And they’re married! A sincere congratulations to Valerie and Thomas (and their families) on such a joyous occasion. It was beyond a pleasure working with you to create a beautiful wedding experience.

About Valerie and Thomas:
Occupations: Executive Assistant (Valerie); Controller (Thomas)
How they met: At work
What attracted Thomas to Valerie: Her kindness, generosity and compassion.
What attracted Valerie to Thomas: His confidence, smile and sense of humor.
What was the best advice you received as a couple? Your wedding is a celebration for you, your family and friends.  It does not define who you are or what your life has in store.
Engagement story: I was visiting my family in Los Angeles.  He flew out and proposed at a Saturday afternoon BBQ in front of my loved ones.  It was unexpected, thoughtful and absolutely perfect.

The Wedding Day:
Wedding date: November 1, 2013
Number of guests: 35
Wedding colours: Champagne, Eggplant, Navy, Gray
Valerie’s most memorable moment: Being serenaded by Mariachis against a pink sky
Thomas’ most memorable moment: Having our family and friends together in Mexico to celebrate
Advice to others: Have fun, it’s a party!
Favourite wedding detail: Dia de Los Muertos cake toppers that included our dog Mia
Most unexpected moment: A bat in the bridal suite … getting married in tropical Mexico has its surprises.  I happen to love bats!
Most romantic moment: Him holding my hand almost the entire night
Did you include any traditions in your wedding? I had my baptismal rosary and bible with me at the alter
Honeymoon: Starting a family
The day in three words: Overwhelming, Joyous, Perfect

Wedding Details:
Ceremony location: Villa Balam-Ha, Playa Mujeres, Mexico
Reception location: Villa Balam-Ha, Playa Mujeres, Mexico
Why did you choose this location for your wedding? With the help of our dedicated and marvellous LUXE team, deciding on Mexico was easy.  Once we saw the venue there was no other choice.  It fit our aesthetic perfectly.
Valerie’s gown: Monique Lhuillier
Valerie’s shoes: Jimmy Choo
Thomas’ outfit: Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Bruno Magli
Type of rings: David Yurman, Two by London
Jewellery: Ippolita, J. Crew
Bridesmaid’s dresses: J.Crew Bridal
Groomsmen attire: Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein
Wedding song: Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You
Favours: Miniature personalized bottles of Don Julio Tequila
Music: 8 piece Mariachi band, DJ Mannia
Flowers: Black Scabiosa, Blue Star, Berries, Echeveria Succulent, Eucalyptus Seed, Calla & Picasso Lillies
Photographer: Claudia Rodriguez Wedding Photography
Hair: The Beloved Hotel Spa -Veronica
Makeup: The Beloved Hotel Spa – Veronica
Stationery/Invitations: Ceci New York
Catering: The Beloved Hotel

Fun Stuff:
Astrological signs (Valerie’s) and (Thomas’): Sagittarius, Cancer
What was old? My baptismal rosary & bible and a heart shaped pendant engraved with my dog Mia’s name.
What was new? A bracelet given to my by my in-laws.
What was borrowed? An heirloom handkerchief loaned to me by my mother-in-law.
What was blue? Earrings given to me by my fiancé.
What did you put in gift bags? Traditional Mexican market bags filled with local snacks.
Is there anything else that helps tell the story of the day? We had the house and property to ourselves.  It felt like we were entertaining our family and friend in our own home and that made all the difference.
Tell us about your experience working with LUXE Destination Weddings: Upon exploring the possibility of having a destination wedding I quickly became overwhelmed.  Finding LUXE Destination Weddings was my saving grace.  I absolutely could not have done this without their expertise, attention to detail, professionalism, and superior customer service.  Working with Mandy Delve to finding a location and secure accommodations and transportation alleviated an immense amount of pressure on my end.  She made the entire process as fun as planning a vacation.  Once I transitioned to the ever capable and lovely Laura Eriksen I began to think this was too good to be true.  Not only is Laura an absolute pleasure to work with, she made me feel as though I was the only bride in the world.  She was patient, informative, efficient, and most of all she was truly excited for us.  Every detail and request was treated with care and charm.  Laura was my guardian angel throughout the entire process and beyond.   The best decision we made in planning our wedding was choosing LUXE Destination Weddings.  I cannot recommend them highly enough.