WEDDING BLOG

Pastel Romantic Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Wedding

November 21, 2023 | justine

Jennifer and Nicholas went on a journey to discover the perfect venue, exploring many Miami locations. However, they yearned for something truly unique. So, they took a leap of faith and planned a trip to Cartagena, where their gamble paid off. They were immediately captivated by the city’s vibrant colors and stunning designs. With their hearts brimming with inspiration drawn from the enchanting Spanish romance of the city, their Sofitel Legend Santa Clara wedding was a resounding success–a day that beautifully represented their dreams and love.

Set against the backdrop of enchanting garden views, their team of pros set the stage for a truly magical ceremony with an aisle adorned with white blooms and a lush arch. For their ballroom reception, they seamlessly blended 17th-century architecture with timeless romance. To create a dreamy atmosphere, they adorned the space with greenery and rattan pendant lighting, casting a warm glow over a tablescape filled with flowers, candles, and elegant gold accents.

If you and your partner share a deep love for travel and culture, you’re in for a treat as you explore these breathtaking photos captured by Kristelle Boulos. Keep scrolling to see every aspect of their extraordinary day, from the stylish fashion choices to the awe-inspiring location that served as the backdrop for their special celebration.

The Couple:

Jennifer and Nicholas

The Wedding:

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, Cartagena, Colombia

Recommended Reading: Wedding Pajamas for You and Your Wedding Party

Captivated by Spanish Romance: Their Journey to a Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Wedding

The inspiration for our wedding was Spanish romance. We knew we wanted our venue to have a lot of character and elegance. The architecture of the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara stood out to us, giving our wedding the ambiance we were looking for. We were immediately inspired by the animals, fruits, colors, and designs of Cartagena and embraced romance by using a soft color palette and warm lighting. We worked extremely hard with our wedding planner to nail down the details. We came up with a mood board using Pinterest.

Crafting an Informal and Personal Ceremony through Music and Family Ties

The most memorable part of the day was our ceremony, where Jen’s uncle married us. Our loved ones surrounded us on one of the Colonial Terraces of the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara. Everything we dreamed of became our reality, with beautiful white roses and musicians playing in the background. We spent countless hours envisioning what our perfect day would be, and the actual moment surpassed our expectations. We personalized our ceremony by having Jen’s uncle, Michael, marry us. This was a very informal yet personal ceremony that had our guests crying and laughing simultaneously. Michael shared firsthand memories of our ten-year relationship that all of the guests had been a part of. We have had such a long journey together, which has created many memories with each person at our wedding. We felt our ceremony was a representation of our love story.

Advice on How to Make Wedding Planning Enjoyable

Enjoy the process! It can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it is an experience worth the hard work. Cherish each moment with your partner. We made sure to have fun in every phase of the process, from creating wax seals in our kitchen at 1 a.m. to traveling across the United States to ask our closest friends to be part of our wedding. The planning process is about creating this beautiful day to celebrate your love and commitment, and our wedding planner and a great team of professional vendors guided us.

Transforming Their Reception by Bringing the Outdoors In

We worked so hard to create a unique space for our story. We wanted to have a lot of details that were meaningful and represented us as a couple. Using watercolor illustrations, a soft, neutral color palette, warm lighting, and foliage to tie the space together, we wanted to bring the outdoor elements into our indoor reception. We are most proud of our reception design.

From Pinterest Dream to Reality: How They Brought Their Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Wedding to Life

We live in Miami and wanted our wedding to feel like a big family vacation, so we opted for a destination wedding. We wanted our venue to represent the architectural and natural style we enjoy. We found the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara through Pinterest, which felt at the time unattainable. After visiting many Miami venues, we decided to take the risk and plan a trip to Cartagena. It was unexpectedly everything we wanted for our wedding. From the food to the beautiful, colorful architecture, we knew our family and friends would have a blast. Cartagena offered many different activities that we could plan for our guests. This allowed us to prepare an entire weekend of celebrations.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Kristelle Boulos
Event Planning – CCC Event Planning
Venue + Catering – Sofitel Legend Santa Clara
Floral Design – Heritage of Jac
Cake – Ideas Dulces by Elsy de Figueroa
Ceremony Live Music – Felipe Madariaga
DJ – DJ Nicolas Rojas
Live Music – Olivella Music
Videography – Adrian Velazquez
Invitation Design – Puro Papel
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Diego Moya Salon
Wedding Dress – La Vie en Blanc
Bridal Accessories – Loeffler Randall
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Birdy Grey
Groom’s Apparel – Artigiano
Groomsmen’s Apparel – The Black Tux
Rings – Freddys Jewelry
Rentals – Decor Fiestas Cartagena
Transportation – Bridal Cars Cartagena
Favors – Erika Diseno Creativo

Congratulations to Jennifer and Nicholas on their pastel romantic Sofitel Legend Santa Clara wedding. And a big thank you to Kristelle Boulos for capturing their big day full of memorable moments and stunning details.

Getting your wedding planning started means finding the perfect spot to celebrate, and that’s a big deal! To keep things easy and stress-free, take a look at our venue guide. It’s a goldmine of information filled with excellent tips and expert advice to make your dream wedding a reality.

How to Prepare For Your Proposal

November 20, 2023 | kailey

Image by Torez Marguerite.

Did you stumble upon your future engagement ring by accident? Maybe you and your partner went ring shopping together? Perhaps one morning, you just woke up with that undeniable gut feeling your proposal was on the horizon. No matter what scenario you find yourself in, we’re here to help. If you think an engagement is just around the corner, what should be your next move? Keep scrolling for all the ways you can prepare for your proposal right now.

1. Help With Your Ring

When it comes to picking out the ring, every couple is different. Some want a complete surprise. Others go ring shopping together. Some are left dropping not-so-subtle hints to their partner. This is something you should discuss beforehand because choosing the perfect engagement ring is kind of a big deal. And if you’re not quite sure whether to hit the stores with your better half, this list of pros and cons could help you feel confident in your decision.

2. Get Those Nails Done

After your proposal, you’re going to want to show off that ring to everyone. We want to make sure you’re always ready to show it off with confidence. That might mean constantly getting your nails done until they pop the question.

Need some inspiration? Whether you’re going for an elegant vibe or ready to make a trendy look, these nail art ideas are sure to leave you feeling pretty and polished.

Image by Lauren Casino.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Once you have that feeling maybe the proposal is coming, it’s only natural to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Excitement is a given, but let’s face it, not everyone is a fan of surprises. You might have a sudden wave of anxiety, not knowing when or where your partner is going to get down on one knee. That’s when practicing some self-care will be key to prepare for your proposal so you don’t lose your mind.

Keep yourself chill and occupied with leisurely strolls, soothing facemasks, or cozy wine nights—whatever your choice of self-care may be. This will save you from being on edge every single moment, waiting for that important question.

4. Recruit Help From Loved Ones

Share your proposal vision with your loved ones and closest pals. Do you dream of an intimate, just-the-two-of-you moment, or is having your family present part of your ideal proposal? While some discuss these details with their significant other in advance, that’s not always the case.

Plus, if your partner is dead-set on pulling off the ultimate surprise, they might be hesitant to ask you any questions. That’s where your family and friends will come into play. Talk them through all of your ideas so when your significant other needs a hand, they’ll know exactly what suggestions to make.

Image by The Ferros.

5. Rein In Those Expectations

Whether we’re scrolling through social media or watching our favorite romcoms, we so often see elaborate proposal setups. In a world filled with over-the-top proposals, it’s important to remember that your love is what matters most. Try to avoid flooding your mind with unrealistic expectations.

Instead, trust that your significant other knows you best, and they’ll go to great lengths to plan a proposal tailored to you and your unique love. And let’s not forget that granting your partner a little creative freedom adds that extra layer of emotion and makes the whole experience even more unforgettable.

You’re officially prepped and ready to go—cross ‘prepare for your proposal’ off your to-do list. Now, the waiting game begins. While you wait for your partner to pop the question, it’s a good time to start exploring your engagement ring insurance options. When your partner slides that ring onto your finger, we want you to be able to proudly flaunt it without any worries about losing or damaging it.

Image by Wild Connections.

Bridesmaid Trends We’ve Got Our Eyes On This Year

November 19, 2023 | kailey

Image by Lilly Red. See more of this real wedding here.

Couples are continuing to ditch tradition, going all in on details that’ll make their wedding a one-of-a-kind affair. This is the case for decor, venues, and even bridesmaid fashion—nothing’s off the table! So, if you’re including a bridal party in your wedding, nailing the bridesmaid outfits is key. Luckily, we’ve got the inside scoop on all the 2024 bridesmaid trends guaranteed to make a statement.

From mismatched dresses to bold jewelry choices, bridesmaids this year will be turning heads like never before. Keep scrolling for all the 2024 bridesmaid trends we’ve got our eyes on this year.

Six Bridesmaid Trends That Will Rule 2024

Here are the top bridesmaid trends we look forward to seeing for the rest of the year.

Image by Anna Duncan.

1. Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses

Just like decor, wedding day attire is a great way to add personality to your big day. That’s why we’re waving goodbye to one-size-fits-all bridesmaid dresses. Instead of having everyone in your wedding party rock the same outfit, play around with different textures, colors, and even lengths. We’ve seen this trend gain popularity over the years, and 2024 will be no exception.

Plus, by sticking with the mismatched bridesmaid dress look, you can incorporate your crew into the wedding planning process. It makes them feel important and limits your stress.

2. Return of Black Bridesmaid Dresses

Bold color palettes were the main event in 2023. And while many couples will still want to infuse their day with color, that won’t be the case for everyone. There will be many couples opting for a neutral color palette. But instead of seeing neutrals like tan or champagne, we’re going to see more black dresses.

This year’s wedding parties are going to be packed with carefree confidence and daring curiosity. Bring on the monochromatic bridesmaid dresses, jumpsuits, and pantsuits!

Image by Annie Morgan Photography.

3. Patterned Bridesmaid Dresses

Weddings this year are all about celebrating uniqueness. We’ll see many couples trading traditional wedding elements for out-of-the-box details that’ll make their wedding truly one of a kind. Printed bridesmaid dresses will be one of those unique additions.

This bridesmaid trend is going to be extremely popular this spring and summer. Floral prints are idyllic for a romantic spring affair. You can also choose wild patterns like leopard for a more edgy vibe. The options are endless.

4. One-Shoulder Bridesmaid Dresses

One-shoulder bridesmaid dresses are a fun and fashionable trend for 2024. Not only are they stylish, but they also work wonders for all body types. They are flattering and supportive, making them a solid choice for wedding parties with various body types. It’s an elegant and inclusive style, plus the asymmetric nature of the dress adds a unique flare.

Image by Derek Wong Photography.

5. Bold Jewelry Choices

When you’re thinking about what to wear on your big day, it’s totally normal to obsess over the dress. But this year, jewelry choices will be just as important as the dress. Wedding parties will be leaning towards those bold statement earrings and necklaces to really complete their look. Especially if you’re going with neutral or all-black dresses, these jewels are going to be the cherry-on-top detail you need.

6. Jumpsuits and Pantsuits

It’s no surprise that jumpsuits have taken the wedding world by storm. They are proof that comfort and style can coexist. And with the anti-bride movement in full swing, jumpsuits and pantsuits are going to have their moment, yet again.

Now that you have an idea of the 2024 bridesmaid trends, it’s time to get shopping. Lucky for you, shopping for bridesmaid dresses has never been easier. Start with the best places to buy bridesmaid outfits online! Then, check “find bridesmaid dresses” off your to-do list from the comfort of your own home.

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