A piece of red coral was the inspiration for wedding planners Regina Crosby and Krista Jon of Crosby+Jon Design when they began envisioning Bhaji and Chris’ wedding in Tulum, Mexico. “The bride wanted a lot of color and she was really brave in letting us go nuts with it,” says Crosby. A fiery palette of red, orange, mustard yellow and gold with touches of blue drove the design. “The bold colors were a nice juxtaposition to the ocean—which did its job and provided the blue,” notes Jon. Finding the location was kismet, says Crosby, who was in town planning another wedding when she hailed a cab in the parking lot of Tulum’s Viento de Mar, a brand-new, 25-room beachside boutique hotel with cozy bungalows. The vast white beach was perfect for the elegant ceremony, featuring a modern-vintage vibe with a cozy mix of seating accentuated by bright throw pillows. The hotel’s open-air dining room was transformed into a colorful reception with farmhouse tables set with brightly colored flowers by florist Vanessa Jaimes in a variety of aqua and clear vessels. Adding to the spirit of their nuptials, Bhaji and Chris toasted their marriage with a group tequila shot. “The couple was just the sweetest and an absolute joy,” raves Crosby and Jon. “We were thrilled to bring their vision to life.”
The resort’s dining room was redesigned with rustic farmhouse tables and crossback chairs.
Gold-rimmed glasses and white china set the dining table.
Crosby+Jon handmade paper flower escort cards.
The hotel’s patio became a cozy lounge by the waves.
Pacific blue ocean backdrop and floral adorned altar.
Bistro lights at Viento Del Mar.
Crosby+Jon added ombre florals to the cake by local bakery Eldiaqueme Quieras Pasteleria.
Chic beach seating included benches, bistro chairs and linen sofas.
Destination Mexico:
Bhaji and Chris’ Planning Tips
1. Make it a vacation. Most guests arrived Wednesday and left Monday, so we suggested day trips and planned dinners during the weekend. By the wedding day, everyone was not only in vacation mode, but they all knew each other, so it created a festive feeling with 150 friends celebrating.
1. Be present. Get to know the people you will be communicating with by making frequent trips to your destination. This is a critical step to bridging the language and location barriers.
2. Embrace the unique. Skip the resort-planned wedding for a boutique affair. The first step is hiring a wedding planner who has a representative in Mexico and the U.S.; we enlisted Orange County– and Mexico-based Crosby+Jon Design. Having someone on the ground who speaks Spanish makes planning easier, from negotiating discounts to effective communication.
3. Go with the flow. The couple envisioned fire dancers, but since the boutique hotel Viento de Mar had a straw roof, the owners did not want open flames. The couple’s vendor, DJ Dulce, improvised by booking LED dancers who added unique visual elements.
4. Be Zen. Mexican vendors move slowly and may not respond to an email for weeks, but if they say they’re going to do something, they will. The most effective way to get things done is to do it in person or to rely on a local planner.
