July and September Shout-Outs!

A few belated shout-outs to some awesome brides! First we have a big congratulations to give to Colleen who tied the knot this past 4th of July at the popular Dreams Riviera Cancun! She chose a beautiful green color for her base and Yazmine did a great job :).

(based on white flowers)

Shout-out to Sara who said her "i dos" this July 21st in Dreams Tulum. We don't get many orders for this maraca but I love the way it turned out and I like the feel of them.

(based on faces)

Congratulations to Marlene who tied the knot this past September 3rd in Playa Carmen. I think her maracas just say "beach beach beach" and "fun" all at the same time ;).

(based on palm trees)

Felicidades to Jenna who tied the knot this September 3rd at the Excellence Playa Mujeres. I heart heart these maracas, which were custom designed based off a graphic she liked (pictured below) and painted by Antonio. If these don't end-up getting ordered again I would be highly surprised :).

(custom design)

I meant to do all sorts of fun design blogs this summer but I was way busier than I thought I would be. I'm still going to try to do something so don't give up on me yet ;).

Shannon & Derek's Fusion Chic Wedding!

Okay, here it is - the one I've been putting off because that means that the 2010/2011 wedding season is officially over ;). I'm super fortunate to get some awesome shots from Nate Broshot for this blog - he has such amazing energy when he shoots for a wedding and I think it shows in his work!

I have never met a couple as concerned about their vendors as Shannon & Derek - while Shannon knew exactly what she wanted, she never made me or any of the other vendors feel as though she didn't trust us completely and, most amazingly, they were both honestly concerned that everyone working at their wedding had absolutely everything they needed to do the best job possible. This wedding was pure joy to work on from start to finish...

Villa: Casa Serena

Caterer: NAEF

Bride Photographer: Nate Broshot (License to Still)

Videographer: Eduardo Reyes

DJ: DJ Mannia

Minister: Tamara Bradley de Morales

INSPIRATION BOARD

Shannon had given me a very detailed design board and notes of her own about what she really wanted -- something natural, chic and that would infuse her Thai heritage along with a few Mexican touches.

THE CEREMONY

We really wanted to put the focus on a beautiful big tree that the villa had in their garden. So, we decided to not decorate it with anything :). The bride's bouquet was a mix of green cybidium orchids with beautiful dark purple calla lillies. I loved it because it was so different yet fit the wedding perfectly.

Down the aisle we had large glass square bowls with floating white cybidium orchids. There was a grill in the garden and we covered the grill with wood and placed various frames Shannon had brought from the states, along with pictures of the couple of their guests - these were favors. Also interspersed through-out were beautiful wooden elephants. We also provided hand-squeezed lemonade which took front and center :). We had cones with paper that I hand-made (as we don't have access to specialty papers down here :) filled with rose petals for the guests to throw at the recessional.

I didn't have anything to do with their vows, but they were absolutely beautiful - they took a moment and addressed each of their guests during the ceremony - I've never seen anything like it but it was truly heart felt and amazing :). If you want to see for yourselves, this is the video Eduardo put together for them :).

THE COCKTAIL

After the ceremony, the guests followed the cocktail sign down pool side where we had cocktail tables set-up underneath big umbrellas with signs on each which represented a movie that meant a lot to the couple. On the way down there was a table set-up with a "love" poster for the guests to sign. Poolside, there was also a tequila tasting table with tequila the bride and groom had chosen themselves :). In the pool were floating wooden lanterns cut-out with elephants and orchids.

THE VIDEOBOOTH

On the way back up the stairs, we had floating candles on the stairway and half-way up was a little video/photo booth station for guests to stop and record a video message for the bride and groom, or take photos :).

I loved this little area - it was very intimate and colorful :).

THE RECEPTION

We had one big long table down underneath the columns in the villa. We had chosen a sand colored tablecloth with banana leaves going down the center and centerpieces of orchids and fresh cut limes and purple hydrangae in glass vases interspersed with candles and a beautiful dusty gray flower candle which I actually found by accident but heart heart just the same :). I also placed a few starfish to bring in a bit of natural "peach" tone to the table. Shannon had provided these beautiful green woven grass boxes which each held a wooden elephant as a favor for her guests. The placecards were various special Mexican recipes, as our bride and groom love to cook (and eat ;).

THE DESSERT BAR

Shannon & Derek wanted desserts instead of cake so I thought it would be fun to make stands to look a bit like a multi-level cake with the desserts placed around it. I heart heart this area.

THE DANCE FLOOR

Right next to the reception area, was the dance floor - beautiful, multi-colored Chinese lanterns in the bride's colors of woven green, dusty gray purple, white and peach. Scattered around the lanterns were also light weight colorful shells to give the floor a little bit of whimsy.

THE LOUNGE

As the guests were down below during the cocktail, we flipped the ceremony area into a lounge area. Special fabric tops were made for the white lounge furniture in order to give it a bit more of a chic, contemporary feel and we scattered the area with candles.

This wedding was a beautiful way to end our 2010/2011 Wedding Season ... a warm and caring couple, amazing guests, detailed design, wonderful food, great vendors ... in one word: Awesome!

A few more maraca shout-outs are coming-up AND I'm going to do a few design inspiration blogs this summer, seeing as things are pretty calm ... so stay tuned :). And, to all of who made our 2010/2011 season so beautiful and amazing and heart-warming, I think Derek & Shannon said it best....

Oodles of Maracas!

I can't wait to post the pictures from Shannon & Derek's wedding but first I have OODLES of shout-outs to make for some amazing maraca brides....

Belated beyond belated shout-out goes to Libby who tied the knot at Dreams Riviera this past May 24th. Her mom did the ordering and did a fantastic job :).

(based on laura)

Also super belated shout-out to Rose Marie who tied the knot this past May 27th at the famous Dreams Riviera Cancun. :)

(based on white flowers)

Shout-out to Lesley Watts who ordered a papel picado chuppah and said her "yes" this past May 29th ... unfortunately, I don't have a photo of - just saw a peek at it and it was pretty :).

Also to Lea who said her "i dos" in beautiful Las Caletas this past May 30th.

(based on Kate)

Congratulations to Kelli who said "absolutely" this June 4th at the Now Sapphire in Cancun. Her maracas were based off her invite and I love it! Good job Yazmine!

(custom design)

Felicidades to Jamie and Daniel who tied the knot this June 5th in Playa del Carmen.

(based on the kate)

Shout-out to Jacqueline who said "absolutely" this past June 11th at the Palmilla. Our contact was Amy Abott and she was a doll to work with...

(based on jenn)

Congratulations to Erin who tied the knot this past June 14th at the Hotel Royal Sands in Cancun.

(custom design)

Shout-out to Ashley who said her "i dos" this June 16th in Cancun.

(custom design)

Felicidades to Erin and Ben who exchanged vows this June 17th at the ever famous Dreams Riviera Cancun. Love the colors!

(based on paisley)

Shout-out to Shalon who said "yes!" this June 18th ... actually I'm not sure where she said "i do" but the maracas were shipped to Calgary! Love Calgary! Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of her maracas :(.

Congratulations to Christine who exchanged vows with her sweetheart this June 18th at Dreams Cancun.

(based on palm trees)

Shout-out to Lauren who tied the knot at the Valentin Imperial Maya Resort & Spa in Playa del Carmen this June 18th.

(based on kate)

Big congrats to Samantha & Damon who said "yes" this June 24th at the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun.

(based on palm trees)

Shout-out to Melanie & Tanner for tying the knot this June 25th at The Royal in Cancun. We based her maracas off this really cool turtle and also created some custom made cigar boxes - good job Omar!

(custom design)

Felicidades to Lindsay who said "absolutely" this July 2nd at the Now Jade Resort in Puerto Morelos.

(based on mattie)

Congratulations to Mary who tied the knot this past July 3rd at the Secrets Maroma Beach Resort in Quintana Roo. I love the colors on these maracas...

(based on kate)

Shout-out to Jessica who married her love this July 3rd at the Moon Palace in Cancun. Her sister, Rebecca, ordered the maracas and did a fantastic job :).

(based on jenn)

Felicidades to Kristin who said "yes" this July 9th at the Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort in Puerto Morelos.

(custom design but based off kate)

Congratulations to Leigh Ann who tied the knot this July 9th at Secrets Maroma Beach. Unfortunately, our camera died and took her pictures with it, evil thing! ;)

Shout-out to Monica & Matt who said their "i dos" this July 10th at the Azul Sensatori Hotel. Her maracas were quite original - beautiful peacocks for the girls and a filigree design for the men. I think Yazmine did an amazing job on these maracas!

(custom design)

Okay - whew! That was quite a list!! Now to work on Shannon & Derek's wedding blog :):).