddings I have been a part of and it truly epitomized their style.
We gathered people from all the world and by the time the celebration was ending, new friendships were created and every one felt bonded together.
I can truly say this wedding ended with a bang, evidenced by the firework show that delighted and surprised all the guests in attendance.
When you have an intimate group like they did, it allowed me to hone in on the small details that make a big and lasting impact.
