Long before Yulia met Dean, she had fallen in love with Tulum—the jungle, the ocean, Mexican culture, and especially its music scene. By the time Dean proposed, Yulia had already spent years picturing herself getting married in Tulum. That felt fitting for a couple whose story began because of music in the first place.

Believe it or not, Yulia and Dean met at a nightclub in Philadelphia while seeing one of their favorite DJs perform. Yulia was dancing by herself when a stranger shoved her and told her not to stand so close to him. Dean saw the entire thing happen.

“He immediately came over, gave me the biggest bear hug, and told me not to pay attention to that guy because he was completely in the wrong. Then, in true gentleman fashion, he actually went up to him and made him apologize to me.” What started as an act of kindness quickly turned into something bigger.

“Looking back now, it feels like something straight out of a movie: two people finding each other in the middle of chaos, connected by music, timing, and one unforgettable moment of kindness.” Years later, they brought all of those pieces together for a jungle wedding in Tulum that borrowed a little from a glamorous dinner party, a little from Cirque du Soleil, and a lot from their love of music.

What We Love About This Jungle Wedding in Tulum

• Art Nouveau and Gatsby influences that felt right at home in the Tulum jungle
• Mariachis, tequila, and a DJ flown in from Russia to kick off the wedding weekend
• Emotional family moments, including their pug Giuseppe walking down the aisle as ring bearer
• A Cirque du Soleil-inspired reception packed with live entertainment
• Yulia’s hands-on approach to bringing her creative vision to life

Featured Vendor:
MemoryBox Photography

Why Tulum Was Always The Destination

For Yulia, getting married in Tulum was years in the making. “Ever since I first visited Tulum six years ago, I dreamed of getting married there.” The destination represented everything they loved as a couple: beautiful scenery, incredible music, vibrant culture, and a sense of adventure. They also knew they wanted a January wedding since it’s one of the best times to visit Mexico, and Tulum hosts one of the biggest music festivals in the world at the beginning of the year. 

When Yulia started searching for venues after their May 2025 engagement, she came across Kima Tulum on Instagram. The search basically ended there. Nestled deep in the jungle, it was intimate, striking, and unlike any venue they had seen before. But what truly stood out was how personal everything felt. The venue is family-operated, and Yulia connected directly with owner Dorothee Ftaiti from the beginning. “It never felt transactional or corporate.”

Learning that Kima only hosts around 30 to 40 weddings each year made it feel even more special. Instead of a large-scale operation, it felt warm, thoughtful, and genuine, which happened to be exactly how they wanted their wedding to feel too.

The Ceremony That Confirmed They Really Do “Share One Brain”

One of Yulia and Dean’s biggest inside jokes is that they “share one brain.” They’re constantly saying the same thing at the same time, finishing each other’s sentences, and texting each other simultaneously. That connection became impossible to ignore during their vows. Dean opened his with: “My sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet Yulia.” Meanwhile, Yulia ended hers with: “Your sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet Yulia.” Neither of them knew the other had written something so similar. “Hearing that in real time completely broke both of us.”

Family made the moment even more emotional. As a Russian immigrant who has spent the last 19 years living in the United States on her own, having her parents and brother travel from Russia to Mexico meant everything. Her mom walked their pug, Giuseppe, down the aisle as ring bearer, while her dad walked her to the ceremony.

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Finding People Who Could Bring Big Ideas To Life

Yulia was heavily involved in putting together her vendor team. A self-proclaimed planner, she personally sourced many of her vendors herself, including the venue, videographer, and content creator. She also brought her friend Sofia, who not only did her hair and makeup but organically became a second photographer throughout the day.

Wedding planner Angelina Cardenas quickly became one of the most important people throughout the process. Then came wedding designer Maria Limon, who helped transform Yulia’s endless references and ideas into something tangible. “I came into the process with so many details, references, and creative visions, and Maria somehow managed to take everything I imagined and elevate it even further.”

Photography was another major priority. When Yulia found Junebug vendor Memory Box Photography, she instantly connected with their style. “They captured moments in such an authentic and editorial way, which perfectly matched the atmosphere and aesthetic we envisioned for the wedding.” More importantly, everyone they hired brought a sense of calm to such a big day. With a wedding this ambitious, that mattered just as much as talent.

When Art Nouveau Met The Jungle

Originally, Yulia envisioned something timeless and elegant. Since the venue was already surrounded by lush greenery, she chose a green color palette paired with crisp white accents. Then something unexpected happened. The aesthetic started taking on a life of its own. “As all the design pieces slowly started coming together, I realized we were naturally leaning into an Art Nouveau meets Gatsby-inspired aesthetic.”

Once she embraced it, everything clicked. The wedding became this beautiful mix of old-world glamour, romance, mystery, and celebration. The jungle did a lot of the heavy lifting, so there was no need to overcomplicate things. Candlelight, greenery, and classic details worked together without taking attention away from the setting. 

How They Turned Their Reception Into A Live Show

The reception was probably the clearest reflection of who they are as a couple. “Our biggest goal for the reception was for it to feel nothing like a traditional wedding.” Yulia wanted guests to participate rather than simply observe. So throughout the evening, guests encountered:

• Acrobats
• Jugglers
• Fire performers
• Aerial artists
• Dancers
• Stilt walkers
• Magicians
• A tarot card reader

The overall feeling was exactly what she envisioned. “Cirque du Soleil meets Tulum jungle.” There was always something happening no matter where you looked. Then Yulia unveiled one final surprise. She secretly planned a burlesque-inspired performance for Dean that absolutely nobody knew about. It quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the evening.

Their Biggest Advice? Stop Thinking About What A Wedding Is Supposed To Look Like

At the end of it all, Yulia’s advice is simple. “Do what truly makes you happy and create the wedding that feels authentic to you as a couple.” It’s easy to get caught up in traditions and expectations, but people tend to remember the weddings that have personality. The ones where they leave knowing exactly who the couple is.

And that’s probably the best way to describe Yulia and Dean’s jungle wedding in Tulum. It wasn’t trying to fit into a category. It was two music lovers creating the biggest, most joyful version of themselves and inviting everyone they loved to come along for the ride.

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